Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg - Glossary of Catholic Terms & Terminology

Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg

Glossary of Catholic Terms & Terminology

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Glossary of Terms & Terminology used in the Catholic Church

Term	Description
AIDS	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (See also HIV)
Acolyte	(Greek, akolouthein, "to follow") 1. A minister at the altar who assists the bishop, priest or deacon. His duties are to light the altar candles, to carry them in procession, to minister the wine and water at Mass, and to assist at other services of the Church. The acolyte may serve as a minister of Holy Communion. 2. A layman or boy, commonly referred to as an altar boy or server, who performs the duties of an ordained acolyte at any ritualistic ceremony.
Advent	The four-week Season beginning with First Evening Prayer of the Sunday that falls on or closest to 30 November, and ending with First Evening Prayer of Christmas. Is is a Season of Joyful expectation, preparing for the commemoration of the Incarnation, celebrated during the Christmas Season. Advent also looks forward to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.
Agape	(Greek for Love) used in the New Testament, Matthew 24:12, Luke 11:42 and is related to the verb to love, used in the Great Commandment: to love God and neighbour (Mark 12:28, Matthew 22:39-40)
Alb	(Latin albus) white a long white linen tunic worn by priests, deacons and other ministers for liturgical functions.
Altar	The central table in a church building, the locus of the Sacramental Presence of Christ. In the Old Testament the altar is presented as a small mound of stones on which sacrificial animals could be roasted. (Genesis 8:20)
Annulment of Marriage	A civil or ecclesiastical declaration that in a particular case there was no valid marriage by reason of a known or hidden impediment. There is no such thing as an annulment of a valid marriage. An annulment does not attempt to affix blame or to affect the legitimacy of any offspring. Those who have dicorced and remarried without Church approval should not, as a general rule, receive Communion. The pastoral leaders of the Church, especially Pope John Paul II, have emphasised the Church's obligation to relate in a pastoral and understanding way to those who have suffered the trauma of divorce. At the same time there is concern among Church leaders to improve both marrieage preparation and support for the married in order to lessen the frequency of divorce.
Anoint	To pour oil upon. Anointing spoken of in the Scriptures are of two kinds: material and spiritual. Material anointings were of ordinary or official kinds. Ordinary anointing of the head or body was a common practice in ancient times. Official anointing formed a part of the rites of inauguration for priests, for prophets and for kings Saul, David and Solomon in the Old Testament. In New Testament times anointing was generally confined to acts of respect or treatment of the sick. Olive Oil is ordinarily used, mixed with aromatic spices.
Baptism	from the Greek baptein, "to dip, to immerse". Baptism is the Sacrament by which we become members of the Christian community. The New Testament uses the term in a technical sense to refer to the religious ceremony of Baptism. The New Testament does not describe the exact rite or formula of Baptism. Paul's reference in Rom 6:4, to being "buried" with Christ implies immersion. The account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:36-38, speaks of a going down into the water and a coming up out of the water. Theological Issues The Sacrament of Baptism incorporates us into the Body of Christ and forms us into His likeness. Christians see this as a nonrepeatable action that links all the recipients in a sacramental bond of unity. The Sacrament pardons all sins, frees recipients from the power of darkness and joins them to Christ's Suffering, Death and Resurerection (Rom 6:4; Eph 2:6; Col 3:1, 2; Tim 2:11). The Baptised are marked with a special character empowering them to share in the priestly function of Christ, especially in the offering of the Eucharist.
Beatific Vision	The vision of God face to face which forms the essential happiness of angels and people in Heaven when the souls of the faithful see God directly. The human intellect is not capable of this vision. Our limited knowledge of the magnificence of God comes from the things He has created, from revelation and from the Church's Teachings. The sight of God's Divine Essence in Heaven completely fulfills all the soul's desires.
Beatitudes	blessed, happy Jesus proclaimed eight blessings at the beginning of the *Sermon on the Mount.*(Matt. 5:3-12) They contain a compendium of religious perfection and the basic laws of the Messianic KIngdom.
Benediction	(Lat., benedictio, "blessing"), a short religious service of exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which concludes with a blessing of the people with the Sacrament. Benediction is peculiar to the Western Catholic tradition.
Benedictus	The Canticle of Zechariah spoken by him at the birth of his son, St John the Baptist. This canticle begins with: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel," and is recited daily in the Divine Office of Lauds.
