Catholic Customs and Traditions (1989) (edit title/settings)

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Glossary edit see section history

• Pascha: The Christian holiday of Easter or the Jewish feast of Passover.
• Ember: Four separate sets (one each season) of Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays of the same week, set aside for fasting, prayer and penitence, and also for the ordination of clergy.
• Rogation: Four days every year, traditionally set apart for solemn processions to invoke God's mercy.
• Agape: A Greek word meaning "love", specifically meaning charitable or divine love.
• Shrove: A past tense of "shrive", meaning to be absolved of sins.
• Maundy: A distortion of the Latin "mandatum", meaning "commandment," from the verse, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you". Referring to the Thursday before Easter.
• Triduum: Latin for "three days". Refers to the Holy Triidum, that is the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before Easter.
• Seder: A Jewish ritual service and ceremonial dinner for the first night or first two nights of Passover.
• Easter: The yearly Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ. The word likely derives, not from a pagan goddess (who may not have even existed) as has been popularly thought, but from a translation of a misunderstanding of a Latin phrase meaning "in white robes".
• Oplatek: An unleavened wafer of wheat flour, usually thin and rectangular, used in private homes in Polish, Slovak and Lithuanian families.
• Chrism: A greek word meaning "an anointing"; a consecrated, scented olive oil used in sacraments such as confirmation and anointing of the sick.
• Mystagogia: A Greek word meaning "going deeper into the mysteries"; it refers to the custom of spending the first week of Easter with the newly baptized, helping them experience the depths of the truths they had accepted in their Baptism, Confirmation and first Eucharist.
• Catechumen: A Christian convert under instruction before baptism or confirmation.
• Doxology: A liturgical formula of praise to God.
• Monstrance: An open or transparent receptacle in which the consecrated bread and wine of Eucharist are exposed for veneration.
• Basilica: A large and important church that has been given special ceremonial rites by the Pope.
• Hyperdulia: The special veneration given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Catholics.
• Scapular: Two rectangular pieces of cloth connected by bands, one hanging over the wearer's chest and the other resting on the back, with the bands running over the shoulders. Worn to show dedication to a saint or way of life, often bearing images or verses from scripture.
• Antiphon: A short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle.
• Angelus: A Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation, recited as versicles and responding verses describing the mystery, alternating with the salutation "Hail Mary!".
• Catafalque: A raised, moveable bier or other platform used to support a coffin or body of the deceased during a funeral. In Catholicism, it may be used to stand in place of the body.
• Plenary: Unqualified; absolute.
• Refrigerium: Latin for "refreshment". A commemorative meal for the dead consumed in a graveyard. These meals were held on the day of burial, then again on the ninth day after the funeral, and annually thereafter, used by ancient Romans and early Christians. Can also refer to the happy state of the souls of the blessed as they await the Last Judgment and entry into Heaven.
• Alb: A white robe worn down to the ankles, and a part of the Catholic liturgical vestments.
• Cassock: An ankle-length coat worn by Catholic priests.
• Stole: A band of colored cloth worn around the neck with the two parallel ends hanging down in front, and a part of the Catholic vestment.
• Chasuble: The outermost part of the Catholic vestment, a poncho-like coat.
• Paten: A small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic bread which is to be consecrated.
• Crozier: A stylized staff carried by bishops or other high-ranking Catholic clergy. Shaped in essence like a shepherd's crook.
• Miter: The traditional ceremonial head-dress of bishops. Known for its triangular shape.
• Sacramental: Objects, bodily positions, or practices whose supernatural effects, unlike those of a sacrament, depend on the belief of the recipient
• Genuflect: The bending of at least one knee to the ground as a gesture of deep respect.
• Votive: A candle or other object burned or given as a sign of a vow made to God for some particular favor.
• Novena: A prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces.
• Antependium: A piece of cloth that hangs from the front of an altar.
• Amice: A white cloth with two long ribbons fastened around the shoulders of a priest, and a part of Catholic vestments.
• Cincture: A cord or rope with tassled or knotted ends, tied around the waist outside an alb, and a part of Catholic vestments.
• Maniple: A band of silk hung from the left arm of a priest, and a part of the liturgical vestments of Catholic preists.
• Acrostic: A poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Greg Dues (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 282

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Religion & Spirituality › Christianity › Church History › Catholic
• Books › Religion & Spirituality › Other Practices › Ritual
• Books › Nonfiction › Social Sciences › Customs & Traditions
• Books › Religion & Spirituality › Christianity › Catholicism