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Research The Catechism
Section A
ABORTION: Deliberate termination of
pregnancy by killing the unborn child. Such direct abortion, willed either as an
end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church attaches the
canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life
moral precepts and,
2271,
2274
and respect for life,
2770
those who help obtain an,
2272
ABRAHAM: The man of faith and
patriarch of Israel with whom God made a covenant which promised him land in
which to live and many descendants, a great people for whom the Lord would be
their God. Through Abraham God formed the people to whom he would later give the
law by revelation to Moses. With the advent of Christ, the people of Israel
would serve as the root to which the Gentiles would be grafted by their coming
to believe.
Abraham's prayer,
2569,
2570,
2592
calling of,
59,
72,
762
divine blessing and,
59,
1080
God's covenant with,
72,
992,
2571
Jesus, stem of,
527
as model of hope,
165,
1819
as model of obedience in believing God,
144-46,
165,
2572,
2676
Muslims and the faith of,
841
a people sprung from its father Abraham,
63,
709,
762,
1541
promises made to,
422,
705,
706,
1222,
1716,
1725,
2571,
2619
ABSOLUTION: An essential element of the
Sacrament of Penance in which the priest, by the power entrusted to the Church
by Christ, pardons the sin(s) of the penitent (1424, 1442, 1449, 1453, 1480).
ACEDIA: A less common synonym for sloth,
one of the seven "capital" sins. (1866,
2733,
2755). See also Sloth
ACOLYTE: A liturgical minister appointed
to assist at liturgical celebrations. Priests and deacons receive this ministry
before they are ordained. Lay men may be installed permanently in the ministry
of acolyte through a rite of institution and blessing (903, 1672).
ADAM: According to the creation
story in Genesis, the first man. From this story the Church has learned that
humanity was originally created in a state of holiness and justice and that the
first ancestors of the human race lost this state for themselves and all
humanity by their sin ("original sin"). Christ is called the "second" or "new
Adam" because he ushered in the new creation by forgiving sin and restoring
humanity to the grace of God's friendship lost by original sin.
Adam's sin and its consequences,
402-05,
416-17,
1736
grace of original holiness and,
375,
399
Jesus Christ and,
359,
388,
402,
504,
505,
518,
532,
538,
539,
635
ADORATION: The acknowledgment of God as
God, Creator and Savior, the Lord and Master of everything that exists. Through
worship and prayer, the Church and individual persons give to God the adoration
which is the first act of the virtue of religion. The first commandment of the
law obliges us to adore God.
blessing and,
2626
of God,
2096
of the Incarnate Word by the angels,
333
as principal act of the virtue of religion,
2096,
2628 (see also God)
sacred art and,
2502
ADULTERY: Marital infidelity, or sexual
relations between two partners, at least one of whom is married to another
party. The sixth commandment and the New Testament forbid adultery absolutely.
definition of,
2380
and desire,
2336,
2528
and divorce,
1650,
2384
and God s commandment,
2052,
2055,
2196
gravity of,
1756, 1856, 1858,
2380,
2400
and the heart of man, 1853,
2517
and insults against the dignity of marriage,
2380-81
ADVENT: The liturgical season of four
weeks devoted to preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
"Come,
Lord Jesus,"
2853
coming of Christ and the Last Judgment,
1040
coming of God s kingdom brought on by signs and miracles,
542,
1505
coming of God s kingdom and the defeat of Satan s kingdom,
550
coming of the Holy Spirit and Pentecost,
729,
732
expectation of the coming of Christ,
840
preparation for Christ s coming,
522-24
"Thy kingdom come,"
2816-21,
2859
transfiguration as a foretaste of Christ s glorious coming,
556
uncertainty of the time of Christ s glorious coming,
673-74,
1040,
2772
ALMSGIVING: Money or goods given to the
poor as an act of penance or fraternal charity. Almsgiving, together with prayer
and fasting, are traditionally recommended to foster the state of interior
penance.
as a
form of penance,
1434,
1438
in the New Law,
1969
as works of charity and mercy,
2447,
2462
ALTAR: The center and focal point of a
church, where the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is made present under
sacramental signs in the Mass. Among the Israelites the altar was the place
where sacrifices were offered to God. The Christian altar represents two aspects
of the mystery of the Eucharist, as the altar of sacrifice where Christ as the
sacrificial victim offers himself for our sins and as the table of the Lord
where Christ gives himself to us as food from heaven.
blessing of the,
1672
celebration of the Eucharist and the meanings of the,
1383
Eucharist, sacrament of the,
1372
the heart as,
786,
2655
of heaven,
1383,
1589
the Lord s altar built by Abraham,
2570
New Covenant and the,
1182
sacrifice of the cross and the,
1182,
1364,
1366-68,
1939
AMEN: A Hebrew word meaning "truly; it is
so; let it be done," signifying agreement with what has been said. The prayers
of the New Testament and of the Church's liturgy, and the Creeds, conclude with
"amen." Jesus used the word to introduce solemn assertions, to emphasize their
trustworthiness and authority.
