Today's Word

Religious education classes have begun in my part of the world and that just reminds me again of how grateful I am for all those who have answered God's call to share their gifts by becoming a catechist.

Catechist (KA-teh-kihst) - One who instructs another in the Faith. The General Directory for Catechesis expands on this, reminding us that it is more than mere instruction, but the "task of the catechist [is] truly to help a person encounter God." (GDC 139)

No methodology, no matter how well tested, can dispense with the person of the catechist in every phase of the catechetical process. The charism given to him by the Spirit, a solid spirituality and transparent witness of life, constitutes the soul of every method. Only his own human and Christian qualities guarantee a good use of texts and other work instruments.

The catechist is essentially a mediator. He facilitates communication between the people and the mystery of God, between subjects amongst themselves, as well as with the community. For this reason, his cultural vision, social condition and lifestyle must not be obstacles to the journey of faith. Rather, these help to create the most advantageous conditions for seeking out, welcoming and deepening the Christian message. He does not forget that belief is a fruit of grace and liberty. Thus, he ensures that his activities always draw support from faith in the Holy Spirit and from prayer. Finally, the personal relationship of the catechist with the subject is of crucial importance. (GDC 156)

Today's Word: Beatification

Tomorrow marks the last day of Pope Benedict's visit to England, and the day on which he will declare John Henry Newman as "blessed", which brings us today's word:

Mother Theresa's Beatification (source)

Beatification (bee·at'·uh·fi·CAY·shun) A recognition that a holy person is in heaven and interceding on behalf of the faithful. This is the last step before canonization (being made a saint). In order to be beatified, there must be proof of one miracle obtained by the person's intercession (except in the case of martyrs).

After beatification, the Blessed may be publicly invoked (Masses and the Divine Office said in their honor, inclusion in the Litany of Saints, etc.) in their local dioceses (and in their order, if they were a religious), but they are still restricted to only private devotions throughout the Universal Church until they are canonized.

• More on the canonization process
• John Henry Newman: A Man of Deep Religious Courage

Today's Word

It's possible that this is an error that is specific to my parish, but most often I hear the entire room in which Mass takes place referred to as "the sanctuary." In reality, what they probably mean is the nave.

Sanctuary (SANK-tshoo-ehr-ee)

A sanctuary is the holiest part of a sacred space. It's the place containing the altar (or the high altar if there are several). The sanctuary is the center of the liturgical ceremony, and is set apart by a raised floor, altar rail, distinct decorations, etc.

Nave (NAYV)

The nave is the central, open part of a church reserved for worshipers. This word is from the Latin, navis, meaning ship and speaks of the image of the Church as the Ship of Salvation. We members are the passengers being safely guided through the stormy waters of life. Isn't that a beautiful image?

Today's Word

While on vacation this summer, I attended Mass at a church with beautiful stained glass windows of the Parables.

Parable (from the Catholic Encyclopedia):
The word parable signifies in general a comparison, or a parallel, by which one thing is used to illustrate another. It is a likeness taken from the sphere of real, or sensible, or earthly incidents, in order to convey an ideal, or spiritual, or heavenly meaning. It abounds in lively speaking figures, and stands midway between the literalism of mere prose and the abstractions of philosophy.

The Good Samaritan

The Good Shepherd

The Wise and Foolish Virgins

Today's Word

This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Mass at a beautiful old church that has been closed for the past seven years and is being reopened and restored to house a newly established group of Franciscans. Their bare feet and rough wool habits led to some discussion about what makes them different from the diocesan priests we usually see, and like most good conversation, that led to learning something new, which in turn leads to Today's Word.

Evangelical Counsels

The vows (promises) of poverty, chastity, and obedience taken by those in consecrated life. These vows were first made in the twelfth century by Saint Francis and those in his newly established group, and now form the basis of the life and conduct of all religious communities.

Today's Word

I had the pleasure of holding a newly baptized baby recently and was reminded once again that one of the best smells ever is that of chrism on a infant's head. Surely if The Goodness of God could be bottled, it would smell like these blessings of life and salvation and grace!

