The Church - CP Exam Review

Charism

A specific gift or grace of the Holy Spirit that directly or indirectly benefits the Church. It is given in order to help a person live out the Christian life or serve the common good in building up the Church.

Church

Generally, the entire assembly of the faithful People of God; more specifically, particularly when spelled with a capital C, it refers to the Catholic Church. The word comes from the Greek ekklesia, meaning assembly.

Council of Jerusalem

Recounted in Acts 15, this synod of the Apostles AD 49 or 50 spoke with the authority of Christ in deciding that Gentile converts to Christianity did not have to be circumcised according to the Law of Moses.

Ecumenical Council

From the Greek oikoumene, meaning “the whole inhabited world.” A formal synod of bishops (sometimes with other ecclesiastics) from the whole inhabited world convened to define doctrine, regulate the Christian life, or apply discipline in the Church. The First Ecumenical Council was held in Nicæa AD 325.

Heaven

The eternal state of supreme and definitive happiness with God; communion of life and love with the Trinity and all the blessed.

Keys of the Kingdom

In the Old Testament, the sign of the office of prime minister, who is appointed by the king to have primacy over all his other servants; in the New Testament, Jesus gives the "keys to the kingdom" to St. Peter, indicating that he would be both the leader in this Church and Christ's own representative on earth—in other words, the first Pope.

Martyr

Greek for "witness." A witness to the truth of the Faith in which a Christian endures suffering and even death for Christ.

Pentecost

The descent of the Holy Spirit, in the form of a rushing wind and tongues of fire, upon the Apostles after Jesus' Ascension. This event fulfilled Jesus' promise to send his Spirit to teach, guide, and empower the Apostles in their mission.

Primacy of Peter

The position of being first in rank or authority. The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles bear witness to St. Peter's primacy among the Apostles.

Sacred Scripture

The Bible; the canonical writings validated by the Church as inerrant and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Together with Sacred Tradition, it makes up a single deposit of the Word of God—the Deposit of Faith—a single gift of God to the Church.

Sacred Tradition

From the Latin traditio (“to hand down”); the Church’s teachings that have been passed down through the ages through the successors of the Apostles. Together with Sacred Scripture, it makes up a single deposit of the Word of God—the Deposit of Faith—a single gift of God to the Church.

Saint

A member of the Church—the Mystical Body of Christ—on earth, in Purgatory, or in Heaven. The Church may officially declare a member of the Church in Heaven to be a saint by canonization, adding him or her to the calendar and promoting his or her public veneration.

Vicar of Christ

Term used for the Pope that emphasizes his role as a representative of Christ himself; from the Latin vicarius, meaning “in the person of.”

Adoration

The loving acknowledgement of God as God, Creator and Savior, the Lord and Master of everything that exists.

Baptism by Blood

The martyrdom of an unbaptized person who thereby receives the graces of Baptism for having died or been killed for the Faith.

Baptism of Desire

The graces of Baptism received by an unbaptized person who would have sought Baptism explicitly had he or she been aware of the Gospel of Christ but has sought the truth and tried to follow God's will in keeping with his level of understanding it.

Chastity

The moral virtue that provides for the successful integration of sexuality within the person leading to the inner unity of the bodily and spiritual being; in other words, a commitment to the moral use of one's sexuality in keeping with one's state of life.

Common Good

The sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.

Contrition

Sorrow of the soul and hatred for the sin committed, together with a resolution not to sin again.

Evangelical Councils

The practices of poverty, chastity, and obedience, proposed by Christ in his own life and given to the Church for assisting our growth in charity.

Ex Opere Operato

Latin term used to state that a Sacrament dispenses the grace it signifies and does not depend upon the holiness of the minister, nor on the holiness of the person receiving the Sacrament, as long as the minister(s) of the Sacrament intend to convey the Sacrament and the participant intends to receive it.

Liturgy

The priestly action of Jesus Christ, continued in and by the Church under the impulse of the Holy Spirit. In the liturgy, the Holy Spirit himself brings about his work of salvation through effective signs, thus giving a most perfect cult to God and salvation to mankind.

Novena

A devotional series of prayers, usually done over a period of nine days, to a particular saint, group of saints, or devotional seeking intercession for a particular request or need.

