Catholic Glossary

Advent is the four-week liturgical season of hopeful preparation for celebrating Christ's birth and His promised return.

Agape is the self-giving, unconditional love that seeks the good of the other and reflects God's own love.

Alleluia is a joyful Hebrew acclamation meaning "Praise the Lord" sung or proclaimed in worship.

Anamnesis is the part of the Mass that recalls and makes present Christ's saving passion, resurrection, and ascension.

The Annunciation is the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament in which a priest prays over and anoints the ill with oil for spiritual and sometimes physical healing.

Apologetics is the reasoned defense and explanation of the Christian faith to those with questions or objections.

Apostolic Succession is the unbroken handing on of sacred authority from the apostles to today's bishops through ordination.

The Ascension is Jesus' glorious return to the Father forty days after the Resurrection.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent when ashes are placed on foreheads as a sign of repentance.

The Assumption is the dogma that Mary was taken body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life.

Baptism is the first sacrament that cleanses sin and makes a person a member of Christ and His Church.

A Beatitude is one of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount that describes the attitudes leading to true happiness.

Benediction is a devotional service in which the priest blesses the people with the exposed Eucharist.

The Bible is the inspired collection of books that tells God's plan of salvation and forms the Church's sacred Scripture.

A bishop is a successor of the apostles who shepherds a diocese, teaches the faith, and confers the sacraments.

Canon Law is the body of Church rules that govern the organization and discipline of Catholic life.

Canonization is the official declaration by the Pope that a deceased person is a saint worthy of universal veneration.

Catechesis is the systematic instruction in the faith aimed at forming disciples of Jesus.

A catechism is an organized summary of Catholic doctrine used for teaching and reference.

A catechumen is an unbaptized person preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation.

Catholic means universal and designates the Church founded by Christ that is worldwide and teaches the fullness of faith.

Chrism is perfumed oil consecrated by a bishop and used in Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

Christmas is the feast celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ observed on December 25.

The Church is the community of all baptized believers united in Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, and structured under apostolic leadership.

The Communion of Saints is the spiritual union of all members of Christ's Body in heaven, in purgatory, and on earth.

Confirmation is the sacrament that strengthens baptismal grace by bestowing the Holy Spirit and commissioning the faithful for witness.

Conscience is the inner voice of reason that urges a person to do good and avoid evil.

Consecration is the act of setting something or someone apart for God's service, especially when the bread and wine become Christ's Body and Blood.

A creed is a formal statement of faith that summarizes essential Christian beliefs.

A deacon is an ordained minister who assists the bishop and priests in service, liturgy, and charity.

The Deposit of Faith is the entirety of divine revelation entrusted to the Church contained in Scripture and Tradition.

A devotion is a pious practice, prayer, or custom that fosters love of God and the saints.

A diocese is a geographic church district under the pastoral care of a bishop.

Discernment is the prayerful process of discovering God's will in a situation or vocation.

Divine Mercy is God's loving kindness especially shown in forgiving sinners and inviting trust in His compassion.

The Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours, is the Church's daily prayer marking the hours with psalms and Scripture.

Doctrine is an official teaching of the Church on faith or morals.

Dogma is a doctrine solemnly defined as divinely revealed and therefore binding on all believers.

Easter is the central Christian feast celebrating Jesus' Resurrection from the dead.

Ecumenism is the movement toward unity among all Christians through dialogue, prayer, and cooperation.

An encyclical is a formal papal letter addressed to the Church that teaches on faith, morals, or social issues.

Epiclesis is the moment in the Eucharistic Prayer when the priest calls down the Holy Spirit to sanctify the gifts.

Epiphany is the feast commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles represented by the Magi.

The Episcopacy is the order of bishops and their collective responsibility for teaching, sanctifying, and governing the Church.

The Eucharist is the sacrament in which bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ offered and received as spiritual nourishment.

Evangelization is proclaiming the Good News of Jesus in word and deed so that others may believe and be saved.

Excommunication is a severe Church penalty that excludes a person from the sacramental life until repentance.

Exorcism is the prayer and authority of the Church to expel evil spirits from persons or places.