Chrism (KRIH-zuhm)

Typically a mixture of olive oil and balsam, chrism is consecrated by a bishop for use in anointing at Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and the blessing of an altar.

Writing this reminded me of an article I read at Faith and Family where a reader recommended a candle that smells "remarkably close to this scent."

Today's Word

Of course, after mentioning it yesterday, the next logical word is

Novitiate (no-VIH-shee-eht)

A period of training and discernment for one seeking admission to a religious order. Like a postulant, Novices have not yet taken vows and are free to leave at any time. This is also a period of discernment for the order, and the Superior (leader) is also free to dismiss a novice if the arrangement is not discerned to be a good mutual fit.

From the ever-helpful Wikipedia:

After initial contact with the community, and usually a period of time as a postulant (a more or less formal period of candidacy for the novitiate), the person will be received as a novice in a ceremony that most often involves being clothed with the religious habit (traditional garb) of the particular religious community. The novice's habit is often slightly different from those of professed members of the order. For instance, in communities of women that wear a dark veil over the head, novices often wear a white one; among Franciscan communities of men, novices wear an additional shirt-like chest piece over the traditional Franciscan robe; Carthusian novices wear a dark cloak over the usual white habit; etc.

Novices are not admitted to vows until they have successfully completed the prescribed period of training and proving, called the novitiate. This usually lasts one year, the minimum required by Canon Law, though in some orders and communities it is two. Novices typically have dormitories in separate areas within a monastery or community and are under the direct supervision of a novice master or novice mistress.

Even more helpful is this page on the stages of formation of religious life from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. The above photo is also from their site showing a postulant, a novice and a fully-professed sister.

The place where novices live is also know as a novitiate.

Today's Word

Postulant (PAHS-stoo-luhnt)

A candidate for a religious order who is entering the pre-novitiate period of his/her discernment. The length of this time varies from one order to another, but during this time the postulant participates as fully as possible in the prayer and work life of the community. Since no vows are yet taken, this is a time for the candidate to discern the Lord's will.

You may have read the recent interview with Harvard's 2010 Valedictorian, Mary Anne Marks, who is about to move into life as a postulant with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan. If you haven't, please do! It's a thoughtful reflection on one woman's discernment process and the Church in the modern world.

Today's Word

The recent post at NLM on the Watts Book of English Church Embroidery is interesting enough, but stay on their site a little longer and drool over the amazing fabrics and vestments. Even the banners are impressive!

And as long as we have such a perfect visual aide, let's move into today's word:

Cope
The vestment worn by clergy at Benediction, processions, and solemn celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours. A cope is a floor length garment and is fastened around the neck by a clasp. A hood shaped like a shield is usually on the back of the cope.

Word of the Day*

When I first read about Elizabeth Scalia's new "Word of the Day" feature, my immediate thought was "why didn't I think of that?" Ever since I worked with a parish group that rejected the use of a picture of a thurible on a t-shirt because "no one knows what that is anymore," I have been on a mission to use my tiny sphere of influence toward using proper terms, defining things, and introducing others to the beautiful vocabulary of the Church.

With that in mind, it just seems right to begin with a word that is near and dear to us -

Sodality (so-DAL-ih-tee)

A group, usually of lay people, formed to promote pious and charitible acts. The Code of Canon Law tells us:

In the Church there are associations which are distinct from institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life. In these associations, Christ's faithful, whether clerics or laity, or clerics and laity together, strive with a common effort to foster a more perfect life, or to promote public worship or Christian teaching. They may also devote themselves to other works of the apostolate, such as initiatives for evangelisation, works of piety or charity, and those which animate the temporal order with the Christian spirit.

Christ's faithful are to join especially those associations which have been established, praised or recommended by the competent ecclesiastical authority. (Can. 298 §1 and §2)

*I need to add some qualifiers here. (1) I guarantee there will not be a word each and every day. Maybe Word of the Week would be more realistic. Sometimes Word of the Month may be closer to the truth. (2) I can also guarantee that every entry will not be a single word; there are just too many interesting phrases to learn. Perhaps a more accurate title would be The Church Ladies Sporadically Write About Words and Phrases That Currently Catch Their Attention. Or perhaps we'll just use Today's Word ;-)