Terminology

Not doing or eating something.  During the Season of Lent it is recognized as refraining from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, the the Fridays of Lent, including Good Friday. This applies to people of good health who are age fourteen and older. Abstinence is a part of the practice of fasting.

Authentic: That which is original, primary, and corresponds to factual situations. It is the reality given without illusions or perceptions both subjective or implied. 

The beginning and the basis of the whole Christian life. Baptism serves as the gateway to life in the Spirit and provides access to the other sacraments. [1]

Within the group of seven sacraments, Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments. Without baptism there is no access to the other sacraments the for it is said to open up for us the other sacraments. Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins.[2] Baptism unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification. The rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water, or pouring water on the head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit [3].

See Also : RCIA Lesson on Baptism

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1.) CCC1213

2.) Acts 2:37-39 -   37   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”
38  Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized,* every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.   39  For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”

3.) CCC 977, 1213

Also referred to as Sacred Scripture. The Bible is a collection of books which contain the truth of God's Revelation. These books were composed by human authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible has two groups of books. Old Testament which contains forty-six books. And the New Testament which contains twenty seven books.

See Old Testament; New Testament
See also: About the Bible; Canon of the Bible

This term as used in the OCIA/RCIA process has it's emphasis changed and its use as well during the process.
Whereas initially all persons in the Pre-Catechumenate can be called a "Candidate"(see in the OCIA/RCIA rite book #38).

However, after the Rite of Acceptance, those who are unbaptized are now referred to as "Catechumens and those who have received only the Sacrament of Baptism or a valid baptism prior to entering the OCIA/RCIA, are still referred to as candidates. The term candidates applies as follows:

1. A participant in the period pre-catechumenate period (OCIA/RCIA #38).

2. A person who was baptized as a Catholic but has not received any or little catechetical formation. And have not received the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist (OCIA/RCIA #400-410). 

3. A person who has a valid baptism in another Christian faith, has not received a suitable catechesis.  Such a person at the time of full reception, must make a profession of faith, be confirmed, and receive Eucharist (RCIA #409).

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OCIA candidates are individuals who have already been validly baptized in another Christian denomination or baptized Catholic but un-catechized, and are preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church.

1.) an unbaptized person who is preparing to join the Catholic Church. The word "catechumen" comes from Greek and means "one who is being instructed." 

2.) In the Catholic Church, catechumens are unbaptized adults and older children who are learning the faith and preparing to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. 

CCC 1248b: " The Catechumens should be properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and the practice of the evangelical virtues, and they should be introduced into the life of faith, liturgy, and charity of the People of God by successive sacred rites.[1]"

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[1]  Ad gentes 14; cf. RCIA 19:98

1.) The formation of the catechumens whose aim it is to bring them to conversion, respond to the divine initiative and in union with the ecclesial community.[1] 

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[1]  CCC 1248

(countable and uncountable) according to Roman Catholic canon law; the making of a putative marriage valid following the removal of some impediment (such as an annulment). it is marked by a rite in which a civil marriage, is made recognized by the church. 

Coming from the Latin it means "to firm up" or "to strengthen." A convalidation is a rite (or as you may, a religious ceremony) for a Catholic couple to be legally wed under Canon law. Convalidation issues the matrimonial sacrament.

To change;

[ see Transformation ]

Empirical: based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic. Empirical data and analysis rely primarily on matter, space and time. God is outside of matter, space and time and there observable attributes. 

Empirical data is sometimes referred to as 'scientific data.'

CCC 1327: In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: “Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.” 

[ see Holy Communion ]

In general terms a covenant is a promise between two or more parties requiring both parties to perform certain actions. A covenant is very similar to a promise. It can be seen as a contract in that the promise has a binding aspect.

The significance of this concept of covenant is found in the scriptures. The Bible is comprised of two parts, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant (Old Testament and New Testament). The word testament is another word for covenant. Covenants were a familiar part of life in ancient times. Covenants we were ways to arrange securities or surities from others. They made between two parties and ranged from alliances to marriages to join factions together.  A covenant might be conditional or unconditional. In a kingdom the king coiukld make a covenant with his subjects to promise certain protections, and the subject would promise loyalty to the king.

