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Assembly:
The Greek word,
ekklesia, from which words such as ecclesial come from, means assembly.
Assembly is a simpler word than congregation and more up-to-date
than people in the pew, which makes laypeople sound like passive
receivers of spiritual goods instead of major players in the liturgy
of the Church.
Catechesis,
Catechist, Catechetical:
Catechesis comes from the same root as Catechism and literally means
"instruction by word of mouth". Christian teaching is passed on
orally, in community, and relies on a human teacher, the Catechist.
Catechumens,
Catechumenate:
There is a whole process, derived from early church practices, for
becoming a Catholic. This process, which happens in stages, is the
Catechumenate. The non-baptized adults and older children who are
going through the process are Catechumens.
Celebrate,
Celebration, Celebrant:
Since the Second Vatican Council, Roman Catholics celebrate their
sacraments in the context of the gathered assembly instead of "receiving"
them. Catholics are now active participants of the Sacraments instead
of people who get something done to them.
Charismatic:
Charismatics, who believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are
active in the church today, have existed for a long time. The charismatic
renewal has been so influential that charismatics are part of the
mainstream of the Catholic Church. The word comes from the Greek
for "gift".
Church:
Here is a word whose meaning has changed. If you referred to the
church before Vatican II, you probably meant the Pope, the bishops,
the priests, and the nuns. When you refer to the Church today, you
are likely to be talking about your community and the church, as
the people of God, which includes all baptized Catholics and the
hierarchy of the Church.
Easter:
Old word, slightly new meaning. Now it refers, liturgically, to
the entire 50 days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost.
Environment:
Unlike the old-time sanctuaries, which changed no more than the
steeple, the environment in a thoroughly modern Catholic church
is apt to change from week to week. And not just the flowers. Even
the altar and the flexible seating can move. This change arises
from a philosophy that the liturgy changes with both the seasons
and the circumstances of the people.
Evangelization:
Catholics used to take great pride in the fact that knocking on
doors was for Jehovah's Witnesses and misguided Bible thumpers.
Knocking on doors still isn't exactly common for Catholics, but
carrying the message happens both directly and indirectly. Evangelization
today is focused more on welcoming people into the church community.
Homily:
A sermon becomes a homily when it relates to the Scripture readings
of the day.
Hospitality:
Since Vatican II, you greet people at the door and welcome them
to church, including strangers and non-members. If you don't, you
may not be getting the point of the Eucharist. Some assemblies have
even replaced their ushers, whose function was more logistical than
hospitable, with ministers of hospitality or greeters.
Immersion:
The church is trying to recover the largeness and fulness of its
symbols. One of those symbols is Water. Early Christians were baptized
by entering a large font and being submerged. Catholics got away
from that custom as time went on, but it's coming back. Baptismal
fonts in newer churches are large enough for Baptism by immersion.
Lectionary:
The church reads portions of Scripture in a fixed sequence throughout
the year. Sunday readings are repeated every three years. Daily
readings are repeated every two years. The book of these readings,
in their sequence, is the lectionary.
Lector:
The Lector, who proclaims the scripture readings, has become an
important minister with the church's emphasis on Scripture and the
Liturgy of the Word. Good proclamation requires study (to understand
Scripture) and practice (to proclaim it dramatically).
Liturgy
of the Hours:
Formerly, what was considered to be the priest's prayer from the
breviary, is now enjoying a rebirth among lay people. There are
two common hours now: morning and evening prayer.
Minister:
A minister used to be a member of the Protestant clergy. Now it
refers to anyone, usually a layperson, who serves the community
liturgically or pastorally.
Mystagogia:
This is the least understood stage of the Rite of Christian Initiation
of Adults (the process of becoming Catholic), so you're not alone
if mystagogia seems like a mysterious word. In fact, it means mystery
and refers to the fifty days after the catechumens have been baptized.
