10/30/2011
I Confess: This
phrase replaces “We acknowledge.” Confess means to admit or to profess belief in. As it is used in
the Creed, it is not an admission of sin.
Helpful Websites
http://revisedromanmissal.org/
http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/
Video Presentations on the New Liturgy
10/30/2011
Born of the Father before
All Ages: This phrase replaces the words “eternally begotten of the Father.” It is more exact
and reminds us that the Eternal Son of God, incarnate in Jesus in human history, was with the Father before time began.
(Jn 1: 1-2).
10/23/2011
Only-Begotten
Son: This title “signifies the unique and eternal relationship of Jesus Christ to God his Father: he
is the only Son of the Father” (Jn 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18); he is God himself (Jn 1:1)” (CCC, #454). Jesus is the
Son of God, not by adoption but by nature.
10/16/2011
Consecration: The dedication of a thing or person to divine service by a prayer or blessing.
In the Mass, “consecration” also refers to the words spoken by the priest whereby the bread and wine are transformed
into the risen Body and Blood of Jesus.
10/9/2011
Covenant: A solemn agreement between human beings, between God and a human being, or between
God and a people involving mutual commitments or promises. In the Old Testament, God made a covenant with the Jewish people.
Jesus, through his death and Resurrection, made a new covenant with the whole of humanity. One enters into this new covenant
through faith and Baptism.
10/2/2011
Venerates:
To show devotion and respect to holy things and people. Catholics venerate relics and saints. Veneration must be
clearly distinguished from adoration and worship, both of which pertain solely to the Trinity and Jesus as the Son of God.
9/25/2011
Temporal: What
pertains to this world of time and history, as opposed to what pertains to God, such as our new life in Christ through the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
9/18/2011
Redemption:
Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer because he frees us from our sin through his sacrificial death on the Cross.
9/11/2011
Providential grace:
The free and undeserved gift that God gives us as he protects and governs all creation.
9/4/2011
Precursor: One who comes before as a herald.
John the Baptist is the precursor of Jesus.
8/28/2011
Patriarchs: Title given to the venerable ancestors or “fathers” of the Semitic peoples,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who received God’s promise of election.
8/21/2011
Paschal: Referring to Christ’s work of redemption accomplished through
his Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Through the Paschal Mystery, Jesus destroyed our death and restored us
to life. The Paschal Mystery is celebrated and made present in the Liturgy so that we can obtain the fruit of Jesus’
death and Resurrection, that is, the forgiveness of our sins and the new life of the Holy Spirit.
8/14/2011
Oblation: A gift or sacrifice offered to God.
8/7/2011
Merit: The reward
that God promises and gives to those who love him and who, by his grace, perform good works. One cannot earn justification
or eternal life; they are the free gifts of God. Rather our merit is from God through Christ in the Holy Spirit. The Father
freely justifies us in Christ through the indwelling of the Spirit; and Christians, by the same Holy Spirit, are empowered
to do good works of love and justice. In cooperating with the Holy Spirit, the faithful receive further grace and thus, in
Christ, cooperate in the work of their salvation.
7/31/2011
Mediator: One who unites or reconciles separate or opposing parties. Thus, Jesus Christ is the
“one mediator between God and the human race.” (1 Tm 2: 5) Through his sacrificial offering, he has become high
priest and unique mediator who has gained for us access to the Father through the Holy Spirit.
7/24/2011
Lord, God of Hosts: From the word “sabaoth,”
hosts are the invisible powers that work at God’s command over heaven and earth.
7/17/2011
Justification: The gracious action by which
God frees us from sin and makes us holy and righteous before him.
7/10/2011
Intercessor: One who makes a petition on behalf of others. Our unique
intercessor is Jesus Christ, who intercedes on our behalf with the Father(Rom 8:34). The priest at Mass acting in the person
of Christ intercedes on behalf of the whole Church.
7/3/2011
Infusion: The Holy Spirit is poured into the hearts and souls of believers, and so they are
filled, or infused, with grace.
