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Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Catechism of the Catholic Church, abbreviated here as CCC. The "catechism" is the teaching of the church. This page lists and explains vocabulary that is essential for comprehension of the Catechism.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Related pages


Vocabulary for Catholic Catechism

A

  • Advent
    • "the important coming"
    • = the period of four Sundays before Christmas
      • thus, preparation for Christmas Day
    • ad- (into) + vent (from vinere, "to come") = "into coming"
      • vinere from PIE root *gwa- "to go, come")
  • alleluia
    • "Praise the Lord" from Hebrew hallelu-ya for "praise Jehovah"
  • alms
  • almsgiving
    • charity for the poor
    • from proto-German for charity for the poor
      • but related to Greek eleēmosynē for "pity, mercy"
  • alpha & omega, then
    • the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet
    • from Revelation, 1:8:
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End' says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty
  • amen
    • "so be it"
    • from Hebrew amen for "truth"
      • used to affirm a truth
    • from CCC 2856 "Then, after the prayer is over you say 'Amen,' which means 'So be it,' thus ratifying with our 'Amen' what is contained in the prayer that God has taught us."
    • Paul in 1 Corinthians (1:20) explains:
      • "all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ]. That is why we utter Amen through him, to the glory of God"
  • anagogue
    • Greek for "leading"
    • "anagogical sense" of building faith / understanding the scriptures
      • = in the sense of "what does this say about Heaven, about salvation, where does it lead me?"
    • see "scriptures, modes of interpretation"
  • anamnesis
    • making present
    • as in the presence of Christ in the Gospel reading during the Liturgy of the Word
  • angel
    • "messenger from God"
    • from Latin/Greek angelus / angelos for "messenger"
      • likely from semitic origin
  • Annunciation
    • the announcement to the virgin Mary by Archangel Gabriel that she would give birth to the Savior
      • Gabriel told her to name the baby "Emmanuel" for "God is with us"
        • = "Jesus"
    • the Annunciation is usually celebrated on March 24
  • anoint / anointed
    • "smeared with oil"
      • Latin in- "in, into" + unguere "to smear"
    • to anoint = to confer divinity or divine office
    • the Holy Spirit anointed Christ to show he was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies
  • apocryphia
    • religious texts of unknown or dubious origin
    • are not included in the Holy scripture
  • apologia / apologetics
    • in defense or justification of faith
      • an "apologist" defends the faith
    • from Greek apologos for "an account" or "speech in defense of oneself"
      • PIE *apo- "off, away" + logos "speech" or "word"
        • see below for "word"
    • apologos indicates "reasoned defense," or "thought out"
  • apostate / apostasy
    • n., one who forsakes, abandons, or neglects the Church
    • from Greek apostasia, "defection, desertion, rebellion,"
      • PIE *apo- (off, away from) + PIE *sta- (to stand, make/ be firm) = away from the place
  • apostle
    • "one who is sent"
    • i.e., the Twelve were chosen and sent by Jesus to preach His word
    • Paul was also called an apostle, given his special mission as "apostle to the gentiles" (sent by Jesus Christ after the resurrection)
  • apostolic
  • archangel
    • arch- = "chief"
  • Ascension
  • aseitas
    • from Latin ab- (from) se (self)
      • thus from oneself
    • existence unto oneself
    • expresses that God's existence has no cause or justification; God exists
      • thus "I am"
  • asperges
    • the sprinkling of Holy Water
    • from Latin ad- (to) + spagere (sprinkle)
  • Assumption
  • atonement
    • salvation through the Passion and the Cross
    • Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected to atone for man's sins
    • atone = ad (into) + one = making one, in harmony, united

B

  • beatific
  • Beatitude
    • syn: happiness
    • CCC 1716
    • from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5)
    • the quest for happiness
  • bema
    • the platform, or raised area, upon which the alter resides
    • the bema is within the chancel, is the enclosed space of the sanctuary
    • from Greek bēma (βῆμα) for "platform" and "step"
    • in Jewish synagogues the Torah is read from the bema or bimah
      • the Hebrew word "bimah" is derived from the Greek bēma
  • bless / blessing
    • bless = "to make holy, give thanks"
      • from OE blod for blood
        • PIE *bhel- "to thrive, bloom
    • blessing = "gift from God"
      • also, "that which gives temporal or spiritual benefit"
    • from ME blessinge and OE bletsunga
    • Latin immolare for "immolate" or "sacrifice"
      • the relationship is from pagan sacrifice where blood is sprinkled on an alter
      • so "to bless" originates from a ritual act to an invocation of God's blessings
  • bishop
    • with priests, primary task is "to preach the Gospel of God to all men"
    • "authentic leaders of the apololistic faith" (CCC 888)
    • Bishops are spiritual descendants of the apostles
    • from Greek episkopos for "watcher, spiritual guardian"
      • epi- (over) + skopos (one that watches)
      • from PIE *spek- "to observe"
  • bridegroom
    • groom
    • in the Covenant, Jesus

