GLOSSARY
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_(Apostolic) See_ (Latin, _Sedes_ or seat): The governing and spiritual authority of the pope over the
Catholic Church symbolized by his chair (seat, throne) as bishop of Rome. Also called Holy See.
Both terms include the various offices of the curia* that assist the pope in Church government._
_Assent_: Interior agreement of the mind and will. To infallible teachings is due the assent of
faith (because they articulate or formulate revelation*). To non-infallible teachings is due the
assent of prudence, recognizing that the teaching was formulated prudently, with good reasons,
and that it is prudent to follow it in practice (though it may be more prudent under certain
circumstances not to)._
_Biblical Criticism_: the scientific study and analysis of the human elements in the writing of hte
Bible. The "historical-critical method" includes textual, historical, form, tradition, redaction, and
literary criticism. It does not deny that the Bible is the inspired Word of God._
_Church_: a community of believers organized to help one another discover God's revelation* made
in Christ, recognize it, interpret it, respond to it, and celebrate it in creed*, code*, and cult*. It
is a sacrament (sign and instrument) of unity._
_Collegiality_: Responsibility for the whole Church shared by the bishops in communion among
themselves and with the head of the "college" of bishops, the pope. Collegiality is most fully
exercised in an ecumenical council, but is also exercised through episcopal conferences* and
synods* of bishops._
_Code_: A collection of laws, stating the responsibilities of members of a community._
_Codetermination_: A principle of Catholic social teaching: all affected by a decision should share
in making that decision as far as possible._
_Creed_: A statement (profession) of faith, describing what a community of believers has come to
recognize about God and his presence and action in the world._
_Cult_: Official worship of God by a community of believers, expressed in ritual acts and prayers._
_Curia_: The Roman Catholic bureaucracy of administrative and judicial offices that help the pope
govern and lead Catholics. Each Catholic diocese* also has a curia._
_Devotions_: Pious non-liturgical practices and prayers (rosary, way of the cross, novenas, vigil
lights, home altars, etc.) used by Catholics to express and deepen their life of faith._
_Diocese_: Local administrative unit of the Roman Catholic Church. E.g., the diocese of San Jose_
_Doctrine_: Official Church teaching, fallible or infallible. Doctrines "develop" as the Church
grows in understanding of revelation*. The substantial truth of the revealed mystery remains
unchanged, but with the help of the Holy Spirit the Church deepens its grasp and appreciation
of what the truth means and how it affects life in different historical circumstances. New
developments cannot contradict the original revealed deposit of faith._
_Dogma_: Official infallible Church teaching; a divinely revealed truth taught infallibly by the
Church and binding permanently on all Catholics._
_Ecclesial_ (Latin, _ecclesia_, church): Pertaining to the Church._
_Ecclesiology_ (Latin, _ecclesia_, church): theological study of the Church, its origin, nature, mission,
distinguishing characteristics. Since the Church shares in the mystery of God, no single
ecclesiology can exhaust the meaning of the Church; different ecclesiologies bring out different
aspects of the mystery._
_Encyclical_ (Greek, circular letter): A letter addressed by the pope to the Catholic bishops
throughout the world. Encyclicals are not infallible but are authoritative statements of the
ordinary _magisterium*_._
_Episcopal Conference_ (Latin, _episcopus_, bishop, overseer): organization of bishops in a nation or
region to help them form policy, issue directives and guidelines, and handle internal Chiurch
affairs, as well as to lobby governments to influence laws. The "episcopate" consists of all the
world's bishops, who make up the "episcopal" college._
_Evangelization_ (Latin, _evangelium_, gospel*): the proclamation of the good news about Jesus to
bring about the assent of faith._
_Gospel_: A highly sophisticated organization of previously existing oral and written materials
about the words and deeds, life and death and resurrection of Jesus, to enable believers to
penetrate more deeply into the mystery of what happened to him and who he is, so that they
may recognize the kingdom* of God operative in their own lives (salvation), interpret it in the
light of Jesus, and respond to it more fully._
_Hierarchy_ (Greek, holy authority): The ordained ministers in the Church, consisting of bishops,
priests, and deacons. By reason of jurisdiction*, the hierarchy is made up of pope and bishops._
_Hierarchy of truths_: The principle enunciated by Vatican II in its Decree on Ecumenism, #11, of
classifying truths of faith by their nearness to the central mysteries of faith: the Trinity, the
Incarnation of God's Word, the divinity of Jesus and his saving death and resurrection, the role
of the Holy Spirit. This clarifies the relative importance of revealed truths._
_Holy Office_: Name formerly given to the present curial* Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith. Also formerly called the Inquisition*._
