Divine Revelation
God making himself known to us.
Salvation
The forgiveness of sins and the restoration of humanity's friendship with God.
Faith
The gift from God that enables us to believe in God, to accept all that he has revealed, and to respond with love for God and others.
Grace
A participation, or a sharing, in God's life and friendship.
Church
The community of people who believe in Jesus Christ, have been baptized in him, and follow his teachings.
Scripture
Sacred Scripture or Bible, is the written account of God's Revelation and his relationship with his people.
Divine Inspiration
The special guidance by the Holy Spirit given to others ( human authors of Bible).
Tradition
The Revelation of the good news of Jesus Christ as lived in the church, past and present.
Synagogue
Gathering places for studying the holy scripture
Resurrection
Jesus's rising from death to new life.
Gospel
The accounts of God's revelation through Jesus Christ.
Epistles
Letters found in the New Testament to early Christian communities about God's Revelation in Jesus Christ.
Magisterium
The living teaching office of the Church, consisting of the pope and bishops.
Deposit of faith
All the truth contained in Scripture and Tradition that Christ revealed and entrusted to the Apostles and thus to their successors, the bishops, and to the entire Church.
Blessed Trinity
Three Divine Persons in one God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ; Central mystery of our Catholic faith.
Evangelization
The sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ and the love of God with all people, in every circumstance of life.
Covenant
A solemn agreement between God and his people.
Mercy
God's forgiveness and love.
Providence
God's plan for and protection of all creation.
Incarnation
The truth that the son of God became flesh or man and lived among us.
Synoptic Gospels
Present the good news of Jesus Christ from a similar point of view.
Parable
A short story with a message.
Gentile
Non-Jewish, Christians being persecuted for their faith in Christ.
Word of God
The son of God, the most complete expression in God's work.
Prophet
Someone who speaks on behalf of God and defends the truth.
Messiah
Person who came to save people from their sins.
Pentecost
Marks the beginning of the Church.
Free will
The freedom and ability to choose what to do.
Sin
A thought, word, deed, or omission against God's laws that harms us and our relationship with God's others.
Original sin
First sins committed by first humans.
Immaculate Conception
The truth that God made Mary free from all sin.
Angel
A creature created by God as a pure spirit, without a physical body.
Annunciation
The announcement that Mary would become the mother of the son of God.
Infancy narratives
The accounts of Jesus' birth and childhood found in the first two chapters of the Gospel of Matthew and Luke.
Consecrate
To make sacred to God.
Kingdom of God
The power of God's love active in our lives and in our world.
Beatitudes
Teachings that describe the way to live as his disciples.
Sabbath
A day set apart to rest and honor God.
Apostles
Twelve of Jesus' disciples who shared his mission in a special way.
Eternal Life
A life of happiness with God forever.
Ascension
Marks Jesus' return in all his glory to his Father in Heaven.
Paschal Mystery
The suffering, death and Resurrection, and Ascension.
Sanctifying Grace
The grace we receive in the sacraments.
Sacrament
An effective sign given to us by Jesus Christ through which we share in God's life.
Liturgy
The official public prayer if the Church, by praying together and showing what we believe.
Sanctify
To make holy.
Catechumenates
After a period of inquiry, we are welcomed to prepare for and celebrate the Sacraments of initiation in a process of formation. This includes prayer and liturgy, religious instruction based on Scripture and Tradition, and service to others.
Catechumens
Those who enter catechumenate.
Celebrant
The bishop, priest, or deacon who celebrates the sacrament for and with the community.
Chrism
Perfumed oil consecrated, or blessed, by a bishop, highlights the name "Christian", which means 'anointed' and derives from that of Christ himself whom God 'anointed' with the Holy Spirit.
Diocese
A local area of the Church led by a bishop, greatly expanded.
Candidate
Those preparing for confirmation.
Sponsor
Someone who can be involved in the preparation for Confirmation and who will help them grow in Faith.
Paschal
Means "Of or relating to the Passover".
Mass
The celebration of the Eucharist.
Conversion
Turning back to God with all one's heart.
Venial Sin
A sin that hurts our relationship with God; does not turn us completely away form God.
Mortal Sin
A sin that destroys our relationship with God; does completely turn us away from God.
Conscience
Our ability to know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil.
Charity
Love, which is the gift from God that enables us to love him and to love our neighbor.
Deacon
Shares in Christ's mission by assisting bishops and priest in the service of the Church.
Priest
Is ordained to preach the Gospel and serve the faithful, especially celebrating the Eucharist and the other sacraments.
Bishop
Receives the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and continues the Apostles' mission of leadership and service.
Vocation
A call to a way of life.
Common Vocation
Our call from God to holiness and evangelization.
Evangelical Counsels
Poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Canon Law
The name that we give to the boys of laws that govern the Church, Canons, or laws, provide for good order in ecclesial.
Vows
Deliberate and free promises made to God, to practice.
Celibacy
Remaining single, and devoting your life to the work of God and the Church for the sake of the kingdom.
Virtue
A good habit that helps us to act according to God's love for us.
Theological Virtues
Faith, hope, and charity have God as their source, God as their motive, and God as their object.
Creed
A statement of belief.
Marks of the Church
One, holy, Catholic, and apostolic.
Almsgiving
The sharing of our resources or time to help those who are poor or in need.
Last Judgement
Jesus Christ's coming to an end.
Social Justice
Opposing every form of injustice in society and working to promote justice of all people.
Human Dignity
The value and worth that we share because God created us in his image and likeliness.
Righteousness
Conduct in conformity with God's will.
Catholic Social Teaching
The teaching of the church that calls all members to work for justice and peace as Jesus did.
Common Good
The well-being of every individual person and of the whole society to which everyone belongs.
Heresy
A denial after Baptism of a truth of the faith.
Schism
The refusal to submit to the leadership of Peter's successor, the pope, or a lack of unity with the members of the church.
Apostasy
A total abandonment of one's faith.
Ecumenism
The work to promote the unity of all Christians.
Communion of Saints
The union of all the baptized members of the Church
Assumption
When Mary went up to Heaven body and soul .
Prayer
The raising of our minds and hearts to God.
Humility
The virtue that enables us to acknowledge that God is the source of all good, is the foundation of prayer.
Bless
To dedicate someone or something to God or make something holy in God's name.
Petition
Prayers in which we ask something of God.
Intercession
Asking for something on behalf of another person or a group of people.
Thanksgiving
Showing our gratitude to God for all he has given us.
Praise
Give glory to God for being God .
Liturgy of the Hours
The official public prayer of the Church made up of psalms.
Holiness
Sharing in God's goodness and responding to his love by the way we live.
Apostolic
The fourth mark of the Church, or built on the faith of the Apostles.
Sacraments at the Service of Communion
The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony.