All ACRE

Hebrew for "father of a multitude", and founder of the nation of Israel

spiritual creature who glorifies God without ceasing

The visit of the Archangel Gabriel to announce that she would be the Mother of God

the truth that the bishops of the Church who, through their ordination, can trace their authority in an uninterrupted, unbroken chain of succession directly back to the Apostles and Christ

Christs return to heaven 40 days after His resurrection

the dogma that teaches that the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken body and soul into heaven immediately upon her death

the first of the seven sacraments

the Churchs official process by which she declares someone a saint

a process used in the early Church to educate and prepare those who wished to become Catholic

Greek meaning "universal"

Greek for anointed; used to refer to Jesus because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission of priest, prophet, and king

the entire assembly of the people of God all over the world; comes from the Greek word ekklesia

the unity in Christ of all the redeemed, especially those on earth and those who have died and are in heaven or Purgatory

one of the Sacraments of Initiation; it completes the Baptismal cycle by a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit

a  solemn promise between people or between God and man

the definitive revelation of Christ given to the Apostles, and through them, to the entire Church as Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

the special guidance that the Holy Spirit gave to the human authors of the Bible to ensure that there are no errors in God's Word

God making Himself known to us

a revealed truth solemnly defined by the Magisterium of the Church

the efforts to reunite all Christians on earth and to cooperate among faith traditions in achieving common goals

comes from the Greek word meaning thanksgiving; the Sacrament by which bread and wine are consecrated by a priest and become the true Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus

the mission given by Christ to the apostles to preach the gospel to the whole world and make converts in every nation

the four characteristics of the Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed; they are one, holy, catholic, and apostolic

the eternal state of supreme happiness with God

the eternal state of separation and exclusion from Gods presence; the dwelling of Satan and the other fallen angels

the sacrament by which men are ordained to the priesthood or the diaconate

the worship of idols, or false gods

the dogma defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854 that states that from the moment of her conception in her mothers womb, Mary was free from the stain of original sin

from the Latin meaning to become flesh, the mystery of the union of both the divine and human natures in the person of Jesus Christ

the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to the sin whose guilt has already been forgiven

the gift given by the Holy Spirit to keep the Church free from error in the matter of faith and morals

the spiritual kingdom that begins here on earth and is perfected at the end of time; it is a kingdom of love, peace, and justice

the faithful who have been made a part of the People of God through Baptism; anyone who is not a priest or religious

the meal during which Jesus instituted the Eucharist; the last meal Jesus shared with his apostles in the upper room before his death

colors that represent certain seasons in the Church year

comes from the Greek word meaning a public work

the highest official teaching authority of the Church, which is entrusted to the pope and bishops together

wafer-like bread that tasted like honey which came down from heaven the Hebrews on their journey through the desert

come from the Greek meaning  witness; someone who suffers or dies for the sake of Christ

the Catholic Churchs most important act of worship established by Christ at the Last Supper

the statement of beliefs that was developed at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and clarified at the Council of Constantinople (381 AD)

a devotional prayer to a particular saint or group of saints, usually done over nine days, seeking their intercession for a particular need

the sin of Adam and Eve that separated mankind from God; it was the loss of the grace of original justice and holiness

the work of redemption accomplished through Jesus Passion, death, resurrection, and ascension

another name for the Sacrament of Gods forgiveness of sins that reconcile us to Himself

the birthday of the Church, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the upper room after Jesus Ascension into heaven

the successor of St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ; the supreme authority and shepherd of the entire Catholic Church worldwide

a conversation with God

Laws that must be followed by all Catholics

a state of final purification after death but before entrance into heaven for those who have died in a state of grace that are imperfectly purified

the act of Jesus in suffering, dying, and rising to secure our salvation

Jesus rising from the dead after three days; confirms all of Jesus teachings

outward signs of grace given to us by God through which we share in Gods divine life

material objects, things, or actions set apart or blessed by the Church to help bring people closer to God by increasing respect for the Sacraments

another name for the Bible

men and women who have lived lives of extraordinary faith and heroic virtue and who have been officially declared to be in heaven forever

the free gift given to us by God through the sacraments which gives us a share in Gods divine life

a  break or rupture in the unity of the Church

chosen by Christ Himself to be the first pope and head of the Church

the patron saint of Catholic theology, came up with the Five Ways that reason could be used to prove the existence of God

the moral code God gave to the Hebrews at Mount Sinai; also known as the Decalogue

the gifts of faith, hope, and charity given to us by God through Baptism

refers to the Churchs teachings that were given by Christ to the apostles and passed down to their successors through the ages

the miracle by which Eucharistic bread and wine become the Body and Blood

the mystery of God as three Divine Persons yet still one God

behavior showing high moral standards

praise

an ecumenical council held from 1962 - 1965 guided by Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul Vi

the obstinate denial by a baptized person of some truth that must be believed with divine faith.  Examples include that Jesus was never crucified or rose from the dead

the theological virtue by which one believes in all that God has revealed