Petition

Prayer that asks a favor from God or the intercession of one or more of the saints; it can also make a request for the general needs of the community or the world. One of the four main types of prayer.

Sacramental

A sacred sign that bears a certain resemblance to the Sacraments and by means of which spiritual effects are signified and obtained not efficaciously but through the disposition of the recipient and the intercession of the Church.

Thanksgiving

Prayer that expresses gratitude to God for his blessings and care; one of the four main types of prayer.

Vocation

The particular plan or calling that God has for each individual in this life and hereafter.

Ritual

A combination of repeated words, actions, and symbols that define, express, and strengthen the identity and beliefs of those participating.

Apostasy

The total rejection of the Christian faith by someone already baptized.

Heresy

The obstinate denial by a baptized person of some truth that must be believed with divine faith.

Schism

A breach of the unity of the visible Church; the refusal to submit to the Pope or be united with the Church.

Immutable

Will never change in its essential aspects; an attribute of the Catholic Church as a result of its divine origin.

Indefectible

Having no flaw or defect; an attribute of the Catholic Church as a result of its divine origin.

Perennial

Will exist until the end of time; an attribute of the Catholic Church as a result of its divine origin.

Protestantism

The general name given to any of the Christian denominations that broke from the Catholic Church during the sixteenth-century Reformation

Gnosticism

A heresy from the first Christian centuries that taught that Jesus shared secret information or knowledge with only a few people who were guaranteed Salvation.

Arianism

A fourth-century heresy claiming that Jesus Christ was neither God nor equal to the Father, only that he was sent by the Father and did the will of the Father.

Apollinarianism

A fourth-century heresy that held that Christ had only a divine mind and will, not a human mind and will.

Nestorianism

A fourth-century heresy that opposed to title of Theotokos for Mary, teaching that Mary was the Mother of Christ, but not of God.

Monophysitism

The fifth-century heresy that claimed there is only one nature in the Person of Christ, his human nature having been incorporated into his divine nature.

Ecumenism

The efforts to reunite all Christians on earth and to cooperate among Christian faith traditions in achieving common goals.

Archbishop

A bishop of the highest rank, generally the bishop of an archdiocese.

Bishop

A consecrated successor to the Apostles, usually given charge of the pastoral and catechetical care of a particular jurisdiction, or diocese; he is called to teach, sanctify, and govern the faithful of his own diocese, and also to work together in caring for the worldwide Church.

Cardinal

A bishop or archbishop who has been selected by a Pope to become part of the College of Cardinals and thus an adviser. The main purpose of a cardinal is to serve as a papal elector. Some cardinals lead archdioceses; others serve in the administration at the Vatican.

Cathedral

The official church of the local bishop, his seat of authority, usually located in the city from which the diocese takes its name.

Clergy

The faithful of the Church who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders; that is, bishops, priests, and deacons.

Communion of Saints

The unity in Christ of all the redeemed, those on earth and those who have died: the Church Triumphant, the Church Militant, and the Church Suffering. It is professed in the Apostles' Creed, where it has also been interpreted to refer to unity in the "holy things," especially the unity of faith and charity achieved through participation in the Eucharist.

Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith

Assists the Pope in promoting and safeguarding the teachings of the Catholic Church in matters of Faith and morals

Congregation for the Causes of Saints

Handles matters regarding the canonization of servants of God to the sainthood

Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

Coordinates the missionary work of the Catholic Church throughout the world

Consecrated Life

A permanent state of life recognized by the Church, entered into freely in response to the call of Christ to perfection, and characterized by the profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Deacon

A man who is ordained to assist the mission of the Church; transitional deacons are men who are preparing for ordination to the priesthood; permanent deacons are mature men, married or unmarried, who are ordained deacons in a permanent capacity; from the Greek for "helper."

Deposit of Faith

The definitive Revelation of Christ given to the Apostles and, through them, to the entire Church as Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition; the heritage of faith handed on in the Church from the time of the Apostles, from which the Magisterium draws all that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed.

Diocese

The territory and the churches under a bishop’s authority; a community of the Christian faithful in communion of faith and Sacraments with their bishop ordained in apostolic succession; also called a “particular church.” In the East, it is often called an eparchy.

