Glossary

Spiritual listlessness or disgust with the good of prayer — not mere laziness; classically linked to the noonday demon of Psalm 90/91.

A reported supernatural appearance of Christ, Our Lady, or a saint. Even when approved, it belongs to private revelation.

A rite of Eucharistic devotion: the Host exposed, hymns sung, and the priest blessing the people with the Blessed Sacrament.

A set of prayers counted on beads, distinct from the full Rosary—e.g. the Divine Mercy Chaplet or chaplets to particular saints.

Night Prayer—the final hour of the Divine Office before sleep, classically including the Nunc Dimittis and a Marian antiphon.

The act of setting a person or thing apart for God—supremely the Eucharistic consecration; also personal dedication to Christ or Our Lady.

The Church's daily liturgy of psalms, hymns, and readings sanctifying the hours—also called the Liturgy of the Hours.

A saint whose teaching the Church has formally recognized as outstanding in doctrine and holiness of life.

Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament—reserved in the tabernacle or exposed in a monstrance—adoring Christ truly present.

A weekday in the liturgical calendar that is not a feast—kept with ferial (weekday) Mass texts rather than a saint's proper.

The official book of Mass chants for the Roman Rite — graduals, tracts, alleluias, and related propers as used in the Gregorian tradition.

An official declaration by a bishop that a book is free of doctrinal or moral error and may be printed—literally, "let it be printed."

A remission before God of temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, granted by the Church from the treasury of merits.

Classical terms: latria is worship of God alone; dulia is veneration of saints; hyperdulia is the unique veneration due to Mary.

The postconciliar name for the Divine Office—the Church's official daily prayer of psalms and readings across the hours.

The Church's teaching authority, exercised by the Pope and bishops in communion with him, guarding and handing on the deposit of faith.

The liturgical book containing the texts of the Mass—the priest's altar missal, or a hand missal for the faithful to follow.

One of eight tonal frameworks of Gregorian chant (modes 1–8); Mode II (Hypodorian) is plagal, lower, and often introspective.

A censor's judgment that a manuscript contains nothing opposed to Catholic faith or morals—literally, "nothing stands in the way."

A nine-day pattern of prayer for a particular intention, modeled on the apostles' prayer between Ascension and Pentecost.

An eight-day liturgical celebration of a great feast, prolonging its joy and mystery through the following week.

The green seasons of the liturgical year outside Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter—ordered growth in the mystery of Christ.

A plenary indulgence remits all temporal punishment; a partial remits part. Both require the Church's grant and the proper dispositions.

Revelations given to individuals after the close of public revelation—never equal to Scripture or dogma, even when Church-approved.

The variable prayers and chants of the Mass or Office assigned to a given day—introit, collect, readings, and the like.

The bodily remains of a saint, or an object closely connected with a saint or with Our Lord, honored by the Church with due veneration.

One of seven efficacious signs of grace instituted by Christ: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing, Orders, Matrimony.

Sacraments are seven signs instituted by Christ that confer grace; sacramentals are Church-instituted signs that dispose the soul for grace.

A sacred sign instituted by the Church—holy water, medals, scapulars, blessings—that disposes the soul for grace; not one of the seven Sacraments.

A sacramental of two small cloth panels worn over the shoulders, signifying consecration and enrollment in a religious family or devotion.

A Gregorian chant sung after the Gradual in penitential Masses when the Alleluia is omitted — often long and meditative (e.g. Qui habitat).

Worship (latria) is due to God alone; veneration (dulia) honors saints and angels. Confusing them is the charge—and the Catholic answer is distinction.

Evening Prayer of the Divine Office—psalms, a New Testament canticle, intercessions, and often a hymn at day's decline.