The Old Testament is a history of the covenant in which God revealed, little by little, His character and His plans and purposes for mankind. The Bible discloses several major covenants  in the Old Testament in which God promises to do something. All of these covenants came wit the same stipulations. They were invitations from God to allow his goodness to come to the people in exchange for their obedience to his truth and will.

The sacrament of Holy Eucharist or “Holy Communion” is the third sacrament which completes the sacraments of initiation. This sacrament is ongoing for those journeying towards God because it is the complete fountain of His grace. Those already initiated into the church, are called to be prepared[1] and to receive it “often”[2] The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Source and Summit of the faith.

Bodily you are united with God. The separation from God afflicted on man by Adam’s sin, is undone by the unifying grace and presence of Jesus. The unifying grace and physical presence of Jesus is found in the Eucharist. This moment of unity or communion is to receive Jesus who is truly present body, blood soul, and divinity. It is in this same moment that you are more completely united to the mystical body of Christ with all who are joined to Christ both in heaven and on earth. This is done by God’s grace and power.

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[1] The sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist is a source of unity and grace. As such the individual must make certain we are capable and ready to be united and graced prevailed in this august sacrament. We should be in full communion with God and the Church. If this is not the case because of something we have done, then we need to reconcile with God and the Church. We need to be fully initiated first of all. If we already are, and we need reconciliation with God then we should prevail upon Sacrament of Reconciliation. When necessary, we need to change the way we are living.

[2] CCC1389

Indifference: a complete lack of interest, concern, sympathy, or feeling toward someone or something.

At its core the act of being indifferent or to show indifference  involves:

• Not caring: Having no preference, enthusiasm, or emotional reaction. Being neutral and not leaning toward one side or the other. Treating something as being oblivious to anything worthwhile.

• Conveying Unimportance: Something that has no special value, meaning, or consequence.  Something is worthless for expenditure of consideration or resources.

While being indifferent to certain things in life like; the outcome of a game or whether one hamburger is better than another is harmless to the mind body and soul. Being indifferent to significant things in life has its consequences.

To be indifferent towards God and all he does is to say one simply does not give a damn about it one way or the other. This attitude is detrimental to the soul. God gives us everything and he gave us his son. To be indifferent regarding this is to say one could not care any less about how much God loves and gives. This attitude paves the way towards hell for many souls.

It is the indifference of people’s hearts which greatly saddens Our Lord. It is indifference, which is a form of pride, that separates us from Our Lord.

Indifference separates the soul from Our Lord. Often because it stems from pride leading to disobedience and other vices. This becomes the cause for the soul to be separated from Him for all eternity.

Judeo-Christian: A term used to group Judaism and Christianity together, either in reference to Christianity’s initial roots deriving from Judaism, both religion’s common use of certain books of the Bible, and/or due to perceived parallels or commonalities and shared values between the two religions.  

This the first period of the Catechumenal process. It is also known as the period of evangelization. The candidates are introduce to Christ by: 

(a) proclaiming the "living God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent for the salvation of all" (RCIA 36), 

(b) "a suitable explanation of the Gospel" (RCIA 38), 

(c) an opportunity for the beginnings of faith (RCIA 37).

An efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.[1] The sacraments given to us by Christ are seven: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance or Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.[2]

The sacraments are referred to as "mysteries" in the Eastern Churches. This comes from the Greek Mysterion which is then rendered in the Latin as sacramentum and mysterium. The term   emphasizes the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation therein contained in the mystery of the sacrament.[3]

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1.) CCC 774, CCC 1131

2.) CCC 1210

3.) CCC 774, CCC 1075 

The Sacraments of Healing are:

• Reconciliation (Confession, Penance)

• Annointing of the Sick

From the the seven sacraments offered by the Church, the sacraments of initiation are: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion.

See Also: RCIA Lesson 10 on Baptism
RCIA Lesson 12 on Confirmation
RCIA Lesson 19 on The Holy Eucharist

The sacraments of service are :

• Holy Orders

• Matrimony

Sanctifying grace:

 is the grace which confers on our souls a new life, that is, a sharing in the life of God Himself.

Sanctifying grace is that grace which makes the soul holy and pleasing to God.

What is Sanctifying Grace?

All graces come from God. Sanctifying grace[1] is a gift from God which stays in the soul. Sanctifying grace is first received in baptism as the initiating action where the soul is made holy and pleasing to God. This grace besides making the soul holy, it also gives the soul a supernatural life. More properly, it is supernatural life.

