Real Presence · affirms that Jesus is present —body, blood, soul, and divinity— in the Eucharist. Importantly, this presence is (real and) sacramental as opposed to physical.
Reason · denotes the mode or act of thinking. Since Aristotle, a distinction exists between the simple intellect (perceiving, self-aware, and judging soul) and reason (logical and inferential capacity of thought); the latter makes humanity seek a knowledge of the truth. “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth” (Pope S. John Paul II, Fides et Ratio, 1998).
As humans (usually) have the faculty of reason, they are known as ‘rational beings’. This distinguishes them from even somewhat intuitive or ‘smart’ animals. Accordingly, reason is considered a gift from God for humanity. Philosophers have an important role these days in promoting reason in a world that commodifies knowledge. The study of reason (with rhetoric) is required within the broad program of seminary (philosophical) studies.
Reconciliation [Sacrament] · also known as ‘confession’ and ‘penance’. See their respective glossary entries.
Redemption · denotes the freedom from sin and its consequences. Ours is not achieved but us but has been won and is offered by Jesus.
Reformation · was a 16th-century movement within the Western Church which began as internal renewal and ended in protestant revolts and lasting division among Christians.
Relics · are artefacts of a saint or a miracle. They are venerated (not worshipped) by class: First-class relics are any part of the body of the saint or miraculous phenomenon (e.g. a piece of bone); second-class relics are things which a saint personally used or owned (e.g. a book, clothing, or rosary beads); a third-class relic is an item of devotion (e.g. a sacramental or memento) that has touched a first- or second-class relic. Every main altar has a relics in it.
Religion · is the living out of faith according to some (usually shared) rule. Some say it is the socialisation of spirituality. The major religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism; the anti-religion is the growing number of atheist (not ascribing to belief; those who say there is no God) and agnostics (claiming knowledge opposing to or other than God; those who seek knowledge over belief in or denial of God). Religions differ from ‘faith traditions’ in that each of these broad ‘religions’ have numerous traditions (and sub-rules) within them (e.g. the Catholic tradition v/s the Lutheran tradition of Christianity).
Religious (as a category of the church) · are people who live in a common rule, usually applied through a constitution. Usually they are recognised by some kind of habit (outfit) but also by a habit of life (expectations of community life and prayer). Not all religious brothers become priests, and not all priests are religious (e.g. ‘secular/diocesan priests’).
Retreat · is a time and/or space set apart for spiritual growth and reflection.
Revelation [book of the bible] · is the final book of the bible, written by John on the Island of Patmos. Not only is it situated last in the bible but it was also the last to be authored.
Revelation (divine) · is the making known of some truth through divine inspiration. Jesus was the fullness of revelation, and (reminders and calls to faith notwithstanding) since the last apostle died there is no more revelation to be had until the new heaven and the new earth.
Reverend (The) [style/title] · denotes a sacred minister; they may be a religious or a cleric (or both), such as “The Rev. Sr Mary Jane”. The title denotes not so that they are
due some special respect as that they are dedicated to reverence God and God’s people through their minister of service. Certainly in written form, priests should not technically be denoted as in “Fr. John Smith” but as “The Rev. John Smith”.
Roman Canon · A common anaphora (Eucharistic prayer) that has prevailed in use through most of the Church’s history. It stands as “Eucharistic Prayer I” in the current Roman Missal, having pride of place and primacy for Sundays and solemnities. It is recognisable for its list of saints.
Rosary (marian) · is a method of prayer that takes moments in the life of Christ (usually as part of a series of five) and encourages meditating on them while reciting biblical-based prayers on repeat. The prayers create a kind of mantra to guide the meditation; and the meditation direct the consciousness behind the words. While some attribute its development to St Dominic, in fact it has grown over time and was simply popularised by the mendicants (including the Dominicans).
This prayer is also known as ‘The Lay Psalter’ as many illiterate people would pray it while the monks prayed the psalms. The Rosay holds a special place of devotion among Australian Catholics; it was the dominant form of prayer used by (mostly Irish) convicts when, in the early days of settlement, they were not allowed to celebrate their faith publicly and had no priests for the dispensation of the sacraments.
The structure of the rosary is simple: Reciting the Apostles’ creed; pray for the Pope; Choose a mystery for meditation; while meditating on the mystery, pray 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be, and then the ‘Fatima prayer’; Repeat with other mysteries for meditation; then conclude with the Hail, Holy Queen / Salve Regina.
There are 20 ‘mysteries’ for meditation: 5 ‘joyful’ mysteries, focusing on the early life of Jesus; 5 ‘luminous’ (aka ‘mysteries of light’) that draw on the ministry of Jesus; 5 ‘sorrowful’, following the passion and death of Our Lord; and the ‘glorious’ mysteries that trace the resurrection of Jesus through the queenship of His mother in heaven. One praying the rosary may choose one of these to reflect upon with a ‘decade’ (the Hail Mary ten times, after an Our Father and followed by a Glory Be) or they may do a complete set of 5.
Rosary Beads · are a set of beads for counting the rosary. They may be a set of ten beads with a cross or medallion to mark the gloria; or, they may be a set of 50 beads divided into sections of 10, allowing for meditation — with a cross hanging from an additional set of beads for the preparatory prayers (for the Pope etc.) following the creed.
Notably, beads (or a knotted chord) were not invented for the rosary but were appropriated for it. Prayer beads were used far before the Rosary, usually to repeat the ‘Jesus Pray’ (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”).
Rubrics · are the texts (traditionally written in red, hence the name) that instruct the actions in prayer. For example, in the Missal the gestures of the priest and the postures of the congregation are usually stipulated in red between the spoken texts. A saying goes “Say the black; do the red.”
Rule of St Benedict · was written by the named author and has stood as a guide for religious communities and lay faithful since the early Church. It begins with the words “Obsculta, o fili, præcepta magistri”(“Listen, my child, to the instructions of the teacher”); then it outlines an extensive guide to living; it then concludes with “Quisquis ergo ad patriam cælestem festinas, hanc minimam inchoationis regulam descriptam adiuvante Christo perfice; et tunc demum ad maiora, quæ supra commemoravimus, doctrinæ virtutumque culmina Deo protegente pervenies. Amen.” (“Whoever you are, therefore, who are hastening to the heavenly homeland, fulfil with the help of Christ this minimum Rule which we have written for beginners; and then at length under God’s protection you will attain to the loftier heights of doctrine and virtue which we have mentioned above”). It is worth a read and some reflection.