rs catholic christianity

Anointing of the sick

One of the seven sacraments; a sacrament of healing that forms part of the last rites. A priest anoints the sick person with oil and blessing.

Ascension

Going or being taken up; the event forty days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to glory in heaven.

Baptism

One of the seven sacraments; sacrament of initiation through which people become members of the Church. It involves the use of water as a symbol of the washing away of sin.

Bible

Source of wisdom and authority; a holy book containing both the Old and New Testaments.

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

A Christian charity that provides emergency and long-term aid to the developing world.

Church

The People of God/Body of Christ, among whom Christ is believed to be present and active. Members of a particular Christian denomination/tradition, e.g. Roman Catholic, Methodist. A building in which Christians worship.

Confirmation

One of the seven sacraments; the second sacrament of initiation involves the anointing with chrism, usually of young adults who are now aware of the significance of the event as a strengthening of the grace received through baptism.

Corrymeela community

An organization working for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

Creation

Bringing the world into existence; the belief that the world is God’s loving creation.

Dignity

Being worthy of respect and honour; belief that all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity because they are part of God’s creation in his image.

Duty

Having a responsibility or moral obligation to act in a certain way.

Eucharist

Literally 'thanksgiving'; one of the seven sacraments in which the death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated, using bread and wine.

Evangelism

Preaching the gospel (the good news about God) to convert people to the Christian faith.

The Father

The first Person of the Trinity, the belief in God as creator and sustainer of the universe.

Formal prayers

These are prayers written throughout the centuries which many Christians worldwide use (e.g. The Lord’s Prayer).

Funeral rite

The religious ceremonies and ritual practices that take place when someone has died.

Grace

The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it.

Heaven

Belief that after death Christians can enter a state of being with God for eternity.

Hell

Belief in a place of eternal suffering, or a state after death of being in separation from God.

Holy orders

One of the seven sacraments; the sacrament by which a man is made a priest or bishop.

Holy Spirit

The third Person of the Trinity; believed to be present with believers since Pentecost and active on earth.

Incarnation

Literally 'in flesh', or 'enfleshed'; belief that God took on human form in the person of Jesus.

Informal prayer

Spontaneous prayers spoken from the heart which are personal and unique to the person/people at the time.

Jesus

Believed by Christians to be the Son of God, he was a first-century Jewish teacher living and travelling in Palestine/Israel.

Judgement

The belief that God will decides whether each person should receive eternal life or eternal punishment based on their earthly life.

Justice

Fairness in the way people are treated.

Lord's Prayer

The prayer taught to the disciples by Jesus; also known as the 'Our Father' and widely said by Christians in both church services and privately.

Matrimony

One of the seven sacraments; the sacrament of marriage which involves a lifelong covenant made between husband and wife.

Missio

The Catholic Church’s official charity for overseas mission, founded in 1922.

Mission

Literally ‘sent out’; the duty of Christians to spread the gospel (the good news about Jesus).

Nicene Creed/Council of Nicaea

Statement of Christian doctrine agreed by bishops at the Council of Nicaea in 325.

One God

The belief that God is one singular divine being (who can be manifest in the Three Persons of the Trinity).

Orthodox

A denomination/tradition of the Church popular in some parts of Eastern Europe. There are two main Orthodox Churches – Greek and Russian.

Pax Christi

Catholic charity working for peace.

Peace

The opposite of war; harmony between all in society.

Popular piety

Practices of worship and devotion that are not part of church liturgy, e.g. the Rosary and Stations of the Cross.

Pilgrimage

A religious journey to a holy site/sacred place, it is an act of worship and devotion.

Prayer

Communicating with God through words of praise, thanksgiving or confession, or requests for his help or guidance; listening to and speaking to God.

Protestant

Christian denominations in which authority is generally based on the Bible, rather than Church tradition/teaching (e.g. Anglican, Methodist, Baptist).

Purgatory

A state of cleansing to remove the effects of sin.

Reconciliation

Making up and rebuilding relationships between two groups/sides after disagreement; one of the seven sacraments which involves penance for sins in order to be reconciled with God.

Redemption

Belief that through his atonement for our sins, Jesus secures our salvation; through Jesus humans are redeemed/saved.

Resurrection

Being raised from the dead; the event three days after the crucifixion when it is believed that God raised Jesus from the dead. The form that many Christians believe the afterlife will take, referring to either physical or spiritual bodies.

Rosary

String of beads used in acts of worship and devotion to aid with counting/focus on recitation of set prayers; a form of popular piety.

Sacrament

The outward and visible sign of an invisible and spiritual grace. There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church.

Salvation

Being saved; belief that through God’s grace, Jesus’ death and resurrection brought about salvation for humanity. Saving of the soul and being able to enter eternal life in heaven.

Society of St Vincent de Paul

Catholic charity founded in 1833 and currently working to help those in need worldwide.

The Son

The second Person of the Trinity; Jesus believed to be God incarnate.

Stations of the Cross

A series of 14 ‘stations’ (often images, carvings or statues) that depict the Passion of Jesus from his condemnation by Pilate to the tomb. This is an example of popular piety used for prayer and devotion.

Trinity

The belief that God as One includes God also being manifest in three Persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Trocaire

Irish Catholic charity working to overcome poverty and injustice.

Word

In the Bible, John 1 describes God creating the world through his eternal Word. This links the eternal Word to Jesus in the statement: ‘”The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Worship

Showing adoration and reverence; offering praise to God.