Christ,
the definitive amen of the Father s love,
1065
in the Eucharistic liturgy,
1345
the last word of the "Creed" and of Sacred Scripture,
1061
meaning of,
1062-64,
1348,
1396,
2856,
2865
ANALOGY/ANALOGY OF FAITH: The coherence of the
truths of the faith among themselves and within the whole plan of Revelation.
analogy
of faith,
114
of biblical revelation,
128-30 (see also Typology)
the Creator and the likeness of His creatures,
41,
2500
spiritual life and its analogy with the natural life,
1210-12
ANAMNESIS: The "remembrance" of God's
saving deeds in history in the liturgical action of the Church, which inspires
thanksgiving and praise (1103). Every Eucharistic Prayer contains an anamnesis
or memorial in which the Church calls to mind the Passion, Resurrection, and
glorious return of Christ Jesus (1103,
1106,
1354,
1362).
ANAPHORA: The Eucharistic Prayer--the
prayer of thanksgiving and consecration--which is the heart and summit of the
celebration of the Mass (1352).
ANGEL: A spiritual, personal, and immortal
creature, with intelligence and free will, who glorifies God without ceasing and
who serves God as a messenger of his saving plan. See
Guardian Angels.
in the
anaphora,
1352
birth of Christ and,
525,
559
Christ and,
331,
538,
954,
1038,
1161
in the Church s life,
334-35
cosmic order and the guardianship of,
57
existence of angels as a truth of faith,
328
fallen,
391-93,
414,
760
Gabriel announcing,
148,
2676
gone astray,
311
guardian,
336
heaven and,
326,
1023-29,
1053
identity and duties of,
329,
332-36,
350-52,
1034,
1352
images in art,
1192,
2131,
2502
protectors of men,
336
ANGER: An emotion which is not in itself
wrong, but which, when it is not controlled by reason or hardens into resentment
and hate, becomes one of the seven capital sins. Christ taught that anger is an
offense against the fifth commandment.
as a
capital sin, 1866
definition of,
2302
evil and,
1765
and the love of God,
208,
210
murder of Abel and human,
2259
passions and,
1772
ANNUNCIATION: The visit of the angel
Gabriel to the virgin Mary to inform her that she was to be the mother of the
Savior. After giving her consent to God's word, Mary became the mother of Jesus
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
angel
salutes Mary as "full of grace" at the,
490
feast day of the,
1171
the fullness of time inaugurated by the,
484
Jesus, the name given by God at the,
430
Mary s consent at the,
973
Mary s prayer and the,
2617
motherhood of Mary and the,
969,
2674
See also Angels; Mary
ANOINTING: A symbol of the Holy Spirit,
whose "anointing" of Jesus as Messiah fulfilled the prophecies of the Old
Testament. Christ (in Hebrew Messiah) means the one "anointed" by the
Holy Spirit. Anointing is the sacramental sign of Confirmation, called
Chrismation in the Churches of the East. Anointings form part of the liturgical
rites of the catechumenate, and of the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Orders. See Christ.
in
Baptism,
1241,
1291
Christ anointed in the Holy Spirit,
438,
690
in Confirmation,
1242,
1289,
1291,
1295,
1300
effects of the Holy Spirit s anointing for the Christian faithful,
91,
698,
786,
2769
in Holy Orders,
1574
significance of,
1293-94
symbol of anointing with oil,
695
ANOINTING OF THE SICK: One of the seven
sacraments, also known as the "sacrament of the dying," administered by a priest
to a baptized person who begins to be in danger of death because of illness or
old age, through prayer and the anointing of the body with the oil of the sick.
