Quick Reference
Catholic Glossary
Catholic vocabulary can feel like a second language, especially for anyone new to the faith. Here are plain, accurate definitions for the words you'll meet most often across this site — and at your own parish.
A
Absolution — The words by which a priest forgives sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, acting in the person of Christ.
Advent — The four-week season of preparation and expectant waiting before Christmas. See The Liturgical Year.
Agnus Dei — Latin for "Lamb of God"; the prayer sung or said just before Communion at Mass.
Alb — The long white garment a priest or deacon wears at Mass. See Vestments & Sacred Vessels.
Angelus — A traditional prayer recalling the Annunciation, prayed at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m.
Apologetics — The reasoned defense and explanation of the Catholic faith. See the Apologetics page.
Apostolic Succession — The unbroken transmission of teaching authority and sacramental power from the apostles to today's bishops. See The Papacy & the Magisterium.
B
Baptism — The first sacrament of initiation, washing away original and personal sin and making one a child of God and member of the Church.
Beatific Vision — The direct, unmediated sight of God enjoyed by the blessed in heaven. See The Four Last Things.
Beatification — The step before canonization, in which the Church declares a deceased person may be honored (though not yet publicly venerated by the whole Church) as "Blessed."
C
Canon Law — The Catholic Church's own body of internal law governing her life and practice.
Canonization — The Church's formal, infallible declaration that a person is a saint in heaven and may be publicly venerated by the whole Church.
Catechesis — Systematic instruction in the Catholic faith.
Catechumen — An unbaptized adult preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation through OCIA.
Chalice — The cup used at Mass to hold the wine that becomes the Precious Blood.
Chasuble — The outer vestment a priest wears over everything else at Mass. See Vestments & Sacred Vessels.
Ciborium — A covered vessel holding consecrated hosts for Communion or reservation in the tabernacle.
Communion of Saints — The spiritual union of all the faithful — on earth, in Purgatory, and in heaven — as one body in Christ.
Confirmation — The sacrament that seals and strengthens the grace of Baptism with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Consecration — The moment at Mass when bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ; also, more broadly, any solemn dedication of a person or object to God.
Contrition — Sorrow for sin, joined to a resolve not to sin again — the necessary first step of a good Confession.
D
Deacon — A man ordained to the first degree of Holy Orders, called to serve the Church through the ministry of the Word, the altar, and charity.
Deposit of Faith — The full body of revealed truth handed down from the apostles in Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
Deuterocanonical — The seven Old Testament books (and portions of two others) recognized by the Catholic Church but not the Protestant canon. See How We Got the Bible.
Diocese — A local territorial division of the Church governed by a bishop.
Dogma — A truth revealed by God that the Church's Magisterium has definitively proposed for belief by all the faithful.
Doxology — A short hymn of praise to God, such as "Glory be to the Father..."
E
Ecumenism — Efforts toward the restoration of unity among all Christians.
Encyclical — A formal papal letter, usually addressed to the whole Church, on a matter of doctrine or morals.
Epiphany — The feast celebrating the Magi's visit and Christ's manifestation to the Gentile world.
Eucharist — The sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, truly, really, and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine; also called Holy Communion or the Mass.
Evangelization — Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and life so that others might come to faith.
Ex Cathedra — Literally "from the chair"; describes the rare, solemn exercise of papal infallibility. See The Papacy & the Magisterium.
Excommunication — A severe canonical penalty that excludes a Catholic from receiving the sacraments, intended to be medicinal, calling the person back to full communion.
G
Genuflect — To bend the right knee to the ground, a gesture of reverence made especially toward the Blessed Sacrament.
Grace — God's free and undeserved gift of His own life and help, given to bring us into communion with Him.
H
Hierarchy — The sacred order of bishops, priests, and deacons who govern and serve the Church.
Homily — The reflection on the Scripture readings given by a priest or deacon during Mass.
Host — The bread used at Mass, which, once consecrated, becomes the Body of Christ.
I
Icon — A sacred image, especially in the Byzantine tradition, understood as a window into the reality it depicts rather than mere decoration.
Immaculate Conception — The dogma that Mary was preserved free from original sin from the first moment of her existence. See Mary, Mother of God.