Faith is the theological virtue by which we trust God and believe all that He has revealed.

Fiat is Mary's wholehearted yes to God at the Annunciation expressing total trust in His plan.

Free will is the God-given ability to choose between good and evil actions.

Grace is God's free and undeserved help that enables us to share in His life and act according to His will.

Heaven is eternal union with God in perfect happiness for those who die in His friendship.

Hell is the state of definitive self-exclusion from God's presence chosen by unrepentant mortal sin.

Holy Orders is the sacrament that ordains deacons, priests, and bishops for service to the Church.

The Holy Spirit is the third divine Person who sanctifies, guides, and empowers the Church.

A homily is a sermon that explains the scriptures and applies them to life usually given during Mass.

Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire heaven and rely on God's promises and strength.

Hypostatic Union is the mystery that Jesus Christ is one divine person with both a true divine nature and a true human nature.

The Immaculate Conception is the dogma that Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her existence.

The Incarnation is the mystery of the Son of God becoming truly human in Jesus of Nazareth.

An indulgence is the remission before God of temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven.

Infallibility is the gift of the Holy Spirit that prevents the Church from formally teaching error in matters of faith and morals.

Kerygma is the core proclamation that Jesus died and rose to save humanity and invites repentance and faith.

Lectio Divina is a meditative way of praying with Scripture involving reading, reflection, response, and rest in God.

Lent is the forty-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that prepares Christians for Easter.

A litany is a series of petitions in which the faithful respond with fixed invocations for mercy or praise.

Liturgy is the public worship of the Church especially the sacraments in which Christ continues His work of salvation.

Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Pope and bishops which authentically interprets God's word.

A martyr is someone who witnesses to Christ by freely accepting death rather than denying the faith.

The Mass is the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist, the Church's central act of worship.

Matrimony is the sacrament that unites a baptized man and woman in lifelong covenantal marriage open to life.

Mercy is loving kindness and compassion shown especially to someone in need or guilty.

Mortal sin is a grave act done with full knowledge and deliberate consent that destroys charity in the soul.

A novena is a devotional prayer said for nine consecutive days for a particular intention.

Ordination is the sacred rite within Holy Orders that confers diaconal, priestly, or episcopal ministry.

Original Sin is the fallen state inherited from Adam and Eve that inclines us to sin.

The Papacy is the office of the Pope, successor of Peter and visible head of the universal Church.

A parable is a short story told by Jesus using everyday images to convey spiritual truths.

The Paschal Mystery is Christ's passion, death, resurrection, and ascension by which He saves humanity.

The Passion refers to Jesus' suffering and death endured out of love for us.

Penance is the sacrament and acts of contrition that express sorrow and repair the harm caused by sin.

Pentecost is the feast celebrating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles fifty days after Easter.

Prayer is lifting the mind and heart to God in praise, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession.

A priest is an ordained minister who offers the Sacrifice of the Mass and shepherds God's people.

Providence is God's loving care and guidance directing all creation toward its ultimate good.

Purgatory is the state of purification for souls destined for heaven but still needing to be cleansed of attachment to sin.

Real Presence is the belief that Jesus Christ is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist.

Reconciliation is the sacrament in which sinners receive God's forgiveness through the priest's absolution.

The Resurrection is Jesus' rising from the dead in glorified body on the third day after His crucifixion.

Revelation is God's self-communication to humanity culminating in Jesus Christ and transmitted through Scripture and Tradition.

The Rosary is a meditative prayer that contemplates the mysteries of Christ and Mary through repeated Hail Marys and other prayers.

A sacrament is an efficacious sign instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church that gives divine life.

Sacramentals are sacred signs such as blessings, holy water, and medals that prepare us to receive grace.

Sacred Scripture is the written word of God contained in the canonical books of the Bible.

Sanctifying Grace is the habitual gift that makes us sharers in God's life and heirs of heaven.

Theotokos is a Greek title meaning God-bearer affirming that Mary is Mother of God.

Tradition is the living transmission of the Gospel in the Church's teaching, life, and worship.

The Trinity is the one God in three divine Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who share the same nature.