Pope Benedict Reading Group's Gossary

This list of words and their definitions will be growing as we progress through our readings. Email FPGroup@aol.com with words you want the group to define.


cultic; cult
a system of religious worship or ritual (Webster’s)

dialectic: the art or practice of examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the method of question and answer, so as to determine their validity; logical argumentation (Webster’s)

ecclesial:
assembly - in N. T. - the church as a body of Christians (Webster’s)

ecclesiastic / ecclesiastical:
Pertaining to or of the Church (Greek / Latin: ecclesia). Hence

• an ecclesiastical government is church government (857);
• an ecclesiastical province is a grouping of church jurisdictions or dioceses (887);
  an ecclesiastic is a church official.” (CCC Glossary, p. 875)

ecumenical (adjective)
Concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions; "ecumenical thinking"; "ecumenical activities"; "the ecumenical movement". The term "ecumenical" was first used ~1570.


eschatological [es-kuh-te-loj-i-kuhl] / eschatology [es-kuh-tol-uh-jee]:
“From the Greek word eschaton, meaning ‘last.’ Eschatology refers to the area of Christian faith which is concerned about ‘the last things,’ and the coming of Jesus on ‘the last day’: our human destiny, death, judgment, resurrection of the body, heaven, purgatory, and hell – all of which are contained in the final articles of the Creed.” (CCC Glossary, p. 877)

exegesis
"The literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation: ‘All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal.’ " (CCC 116)"

It is the task of exegetes to work, according to these rules, toward a better understanding and explanation of the meaning of Sacred Scripture in order that their research may help the Church to form a firmer judgment. For, of course, all that has been said about the manner of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the judgment of the Church which exercises the divinely conferred commission and ministry of watching over and interpreting the Word of God." (CCC 119)

hermeneutic / hermeneutics: to interpret OR the art or science of the interpretation of literature (Webster’s)

liturgy
“In its original meaning, a ‘public work’ or service done in the name of or on behalf of the people. Through the liturgy Christ our High Priest continues the work of our redemption through the Church’s celebration of the Paschal Mystery by which he accomplished our salvation.” (CCC Glossary, p. 886)

“The word ‘liturgy’ originally meant a ‘public work’ or a ‘service in the name of/on behalf of the people.’ In Christian tradition it means the participation of the People of God in ‘the work of God.’ Through the liturgy Christ, our redeemer and high priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through his Church.” (CCC 1069)

In the New Testament the word "liturgy" refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of the Gospel and to active charity. In all of these situations it is a question of the service of God and neighbor. In a liturgical celebration the Church is servant in the image of her Lord, the one ‘leitourgos’; she shares in Christ's priesthood (worship), which is both prophetic (proclamation) and kingly (service of charity) . . . (CCC 1070)

salvation: deliverance from hell, destruction, evil. The tools and resources not only to get into heaven but to grow in holiness and intimacy with God are present only in the Catholic Church as organized as a visible community, led by the Pope, the successor of Peter. Larger context definition here.