Item
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Description
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Gehenna |
Synonym
for "hell". Note: For 'Hell / Eternal Damnation'
Reflections, click
here |
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General
Judgment |
The
General Judgment is the judgment of all persons by Christ which
will occur on the last day. It will confirm each individual's particular
judgment (the judgment faced by each person upon their death). Note:
Click
here for 'Judgment' Reflections
"The
general resurrection or rising of all the dead will take place at
the general judgment, when the same bodies in which we lived on
earth will come forth from the grave and be united to our souls
and remain united with them forever either in heaven or in
hell." (Baltimore Catechism)
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Genuflect |
Refers
to the practice of kneeling on one knee (the right knee, which touches the
ground) while (generally) making the Sign of the Cross. It is
customary to genuflect upon entering a church (towards the
Tabernacle), before passing a Tabernacle, at certain points of the
Traditional Latin Mass, etc. Note: For more on this topic, try
here ('Kneeling / Prostrating / Bowing / Genuflecting'
Reflections / Church Talk Section)
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Gifts
of the Holy Ghost |
Click
here for 'Gifts & Fruits of the Holy Spirit'
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Gluttony |
"Gluttony
is an excessive desire for food or drink." (Baltimore
Catechism)
"Gluttony
is an inordinate love of eating and drinking." (Catechism of the
Cure de Ars)
Gluttony
is one of the seven deadly sins. Note: For more information on
deadly sins, try
here
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God |
"God
is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things."
(Baltimore Catechism) God is an infinitely perfect spirit. He is
eternal, almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, all just, all holy, all
loving, all good, all merciful. There is but one God, in Three
Divine Persons (The Holy Trinity). "In God there are three
Divine Persons, really distinct, and equal in all things - the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." (Baltimore Catechism) Note:
Click
here for Reflections for topic 'God' . Click
here for 'Scriptural Litany' of God. Click
here for Topical Scripture for topic 'God'
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Godparents |
Godparents
assist at Baptism and are charged with fulfilling certain responsibilities
throughout the godchild's life. As stated in the Baltimore
Catechism: "The duty of a godparent after Baptism is to see
that the child is brought up a good Catholic, if this is not done
by the parents." Note: For more information on Baptism, click
here.
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Good
Friday |
Good
Friday is the day on which Christ died, nailed to the cross.
"We call that day 'good' on which Christ died because by His
death He showed His great love for man, and purchased for him
every blessing." (Baltimore Catechism) Note: Click
here for 'The Passion / The Cross' Reflections
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Good
Works |
"[The
principal good works are]: 1. Prayer; 2. Fasting; and 3.
Almsgiving." (Catechism of St. John Neumann) Note: For
'Good Works' Reflections, click
here. For 'Obligation to Perform Good Works' Reflections, click
here. For 'Works of Mercy', click
here
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Gospel |
"['Good
Tidings'] The life and teaching of Jesus Christ as recorded by the
Evangelists, and the books wherein it is set down, namely in the
Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John... [May also
refer to the] whole teaching of Christianity at any given moment, whether
contained explicitly or implicitly in the deposit of faith,
recorded by Scripture or tradition or made clear by definition (as
in the expression 'to preach the gospel')." (Catholic Dictionary) Note:
For more information, try the 'Scripture / Parables Section (click
here) |
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Grace |
"[Grace
is a] supernatural gift of God bestowed on us, through the merits
of Jesus Christ, for our salvation." (Baltimore Catechism)
Grace may be generally categorized as sanctifying grace (or
habitual grace) or actual grace. Grace is received through the
Sacraments. Note: For more information on grace, click
here. For 'Grace' Reflections, click
here. For information on the Sacraments, click
here. |
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Grace
(mealtime) |
Refers
to prayers said before and after meals. Note: For mealtime prayers,
try here.
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Grave
Matter |
Grave
matter is one of the conditions of a mortal sin. Grave matter may
involve or touch upon one of the commandments or the precepts of
the Church. The gravity of the matter may be affected by who is
wronged (e.g. to slap a priest is graver than to slap a lay
person, stealing from the Church is graver than stealing from an
individual, etc.).
