Actual Grace
The supernatural, free, and undeserved help from God given for specific circumstances to help us choose what is good and avoid what is evil
Church
name of the assembly of people who God called to come to together from the ends of the earth
Concupiscience
Human appetites or desires which remain disordered due to the temporal consequences of original sin, which remain even after Baptism, and which produce an inclination to sin.
Covenant
A solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being in which mutual commitments are made.
Ex Opere Operato
A term in sacramental theology (literally, "by the work done"), meaning that sacraments are effective by means of the sacramental rites themselves, and not because of the worthiness of the minister or recipient.
Form
The necessary ritual words and signs that accompany a sacrament.
Image of God (Imago Dei)
The image of God, present in all humans by virtue of their creation by Almighty God, is made even more explicit through the Sacrament of Baptism, whereby one is "baptized into" Christ and made "a new creation." That image of Christ is enhanced through living a life of grace or marred by the commission of sin.
Matter
the material or physical sign of a sacrament
Messiah
Hebrew word for "anointed one
Minister
The person who administers or celebrates a sacrament.
Mystical Body of Christ
Based on the teaching of St. Paul found in his First Letter to the Corinthians, this doctrine holds that believers are united to Christ as branches to a vine and, due to that union, united to one another.
Original Sin
Adam and Eve's abuse of their human freedom by disobeying God's command
Protoevangelium
First Gospel; the first promise of a Redeemer by God to Adam and Eve after the Fall
Redemption
Meaning "being brought back" act where Jesus set us free from sin and "bought us back" from the devil
Resurrection
The bodily rising of Jesus from the dead, as he had foretold, on the third day after his death on the cross and burial in the tomb. By virtue of his resurrection, Christians have the hope of resurrection with Christ on the last day.
Sacrament
efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us
Sacramental character
An indelible mark, i.e., a permanent and unrepeatable spiritual quality, imprinted on the soul by the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, that gives the Christian a share in the priesthood of Christ.
Sacrilege
Profaning the sacraments or other liturgical actions, or things consecrated to God in a special way, such as priests, religious women and men, churches, shrines, convents or monasteries, icons, statues, etc. Extreme irreverence by word or deed.
sanctifying grace
The free and unmerited favor of God given through the sacraments. This heals human nature wounded by sin by giving man a share in the divine life infused into the soul by the Holy Spirit to heal from sin and sanctify.
Adoration
Worship. This is the humble acknowledgment by human beings that they are creatures of the thrice-holy Creator. By obeying the First Commandment, people acknowledge and respond to the revelation of the glory and power of God.
Eastern rites
Practices, traditions, disciplines, and liturgical expressions used in the Catholic Churches in communion with the Pope, but other than the Latin Rite
Genuflect
to kneel on one knee and then rise as an act of respect
Heavenly liturgy
The adoration rendered Almighty God by the angels and saints in Heaven, most especially through the eternal pleading of Christ the High Priest and the perpetual offering of His once-for-all sacrifice of Himself to His heavenly Father
Holy water
water blessed by a priest
Icon
Two dimensional stylized painting or mosaic of Christ
Latin rite
The portion of the Catholic Church that follows the disciplines of the Diocese of Rome, especially regarding the Sacred Liturgy. This rite is called Latin because that has been its official language since the fourth century. Most of the world's Catholics belong to the Latin Rite, but twenty-two other rites also exist in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.
Liturgy of the hours (divine office)
Also called the Divine Office, it is the official prayer of the Church and allows the faithful to pray throughout the day with Psalms and other biblical readings.
Lords day
Sunday; the principal day of the week for Christian worship.
Pilgrimage
A journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes.
Relic
Earthy remains or personal items of saint
Sabbath
a day set apart to rest and honor God, seventh day
Sacramental
action or object that disposes us to God's grace
Sacred objects
Items used to foster the virtue of religion and a life of devotion.
Stations of the cross
The pious practice of meditating upon Christ's Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
veneration
Showing devotion and respect to Mary, the apostles, and the martyrs, who were viewed as faithful witnesses to faith in Jesus Christ; must be clearly distinguished from adoration and worship, which are due to God alone.