Bishop	A priest who enjoys the "fullness of the Sacrament of Orders", usually the pastoral leader of a diocese.
CFC	Christian Brothers (See also the contact details for the Christian Brothers Provincialate in our diocese)
CP	Congregation of the Passion
CSA	Congregation of the Companions of St Angela
CSP.T.O.R.	Sisters of St Paul T.O.R.
CSsR	Redemptorist Community
Canon	(Greek kanon) norm, standard
Canon Law	The understanding, interpretation and application of the rules and regulations of the Church.
Canon of the Mass	The central prayer of the Eucharistic Liturgy, more commonly referred to as the Eucharistic Prayer since Vatican II (1962 - 1965).
Canon of the Scriptures	An authoritative corpus of writings considered normative for faith. In this sense the word appears to have been first used by Athanasius in his Decrees of the Synod of Nicea (ca 350).
Canticle	A biblical poem, apart from the psalms, often used in liturgical services, especially in the Liturgy of the Hours.
Catholic	(Gk katholika) universal
Chalice	The cup used for wine and the Precious Blood at Mass
Charism	From the Greek "kair'is-uhm" meaning 'gift'. Divine Spiritual Gift to individuals or groups for the good of the community. Examples: prophecy, healing, preaching, teaching, administration, generosity and Love is the greatest of all.
Chrism	(Greek, chrisma, "anointing"), the oil of olives mixed with perfume. Chrism is used in the postbaptismal anointing, in Confirmation, in Priestly and Episcopal Ordinations and during the dedication of churches and altars. Treated with reverence by the Church, chrism is often reserved in a special place in the church Sanctuary with the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens. The strengthening effect and fragrance of the oil reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit. Chrism has also been associated with the coronation of kings. Its symbolism is both royal and priestly. Traditionally it was made from the oil of the olive, but since the 1990s vegetable, seed or coconut oil may be used.
Cincture	(Latin cingulum - girdle), a rope-like cord tied round the waist to hold the priests or deacons alb in place.
Conclave	(Latin cum clavis -with key), the meeting of candidates to elect a pope
Corpus Christi	(Latin) Body of Christ, Feast - Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday.
DPC	Diocesan Pastoral Council
Diocese	A Catholic community, usually circumscribed territorially, established by the supreme authority, entrusted to the care of a bishop, and possessing all the constitutive marks of the Church
Divorce	Termination of a marriage in civil law by court decree or judgement. While the Church has no dispute with legitimate state interest in the marital status of parties, the canonical effects, i.e., the legal consequences in Church law, do not automatically follow from any civil divorce proceedings. As far as the Church is concerned, the presumption that the parties are married continues. In practice, the Church usually accepts a civil authority's disposition of the incidents of a marriage, such as the continuing obligations to the spouse or to children. The Church, however, finds the termination of a marriage to be, in most circumstances, impossible because it is against the command: "what God has joined together let no one separate", (Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9). This teaching does not, however, forbid the faithful from obtaining a civil divorce or living apart from a spouse, especially in those instances when continuing conjugal life would bring harm to one of the parties or to children.
Doctrine	In the Old Testament the usual meaning of this term is instruction, something heard or received, or a pronouncement. Christian doctrine, however, comprehends that body of revealed and defined truth which a Catholic must hold, but frequently it extends to those teachings which are not of faith, but are held and acted upon.
Dogma	A truth revealed by God and, therefore, an article of faith. It is thus proposed by the Church to be believed by all Catholics. Some of the dogmas of the Church are the Incarnation, Redemption and Assumption.
Easter	The Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, the oldest and most important Christian Celebration, also called Pascha (Gk. "Passover")
Encyclical	An encyclical letter is one addressed by the pope to the episcopate throughout the world or to the bishops of a particular country or region. In recent years the popes have more and more given expression on various subjects in this form of utterance. Encyclicals are not necessarily infallible documents, but Catholics must accept the doctrinal content.
Eucharist	(Gk. "Thanksgiving") is the sacramental celebration of the Paschal Mystery, i.e. Christ's Dying and Rising for humankind, in a context of praise and thanks for all that God has done and continues to do.
FMA	Daughters of Mary Help of Christians - Salesian Sisters
FMM	Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
FMS	Marist Brothers
FSC	De La Salle Brothers
FSP	Daughters of St Paul - 'Pauline Sisters'
Gaudete	The word 'Gaudete' comes from the Liturgy of the third Sunday of Advent which calls on all people to "Rejoice" for the Lord's coming is very close!
HC	Sisters of the Holy Cross
HF	Holy Family of Bordeaux - Sisters
HIV	Human Immunodeficiency Virus (See also AIDS)
Hierarchy	The graduation of the Catholic clergy according to their rank or grade of power. There is both a hierarchy of jurisdiction and a hierarchy of orders. In the hierarchy of jurisdiction the primacy of the Holy See and the power of the bishops is considered to be of divine origin. The Supreme Pontiff (the Pope), by divine right, has jurisdiction over the entire Catholic Church. Diocesan bishops have complete authority in their own dioceses. The other members of the clergy receive their power and authority according to the positions they hold; thus theirs is considered to be of ecclesiastical origin rather than divine. The hierarchy of orders pertains to the graded priestly powers which are exercised in saying Mass, administering the Sacraments, etc. Therefore, the powers of bishops, priests and deacons, by virtue of the divine conferring of orders, are considered to be of divine origin; those of the subdeacon and the minor orders are of ecclesiastical origin.
Holy Oils	Oils consecrated by a bishop or priest to be used in the Sacraments of Initiation, (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), Ordination or the Anointing of the Sick. Ordinarily the oils are consecrated by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass celebrated on Holy Thursday morning. There are three holy oils: the Oil of Catechumens, Holy Chrism and the Oil of the Sick.
Holy Orders	The Sacrament by which one is received into the ministry of the deaconate, priesthood or episcopacy in the Church. According to Catholic teaching the Sacrament of Holy Orders is a divinely instituted structure of the Church of Christ
IBVM	Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary - 'Loreto Sisters'
IMC	Institute of Consolata Missionaries
INRI	Jesus of Nazereth, King of the Jews. A Christian inscription often found on crucifixes, that stands for the Latin: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum. According to John's Gospel this was the phrase Pilate had written on Jesus' cross in Hebrew, Latin and Greek (Jn. 19:20).
ISSM	Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary
LCM	Little Company of Mary
LSMI	Little Servants of Mary Immaculate
Lectionary	The book containing the scriptural lessons for public reading at Mass according to the Liturgical calendar
Lent	The forty days, excluding Sundays, of fasting, prayer and penitence in preparation for Easter
Liturgy	From the Greek word: Leitourgia, work of the public. Liturgy is the public and official prayers and rites of the Church. Liturgical worship is an activity of the whole Church, both laity and clergy, and is directed toward the Glory of God.
MAFR	Missionaries of Africa
MC	Missionary Sisters of Charity
MSA	Missionary Sisters of the Assumption
MSC	Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart - 'Cabrini'
MSHR	Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary
Nativity	Christmas, Solemnity celebrated on 25th December, commemorating the Incarnation of the Divine Word at the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is second in importance only to the annual celebration of Easter. The actual day of Christ's birth is not known but the date for the celebration was designated as 25 December by the early fourth century in Rome and celebrated liturgically as such. The Christmas Season is preceded by the four-week period of vigil and preparation known as Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before 25 December
OCD	Carmelite Fathers
ODC	Carmelites - Indian
ODC	Carmelites - Discalced
OFM	Order of Friars Minor
OMI	Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Used by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, founded by St Eugene de Mazenod (South African Oblates website)
OP	Order of Preachers. Used by the Dominican Order
OSA	Augustinian Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus
OSB	Order of St Benedict
OSC Cap	Poor Clare Capuchin Nuns of Perpetual Adoration
OSF	Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa
OSFS	Oblate of St Francis de Sales
OSM	Order of Friar Servants of Mary - 'Servites'
OSU	Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Order
Ordo	A book containing a daily calendar indicating which Masses should be celebrated each day. It directs the variant parts of the Mass for each day and the Divine Office to be read. The book gives directions regarding the various liturgical functions, but it does no include the text.
PFC	Parish Finance Committee
PPC	Parish Pastoral Council
PWA	People/Person/Persons with AIDS
Pope	(Latin "papa" - father) The Bishop of Rome and the earthly head of the Catholic Church
Pope	(Latin "papa" - father) The Bishop of Rome and the earthly head of the Catholic Church
Priesthood	The office of priest. Christ's minister (1 Cor 4:1-4, 1 Pet 5:1-4). The indelible character stamped upon the soul of a man who has validly received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Through this sacrament those ordained have the power to say Mass, to administer the sacraments, to bless and to preach. "Thou art a Priest forever" (Ps 110:4).
