Glossary
Church terms often misread, explained from the passages that define them.
A
- Absolution
- Abstinence
- Act and potency
- Ad limina visit
- Adoration
- Advent
- Almsgiving
- Altar
- Analogy
- Anamnesis
- Angel
- Anger
- Anointing of the Sick
- Antichrist
- Apocrypha
- Apostasy
- Apostolate
- Apostolic constitution
- Apostolic exhortation
- Apostolic succession
- Apparition
- Ascension
- Assumption
- Auxiliary bishop
B
C
- Calumny
- Canon of Scripture
- Canonization
- Capital sins
- Cardinal
- Cardinal virtues
- Catechesis
- Catechism
- Catechumen
- Celibacy
- Censure
- Charism
- Charity
- Chastity
- Chrism
- Christian initiation
- Christmas
- Church
- Cleric
- Co-redemptrix
- Coadjutor bishop
- Code of Canon Law
- Common good
- Common priesthood
- Communion of saints
- Concupiscence
- Concupiscible and irascible
- Confession
- Confirmation
- Conscience
- Consecrated life
- Consecration
- Consolation
- Consubstantial
- Contemplative prayer
- Contrition
- Cooperation in evil
- Counsel
- Covenant
- Covetousness
- Creation
- Creed
D
- Deacon
- Death
- Death penalty
- Decalogue
- Deification
- Delict
- Demon
- Deposit of faith
- Desolation
- Detraction
- Deuterocanonical books
- Devil
- Dicastery
- Diocese
- Discernment of spirits
- Dispensation
- Divine Mercy
- Divorce
- Dogma
- Double effect
- Dryness
E
- Easter
- Easter Triduum
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Ecclesial communion
- Ecclesial community
- Economy
- Ecumenical council
- Ecumenism
- Encyclical
- Envy
- Epiclesis
- Episcopal conference
- Eucharist
- Evangelical counsels
- Evangelization
- Ex opere operato
- Examination of conscience
- Excommunication
- Exorcism
- Extraordinary form
F
G
H
- Heaven
- Hell
- Heresy
- Holiness
- Holy Communion
- Holy day of obligation
- Holy Orders
- Holy See
- Homily
- Hope
- Human dignity
- Hypostatic union
I
- Immaculate Conception
- Impediment
- Imprimatur
- Imputability
- Incardination
- Incarnation
- Indulgence
- Indult
- Inerrancy
- Infallibility
- Inspiration
- Intercession
- Interdict
- Intrinsic evil
- Irregularity
J
K
L
- Laity
- Last things
- Latae sententiae
- Latin Church
- Lectio divina
- Lector and acolyte
- Lent
- Lex orandi, lex credendi
- Limbo
- Litany
- Liturgical year
- Liturgy
- Liturgy of the Hours
- Lord’s Day
- Love
- Lust
M
- Magisterium
- Marriage
- Martyr
- Mass
- Matrimonial consent
- Matter and form
- Mediatrix
- Meditation
- Merit
- Messiah
- Miracle
- Mission
- Modesty
- Mortal sin
- Mother of God
- Motu proprio
- Munus
- Mystery
- Mystical Body
N
O
- Oath
- Obedience
- Oblation
- Ordinary
- Original holiness
- Original sin
- Orthodox Churches
- Outside the Church there is no salvation
P
- Pallium
- Papal bull
- Paraclete
- Parish
- Paschal mystery
- Passover
- Pastor
- Patience
- Patriarch
- Peace
- Penitential Act
- Perjury
- Perpetual virginity
- Piety
- Pilgrimage
- Pope
- Popular piety
- Prayer
- Precepts of the Church
- Predestination
- Preferential option for the poor
- Prelature
- Pride
- Priest
- Primacy
- Private revelation
- Privation
- Privilege
- Procession
- Profession
- Prophet
- Providence
- Prudence
- Purgatory
Q
R
- Real Presence
- Redemption
- Relics
- Religious
- Religious freedom
- Reparation
- Rescript
- Restitution
- Resurrection of the body
- Revelation
- Rite
- Roman Curia
- Roman Rota
- Rosary
S
- Sabbath
- Sacrament
- Sacramental
- Sacramental character
- Sacramental grace
- Sacred Heart
- Sacrifice
- Sacrilege
- Saint
- Satisfaction
- Scandal
- Scapular
- Schism
- Second Coming
- Secular
- Self-control
- Seminary
- Sense of the faith
- Senses of Scripture
- Septuagint
- Servile fear
- Simony
- Sin
- Sin against the Holy Spirit
- Sloth
- Social justice
- Solemnity
- Solidarity
- Soul
- Species
- Subsidiarity
- Suppositum
- Synderesis
- Synod
T
- Tabernacle
- Temperance
- Temporal punishment
- Temptation
- Theological virtues
- Thomism
- Tradition
- Transubstantiation
- Trinity
- Typology