Just as the disciples needed time to get used to the idea that Jesus
was risen, new Christians need time, reflection and prayer to get
used to the idea that they've made a commitment to the Christian
community and the Christian way of life. At the end of this mystagogia
period, which occurs between Easter Sunday and Pentecost, they will
be expected to quit walking around saying, "Oh, Wow," and get down
to the challenging work of being a Catholic Christian.
Pastoral:
This is a word that is used frequently, often in a very general
way. If you understand its root (think of pasture), you can understand
the sense of it. A pastor is one who is out in the field shepherding.
To be pastoral is to be out in the field with the people, sensitive
to their needs. A pastoral approach might be contrasted to a moral
approach, which springs from a sense of ethics, or an intellectual
approach, which springs from ideas, rather than from people's needs.
Pastoral
Ministry:
This rather redundant expression has come to refer especially to
those out and about among the people, especially the elderly, the
sick and the dying.
Pastoral
Musician:
This hybrid term tells musicians that their main job is to help
people pray. If your parish musicians are playing concert-quality
music that you can't sing to and does not inspire you to pray, they
are not being pastoral.
Praxis:
Thomas Kempis in his 'Imitation of Christ' said, "It's better to
feel compunction than to know what it means". Likewise, Christian
praxis is everything, knowing what it means is nothing. Praxis =
Practice, as distinguished from Theory.
Presider,
Presiding:
A priest is still called a celebrant when he officiates at Mass,
but presider more accurately illustrates today's theology. Today,
the entire assembly is the celebrant. The
priest presides over the celebration. There are lay presiders, too,
who lead prayer services, the Liturgy of the Word and communion
services.
Proclaim,
Proclamation:
Scripture passages are not read anymore; they are proclaimed. Proclamations
are meant to be listened to - and that is why liturgists don't like
you trying to read along in your missalette when the lector proclaims
the Word.
Response,
Responsorial:
In the olden days, nobody cared much whether you responded or not.
Today's Mass is a dance in which God acts and the people respond.
Thus, after the first reading (God's Word, an action), the people
respond with a psalm prayer.
Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.):
This term refers to a process of stages and rites through which
an adult becomes a Catholic. This involved process of initiation
culminates in Baptism at the Easter Vigil. There is a similar process
for older children, referred to as R.C.I.C. (Rite of Christian Initiation
of Children).
Sacrament
of the Anointing of the Sick:
This used to be called Extreme Unction, which sounds, well, extreme
(for those near death, or dying).Now the sacrament is for the sick,
who may or may not be near death, and it is often celebrated communally
in church. The accent is on healing the mind and soul as well as
the body rather than on greasing the skids before death.
Sacrament
of Reconciliation:
In the old days, Catholics used to go to Confession or receive the
Sacrament of Penance. Now they celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Again, different emphasis. The old terms, which are still used,
emphasized the sinfulness of the penitent. The new term emphasizes
the solution to the problem of sinfulness, which is reconciliation.
Moreover, reconciliation is two way process. In the same way that
the Father reached out and embraced the Prodigal son, the church
community reconciles with the individual. This is becoming clearer
the more the Catholic community reaches out to people who have been
alienated from the church. Confession is still a fine term, but
it refers to only a part of Reconciliation.
Scrutinies:
You are not alone if you don't like this word. Scrutinies occur
at liturgies for the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent and
are part of the purification process for Catechumens. They are meant
to complete the conversion of the candidates by helping them uncover
and heal in themselves all that is weak and strengthen all that
is good.
Tithing:
Catholics do talk about tithing (which means, tenth) now, but they
might call it Sacrificial Giving. In parishes, members are asked
to consider giving 5 per cent of their gross (not net) income to
the parish and another 5 per cent to other religious and secular
charities (including the education of their children).
Triduum:
Actually, the Triduum (Lent for three days) is a term referring
to Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Vigil of Easter. If the triduum
today sounds like it might be one feast instead of three, you've
got the right idea.
This glossary is adapted
from: 30 Ways to Decode Liturgy Lingo, U.S. Catholic, July
1989, by Kenneth Guentert.
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