RCIA	Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is the liturgical and formational process of Christian initiation. The Rite of Christian Initiation was revised and restored in 1972 in accordance with the mandate of the Second Vatican Council (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, n. 64) and by decree of Pope Paul VI.
SAC	Pallottines
SACBC	Southern African Catholic Bishop's Conference The Church in Southern Africa under the Nunciature consists of 29 ecclesiastical territories. Because of the missionary nature of the work of the Church in Souther Africa, the Archdioceses, Dioceses, Vicariates and Prefectures still fall under the direction of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples in Rome. The Conference is an association of local Ordinaries, other than Vicars General, of the Roman Catholic Church in the Republic of South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland, their coadjutors, auxiliaries and other titular Bishops who perform special work entrusted to them by the Apostolic See, or by the Conference itself.
SDB	Salesians of Don Bosco
SJ	Society of Jesus - Jesuits
SND	Sisters of Notre Dame de Nemur
Saint	In a strict sense, those officially recognised (canonised) by the Church as persons who have lived a holy life, who now share in the Beatific Vision (i.e. face-to-face experience of the presence of God) and who may be publicly venerated by the faithful. St Paul used the word saint to refer to all the Christian faithful (2 Corinthians 13:12; Ephesians 1:1)
Sanctuary	(Holy place). 1. The part of a church or temple immediately adjacent to the main altar. 2. In olden days, the refuge provided in a church for a person sought by public officials or private citizens. According to a now obsolete law, any criminal or fugitive was untouchable so long as he remained within the confines of a holy place.
Stigmata	The wounds of Our Lord, the pierced hands, feet and side, and the impression of the crown of thorns which appear in the flesh of certain persons who suffer corresponding pain. The first stigmata was suffered by St. Francis of Assisi in 1224. The Italian Padre Pio is an example of a modern day stigmatist. It seems that God selects certain souls to share the sufferings of Our Lord to help atone for the sins of humanity.
Tribunal	an ecclesiastical court. The term applies to courts on all levels of the Church's judicial system. There is to be a tribunal in every diocese. In addition, there are appeal courts for diocesan courts, and courts of the Holy See. None of these courts set precedents but decide matters of Church law for individual cases. Although a number of issues are brought before tribunals, the majority of cases deal with the validity of marriage. Personnel who staff the courts must have degrees in canon law (judges are required to have at least the J.C.L.) or have acquired needed expertise in canon law.
Valentine, St.	The name of two saints about whom very little is know. One was reportedly a priest from Rome, beheaded in 269 by the Emperor Claudius II (d.270) for refusing to worship Roman gods. The other, martyred several years earlier, was Bishop of Terni, renowned for his gift of healing. Feast day: 14th February.
Valentines Day, St.	A popular feast celebrated on 14th February by exchanging signs of love. Its origins are found in the Roman martyrology, the earliest list of martyrs, where two Valentines were commemorated on 14th February. Each was beheaded on the Flaminian Way. The custom of sending love notes and gifts probably originated in the Middle Ages from the belief that 14th February marked the mating season of birds. The day is no longer acknowledged or celebrated as a memorial or feast in the liturgical calendar.
Vatican City State	The independent state and the seat of the Roman Catholic Church which is located in the city of Rome, Italy. By virtue of the Lateran Treaty of 1929, the Italian government recognises this independent and officially designated Vatican City State. The Pope is the sovereign ruler of this small territory (less than one square mile in area), possessing all executive, judicial and legislative powers. Vatican City is perpetually neutral, is bound to no nation and possesses all sovereign rights, including diplomatic immunity. The official residence of the Pope is in the palace. His Holiness appoints a governor and a council to handle the civil affairs of the Vatican City State. He is thus free to direct his attention to the spiritual welfare of Catholics throughout the world.
Vestments	The distinctive garments worn by the clergy when celebrating the Eucharist or conducting other divine services, such as administering the Sacraments. The vestments worn today had their origin in the secular dress worn in the days of the Roman Empire.
Vigil	A watching; a time of preparation for a feast. Originally it meant a night-long watch with prayer and fasting.