C

Ca

  • canon
    • "a list"
    • thus the list of "books" of the Bible
    • from Greek kanon for "straight rod" and "standard of excellence"
    • also: canonical
      • included in the "Canon", i.e, accepted sacred texts
    • there are 27 Books in the New Testament
    • Old Testament:
      • Catholic Bible: Septuagint ("Greek Bible"): 46 books
      • Protestant Bible: Tanokh ("Hebrew Bible"): 39 books
        • the Jews of the 2nd and 3rd centuries used only the Tonakh books
        • the "Deuterocanonical" books (Hebrew scriptures) were excluded by Martin Luther in 1500s
        • the Deuterocanonical books were affirmed by the Catholic Church starting with the Synod of Hippo in 393
  • cardinal
  • cardinal sin
  • casuistri
    • << see CCC 579
  • catechesis
    • from Catechesi Tradendae by John Paul II:
The primary and essential object of catechesis is, to use an expression dear to St. Paul and also to contemporary theology, "the mystery of Christ." Catechizing is in a way to lead a person to study this mystery in all its dimensions: "to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery...comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth ...know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge...(and be filled) with all the fullness of God." It is therefore to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God's eternal design reaching fulfillment in that Person. It is to seek to understand the meaning of Christ's actions and words and of the signs worked by Him, for they simultaneously hide and reveal His mystery. Accordingly, the definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.
  • catechism
    • "instruction in Christian principles"
    • from Latin catechismus for "book of instruction"
      • from Greek katekhismos
        • which is from katekhizein "to teacher oraly, instruct by word of mouth" which is from Greek katekhein "to resound"
      • thus "catechism" maintains an element of joyful echoes from katekhein "to resound"
    • from Greek kata (down, thoroughly) + ekhein (to ring, to sound)
      • PIE *(s)wagh- to resound, echo
  • catechist / catechumen
    • catechist is the teacher of the catechesis
    • catechumen is the student
  • cathedra / cathedral
    • church of a bishop
    • note: cardinals are assigned a church in Rome, but keep their home cathedra
  • catholic
    • universal, universally accepted
      • so = "doctrines of the early church"
      • Greek kath (in general) + holos "whole"
        • PIE *sol- "whole, well-kept"
  • Cf.
    • confer / conferatur
    • meaning "compare"
      • indicates a source supportive or analogous to the CCC entry text
      • i.e., not a direct citation or source

Ch

  • charism
    • divine gift
    • "Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are special graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world" (CCC 799)
  • charity
    • love of the other
    • = Christian love = love's highest manifestation
    • from Latin caritas for "costliness, esteem, affection"
      • from PIE *kar- "to like, desire
      • note that the French chere and Spanish caro for "costly, expensive"
        • thus "charity" implies something important
    • charity is related to Greek agape in the sense of love of fellow man, as opposed to the sense of physical desire in amor (love)
  • charitable
    • acting or manifesting Christian love (charity)
      • esp. regarding treatment of the poor
    • "charitable" also maintains the sense of non-judgment towards others
  • Chi-Rho
    Chi-Rho
    • Greek letters X (chi) and P (rho)
      • = the first two letters of "Christ"
    • the Chi-Rho symbol is the letter P w/ the letter X superimposed
  • Christ
    • Greek for the Hebrew "Messiah" meaning "anointed"
      • "Christos" in Greek (Χριστός)
    • "Christ" signifies Jesus' divine mission
  • Christian / Christians
    • "follower of Christ"
      • for more see "The Way" below (Way, the)
    • from Acts 11:26
25Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
  • Christogram
    • = Chi-Rho
    • = first two letters of "Christ" in Greek
    • "Chi", written "X", is the "chiasmus" (symbol) for the cross
  • church
    • from Latin ecclesia and Greek ekkalein for "to call out"
      • from PIE *kele- "to shout"
    • but the call is to gather, as in Greek ekklēsía which means "assembly"
    • thus the Christian "assembly of the Chosen people before God"
      • especially regarding Mt. Sanai, where Israel was given the Law
      • Christian use of "church" is "as heir to that assembly
      • per and see CCC 751

Co

  • commission
    • = giving a missing and sending forth and empowerment to do that mission
    • "commissioner" commissions them... gives them authority
  • communion
    • together, coming together
      • generally, for worship
    • specifically, "Holy Communion" for "partaking in the sacrament of the Eucharist"
      • from com for "with, together" + unus for "oneness, union"
    • to "take communion" means to "receive" the gift of Christ
      • who told the Disciples to "take" his body and blood
  • complementarity
    • "compliment" as in "mutually completing"
    • man and woman
  • concupiscence
    • propensity towards sin and death
  • confess
    • con = wtih + fess from Latin fateri = "to admit"
      • from PIE *bha- "to speak, tell, say"
      • Latin confiteri = "to acknowledge"
  • concupiscence
    • man's inclination towards sin
    • con (with) + cupere (desire) -ense (in the state of)
  • confirmation
  • consecrate
    • "consecrated elements, such as the bread and wine in the Eucharist
    • con = with
  • covenant
    • covenant = "a promise, agreement"
      • God never breaks his side of the bargain
    • from Latin convenire for "come together, unite, agree"
      • so cannot be cut or separated
    • sacrifice is to repair the covenant

Cr

  • creation
    • what God makes
      • from creare "to make, bring forth, produce, beget"
      • from PIE *ker- "to grow"
    • "creation" = people, the world, etc., as opposed to ever-existing God / Godhead
  • creatures
    • all things created by God
    • includes angels
  • creed
    • from Latin credo for "I believe"
    • creeds = professions of faith
      • there are different creeds from ancient Churches, councils and Papal symbols
    • the baptismal profession of faith is given "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (CCC189)
    • and thus has three parts:
      1. "the divine Person and the wonderful work of creation"
      2. "the second divine Person and the mystery of his redemption of men"
      3. "the third divine Person, the origin and source of our sanctification" from CCC 187-191
    • the Creed" from the Nicene Creed
  • cross
    • a verb before it becomes a noun
    • vertical is for God
    • horizontal is for man/ the worldly
    • "a religion without a Cross" is not a religion (Fulton Sheen, "Life of Christ," Ch. 50)
  • crucifixion

D

  • Decalogue
    • "ten words"
    • the Ten Commandments
  • deuterocanonical books
    • Martin Luther excluded the books of Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation from his canon (list of divine scripture
      • because he claimed these books contradicted sola gratia (salvation by grace alone) and sola fide (justification by faith alone)
      • Protestant doctrines of justification and salvation are called the "five solae"
  • diabolic
    • devilish, of satan
    • from Greek diabolikos for "thrown across", as in throwing apart
    • "devil" originates from the Greek diaballein
      • from diaballein = dia- "across, through" + ballein "to throw" (PIE root *gwele- "to throw, reach"
    • for the opposite, see symbiotic
  • doctrine
    • that which has been taught
    • from PIE root *dek- for "to take, accept."
  • dome
    • from Genesis, what is above the waters, i.e., "heaven"
    • in NKJV called "firmament"
  • doxology
    • word(s) of praise
    • doxo ("glory, praise") + logy (spoken word)
      • doxo from PIE *dek- "to take, accept"
    • liturgical praise of God
    • as in "concluding doxology" of the Eucharistic Prayer
"Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever.”
    • followed by the "Great Amen"