6/26/2011
Ineffable: That which cannot be conceived or expressed fully (1 Cor 2: 6-9). One cannot,
for example, adequately describe the concepts and words the mystery of the Trinity or the mystery of the Incarnation.
6/19/2011
Incarnation:
The Son of God assumed human nature and became man by being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin
Mary. Jesus is true God and true man. As man, the Son of God obtained our salvation. The use of this term in the Nicene
Creed indicates that Jesus’ birth has a significance beyond that of any other human birth.
6/12/2011
Implore: To plead, beseech, or ask
with humility. This is an example of the self-deprecatory language in the Roman Missal that helps to express our dependence
on God. We humbly beg the Father to hear and answer our prayers, for we ask them in the power of the Holy Spirit and in
the name of Jesus.
6/5/2011
Damnation: Eternal separation from God’s love caused by dying in mortal sin without repentance.
Godhead: The mystery of one God I three Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Homage: the honor, respect, and reverence due to another. Homage is especially due to God, for
he is eternal, all good, all holy, and all loving.
5/29/2011
Clemency: The loving kindness, compassion, or mercy that God shows to sinners.
Contrite: To be repentant within one’s heart and mind for sins committed and to resolve not
to sin again.
5/22/2011
Communion:
Our fellowship and union with Jesus and other baptized Christians in the Church, which has its source and summit
in the celebration of the Eucharist. By receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, we are united to him and one another
as members of his Body.
April 17, 2011
Adoption:
To take up and make one's own; to take and follow by choice or assent
In Baptism, the Holy Spirit transforms
us into children of the Father, thereby making us his adopted sons and daughters in the likeness of his eternal Son (see
Eph.1:3-6). In this way, the faithful are made "partakers in the divine nature (cf. 2Pt1:4) by uniting them in a
living union with the only Son, the Savior" (Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), no.1129). In the sacraments,
we become the sons and daughters of God by adoption through Christ Jesus.
April 10,
2011
Consubstantial: To be regarded as identical in substance or essence, though
different in aspect (the three persons of the Trinity). This most unusual word will soon appear in the language
of the Creed.
The phrase "consubstantial with the Father" will replace the current
"one in being with the Father." The use of the term "consubstantial" has been carefully considered
before being adopted. Admittedly, the term carries some complexities of meaning with it. But the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith recommended its use with good reason. It is the belief, articulated in the Nicene Creed, about
the relationship of the Father and the Son: that "in the Father and with the Father, the Son is one and the same
God" therefore the term"consubstantial" is a better choice in naming the Great Mystery that is the relationship
of Jesus Christ to God the Father and to us, His adopted brothers and sisters.
April 3,
2011
Chalice: From the Latin word "calyx" meaning "cup".
(see Ps 116-13; Mt20:22; 1Cor 10:16). The use of this term in the Liturgy points to the chalice's function as a
particular kind of cup and indicates the uniqueness of what it contains, the very Blood of Christ.
One
word can mean a great deal, especially in the Liturgy. Instead of the word "cup" we will be using the
word "chalice" : "Take this all of you and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood...."
More than a matter of mere style of reverence, there is theology and scripture behind this change. The Latin word
for cup is poculum, and it refers to an individual drinking cup. The Protestant communion services where everyone
is given a personal cup of wine or juice would be called a poculum and be fittingly translated as "cup". But
the Latin word both in the prayers and in the scriptural texts behind the prayers is calix. This is a cup with two
handles on it. The handles denote a social dimension - that this vessel is meant to be shared.-
Most of our modern day chalices do not show this theology by having two handles, but the word itself can help to remind
all of us of the communitarian dimension of the Eucharist. One word can make all the difference.
March 27, 2011
Abasement: the lowering of
one of higher rank
"Jesus abased himself in that, though he was God, he
lowered himself and became a human being so that he might save us from our sins." (see Phil, 2: 6-11)