_Incarnation_: The event of the eternal Son and Word of God, while remaining fully divine,
becoming truly and fully human in Jesus of Nazareth, who had a human body and soul._
_Inculturation_: The process by which the Christian message and life take shape in the various
cultures and peoples of the world._
_Inquisition_ (Latin, investigation): A special Church tribunal set up by Pope Innocent III (d. 1216)
to track down, examine, and punish heretics perceived as a threat to the social order as well as
the faith of Catholics. In 1479 Ferdinand and Isabella introduced the Spanish Inquisition against
relapsed converts from Judaism and Islam; those found guilty were punished by the state._
_Jurisdiction_ (Latin, authority): The right and duty (legal authority) the pope and bishops possess
to govern the Church. Vatican Council I stated that the pope has jurisdiction over the whole
Church. In practice, bishops get jurisdiction from the pope, priests from their bishops._
_Kingdom_: God's loving power already at work in the world and to be fully realized at the end
of the world. The Church works for the kingdom; the kingdom is not confined to the Church._
_Laity_ (Greek, people): Baptized members of the Church._
_Liturgy_ (Greek, public service): Official community worship, including the sacraments. The Mass
or Eucharistic liturgy consists of the _Liturgy of the Word_ (readings from the Bible) and the
_Liturgy of the Eucharist_ (the sacrificial meal in which the worshippers recall Christ's gift of
hiumself to and for them, offer themselves with Christ to the Father, and share the sacrificial
meal in holy communion). The _liturgical year_ is the calendar of celebrations of the major events
in the life of Christ and the saints._
_Local Church_: The Christian community made up of one bishop, his priests and deacons, and the
laity* in a diocese*. The universal or worldwide Church presided over by the pope as the center
of unity is a "communion of local churches."_
_Magisterium_ (Latin, teaching authority): The official teaching authority of the Catholic Church as
exercised by the pope as successor of Peter and all the bishops as successors of the apostles. The
day-by-day, non-infallible magisterium is exercised by the pope and individual bishops and their
curias. The infallible magisterium is exercised when the pope and all the bishops, whether
gathered in an ecumenical council or scattered around the world, "define" or proclaim something
to be part of divine revelation. Traditionally, theologians form part of the magisterium, as
advisers or consultants to the bishops and pope._
_Mass_: The Eucharistic liturgy*._
_Ministry_ (Latin, service): The sharing in Christ's mission and roles as priest, prophet, and king
had by all Christians through their baptism and confirmation and by the clergy in a special way
through the sacrament of orders._
_Ordinary_: The bishop of a diocese* with jurisdiction* and chief responsibility for the local
Church. In larger dioceses the ordinary is aided by "auxiliary" bishops without jurisdiction._
_Orthodox_ (Greek, right teaching): All Christians should be orthodox, i.e., avoid heresy or false
teaching. The "Orthodox" (with a capital letter) are members of Eastern Churches, generally
national Churches like the Greek Orthodox or Russian Orthodox, ruled by a patriarch*, which
are not in communion with the pope._
_Parish_ (Greek, neighborhood): A part of the diocese* with its own church building, usually named
after some title of Christ or a saint._
_Patriarch_ (Greek, fatherly ruler): A title given to the bishops of Rome, Constantinople,
Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem or the heads of Orthodox national Churches._
_Pontiff_ (Latin, bridge builder): A title of the pope indicating his pastoral and teaching authority,
leading the people to God._
_Primacy_ (Latin, first place): The role of the pope as center of unity. The Orthodox and many
Anglicans and Protestants recognize that the pope has a primacy of honor as the successor of St.
Peter; Catholics recognize his primacy of jurisdiction*, or teaching and governing authority._
_Revelation_: God's manifestation of himself and his plans for us through word and deed,
especially through Christ, in order to bring us into fellowship with him by faith._
_Sacrament_: A sign of God's presence and action, deepening the faith of the Christian community,
through which God draws people into deeper union with himself and one another in Christ._
_Subsidiarity_: A principle of Catholic social teaching: decisions should be made at the lowest
possible level._
_Synod_ (Greek, meeting): An official gathering of bishops and other Church laders to determine
matters of doctrine, discipline, and worship on the diocesan, national, or international level._
_Tradition_ (Latin, handing on): The process by which Catholic teaching and life are passed on to
succeeding generations; also, (with a capital T) the content of what has been handed on. It is
distinct from traditions (plural, with a small t), which are various practices of inculturation*
which have developed over the centuries in different times and places._
_Valid_ (Latin, efficacious): a legal term, signifying that the Church officially recognizes the
effects of a certain action. An invalid act may have consequences that the Church does not
officially recognize._
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