The proper effects of the sacrament include a special grace of healing and
comfort to the Christian who is suffering the infirmities of serious illness or
old age, and the forgiving of the person's sins (1499-1525).
celebration of the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick in the Roman rite,
1513,
1517-19,
1531
effects of,
1520-23,
1532
minister of,
1530
preparation of the faithful for receiving the sacrament of,
1516
purpose of,
1511,
1527
over the centuries,
1512
for whom the sacrament is intended,
1514-15,
1528-29
See also Sacraments
ANTICHRIST: The "deceitful one" referred
to in the New Testament, associated with the "mystery of iniquity" which will
precede the second coming of Christ, through which people will be led away from
the truth to follow a false "messianism," by which man glorifies himself and
human achievement in place of God and his Messiah come in the flesh, in whom the
kingdom will be fulfilled (675-677).
APOSTASY: The total repudiation of the
Christian faith.
the
Church s final trial and,
675
meaning of,
2089
Moses and the apostasy of his people,
2577
wounds to the unity of the Church and,
817
APOSTLE: A term meaning one who is
sent as Jesus was sent by the Father, and as he sent his chosen disciples
to preach the Gospel to the whole world. He called the Twelve to become his
Apostles, chosen witnesses of his Resurrection and the foundation on which the
Church is built.
acceptance of the teachings of,
87,
949,
2624
apostolic college,
880 (see also Apostolic college)
appearances of the Risen One and,
641-42,
644-45,
647
Baptism and,
1226
catechesis of,
1094
choosing and calling of, 2,
75,
96,
858-60,
873,
935,
1086,
1120,
1122,
1575,
2600
the Church and,
688,
756,
857,
865,
869,
1342,
2032
Holy Spirit and,
244,
746,
798,
1287,
1288,
1299,
1302,
1315,
1485,
1556
imposition of hands and,
699,
1288,
1299,
1315
institution of the Eucharist and,
610-11,
1337,
1339-41
ministry of Reconciliation and,
981,
1442,
1461
power of the apostles to forgive sins,
981,
983,
984,
1442,
1444,
1485,
1586
preaching of,
76
sacrament of Holy Orders and,
1087,
1536,
1565,
1576,
1577,
1594
significance of the Apostles mission,
858
successors of,
77,
861-63,
892,
938,
1313,
1560,
1562,
2068
transmission of the faith and,
171,
173,
605,
815,
816,
889,
1124
transmission of the Word of God and, 3,
81,
84,
96,
126,
571
witness of the,
664,
1518
APOSTOLIC OFFICE: The apostolic office is
permanent in the Church, in order to ensure that the divine mission entrusted to
the Apostles by Jesus will continue to the end of time. The bishops receive
their office as successors of the Apostles through the Sacrament of Holy Orders
(860). See Apostolic Succession.
APOSTLES' CREED: A statement of Christian
faith developed from the baptismal creed or "symbol" of the ancient Church of
Rome, the see of St. Peter, first of the Apostles. The Apostles' Creed is
considered to be a faithful summary of the faith of the Apostles (194).
APOSTOLATE: The activity of the Christian
which fulfills the apostolic nature of the whole Church by working to extend the
reign of Christ to the entire world.
the
Church's,
863-64
and the Eucharist,
864,
1324
of lay people,
900,
905,
940
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION: The handing on of
apostolic preaching and authority from the Apostles to their successors the
bishops through the laying on of hands, as a permanent office in the Church.
as the
bond of the Church s unity,
815
reason for,
77
safeguards the communion in the faith,
1209
APPARITION: An appearance to people on
earth of a heavenly being--Christ, Mary, an angel, or a saint. The apparitions
of Jesus in his risen body to his disciples occurred between Easter and his
Ascension into heaven (641, 659).
ASCENSION: The entry of Jesus' humanity
into divine glory in God's heavenly domain, forty days after his Resurrection
(659, 665).
celebration of,
2177
ASCESIS: The practice of penance,
mortification, and self-denial to promote greater self-mastery and to foster the
way of perfection by embracing the way of the cross.
fidelity to the baptismal promises and,
2340
mastery of the will and,
1734
spiritual growth and,
2015
ASSUMPTION: The dogma which recognizes the
Blessed Virgin Mary's singular participation in her Son's Resurrection by which
she was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when the course of her
earthly life was finished (966).
ATHEISM: The denial in theory and/or
practice that God exists. Atheism is a sin against the virtue of religion
required by the first commandment of the law.
agnosticism and,
2128
causes of,
2126,
2424
forms and meanings of,
2123-24
sin of,
2125,
2140
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