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Candles · usually symbolise presence. They draw attention to the presence of Christ, Light of the World. This is seen when the cross is flanked by candles in procession; and again, when candles accompany the proclamation of the gospel; they (or torches) may also appear through the Eucharistic Prayer. The altar is always adorned with candles, varying in number according to the day.
Votive candles are tokens of our presence or prayers for someone who cannot be present. When lit, they remind us of the prayer before God.
Back when candles were first introduced (in antiquity), some criticised them as too innovative (compared to oil lamps). But they stuck. Candles for sacred use are usually to be made of beeswax, but only the Paschal Candle is necessarily so.
Canon Law · The collection of laws derived to govern the Church. For many years, these were defined by Popes or Ecumenical Councils. More recently (1917; effective 1918), they were collated into a single volume (a ‘codex’). This was then revised after Vatican II and re-published in 1989.
The word ‘canon’ refers to a kind of measuring stick. What Canon Law claims is not that it is the only way that Christian life or the Church could be ordered (in fact, there is a different Code for the Eastern Churches); rather it can be used to measures if actions are in good and proper form. As such, one can exist outside of the law but not be outside grace; but if one is within the law, it verifies and assures they are in accord with true religion.
Canon Law does not exist to serve the hierarchy (who are comparatively unprotected by it), but to serve the mission of Christ. This is encapsulated in its final words (CIC Can. 1752): “… canonical equity is to be observed, and the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes.” This observes the foundational principal Salus animarum suprema lex (the salvation of souls is the supreme law) (c.f. 1 Peter 1:9).
Cardinal · is a prince of the Church. Their role derived from two main traditions: The presbyteral council of the Roman Church (Diocese); and the council of near-by bishops that formed around the Pope. They function liturgically and in consistory to counsel the pontiff. Usually ordained bishops, they may be priests or lay faithful. Each is assigned a church in Rome as their parish. Accordingly, the [cardinal] presbyters of Rome (<80 years of age) gather to elect their next bishop — the Pope.
Cardinal Virtues · are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. They are cardinal (Latin cardo = hinge) because all others hinge upon them. While emerging in Plato’s Republic (circa. 375 BC), they have been adopted in Christian thought and ethics.
Catechesis · the process of (or content) educating (a) person/s in matters of faith and Christian life.
Catechist · a person entrusted with the work of catechesis (e.g. teaching religion or delivering a Sacramental program). Recently, Pope Francis (in his 2021 Motu Proprio Antiquum Ministerium) restored the ancient ministry of Catechist as something that could be instituted by formal rite.
Catholic Glossary [this] · A list of words/phrases that emerge when talking about living the Christian life. The full title, ‘Glossary of Catholic things and things to do with Catholicism”, avoids the necessity for a bishop’s endorsement (essentially franchising).
Celibacy · is the committed state of being not married. Many confuse it for some (temporary or permanent) abstinences from intimacy. Certainly, celibates are expected to live their celibacy chastely in abstinence, but the three are not the same.
Notably, no one is called to celibacy alone; it is always paired to another calling (or charism). In the Latin Tradition, one usually first discerns a call to celibacy before a call to priesthood. Then, before ordination as deacon, the candidate promises celibacy as a sign of dedication to Christ for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, in the service of God and man.
Chancellor · a senior administrative role. In the Church they notarise (witness) all official acts of the bishop; they are often also assigned as his chief of staff. Historically this has been a senior priest of the diocese but need not be a cleric.
Charism · (literally ‘gift’) is often a reference to a natural or spiritually-given gift. There are lists of charisms in 1 Cor 12: 4–11 & Rom 12:6–8. Others can be found in Eph 4:7–12 & 1 Pet 4:8–11).
Religious orders are marked or united by a shared charism (focus or mission): This is what they are as a community and what they offer the Church and the world (Matt 10:8; 1 Cor 15:3–4; c.f. 1 Jn 1).
