Roman Catholic Church - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchyindulgence - the remission by the pope of the temporal punishment in purgatory that is still due for sins even after absolution; "in the Middle Ages the unrestricted sale of indulgences by pardoners became a widespread abuse" Divine Office - canonical prayers recited daily by priests (e.g. the breviary of the Roman Catholic Church) placebo - (Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead confession - (Roman Catholic Church) the act of a penitent disclosing his sinfulness before a priest in the sacrament of penance in the hope of absolution beatification - (Roman Catholic Church) an act of the Pope who declares that a deceased person lived a holy life and is worthy of public veneration; a first step toward canonization canonisation, canonization - (Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church) the act of admitting a deceased person into the canon of saints Mass - (Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Churches) the celebration of the Eucharist novena - a Roman Catholic devotion consisting of prayers on nine consecutive days Stations, Stations of the Cross - (Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of 14 prayers before the 14 stations of the cross (referring to Jesus' suffering and crucifixion) monstrance - (Roman Catholic Church) a vessel (usually of gold or silver) in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adoration pallium - (Roman Catholic Church) vestment consisting of a band encircling the shoulders with two lappets hanging in front and back ultramontanism - (Roman Catholic Church) the policy that the absolute authority of the church should be vested in the pope sursum corda - (Roman Catholic Church) a Latin versicle meaning `lift up your hearts' breviary - (Roman Catholic Church) a book of prayers to be recited daily certain priests and members of religious orders missal - (Roman Catholic Church) a book containing all the prayers and responses needed to celebrate Mass throughout the year Vulgate - the Latin edition of the Bible translated from Hebrew and Greek mainly by St. Jerome at the end of the 4th century; as revised in 1592 it was adopted as the official text for the Roman Catholic Church Paternoster - (Roman Catholic Church) the Lord's Prayer in Latin; translates as `our father' Mass card - (Roman Catholic Church) a card sent to a bereaved family that says the sender has arranged for a Mass to be said in memory of the deceased spiritual bouquet - (Roman Catholic Church) a card indicating that the sender will perform certain devotional acts on behalf of another kiss of peace, pax - (Roman Catholic Church) a greeting signifying Christian love for those assisting at the Eucharist gradual - (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass Catholic Church - any of several churches claiming to have maintained historical continuity with the original Christian Church Rome - the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church Curia - (Roman Catholic Church) the central administration governing the Roman Catholic Church Curia - (Roman Catholic Church) the central administration governing the Roman Catholic Church Rota - (Roman Catholic Church) the supreme ecclesiastical tribunal for cases appealed to the Holy See from diocesan courts apostolic delegate - (Roman Catholic Church) a representative of the Holy See in a country that has no formal diplomatic relations with it bishop - a clergyman having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve apostles of Christ Brother - (Roman Catholic Church) a title given to a monk and used as form of address; "a Benedictine Brother" cardinal - (Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes dean - (Roman Catholic Church) the head of the College of Cardinals Doctor of the Church, Doctor - (Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the othodoxy of their theological teaching; "the Doctors of the Church greatly influenced Christian thought down to the late Middle Ages" domestic prelate - (Roman Catholic Church) a priest who is an honorary member of the papal household |