E

  • ecclesia
    • from Greek for gathering
      • -= church << to do
  • ecclesiology
    • study of or belief system regarding the Church and its nature
    • understood in conjunction with soteriology, which is study of or belief system about salvation and its nature
  • eschatological
    • = last days, of the final times
    • therefore, "the last things" and the coming of Jesus on the "last day"
      • regards all things related to end of times, including death, judgment, resurrection, heaven, purgatory, hell
      • referenced in the Creed
    • from Greek eskhatos for "last, furthest" in time, space, degree
    • from PIE *ehgs- for "out" (eghs-ko-),+ -ology (study of, branch of knowledge, from Greek -logia)
  • economy
    • as in the "economy of the Old Testament"
      • = "the process of", "the carrying out of"
    • from Greek oikonomia for "household management"
      • oikonomos = manager, steward
      • from PIE *weik- "clan" or "managing"
      • or PIE *nem- "assign, allot, take, especially for managing resources
    • so in Church, "economy" refers to "the works by which God reveals himself"
      • as opposed to "theology", which is the mystery of God's inmost life withing the Blessed Trinity"
    • therefore, "theologia illuminates oikonomia"
      • from CCC 236
    • CCC 122: the "economy" of the OT is in preparation for Jesus
  • ecumenical council
  • elder
    • << originally priest << to confirm
  • Emmanuel
    • name for Jesus in Matthew 1:23
    • means "God-with-us"
      • = reference to House of David
    • see "Jesus" entry below
  • Epiclesis
    • the Eucharistic prayer calling down the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ
    • Greek for "invocation" or "appeal"
  • Epiphany
    • the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles. as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12)
    • celebrated January 6
  • episcopal college
    • a permanent assembly
    • Christ placed Peter at its head
  • episcopate
  • episkopos
    • Greek for "bishop"
    • means "overseer"
    • related to "shepherd"
  • Epistle
    • "a letter"
    • from Greek epi- (to) + stellei (to dispatch or send)
      • PIE *stel- "to put, stand, put in order"
  • Etymology
    • study of the origins of words
    • from Greek etymologia for "analysis to find true origin of a word"
      • etymon = (true sense) + -logy ("word")
  • Eucharist
    • sacrament of the Last Supper
      • from Latin eucharistia and Greek eukharistia for "thanksgiving, gratitude"
      • eu = Greek for "good or well " + kharis "favor, grace"
        • thus includes a sense of "thankfulness", "to be thankful"
      • Eukharistia = "the Lord's Supper"
  • evangel
    • = the gospel/ "the good news"
    • evangelical = of the gospel / good news
  • evangelist
    • preacher of good news/ the gospel
    • from etym (to sort):
evangelist (n.)
late 12c., "Matthew, Mark, Luke or John," from Old French evangelist and directly from Late Latin evangelista, from Greek euangelistes "preacher of the gospel," literally "bringer of good news," from euangelizesthai "bring good news," from eu- "good" (see eu-) + angellein "announce," from angelos "messenger" (see angel).

In early Greek Christian texts, the word was used of the four traditional authors of the narrative gospels. Meaning "itinerant preacher" was another early Church usage, revived in Middle English (late 14c.). Classical Greek euangelion meant "the reward of good tidings;" sense transferred in Christian use to the glad tidings themselves. In Late Latin, Greek eu- regularly was consonantized to ev- before vowels.
  • ex cathedra
    • "from the chair", as in exercise of papal authority
    • indicates "papal infallibility"
  • exalt
    • to honor, hold in high esteem, glorify, praise
      • from ex (out, from ) + altus (high)
        • altus is from PIE *al- for "to grow, nourish"
    • we may exalt others, but not ourselves, as Jesus warned:
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" 
(Matthew 23:10-12).
  • exegesis
    • explanation, interpretation
    • from Greek exegeisthai for "explain, interpret"
      • ex (from) + hegesithai (to lead, guide)
    • an exegete is one who interprets or explains scripture
  • expiate / expiation
    • to atone for, make amends
    • = ex- (from, out of) + piare (propitiate, appease)
      • piare from PIE *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart"

exult

  • "to exalt" = to feel or show triumph, elation, jubilation
    • literally "to jump with joy"
    • ex- (out) + salire (to leap)

F

  • "fullness of the mystery"
  • historicism
    • the idea that ideas and cultures of a certain period are tied to that time period and are disconnected from any larger connections across history
    • historicism denies eternal truths
    • see JPII p. 50

G

  • generation
    • "this generation" = those currently alive who are from a lineage of a people/ families/ tribes/ nations
    • "generations" = the past lines of people, passed on by their parents and their parents, etc.
    • from generare "to bring forth, beget, produce"
      • from genus "race, kind"
      • PIE root *gene- "to give birth, beget"
  • Genesis
    • origin, birth, creation of the world
      • from PIE *gene for "to give birth, to beget"
  • glory / gloria / glorification
    • splendor of God
    • praise for God
      • from Latin gloria for fame, praise, honor
      • possibly related to PIE *gno- "to know"
        • as in "renowned"
  • God
    • from Old English god "supreme being"
      • proto-Germanic *guthan
        • PIE *ghut- ("that which is invoked") and *gheu(e) (to call, invoke)
    • Latin deus ("God") from PIE *deiwos "god" and root *dyeu- "to shine,"
  • Godhead, The
    • a reference to the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
  • gospel
    • from Old English godspell
      • = god (good) + spell (news)
  • grace
    • "The free and undeserved gift that God gives us to respond to our vocation to become his adopted children.
    • Grade helps us "conform our lives to his will"
    • sacramental grace and special grace (charisms) are the gift of the Holy Spirit (see CCC p. 880, CCC 1996, 2000)
  • Great Amen (the)
    • communal affirmation of the "concluding doxology" at the end of the Eucharistic prayer