"The
matter is grave when the thing under examination is seriously
contrary to the laws of God and His Church." (Catechism of
Pope St Pius X)
"Knowingly
to transgress a Precept of the Church in grave matter is a mortal
sin." (Catechism of Pope St Pius X) |
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Greatest
Commandments |
Refers
to Jesus' two commandments which "sum
up the whole law" (cf. Mt. 22:40), as indicated in Holy Scripture. Note:
Click
here for more information.
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Gregorian
Calendar |
Refers
to the calendar as reformed by Pope Gregory XIII in the 16th
century. His calendar corrected the Julian Calendar previously in
use (necessitating the skipping of 10 days in October of 1582 and
modifying leap years). The Gregorian Calendar is more accurate and
is the calendar in use in the Western world, the most widely used
calendar worldwide, and "the standard international calendar
for civil use."
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Gregorian
Masses / Trental |
Refers
to the traditional practice of having 30 consecutive daily Masses
said for a deceased person upon their death. These Masses may be
referred to as the "30 Masses of St. Gregory", Gregorian
Masses, or a "Trental". These Masses are offered to
assist a particular soul, with the hope of obtaining its release
from Purgatory. Note: For more information regarding Purgatory,
try
here (Purgatory Release Project). For more information on The
Mass / The Holy Eucharist, click
here (Sacraments Section)
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Guardian
Angel |
Angels
appointed as our guardians. "Our guardian Angels pray for us,
protect and guide us, and offer our prayers, good works and
desires to God." (Baltimore Catechism) Note: For 'Angels' Reflections, click
here
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Habitual
Grace |
Synonym
for sanctifying grace. Note: For information on grace, click
here. For 'Grace' Reflections, click
here.
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Hagiography |
Click
here for 'Hagiography' information (Saints Section / Facts) |
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Heaven |
"Heaven
is a state of everlasting life in which we see God face to face,
are made like unto Him in glory, and enjoy eternal
happiness." (Baltimore Catechism) Note: Click
here for 'Heaven' Reflections
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Hell |
"Hell
is a state to which the wicked are condemned, and in which they are
deprived of the sight of God for all eternity, and are in dreadful
torments." (Baltimore Catechism) Should a person die in the
state of mortal sin (that is, be guilty of a single unrepented
mortal sin), he or she will go to Hell for all eternity, along
with all the evil spirits. Note: For 'Hell / Eternal Damnation'
Reflections, click
here
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Hell
(As Used in the Apostles' Creed) |
"The
hell into which Christ's soul descended was not in the hell of the
damned, but a place or state of rest...where the souls of the just
were waiting for Him." (Baltimore Catechism) |
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Heresy |
"Heresy
is a culpable error of the intellect by which some truth of faith
is obstinately denied." (Catechism of Pope St. Pius X) "Can.
751 Heresy is the obstinate denial or doubt, after baptism, of a
truth which must be believed by divine and Catholic faith."
(1983 Code of Canon Law) Heresy
is a grave matter, and a sin against the faith. Note: Click
here for 'Heresy / Heretic' Reflections |
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Heretical |
That
which is opposed to a truth revealed by God. Note: Click
here for 'Heresy / Heretic' Reflections
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Heretics |
"Those
who do not believe all that God has taught are the heretics and
infidels." (Baltimore Catechism) "Heretics...have
been baptized Christians, but do not believe all the articles of
faith" (Baltimore Catechism) "The
denial of only one article of faith will make a person a heretic
and guilty of mortal sin, because the Holy Scripture says:
'whoever shall keep the whole law but offend in one point is
become guilty of all.'" (Baltimore Catechism) "He
who refuses to accept the solemn definitions of the Pope, or who
even doubts them, sins against faith; and should he remain
obstinate in this unbelief, he would no longer be a Catholic, but
a heretic." (Catechism of Pope St. Pius X) Objectively
speaking, Protestants (who have reached the age of reason) and all
others who claim to be Christian but deny articles of faith are
heretics. Heretics have always been excommunicated, and, as Holy
Scripture teaches, "After a first and second warning, break
off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is
perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned." (St. Paul,
Ti. 3:10-11) Note:
Click
here for 'Heresy / Heretic' Reflections |
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Heroic
Virtue |
Click
here for information on 'Heroic Virtue' (Saints Section /
Facts)
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Hierarchical
Priesthood |
Click
here for information on the Hierarchical Priesthood (Priests
& Vocations Section / Facts)
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High
Altar |
The
principal altar in a church. Note: Click
here for 'Altars' Reflections
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Holy
Communion |
"The
reception and consumption of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
or Blessed Sacrament" (Catholic Dictionary) May also be used
as a synonym for the Holy Eucharist. Note: For more information on
the Holy Eucharist, click
here |
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Holy
Days of Obligation |
Click
here for information on Holy Days of Obligation
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Holy
Eucharist |
"The
Holy Eucharist is the true Body and the true Blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine."
