Glossary

Terms starting with A — browse A–Z or jump to the blog.

Terms — A

41 terms

Glossary
Aaron

Aaron is Moses's brother and Israel's first High Priest — a type of Christ the eternal High Priest, whose Levitical sacrificial ministry foreshadowed the perfect and final sacrifice of Calvary.
Glossary
Abortion

Abortion is the deliberate and direct killing of a human being in the initial phase of its existence between conception and birth.
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Abraham

Abraham is the patriarch of Israel — the man of faith who obeyed God's call, received the covenant of promise, and became the spiritual father of all who believe.
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Absolution

Absolution is the act by which a priest, in the person of Christ, pardons the sins of a penitent in the Sacrament of Penance — actually forgiving sins in Christ's name.
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Acedia

Acedia is the capital sin of spiritual sloth — not mere laziness but a sadness and indifference toward the goods of one's relationship with God, leaving the soul unable to engage with its own salvation.
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Acedia

Acedia is a form of spiritual sloth or indifference that constitutes a refusal of the joy that comes from God.
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Acolyte

An acolyte is a ministry in the Church, either instituted or extraordinary, tasked with assisting at the altar.
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Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve are the first human beings, created by God in His image, common ancestors of the human race.
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Adonai

Adonai is a Hebrew name for God meaning 'Lord,' used by the Israelites out of reverence for the sacred name Yahweh.
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Adoration

Adoration is the acknowledgment of God as God — the primary act of the virtue of religion and the highest form of prayer. Only God is owed adoration.
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Adultery

Adultery is a significant concept in Catholic theology or moral teaching.
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Advent

Advent is the liturgical season of preparation for the dual coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas and at the end of time.
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Advent

Advent is the four-week season beginning the Church's year — a time of preparation for Christmas and expectation of Christ's Second Coming, marked by prayer, hope, and penance.
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Agnosticism

The view that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable.
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Alleluia

A liturgical exclamation of praise to God, meaning 'Praise the Lord.'
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Almsgiving

Almsgiving is the giving of material aid to those in need — a pillar of Christian penance alongside prayer and fasting, and an expression of love for God in the poor.
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Altar

The altar is the holy table on which the sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental signs.
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Amen

Amen is a Hebrew word used to express agreement, affirmation, and belief, meaning 'So be it' or 'Truly.'
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Amen

A Hebrew word used to express agreement, affirmation, and belief, meaning 'So be it' or 'Truly.'
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Analogy of Faith

The Analogy of Faith is the coherence of the truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of Revelation.
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Anamnesis

Anamnesis is the liturgical act of remembering God's saving deeds — not as mere mental recollection, but as the sacramental re-presentation that makes the sacrifice of Calvary truly present at every Mass.
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Anamnesis

The liturgical 'memorial' in the Mass that makes present the Paschal Mystery of Christ.
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Anaphora

The Anaphora is the Eucharistic Prayer, the center and high point of the entire liturgical celebration.
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Angels

Angels are purely spiritual, personal, immortal creatures of intelligence and will — God's messengers and servants who minister to human beings throughout salvation history.
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Anger

Anger is a significant concept in Catholic theology or moral teaching.
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Annunciation

The Annunciation is the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary to announce she would be the Mother of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament of healing for those who are seriously ill — uniting them to Christ's Passion and granting comfort, strength, and forgiveness.
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Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament given to those who are seriously ill to provide them with the spiritual and physical strength of Christ.
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Antichrist

The Antichrist is a deceptive figure or movement that will appear before the Second Coming to lead people away from the truth.
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Antioch

The ancient city where the followers of Jesus were first called 'Christians.'
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Apologetics

The religious discipline of defending doctrines through systematic argumentation.
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Apostasy

Apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith by a baptized person — the complete and deliberate rejection of all that God has revealed.
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Apostolate

The apostolate is the work of all members of the Church who participate in the mission of Christ and the Apostles.
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Apostolic Succession

Apostolic Succession is the unbroken chain of authority from the Apostles to today's bishops — the guarantee of doctrinal continuity and sacramental validity in the Church.
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Apparition

An apparition is a supernatural appearance of a heavenly being, such as Jesus, Mary, or a saint, to a person on earth.
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Arminianism

A Protestant theology emphasizing human free will in salvation.
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Ascesis

Ascesis is the practice of spiritual discipline and self-denial to grow in holiness and master one's passions.
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Assumption of Mary

The Assumption is the dogma that the Virgin Mary, having completed her earthly life, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory.
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Atheism

Atheism is the denial that God exists — either theoretical (explicit denial) or practical (living as if God does not exist) — treated by the Church as a sin against the virtue of religion.
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Atheism

Atheism is the rejection or denial of the existence of God, a sin against the First Commandment.
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Atonement

Atonement is the reconciliation of humanity with God through Christ's perfect sacrifice — making full satisfaction for sin and restoring the friendship between God and man.