Episcopacy

The office of bishop in the Catholic Church; from the Greek episkopos ("overseer"), from which also is derived the word "bishop."

Extraordinary Magisterium

The teaching office of all the bishops gathered with the Pope, as happens in an Ecumenical Council, or the Pope alone speaking ex cathedra in an exercise of infallibility.

Obedience of Faith

The obligation of the faithful to accept and believe in the authoritative and infallible teachings of the Magisterium.

Ordinary Magisterium

The teaching office of the bishops in their own dioceses, teaching the same doctrine with moral unanimity, or that of the Pope for the whole Church.

Pontifical Council for the Laity

Promotes and coordinates the apostolate of the laity

Priest

Greek presbyteros (“elder”). A member of the order of presbyters; this baptized and confirmed male is ordained to be a co-worker with his bishop, to preside at public liturgies in his stead, and otherwise to assist the bishop in priestly service to the People of God.

Separated Brethren

Those who are properly baptized and known by the name Christian, but who do not profess the entirety of the Catholic Faith or have not preserved unity with the Pope. Separated Brethern possess a certain, albeit imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.

Anno Domini

Latin for "in the year of our Lord," usually abbreviated "AD" to reference a given year in history. The fact that today we count the years from the date of Jesus' Birth bears witness to his importance in the entire world.

Apostle

Literally, "one who is sent." Jesus selected Twelve Apostles to be his inner circle of companions and to carry out his mission after his Ascension.

Bride of Christ

A name of the Church derived from the writings of St. Paul; it highlights the purity and holiness that Christ has bestowed upon the Church.

Catholic

Literally, "universal." As used in the early Church, the term referred to the fact that the Gospel of Christ was for the entire world; today it is also the name for the Catholic Church, the universal Church established by Christ

Disciple

Literally, "one who follows." Sometimes in Scripture, the term is applied to the Twelve Apostles; at other times, and more generally, it refers to the entire crowd of Jesus' followers and believers.

Divine Filiation

Refers to the fact that the Sacrament of Baptism makes us spiritual sons and daughters of God.

Emmaus

A small village a few hours' journey away from Jerusalem. After his Resurrection, two of Jesus' followers met him on the road to Emmaus, but did not recognize him until he broke bread with them.

Epiphany

From the Greek for "manifestation." The Feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of the Christ child by the Magi, the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, and his first miracle at the wedding in Cana.

Family of God

A name of the Church derived from the teaching of Christ; it highlights the intimate communion that the Father offers to man in the Person of Jesus Christ, in whom we are made sons and daughters of God.

Gentile

Any non-Jew. Jesus himself preached to the Gentiles, and St. Paul's remarkable missionary journeys to non-Jewish communities showed how the Gospel message was meant to be preached not just to Jews, but to all of humanity.

Kingdom of Heaven

A name of the Church used frequently by Jesus; it highlights the relationship between the Davidic kingdom and the Church.

Mystery

An inexhaustible truth, something that can be known with certainty through faith but can never be fully understood by human reason.

Mystical Body of Christ

The faithful People of God, who in a supernatural way become one body, with Christ as its head.

People of God

Those born into the Church through faith in Christ and Baptism. The term is taken from the Old Testament, in which God chose Israel to be his people.

Pilgrim Church

Name sometimes used to describe the Church because it is on a "journey" in this world; although the Church itself is perfect as created by Christ, its Faithful seek greater holiness and intimacy with Christ and thus are ever traveling toward the house of God the Father.

Real Presence

Term used to describe the Eucharist, in which Jesus is really and fully present—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—under the species of bread and wine, which have been consecrated to become his Body and Blood.

Sacrament

An efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Temple of the Holy Spirit

A title of the Church used by St. Paul; it highlights the relationship between the Church and the Old Testament Temple in Jerusalem.

Temporal

Related to time, being of this earth. A temporal king rules his kingdom on earth; an eternal or Everlasting King rules both Heaven and earth.

Totus Christus

Latin for "whole Christ," made up of Jesus, the head, and the Church, his Mystical Body.

Typology

The study of how the New Testament is foreshadowed in the Old Testament. Certain figures and actions in the Old Testament are types that are reflected or fulfilled in the New Testament; for example, Christ as a type of the New Adam, or the Ark of Noah as a type for the saving role of the Church itself.