(Catechism of St. John Neumann) Note: For more information on
the Holy Eucharist, click
here
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The
Holy Family |
Refers
to Jesus and his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster-father,
St. Joseph. Note:
Click
here for 'Holy Family' Reflections
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Holy
Father |
Synonym
for Pope. For more information on
the Pope, see the Vatican View Section (click
here) |
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Holy
Ghost |
See
"Holy Spirit"
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Holy
Hour |
"A
devotion consisting of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the
space of one hour to enable the faithful to meditate before it,
especially upon the Passion. Hymns, litanies and other prayers are
sometimes sung, and the exposition is terminated by
Benediction." (Catholic Dictionary) May also, informally,
refer to an individual's hour-long adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament.
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Holy
Orders |
"Holy
Orders is a sacrament which gives power to exercise the sacred
duties connected with the worship of God and the salvation of
souls, and which imprints the character of Minister of God on the
soul of him who receives it." (Catechism of St. Pius X) Note:
Click here
for more information on Holy Orders |
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Holy
Saturday |
"The
eve of Easter, a day of mourning for Christ in the tomb, until the
vigil of the Resurrection in the late evening or during the
night." (Catholic Dictionary)
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Holy
See |
Click
here for 'Holy See' Information (Vatican View Section / Facts)
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Holy
Spirit |
"The
Holy Ghost (also called Holy Spirit) is the third Person of the
Blessed Trinity" (Baltimore Catechism). The Holy Spirit may
also be called the Paraclete. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the
Father and the Son. Note: Click
here for more 'Holy Spirit' Reflections
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Holy
Thursday |
The
Thursday in Holy Week (the Thursday before Easter). Also called
"Maundy Thursday." It commemorates the day in which
Christ instituted the Blessed Sacrament at the Last Supper. It is
also the day on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas.
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Holy
Trinity |
"By
the Blessed Trinity [or Holy Trinity] we mean, one and the same
God in three Divine Persons." (Baltimore Catechism) Note: Click
here for more 'Holy Trinity' Reflections
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Holy
Water |
Refers
to water blessed by a priest according to a specified form. It is
a sacramental which may be used to remit venial sin. Not only is
holy water a reminder of one's baptism, but it is also a powerful
'weapon' against evil spirits. Note: For 'Sacramentals' Reflections, click
here
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Holy
Week |
"The
week immediately preceding Easter Sunday in which is recalled the
memory of our Lord's last days and passion before the
resurrection." (Catholic Dictionary)
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Hosanna |
"A
Hebrew shout of triumph and rejoicing arising from the words in
Ps. cxvii, 25, meaning 'save [us], we pray.' It was used by the
crowd at our Lord's entry into Jerusalem (St. John xii,
13)."
(Catholic Dictionary) |
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Host |
From
the Latin "hostia", meaning "victim".
"The consecrated eucharistic Elements, particularly the species
of bread (e.g. the elevation of the Host)." (Catholic
Dictionary) May also refer to an unconsecrated wafer (e.g. in
anticipation of the consecration).
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Humility |
"A
moral virtue prompting in its possessor an appreciation and
external expression of his true position with respect to God and
his neighbor; opposed, therefore, both to pride and to immoderate
self-abjection. As pride devastates the Christian character, so
humility builds it up, or rather, is an absolutely necessary
prerequisite and the first of the virtues to the extent that it
removes the greater obstacles to faith, upon which all rests. But
affected humility is odious and the virtue does not require that a
man should depreciate his ability against his knowledge; for, says
St. Thomas, 'that a person should recognize and appreciate his own
good qualities is no sin' and 'humility consists in keeping
oneself within one's own bounds'; to do this one must know those bounds,
neither narrower nor wider than they really are." (Catholic
Dictionary) Note: Click
here for 'Humility' Reflections
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