Incarnation — The truth that the eternal Son of God took on human nature and was born of the Virgin Mary.
Indulgence — The remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven, granted through the Church's ministry.
L
Laity — The baptized faithful who are not ordained clergy or vowed religious, called to sanctify the world from within.
Liturgy — The Church's official public worship, above all the Mass and the other sacraments.
M
Magisterium — The Church's living teaching office, exercised by the Pope and bishops in communion with him. See The Papacy & the Magisterium.
Martyr — One who dies rather than deny the Catholic faith, giving the ultimate witness (Greek martys, "witness").
Mass — The Catholic Church's central act of worship, re-presenting Christ's one sacrifice on the Cross and culminating in the Eucharist.
Matrimony — The sacrament of marriage between one man and one woman. See Vocations.
Missal — The liturgical book containing the prayers and instructions for celebrating Mass.
Monstrance — The ornate vessel used to display a consecrated host for adoration. See Vestments & Sacred Vessels.
Mortal Sin — A grave sin committed with full knowledge and full consent, which severs a soul's relationship with sanctifying grace.
N
Novena — A nine-day period of private or public prayer for a special intention.
Nuncio — The Pope's diplomatic representative to a nation's government.
O
OCIA — The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, the process by which adults enter the Catholic Church, formerly called RCIA. See the OCIA page.
Orthodoxy — Right belief, in accord with the Church's authentic teaching; also, capitalized, the family of Eastern Christian Churches not in communion with Rome.
P
Parish — A stable local community of the faithful within a diocese, normally centered on a particular church building.
Paschal — Relating to Easter or, in the Old Testament, to the Passover it fulfills.
Paten — The small plate holding the host at Mass. See Vestments & Sacred Vessels.
Patron Saint — A saint regarded as a special heavenly intercessor for a person, place, or cause, often chosen at Confirmation.
Penance — Both the Sacrament of Reconciliation and, more broadly, acts of prayer, fasting, or sacrifice undertaken to atone for sin.
Pentecost — The feast, fifty days after Easter, commemorating the Holy Spirit's descent on the apostles and the Church's birth.
Purgatory — The final purification, after death, of those who die in God's friendship but are not yet perfectly holy. See The Four Last Things.
R
Real Presence — The Catholic belief that Christ is truly, really, and substantially present in the consecrated Eucharist.
Relic — A physical remnant of a saint's body or belongings, venerated as a reminder of that person's holiness.
Rosary — A Scripture-based prayer combining the Our Father, Hail Mary, and meditation on the mysteries of Christ's life.
S
Sacrament — An efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ, that truly gives the grace it signifies; the Church recognizes seven.
Sacramental — A sacred sign — such as holy water, blessed medals, or the Sign of the Cross — that disposes the soul to receive grace, distinct from the seven sacraments themselves.
Sanctifying Grace — The habitual, supernatural gift of God's own life dwelling in the soul, first given in Baptism.
Schism — The refusal of submission to the Pope or of communion with the Church, without a denial of doctrine (which would instead be heresy).
See (Holy See) — The jurisdiction and authority of the Bishop of Rome; "the Holy See" refers to the Pope's central government of the universal Church.
Stole — The narrow band worn by a deacon, priest, or bishop as the specific sign of ordination. See Vestments & Sacred Vessels.
T
Tabernacle — The locked receptacle in a church where the consecrated Eucharist is reserved.
Theotokos — Greek for "God-bearer"; the title "Mother of God" defined for Mary at the Council of Ephesus. See Mary, Mother of God.
Transubstantiation — The Church's term for how bread and wine become, in substance, the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass, while retaining the outward appearances of bread and wine.
Trinity — One God in three divine Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. See The Holy Trinity.
V
Veneration — The honor given to Mary and the saints, distinct from the worship (latria) owed to God alone.
Venial Sin — A less serious sin that weakens, but does not sever, a soul's friendship with God.
Vespers — Evening prayer, part of the Church's Liturgy of the Hours.
Vestment — Sacred garments worn by clergy at liturgical celebrations. See Vestments & Sacred Vessels.
Vulgate — St. Jerome's fourth-century Latin translation of the Bible, the Church's standard biblical text for over a thousand years.
A word of Scripture
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:6