H

  • hallelujah
    • from Hebrew hallalu-yah for "praise ye Jehovah"
      • hallalu = to praise, sing praise
      • yah = Yahweh
  • hardness of heart
    • unwillingness to listen to the Word, or to see plain truths
    • also called in the Bible, "stiff necks"
  • hermeneutics
    • = interpretive, interpreting
      • Greek, derived from Hermes, the god of speech, writing, eloquence
      • theory, interpretation and study of biblical texts
  • hesed
    • a deep, abiding, covenantal love
  • holocaust
    • burnt offerings
    • from Greek holo (whole) + kaustus "burned whole" or holokaustun "a thing wholly burnt"
      • from PIE *sol- "whole, well-kept" +
  • holy
    • consecrated, godly
    • from proto-Germanic *hailaga ("holy")
      • from PIE *kailo- "whole, uninjured"
  • Holy Spirit
    • Hebrew: "ruah"
    • Greek: "pneuma"
    • frequently represented by the Dove
  • holiness
    • = separation from sin, possession of virtue and dedication to the service of God
  • Hosana
    • imperative for "save" or "give salvation!"

I

  • I am who I am
    • God's name as told to Moses, Exodus 3:14
  • idolatry
    • putting anything else above God
    • Book of Wisdom, 13:10:
But wretched are they, and in dead things are their hopes, 
who termed gods things made by human hands;
  • from "idol" = for "false god"
  • idol contains also sense of an image
    • has origin in PIE oid- for "seeming, like, like that of..."
    • and Greek -oeidēs from eidos "form," idein "to see," and eidenai "to know, to see"
      • from PIE *weid- "to see"
  • idolatry means to put anything above god, be it an idol, other god, Satan, pride, sin, money, etc.
    • see CC 2113:
      • "Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God."
  • IHS
    • the first three letters of the Greek word for Jesus, ΙΗΣΟΥΣ
    • which in English reads IHSOUS
    • IHS is often sewn into the back of a priest's chasable (outer robe)
  • immutability & impassibility
    • the idea that God:
      • does not change (immutable)
      • is not subject to passions (emotions)
    • in that God is immutable...
      • He is never less than all good, all loving
        • He is never anything less than what He is
    • in that God is impassible,
      • he is not subject to whims, emotions or emotional attachments
    • to project human emotions or characteristics upon God is to make God in our image, not us in His
  • imputibility
    • < degree of responsibility for sin << todo
  • in persona christi
  • Incarnation
    • the embodiment of God in the person of Christ
    • from Latin incarnari "be made flesh
      • in (into) + carnis (flesh)
        • from PIE *en- + *sker- "to cut"
    • from CCC 432
      • "... Jesus united himself to all men through his Incarnation"
  • INRI
    • abbreviation for = Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum
      • Latin for "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews."
        • the Latin alphabet does not have the letter "J", which was expressed by the vowel "I"
      • from John 9:19-23:
Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written."
  • invention
    • "finding or discovery"
    • from Latin invenire, "to come upon, find out, discover"
      • in = "in, on" + venir = "to come"
        • PIE root *gwa for "to go, to come"
    • thus an "invention" is not something created by man, it is something discovered or found out by man
    • God creates the world; mankind "invents" or "discovers" it
    • used for the original "Invention of the Cross", which was the discovery of the three crosses from the biblical crucifixion (see Saint Helena, mother of Satin Constantine ("Constantine the Great")
    • see "Creation"
  • invoke/ invocation
    • to call upon God
    • << to do

J

  • Jesus
    • Hebrew for "God saves"
    • the Archangel Gabriel gave him this name at the Annunciation
  • justification
    • the process by which sinners may become righteous in the sight of Gd
    • justification comes through the sacraments
    • righteousness means being "infused" or "poured" upon by God's grace
  • lay (adj) / laity (n)
    • not clerical, or "of the people", as in "the lay people" or "the laity
      • from Latin laicus and Greek laikos "of the people,"; both from laos for folk, the people, the crowd; a tribe
    • also indicates common people as distinguished from "experts"

K

  • kenosis
    • humility

L

  • laity
    • the people, as opposed to the clergy
      • i.e., not ecclesiastical
    • also "lay
  • Lamb of God
    • in the Book of Leviticus God instructs the Hebrews to offer animals "without blemish" as sacrifice to pay for their sins
      • = the innocent for the guilty
    • John the Baptist prophesized Christ's sacrifice: "behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world"
  • Lent
    • 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter
    • or 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving
    • in preparation for the Lord's Resurrection at Easter
      • marking the 40 days of fasting in the wilderness by Jesus
    • from "the fast of lent"
    • with "lent" meaning "lengthening days" (Old Saxon lentin)
      • as in the increasing length of the day towards Spring
  • ligamen
    • under Canon law, an existing marriage tie
    • a state of ligamen constitutes an impediment to the contraction of another marriage
      • ligamen = from Latin ligare for "to bind, tie" from PIE *leig- (to bind, tie)
        • ligamen also implies a "moral restraint"
        • related to "lien", which means "right to hold a property until a debt is paid"
    • Diriment Impediment of Ligamen
      • is a canonical order that invalidates an attempt to administer a sacramental marriage on account of an existing state of ligamen
      • diriment = from Latin dirimens for "separating"
        • de- = away, away from + terere (to rub, wear) (from PIE *tere-, "to rub, turn")
        • related to "detriment" for "incapacity, harm, injury"
  • limbo
    • not part of Church doctrine
    • see CCC 1257-1261 for Church stance on "Necessity of Baptism"
  • liturgical
    • texts read in worship
  • liturgy
    • "the service (mass) of the Holy Eucharist"
    • or the conduct (form, presentation) of divine services
    • from Latin liturgia for "public service, public worship" and Greek leitourgia for "a liturgy; public duty, ministry,"
      • related to leitourgos for "one who performs a public ceremony or service
        • as opposed to leito- "public" (from laos "the people")
      • from PIE *werg- "to do" as in "work" (see Meaning of root *werg- by etymonline)
    • liturgical = "of or related to divine mass"
    • liturgical calendar = the calendar that guides Catholic masses over a year
    • the four parts of the Catholic liturgy (mass):
      1. Introductory Rites
        1. Procession
        2. Greeting
        3. Penitential Act
        4. Glory to God
        5. Collect (opening prayer)
      2. Liturgy of the Word
        1. ends with the "Universal Prayer" or "intercessions"
      3. Liturgy of the Eucharist
      4. Concluding Rites

