St. Paul Catholic Parish, Pensacola, Florida
Toby W. Rush Design
Catholic Terms U - Z

Abbreviated Dictionary by Category

Celebration of Mass

Participants in Celebrating Mass

Liturgical Objects

 Full Unabbreviated Catholic Dictionary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


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- U -

U.C.M.:Stands for "Union of Catholic Mothers", and organization of Catholic married women for the preservation of faith and morals in the home.
Uniates: Eastern Rite Churches in union with Rome
United States Catholic Conference (USCC0: Civil corporation and executive agency of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Unity (marital): An essential property of marriage requiring monogamy and fidelity. (Can. 1056)
Universal law: A law binding everyone for whom it was made in the entire Latin Catholic church. (Can. 12,SS1,2).
Use of reason: The intellectual and volitional capacity necessary to be subject to canon law, presumed to be attained at age seven. (Can. 11)
Ushers: Ministers of hospitality who usually greet those entering the church, collect the offerings, and direct movement at the time of Communion

- V -

Validity: Legal efficacy. Laws affecting the validity of a legal act must be observed for the act to be juridically recognized as effective.
Vatican Congregation: A Vatican body that is responsible for an important area in the life of the Church, such as worship and sacraments, the clergy, and of saints causes.
Vatican Councils: Councils of all bishops of the Church called by the Pope. These councils usually are called to discuss specific matters of interest to the Church.
Vatican Council II: 1962-1965, an ecumenical council whose aim was to renew the Church. See Second Vatican Council.
Viaticum:Holy Communion given to a person who is dying. The word means; provision for a journey, namely the journey through death to life in the world to come.
Virgin Birth:The doctrine that Mary remained a virgin both before and after the birth of Jesus, her son. This doctrine preserves the truth that Jesus was born both God and man. He was "conceived by the Holy Spirit" ,meaning that his origin is wholly from God; he was "born of the virgin Mary", meaning that he is fully human.
Vocation:The calling to a life of love, service and holiness which is addressed to all Christians. The word is also used in a more common sense to refer to the calling to the Priesthood or religious life.
Vows: 1)Solemn promises of poverty, chastity and obedience which are made to God by members of religious orders. They can be temporary or perpetual, (binding for life). 2) A promise made to God with sufficient knowledge and freedom, which has as its object a moral good that is possible and better than its voluntary omission.
Vatican:The official residence of the Pope in Pope. It also refers to the central government of the Church.
Vatican Museums: Buildings in Vatican City which contain priceless treasures of art from all ages.
Venial Sin: A sin which is not so serious that it requires the sacrament of penance for its forgiveness.
Vernacular: The ordinary language of the people.
Vespers:The evening prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office). See Evening Prayer.
Vestments:Garments worn by Ministers of the Church when celebrating Mass or administering the sacraments. These include the alb- a long white tunic worn by all ministers; the chasuble-the main outer-garment worn by the Priest when celebrating Mass; the stole-a type of scarf worn around the neck. It is worn by all Clergy when administering the sacraments as well as for Mass.
Vestibule: Foyer and entrance to a church.
Viaticum: The Sacrament of the Eucharist received by a dying person. See Anointing.
Vicar: An ecclesiastic representing the pope or bishop, a deputy.
Vicar General: A priest or bishop appointed by diocese to act as his deputy in the diocesan administration.
Vicar of Christ: A title for the Pope
Vicarious power: Ordinary power of governance that is exercised in the name of another, e.g.. The power of a vicar general or judicial vicar exercised in the name of the diocesan bishop. (Can. 131) .
Vicariat: The office or authority of a vicar.
Virgin: A woman who consecrates her virginity to God and dedicates herself to the service of the Church in accord with a special liturgical rite presided over by the diocesan bishop. (Can. 604)
Virgin Birth: The Church dogma or belief that Jesus, the Son of God, was born of only one human Parent, Mary, and that she did not lose her virginity.
Visitation: The official visit of a diocesan bishop, major superior, or other official to institutions and persons subject to them at the time and in the manner prescribed by law. (Cans. 396-98; 436; 628-,683; 806; 1301,52).
Vow: A deliberate and free promise made to God concerning a possible or better good and which must be fulfilled in virtue of religion. (Can. 1191).
Vulgate: The Latin translation of the Bible Made by Saint Jerome.

- W -

Whitsunday:Another name for the feast of Pentecost. Whit means White, in earlier times the newly baptized wore the white robes of baptism on this day.
Wisdom: (Books of Wisdom) Five books of the Old Testament not part of the Protestant versions, one of the Apocrypha, namely Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, and Ecclesiasticus. The sapiential books. See Deuterocanonical Books.
Witness, Christian: Practical testimony or evidence given by Christians regarding their faith. They may witness their faith in all circumstances of life?by prayer and general conduct, through good example and good works, etc. Ü and by being and acting in accordance with Christian belief, while actually practicing the Christian faith.

Xavier Society for the Blind: A center for publications for the blind and partially sighted. It is located in New York.

- Y -

Yom Hashoah: The Day of the Holocaust, a modern holy day observed by many Jews in remembrance of the Holocaust in World War 11. It occurs shortly after Passover, usually in April. See Holocaust and Shoah.
Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement, a Jewish fast day observed in September or October. It and Rosh Hashana nine days earlier are the high holy days of Judaism.
Young Men's Christian Association: YMCA is acceptable in all references to this nondenominational Protestant lay group founded in 1844 to provide an opportunity for spiritual, physical and educational development in a wholesome atmosphere. In the United States there are more than 2,300 local branches, units, camps and centers. Each local association is independent and self-governing, but they are grouped into area councils or state associations, which in turn form a national council. Headquarters is in Chicago. The movement worldwide is represented by a service agency, the World Alliance of YMCAs, with headquarters in Geneva.
Young Women's Christian Association: YWCA is acceptable in all references to this nondenominational group founded in 1855. It is modeled after the YMCA but completely independent of it. It has a strong emphasis on ecumenical and interracial harmony. In the United States there are more than 350 affiliates. Each local association is autonomous. A national board, elected by a triennial national convention of delegates from local associations, oversees general programs and provides assistance to local associations. Headquarters is in New York. The World YWCA, based in Geneva, holds world councils made up of delegates from about 85 national councils every four years.
yule: Lowercase this loose synonym for Christmas derived from the name of a pagan festival for the winter solstice. Also: yule log, yuletide.

- Z -

Zionism: A Jewish nationalist movement to regain an autonomous Jewish homeland, begun in the 19th century and basically achieved with the establishment of modem Israel in 1948. It is primarily a political movement. Most Jews worldwide reject the religious view propagated by many Orthodox Jews in Israel that Jews outside Israel are in "exile" and can live a full life only in Israel. Zionism takes its name from Mount Zion, one of the hills of ancient Jerusalem. Zion often is used in the Bible in figurative references toJerusalem as the royal city and site of the Temple Of Solomon, the place where God is especially present with his people. It also is used to refer to the land of Israel. See Jerusalem.
Zucchetto: Skull cap worn by the Pope (white), bishops (purple) and cardinals (red).

Page last modified Friday, February 29, 2008