terms

breviary A liturgical book from which priests and deacons pray the Liturgy of the

Hours each day.

celibacy The renunciation of marriage for more perfect observance of chastity made by

those who receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Celibacy also extends to consecrated

life and to those who forgo marriage for some honorable end.

chasuble The outer vestment worn by a bishop or priest at Eucharistic liturgy. Its color

follows the liturgical seasons— purple for Advent or Lent; white for Christmas, Easter,

and other feasts of Christ; red for Good Friday, Pentecost, and the feasts of martyrs; and

green for Ordinary Time.

clergy From a Greek word for “lot,” a term for ordained men.

dalmatic The outer liturgical vestment of a deacon. It may also be worn by bishops

under the chasuble and at certain solemn liturgies.

Deposit of Faith The body of saving truth entrusted by Christ to the Apostles and

handed on by them to be preserved and proclaimed by the Church’s Magisterium.

diocese A geographic section of the Church, made up of parishes, that is headed by a

bishop.

discern To perceive differences between more than one option. In the context of faith,

to discern means to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit when considering different

options for action.

ecumenical council An assembly of all (or most) bishops from throughout the world

in union with the pope. Such a council is the highest authority in the universal Church

when it is conducted in unison with the pope.

episcopal college The unity of all ordained bishops in the worldwide Church, in both

the East and the West. The pope heads the episcopal college. The episcopal college is

also called the “college of bishops.”

imprimatur A bishop’s approval to print a religious text or pamphlet because its

contents agree with Church teaching.

infallibility The charism or gift of the Church, offered by the Holy Spirit, in which the

pope, and bishops in union with him, can definitively proclaim a doctrine of faith or

morals for belief of all the faithful. It is a participation in the fullness of truth in Christ.

The pope, as head of the episcopal college, enjoys this gift by virtue of his office.

Infallibility is also present in the body of bishops, especially in an ecumenical council,

when they teach on matters of faith and morals.

mandate An official appointment from the pope that says a certain priest has been

chosen to be a bishop.

nuncio An archbishop who acts as the official Vatican delegate for a nation. He is also

called the apostolic delegate.

ordinand A person receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders at any level: episcopate,

presbyterate, or diaconate.

ordinary bishop The name for the diocesan bishop. He is the pastoral and legal

representative of his diocese.

seminary The place where the training of candidates for the priesthood takes place.

The Council of Trent instructed the bishops in each diocese to set up a seminary college

to train men for the priesthood.

stole A long, narrow band of fabric, like a scarf. A deacon’s stole is worn diagonally

from one shoulder. A priest’s stole is worn straight from the shoulders.

synod of bishops A group of bishops, usually chosen from throughout the world, who

come together to advise the pope on certain issues.

vicar One who serves as a substitute, an agent, or a representative of another. Bishops

are vicars of Christ; they take his place in the Church. The pope is the Supreme Vicar of

Christ.