M

  • Magisterium
    • from CCC Glossary, p. 889:
"The living teaching office of the Church, whose task is to give us authentic interpretation of the word of God... the Magisterium ensures the Church's fidelity to the teaching of the Apostles in matters of faith and morals"
  • martyr
    • from Greek for "witness"
    • from Matthew 10:13:
      • "But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny before my heavenly Father."
    • and Matthew 16:25:
      • "For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
        • thus early Christian martyrs refused to deny Christ in order to join him in Heaven
        • and conceived of martyrdom as "baptism in their own blood" which removed any stain of sin
          • making martyrdom "the ultimate penitence" (Papandrea, p. 79)
      • "confessors" were those who "confessed" to being Christian to the Roman authorities
    • see "Reading of the Church Fathers," by James L. Papandrea, p. 78-79
  • Mass
    • "Eucharistic service" or "celebration of the Eucharist
    • per Novus Ordo, Mass = "the Lord's Supper", an assembly of people for memorial celebration of the Lord
      • from Matthew 18:20: where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them
        • note that prior to Vatican II the real presence of Jesus was directly affirmed (transubstantiation)
    • Old English mæsse and Middle English messe or masse
      • the meaning is likely derived from the "dismissal" at the end of the service
      • as it is related to Latin mittere for "to let go, send" as in on a mission
        • thereby "mission" and "missionary" from "mass"
  • matrimony
    • motherhood + fruit of the union
      • from Latin mātrimōnium
      • mater (mother) + -mōnium (in the state of)
        • mater from PIE *matar-
  • Messiah
    • "the anointed one"
      • from "Hebrew mashah
        • = directly translated in Greek as Khristos
    • see Protoevangelium
      • the gatherer
      • also the expected one
    • CCC 436:
      • Just fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet and king"
  • mission
    • from Latin mittere for "to let go, send"
    • also related to "mass" (see above)
      • thus a "mission" and "missionary" = spreading the "mass"
  • moral
    • moral = Latin mos for "one's disposition (genitive of "moris")
      • possibly related to OE mod for "heart, spirit, courage, frame of mind"
  • morality
    • the morality of an act depends upon:
      • the object chosen
        • = what the "will" directs itself toward (what is wanted)
      • the end in view or intention
      • circumstances of the action
    • from CCC 1750

N-O

  • Nazarenes
    • followers of Jesus of Nazareth
    • term for early Christians (see Acts 24:5)
      • for more, see "The Way" below (Way, The)
  • Novus Ordo
    • known as "Vatican II" or "Second Vatican"
  • obey
    • see CCC 143
      • from Latin/ Greek for "to hear, listen" audio/audire << to do
  • oblate / oblation
    • oblation = a presentation or offering to God, esp. a sacrifice
    • from obalcioun for "an offering to God"
      • or oblatus related to offerre "to offer, to bring before"
      • thus ob- (unto, toward) + lātus (carried, borne)
    • oblate = a person devoted to religious work
    • in the Eucharistic prayer, "oblation" means "this presentation, this dedication":
Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service
  • see CCC
    • 529: Christ's oblation offered on the cross
    • 1037: Eucharist prayer as a call for mercy and to bring us to God
    • 1350: the Offertory
  • Offering, the
  • Offertory
  • Ordinary time
    • liturgical calendar period (2)
    • from "ordinal" for numbers
  • orthodox v. heterodox
    • ortho = "straight, right way"
    • hetero = "opinion, other"
  • orthodox
    • "correct teaching"
    • ortho (correct) + dox (opinion) = correct opinion
      • dox from PIE *dek- "to take, accept"
  • heterodox
    • the orthodox canonical New Testament books were affirmed by Irenaeus in 177 AD
      • his criteria was that the canon be of
        1. the Gospels
        2. teachings and writings by later companions of the Apostles (such as Luke, Jude, James)
        3. early Church traditions as handed down from the Gospels
          • Irenaeus attested to the authorship of the Gospels, especially John and Luke as companion of Paul