Chastity · is often confused for abstinence. In fact, it is the right(eous) moderation of intimate appetites. As a virtue, it falls (or hinges) under temperance. There is a place for Chastity in marriage, before marriage, and in celibacy — though each looks different.
Church (models of) · can be broadly described using models as opposed to seeking a definition. Cardinal Dulles proposes six in his Models of the Church (1974):
Institution: An ordered society – some would say a ‘perfect’ (as in ‘complete’) one – where clerics (bishops, priests, & deacons) teach (faith), sanctify (prayer & sacraments), & rule (on faith & morals).
Mystical Community: A worshiping community who by their faith become a sign and instrument of the union of God and man (c.f. Col 1:18 & 24).
Sacrament: The visible manifestation of Christ in the human community. She makes God present.
Herald: A people who “hear the word of God and keep it” (c.f. Luke 11:28) by following Jesus and proclaiming the Christ-event in their lives.
Servant: A redeemed people who have the mandate to establish in this world Christ’s kingship.
School of Discipleship: The process of learning (‘disciple’ means ‘learner’) the “job description” of the Church. Personally following Christ.
While the Church is universal, each Diocese is referred to in Canon Law and religion as a ‘Particular Church’.
Communism · aligns theoretically quite well with Christian ethics (c.f. Acts). However, in practice there are many contradictions. Accordingly, Pp St John Paul II often spoke out against communist regimes that oppress their people and deny their essential rights.
Confession · See also Reconciliation. In antiquity, ‘confession’ was a public event for public grievances. Now it is the private telling of mortal sins [required] and venial sins or struggles living the Christian life [optional] in the Sacrament of Penance. A confession ought never be self-damning or accusatory.
Conscience · is not simply some voice in our ears (like Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio). It is a whole consciousness that helps us consider right and wrong. It is aided by good will, emotions, lived experience, and all kinds of external helps. With conscience, we can apply a general understand of what is moral to a given circumstance.
Contraception · Refers broadly to any interference in the natural processing of conceiving. This can include behavioural or temporal practices; it is also a colloquial reference for barrier or chemical interference.
The Church says that, without any extraneous influence, there should be no need for contraception within a regular Catholic marriage. She also affirms that in every case it falls to the couple to discern appropriate management of childbearing. This wording is specific. There is no teaching, for example, on contraception outside of a regular marriage (perhaps for obvious reasons), nor hard lines on what might be held as appropriate use (or to use). Many find the use of various Natural Family Planning [NFP] methods to be fruitful and fitting to their circumstances.
Notably, many of the recent (20th-century) teachings against contraceptives were primarily concerned for the medical or practical dangers that emerging methods entailed. As these evolved, so did moral reservations. Now some medications that have contraceptive effects can be used (with the usual considerations) safely and morally for other legitimate reasons.
Openness to life is an essential dimension of marriage but cannot, by nature, always be taken literally. Morally, the first consideration might go to individual health concerns; second to the good of the family unit.
Creation · Is guided by God in an intentional and providential way. It is not a matter of faith or morals if this took 7 days or followed an evolutionary process.
Creed (various) · is not a prayer. It is a symbol of faith after the ancient Jewish Shema (Deut 6:4–9). An early Creed can be found in 1 Cor 15:3–8. Now, the baptismal formula, the so-called Apostles’ Creed (circa 750AD), and the Nicene[-Constantinopolitan] Creed (325AD) appear in solemn Latin Liturgies. The Chalcedonian Creed (451AD) is no longer in use.
Cremation · is the custom by which the bodies of the deceased are burned to ashes. Many keep the ashes in an urn, either at home or interred in a memorial. Where it is not an overtly pagan practice in the country, it is permissible for Catholics to be cremated. It remains beyond regular Catholic practice to scatter the ashes freely or divide them between numerous locations.
Crusades (the) · refers to the conquests of the Holy Land following the call to arms of Pope Urban II in 1095. Not without war crimes and corruption, the various [waves of] crusades varied in their success at driving the infidel Turks from the Holy Land. Many noble saints laid down their lives on a crusade.