·        Sanctify – to make something holy, sacred, and pure.

·        Grace – generally means unmerited favor from God.

• • What is that “favor?” A new life with God.

God created you to know, love, and serve Him in this world. This is done so that when your life is finished here on earth, you might share in His happiness and be united with Him in Heaven. However, the existence of God is far different from yours. God's life is unlimited, uncreated, and independent. Human life on the other hand is very limited, created by God, and absolutely dependent on Him. To be with God you need ‘new life’ (Sanctifying grace), in effect supernatural life. You need this new life to garner the Christian lifestyle to become holy, set apart for the purpose of becoming more and more Christ-like.

Unless you are supernaturally transformed to be more Christ-like, you cannot follow into this other existence with God. You cannot be transformed by your own power. On your own, you are not equipped to obtain this new life and spend eternity with God. You need help outside and greater than yourself to achieve this. The help would need to be from the same existence as God.

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[1]CCC 2000  Sanctifying Grace is an habitual gift, a stable and supernatural disposition that perfects the soul itself to enable it to live with God, to act by His love. ….

The willful process to submit to change. Within the context of spirituality and a relationship with God involves seeking to listen to God and follow His will. This in turn brings change or transformation. Another word for transformation is conversion. Transformation/conversion is an on going process through a way of life lived as a Christian. The transforming power is God's grace. None of this occurs without our free will cooperating with and submitting to God's will.

Transformation/Conversion is not for the for the sake of change. Nor is it necessarily the idea of improving oneself. It is yielding to be drawn closer to God. Transformation is done with the help of the Sacraments which allows for our sanctification. One of the consequences is a better version of ourselves. But that is only seen through the eyes of God.

Tenet: a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.

A “tenet” is a principle, rule, or core belief.

The second understanding or use of faith is those things taught as religious truths. Examples would be; God exists, there is only one God and God must be worshipped. This is just a short sample of the truths of the faith and what is referred to using the term tenets. A tenet is a principle, rule, or core belief. When understood properly you will notice these tenets of faith do not oppose reason. At this point of your journey, you will dive into the truths the Catholic Faith teaches and believes.

Theology: the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity and the history behind religion. 

As a human, you understand physical things as well as abstract things by way of a tangible sense. After all that is how you operate as a physical creature. The use of symbols (language) in an organic and/or systemic way begins to transcend the physical to convey a thought or idea. This then leads to learning. To learn integrated subjects and abstract topics qualifies as a “Study.” There are studies about God,  where you can learn what comes from God. “The Study of God,” is certainly worthwhile and is called “Theology.”  Theos is the Greek word for “God” and “ology” which is Greek for “The study of.”

Theology is a beneficial way of understanding or knowing “About” God and seeks to answer the question, “Who is God?” It can help to develop a personal relationship with God, which is your main goal in life. As an example, when you set out to get to know someone, you may go to another person and ask, “What is he/she like?” They answer by giving a way to identify the person. So, when you meet that person you can say, “Aha, this is that person!” (At least in your mind.) Then you begin to get to know the person at a personal level. Theology can work to determine “Aha this must be God or from God.” A deeper understanding of theology comes much later in Christianity, after your initiation and maturity in the faith.

You do not need to be versed in theology to know God. Knowing God is choosing to love God. However, getting to know God initially, begins with having to learn a little about Him. You start with some very simple Theology to help validate and understand something about Him. You have already encountered some basic theology when you learned that God IS being. And a little theology like that goes a long way.

Theology helps, but it is the gift of “faith” freely given by God that aids in a deeper belief in God. Faith helps you grasp God’s revelation found in scripture. God reveals himself to individuals as is found in the spiritual experiences of the saints disclosed in their writings. As wonderful as this revelation is, along with the inspired writings of saints, all this only begins to scratch the surface of all there is that God can be for you. 

Three(3) threads of belief:

•  Intellectual

• Trust

• Grace 

Belief in God involves three threads. One is intellectual, which is an assent to all that God has revealed. This points to revelation coming from scripture and through His church. The second is a personal entrusting of oneself to God. This is faith in action. Third is God’s grace. This is a gift of God, which must be responded to in love. 

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.