P

  • paraclete
    • "he who is called to one's side"
      • advocate
    • Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the "paraclete"
    • Jesus also called the Holy Spirit "the Spirit of truth"
    • see CCC 692
  • parochial
    • of or related to the parish
    • "parochial schools"
  • Parousia
    • the Second Coming of Christ
      • from Greek for "presence"
      • taken to mean "presence after absence" or "arrival"
  • Paschal
    • paschal = pertaining to Passover or Easter
      • from Aramaic pasha for "pass over"
      • Hebrew pesah "he passed over"
  • Paschal Mystery
    • Passion
    • Resurrection
    • Ascension
  • Passion, the
    • the suffering of Christ to save our sins
    • "passion" = suffering, or "to endure"
      • from Latin pati for "to undergo, endure"
      • thus later sense of "state of being affected by"
    • "the Passion Narrative" = the events of the last week of Jesus' life
      • from the "Triumphal Entry" to Jerusalem to his crucifixion, death, and burial
  • Patristic period
    • early Church period, from "fathers" (patria)
    • periods include:
      • age of the Apostolic Fathers
        • period of the New Testament, to about 80-90 AD
      • age of the Apologists, AD 80-180
        • period of Church fathers who inherited and taught the learning from the Apostolic Fathers
        • "apologist" means one who defends
          • apologies were especially important in order to explain and defend Christian thinking, especially as against pagans and heretical Christian movements
      • age of the Theologians, 180-324 AD
        • period leading up to the Council of Nicaea
        • "theologians" refers to one who explains
  • penitence / penance / penitential
    • sorrow for having done wrong/ sin
    • from Latin penitire "to regret"
      • related to Latin pæne for "nearly, almost, practically" as in "lacking", "incomplete"
  • philosophy
    • = truth discerned through reason
    • from Greek for "love of wisdom"
      • philo (loving, love of) + sophia (knowledge)
        • sophis = "wise, learned"
  • pious
    • devoted, reverent or observant of Christian propriety and/or Christianity itself
    • from Latin purus ("pure, clean")
    • and PIE *pu-io- "pure, to purify"
  • pleroma
    • Christ's continued life
  • prayer
    • = entreaty, petition from Latin precari "to ask, beg, pray"
      • PIE *prek "to ask, entreat"
  • presbyterium / presbyteros
    • < priest
  • profane
    • from pro fano meaning "out /outside of the temple" or "not allowed in the temple"
      • fanum = temple
    • i.e., what is not holy
  • profess
  • propitiate / propitiation
    • to atone, make amends
      • derived from Latin propitius for "favorable, gracious, kindly
      • and piare, related to pious
  • Protoevangelium
    • proto= before, first
    • evangelium = gospel (the good news)
    • the first gospel was God's testiminoly to Satan, Adam and Eve about what would happen to them
  • purgation

Q

R

  • radical
    • from "root"
    • so radical is changing the roots
    • << to complete
  • ransom
    • = a fee paid for the release of someone or something
    • see Timothy1, 2: 5
    • Jesus paid the "ransom" for man's sins
  • Reconciliation, Sacrament of
    • i.e., "confession"
    • the sacrament by which, "through God's mercy, the sinner is reconciled with God, and also with the Church, Christ's Body, which is wounded by sin" (CCC 1422)
    • re- (back, again) + conciliare (to make friendly)
      • from PIE *kele- "to shout" to come together( *kal-yo-)
  • rectitude
    • straightness, uprightness
      • from Latin rectus "straight"
      • PIE *reg- "move in a straight line"
  • redemption
    • re (back to) + emere (take, buy, gain)
      • from PIE *em- "to take, distribute"
  • relic
    • from Latin reliquiæ "the remains of a martyr.
      • from PIE *linkw-, or *leikw- for "to leave", with re- , thus, left behind
  • repent
    • to regret, apologize or seek forgiveness
      • with change in mind so as not to repeat the same mistake or sin
      • in other words, "repent" is different in "regret" in that
        • regret = regret
        • repent = regret with change of mind or habit
  • revelation
    • to make clear,
    • from Latin revelare "unveil, uncover, lay bare"
    • = re- (undo) + veil (covered) = uncovered
      • "veil" is related to "sail", "velum", "cloth"
  • righteous
    • sinless, just ("justified")
      • in the Old Testament, within the law
    • righteousness results from "justification" or grace
    • right ("just, good, in accordance with moral law") + -eous (in the state of)
      • = in the state of being right w/ God
    • right = from PIE *reg- "to move in a straight line"
  • rosary
    • a series or "garden" of prayers w/ beads to guide their recitation (saying of the prayers)
    • related to Latin hortulus animae for "prayerbook"
      • which means "little garden of the soul"

S

  • sacrament
    • "the mysteries"
      • from Greek mystērion for "secret rite or doctrine"
    • conferred by Christ < see CCC 875
    • makes real what is symbolic
  • sacred
    • hollowed, consecrated, made holy
    • from Old French sacrer "to consecrate, anoint"
      • PIE *sak- or *shnk "sanctify, make sacred"
        • (cognate from Hittite šaklai for "custom, rites," or zankila "to fine, punish")
  • sacristan
    • a church official in charge of the sacristy and its contents
    • and of the church in general
  • sacrifice
    • sacred offering
    • from Latin facere "to make, to do"
      • from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"
      • thus "make done"
The redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique, accomplished once for all;
yet it is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church. The same is
true of the one priesthood of Christ; it is made present through the
ministerial priesthood without diminishing the uniqueness of Christ's
priesthood: "Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his
ministers." 
- CCC 1545
  • saint
    • "holy one"
    • early Christians saw martyrs as saints as they were certain to be with God for their allegiance and sacrifice to the Lord
      • they were known as "saints for sure"
      • and their death dates, burial sites and remains became the focus of worship
      • the closer to the "relic" of a saint the closer to God
    • see Papandrea, p 80
  • Salvation history
    • = progressive revelation of God's plan to save humanity from death after Man's fall
  • salvific
    • as in "salvific character of God's Revelation" (JPII)
  • sanctify
    • to make sacred
    • from Latin sanctus "holy"
      • so santus (holy) + facere ("to make or do" from PIE *dhe- "to set, put")
  • scatter
    • from Greek : diabalein
  • Scripture
  • Scriptures, modes of interpretation
    • the "Four Senses of Scripture"
literal allegorical
moral anagogical

ex.

