Bible
The collection of Christian sacred writings, or Scripture, accepted by the Church as inspired by God and composed of the Old and New Testaments.
Biblical Inerrancy
The doctrine that the books of Scripture are free from error regarding the truth God wishes to reveal through Scripture for the sake of our salvation.
Biblical Inspiration
The gift of the Holy Spirit, which assisted human beings to write biblical books, so they have God as their author and teach faithfully and without error the saving truth that God willed to give us.
Church
The entire People of God thoughout the world.
Church
The diocese, which is also known as the local Church.
Church
The assembly of believers gathered for the celebration of the liturgy, especially the Eucharist.
consecrate
To declare or set apart as sacred or to solemnly dedicate to God's service; to make holy.
covenant
A solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being in which mutual commitments are made.
Deposit of Faith
The heritage of faith contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
Divine Revelation
God's self-communication through which he makes known the mystery of his divine plan.
Eucharist
The celebration of the entire Mass.
Gentile
A non-Jewish person.
Gospels
Translated from a Greek word meaning "good news" referring to the four books attribute to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, "the principal source for the life and teaching of the Incarnate Word", Jesus Christ.
incarnate
From the Latin, meaning "to become flesh," referring to the mystery of Jesus Christ, the Divine Son of God, becoming man.
Magisterium
The Church's living teaching office, which consists of all bishops, in communion with the Pope.
synoptic Gospels
From the Greek for "seeing the whole together," the name given to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke because they are similar in style and content.
Tradition
From the Latin "tradere," meaning "to hand on," referring to the process of passing on the Gospel message.
Vatican Council II
The Ecumenical or general Council of the Roman Catholic Church that Pope John Paul XXIII convened in 1962 and that continued under Pope Paul VI until 1965.
Word of God
The entire deposit of the truth revealed by God throughout history and transmitted through Scripture and Tradition, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Dei Verbum
Vatican Council II's "Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
Lectionary
The official liturgical book containing the readings of the Mass, the Gospels, the Responsorial Psalms, and the Gospel Acclamations.
Incarnation
In the ________, Jesus Christ became truly man while remaining truly God.
Consecration
At Mass the _________ takes place during the Eucharistic Prayer when the priest recites Jesus' words of institution, changing the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
apocalyptic literature
A literary form that uses highly dramatic language to offer hope to a people in crisis.
biblical exegesis
The critical interpretation and explanation of a biblical text.
exegete
A biblical scholar attempting to interpret the meaning of biblical texts.
ideological criticism
A methodology that enables us to analyze a scriptural text by examining how our own worldview shapes our interpretation of Scripture.
literary convention
A defining feature of a particular literary form. An example would be beginning a letter with the greeting "Dear.
literary criticism
A methodology that enables us to analyze a scriptural text by examining its genre, plot. characters, and symbolism.
literary forms (genres)
Different kinds of writing determined by their literary technique, content, tone, and purpose (how the author wants the reader to be affected).
moral truth
A truth dealing with the goodness or evil of human acts, attitudes, and values.
sociohistorical criticism
A methodology that enables us to analyze a scriptural text by examining the culture and world in which a scriptural text was written.
Amen
A Hebrew word that expresses agreement.
Beatitudes
The teachings of Jesus that begin the Sermon on the Mount and that summarize the New Law of Christ.
canticle
A song of God's praise
commission
To _______ someone is to send him or her on a mission.
fiat
Latin for "let it be done," words Mary spoke to the angel at the Annunciation.
infancy narrative
The accounts of Jesus' birth and early life.
Koine Greek
The dialect of the Greek language most commonly used from around 300 BC to AD 300, and the language in which the New Testament books were originally written.
Magi
The Three Wise Men who were sent by King Herod to find the Infant Jesus.
Magnificat
The canticle of Mary.
synonymous parallelism
A device used in Hebrew poetry in which the same idea is expressed in two adjacent lines but in different words, thus expanding and emphasizing the idea in a balanced composition.