Interpreting "Jerusalem"
Mode or "sense" Meaning
Literal the city of the Jews
Allegorical the Church created by Christ: the meaning of that Church
Moral Jerusalem as the human soul: what is the instruction God gives us?
Anagogical Jerusalem as salvation: what we must do to get there
  • Septuagint
    • the earliest existing Greek translation of the Old Testament
    • the Apostles and early Christians used this version of the Hebrew Bible and incorporated it completely into the Old Testament
      • including the "Deuterocanonical" books, most of which are in the Catholic and not Protestant bible.
  • sin
    • OE synn for "moral wrongdoing, injury, mischief, enmity, feud, guilt, crime, offense against God, misdeed"
      • from PIE *snt-ya-, forming *es-ont- for "becoming"
        • in Germanic language groups, took on meaning of "it is true". as in "the sin is real"
    • CCC 431:
      • "Because sin is always an offences against God, only he can forgive it"
  • "sleeper awake"
    • = we are dead in sin (sleeping) and arise, or awake, with Christ
    • from Ephesians 5:14 (Paul):
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
  • soteriology
    • study of study of or belief system regarding salvation and its nature
    • understood in conjunction with ecclesiology, which is the study of or belief system regarding the Church and its nature
  • spirit
    • in Hebrew: ruah
    • see Holy Spirit
  • subsidiarity
    • the principle that "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order" (CCC 1883)
    • subsidiarity is a form of "salutary neglect," which holds that "subsidiary" (lower order) organizations grow more healthy (salutary) when autonomous from direct control, although coordinated in common cause with the larger organization.
    • subsidiary organizations include dioceses, parishes, and families
    • also part of the important concept of separation of Church and state
      • the Church should be independent of and free from interference by the state
  • symbiotic
    • together, in union
    • from Greek symbiosis for "living together,"; or symbioun "live together,"; and symbios "(one) living together", "husband or wife,"
      • syn- "together" + bios "life" (from PIE *gwei- "to live")
  • synod
    • synod
      • = ecclesiastical council
        • from Greek synodos = syn (together) + hodos (for "traveling, journeying, a way or path")
          • today = ecclesial gathering with the intent to discern the Holy Spirit's directions for the Church
    • "synodality" = "walking together"

T

  • testament
    • from testari for "be witness to"
    • from PIE *tri-st-i- for third person, as in a witness
  • theology
    • study of God's word (scripture) and of Church doctrine (beliefs)
    • from Greek "theologia"
      • theos = God + logia for "word, utterance, sayings"
      • origin in PIE *dhes- = any religious reference, likley from PIE *dhe- for "to set, to put"
        • thus what is set, what is put by God
  • transubstantiation
    • the change ("trans") of the bread and wine into the "substance" of Christ
    • "Sacramental Eucharistic Presence" = Christ's actual or "absolute" presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist
  • Trinity
    • the mystery of God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
      • called collectively the "Godhead" or the "Triune"
    • the Trinity was source of much conflict and contention in the early Church
      • and, ultimately, a core tenant of Church doctrine
        • Jews were offended that fellow Jews worshiped Christ, as Judaism was supposed to be monotheistic
        • Romans considered Christians atheistic, as they rejected Roman gods and refused to worship Caesar
  • Triune God
    • God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
    • God may also be used to refer to the Father
    • when we refer to Jesus Christ as "God" we are referring to Him as the "Second Person of the Trinity," but not "The Trinity" itself
  • typology
    • the study of "types", related representations or symbols
    • use of persons, places, etc that serve as antecedents
    • from "type/s" or" example" / "form"
      • Latin typus for "figure, image, form, kind"
        • from Greek typos for "to blow, strike," as in to carve, stamp, hammer, sculpt something
        • generally combined to indicate the figure or example of something:
          • as in archetype, genotype, stereotype
          • or as prefix, typecast, typewriter
      • PIE *tup- or *(s)teu- for "to push, stick, knock, beat
        • related to "steep" for a projection (sticking out or up, as in a church "steeple")
        • or "step" for "pushing out", thus "stepchild"
    • certain Old Testament people and events "types" "foreshadow" or "prefigure" New Testament people and events, or things of scriptural importance (baptism, Calvary, resurrection, etc.)
    • "type" may also be seen in the "print" of the nails in the hands of Christ that he showed to the Apostles after Resurrection (see John 20:25)

U-V-W

  • Vicar of Christ
  • venial / venial sin
    • sin that does not destroy the divine life (CCC 1855)
    • i.e., not "grave matter" (or if in grave matter, not in full knowledge or consent of the sin)
    • venial = venia for "forgiveness" or venialis for "pardonable"
  • vocation
    • a calling
    • from vocare "to call"
  • Way, the
    • from John 14;6 and Acts 9:2
      • reference to following Jesus
    • other terms or references to followers of Jesus include:
      • Nazarenes (Acts 24:5)
      • Christians (Acts 11:26)
      • Saints (Ephesians 1:1)
      • Disciples (used extensively in the Gospels and Acts)
  • Word, the
    • Dei Verbum from Second Vatican Council = "Word of God"
    • in Greek, logos from PIE *log-o-, "to collect, gather," (from *leg-) as in "to pick out words," thus "speech"
      • logos also means "reason" (as in "logic")
  • John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
  • John 1:14:
And the Word became flesh 
and made his dwelling among us, 
and we saw his glory, 
the glory as of the Father’s only Son, 
full of grace and truth.
  • worship
    • from "worth" + "ship" as in "state of worthiness"

X-Y-Z

Other terms

  • remnant of the faithful
  • Eucharistic revival

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

  • abbreviated as "RCIA"
  • = lessons on Catholicism and process of full conversion for adults

RCIA Process

from Cathedral of St. Thomas Moore, 2022-23

  1. Period of inquiry – which is where we are now, at the beginning. This is a time to ask questions, learn, talk to people, and see where you on your faith journey.
  2. Rite of Welcome – a symbolic gesture indicating that you want to pursue a closer relationship with God and with God’s people.
  3. Period of Catechumen – this is the deepest period of growth and learning. The term Catechumen comes from the phrase to echo or to resound. This is the longest period and helps understand the relationship of the head and the heart in our faith journey.
  4. Rite of Election – this is a Rite where our Bishop publicly and formally announces your welcome to the church and your intent to come into full communion.
  5. Period of purification and enlightenment – this period takes place during the period of Lent, the 40-day period before the summit of Easter. This period emphasizes prayer and introspection.
  6. Celebration of the sacraments at Easter – coming into full communion with the church at the Easter Vigil. The most joyful celebration also celebrates our new brothers and sisters in faith.
  7. Mystagogy – the continuation of your faith journey immediately following your reception into full communion with the church.

Vocabulary of RCIA

adopted from Cathedral of St. Thomas Moore, 2022-23

  • candidate
    • a baptized person preparing for full communion in the Catholic Church, through the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation
  • catechesis
    • the teaching of Christian doctrine in an organized and systematic way to help form people as disciples of Jesus Christ.
  • catechists
    • Those who perform the ministry of catechesis (CCC 5, 426-427)
  • catechumen
    • a person who is preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion (CCCC 1248)
  • catechumenate
    • religious instruction and formation in preparation for Christian Initiation
    • its aim is to bring conversion and faith to maturity within the parish community
  • conversion
    • a radical reorientation of the whole life away from sin and evil, and toward God (CCC 1423, 1427, 1431)
  • faith
    • personal adherence of man to God
    • also and inseparably, a free assent to to the whole truth that God has revealed (CCC 150)
    • faith is a personal act
      • = the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself (CCC 166)
  • Godparent
    • the sponsor of one who is baptized
      • who assumes a responsibility to assist the newly baptized, child or adult, on the journey of the Christian life (CCC 1255)
  • mystagogy
    • a deeper reflection on the mysteries of the Catholic faith;
    • the period of religious instruction and formation following immediately after the reception of the sacraments of initiation by adults (CCC 1075)
  • Trinity
    • the mystery of one God in three Persons:
      • Father
      • Son
      • Holy Spirit
    • the revealed truth of the Holy Trinity is at the very root of the Church's living faith as expressed in the Creed (CCC 232, 237, 249, 253-256)

Bible structure

  • 46 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books

Old Testament

  • four sections
    • Pentateuch
    • Historical books
    • Wisdom
    • Prophets

New Testament

  • Gospels
  • Acts
  • Pauline Epistles
  • Catholic Epistles
  • Revelation

Ten Commandments

Traditional Catechetical Formula

  1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day.
  4. Honor your father and your mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Deuteronomy

  1. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
  2. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
  3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
  4. Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
  5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
  6. You shall not kill.
  7. Neither shall you commit adultery.
  8. Neither shall you steal.
  9. Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor.
  10. Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not desire your neighbor's house; you shall not desire your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's.

Exodus 20:2-17

  1. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. I am the LORD your God,
  2. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
  3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
  4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
  5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
  6. You shall not kill.
  7. You shall not commit adultery.
  8. You shall not steal.
  9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's.

See:

Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

  • wisdom
  • understanding
  • counsel
  • fortitude
  • knowledge
  • piety
  • fear of the Lord

Seven Mysteries of Faith

  • >> to do

Catechism translations

Chapter One: Man's Capacity for God
37 In the historical conditions in which he finds himself, however, man experiences many difficulties in coming to know God by the light of reason alone:

Though human reason is, strictly speaking, truly capable by its own natural power and light of attaining to a true and certain knowledge of the one personal God, who watches over and controls the world by his providence, and of the natural law written in our hearts by the Creator; yet there are many obstacles which prevent reason from the effective and fruitful use of this inborn faculty. For the truths that concern the relations between God and man wholly transcend the visible order of things, and, if they are translated into human action and influence it, they call for self-surrender and abnegation. The human mind, in its turn, is hampered in the attaining of such truths, not only by the impact of the senses and the imagination, but also by disordered appetites which are the consequences of original sin. So it happens that men in such matters easily persuade themselves that what they would not like to be true is false or at least doubtful.

- Pius XII, Humani Generis, 561: DS 3875

Overview:
  • Made in the image of God, man is capable of understanding God's knowledge as relates to mankind, but...
    • God's knowledge is shielded from man by man's incomplete perception of it
    • and, worse, it is further misguided by sin.
  • As a result, men deny, deflect, or ignore God's wisdom
    • by hiding behind their own ignorance
    • which they use to justify their denial of God's knowledge.
  • Man can only perceive God's knowledge by surrendering and rejecting his own limited perceptions

Translation:

  • God's relation with man can be understood by reason
  • Yet man's reason has obstacles to that understanding
  • Man's reason ("the human mind") cannot easily attain "such truths"
    • because the relation between God and man goes beyond what can be observed ("visible order of things")
    • as it is "impacted" (hampered) by senses (what man imperfectly perceives) and imagination (what man imagines or dreams of)
  • to begin to perceive God's truths (that go beyond what can be seen by man), man must "transcend" or get beyond what is seen in "human action"
    • "self-surrender and abnegation" (renouncing man's conceit) are required
  • worse, man's perceptions are "disordered" (negatively impacted by) "appetites" (desires) that "are the consequences of original sin."
  • so when man false short of pure reason (incorrect perception, sin, etc.)
    • he convinces ("easily persuade") himself that what he doesn't want to be true (God's word) is not true, or "doubtful" (likely not true)
    • i.e. = he fools himself

Other notes

  • the visible and invisible = parts of revelation
  • we can reason God but we cannot know the Trinity without Jesus
  • God reveals himself through visible creation
52 God, who "dwells in unapproachable light", wants to communicate his own divine life to the men he freely created, in order to adopt them as his sons in his only-begotten Son.3 By revealing himself God wishes to make them capable of responding to him, and of knowing him and of loving him far beyond their own natural capacity.
  • "unapproachable light" = God told Moses not to come closer
  • God speaks to humans in their own terms, as they cannot fully understand God ("beyond their natural ability")
  • therefore, God "reveals himself" in ways beyond their "natural capacity"
67 Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to 84 improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church.
75 "Christ the Lord, in whom the entire Revelation of the most high God is summed up, commanded the apostles to preach the Gospel, which had been promised beforehand by the prophets, and which he fulfilled in his own person and promulgated with his own lips. In preaching the Gospel, they were to communicate the gifts of God to all men. This Gospel was to be the source of all 1 71 saving truth and moral discipline."

(DV 7; cf. Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15)

The Magisterium of the Church

85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus 888-892 Christ." (DV 10§ 2) This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication, and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith." (DV 10 § 2) Mindful of Christ's words to his apostles: "He who hears you, hears me," (49 Lk 10:16; cf. LG 20) the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.

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