Name (Christian) · is the first name or common name of a person. In pagan cultures, when someone became a Christian, they took on the name of a saint or virtue to mark their new life in Christ. Since Christendom, it has been common for parents to use at least one such name for their children. In mission territories, ministers often added a saint’s name to the cultural or common name of anyone they baptised. This custom is maintained to a degree with the taking of a Confirmation name — not having a civil effect but calling on the patronage of a saint for the person.
This all ties back to ancient naming practices. In Roman culture, for example, there were three names: the praenomen (used within the family, and abbreviate to an initial in public use), the nomen (used for business and in public life), and the cognomen (the family name, as still used in the West). I follow this convention when publishing as “N. Patrick Webb”.
Nathan [given name] · from the Hebrew Natan (נָתָן) means ‘he gives’. With the added divine-affiliated suffix ‘-el’ (אֵל) Nathanael means ‘God gives’ or ‘gift from God’.
Natural Law · includes all that naturally governs (in) the created order. This includes instincts, natural forms of and inclinations to love, and many inbuilt ways of being. The Christian stance (as per the Summa Theologiae I-II.91.2) is that natural law aligns with and indeed has its origins in God’s eternal law.
Nave [in architecture] · denotes the main body of the Church. Usually there is some resemblance of a boat, harkening to typology tracing its origins to Noah’s ark. The faithful assemble for worship in the nave; often, meetings or festive gatherings might also be carried out there. This is distinct from the sanctuary which is restricted from general access and is reserved for the sacred use.
Neocatechumenal Way · is a style of Catholic community originating in Spain during the late twentieth century. Technically, it is a process of post-baptismal catechesis (formation in the faith). The Neocatechumenal Way professes it is at the service of bishops and pastors with a special care for faithful who wish to rekindle in their lives the richness of the Christian process of initiation. ‘The Way’ as they call themselves (reflecting an early term for the Church when it was a sect of Judaism) is missional by nature but is present in parishes and small communities. It is marked by stylised liturgical celebrations; all their practices are biblical or apostolic in origin or aspiration.
New Testament · includes the gospel accounts and many writings of the early Church. It continues the revelations of God contained in the Hebrew Scriptures (the ‘Old Testament’) as one continuous corpus. The Catholic Church lists twenty seven ‘books’: the four Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts of the Apostles [a second part of the work begun in Luke’s gospel account] a series of letters to the early Church from Paul — to the Romans, Corinthians (I–III), Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians [not Philippines], Colossians, Thessalonians (I&II); letters from Paul to Timothy (I&II), Titus, and Philemon; an anonymous letter to the Hebrews; letters from James, Peter (I–III), John (I–III), and Jude; and finally the Revelation (aka ‘the apocalypse’) of John.
While these books have been held as a sacred set since antiquity, it was not officially set for some time. The list was ‘canonised’ in 1546 at the Council of Trent in response to attempts to discredit or lower the significance of Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation. There are other both authentic and dubious works of apostolic origin or fabrication that are not listed in the canon of scripture. These include the so-called gnostic gospels.
Nicene Creed · was written at the Council of Constantinople (381) to reflect the teachings of the Church at the Council of Nicaea (325). While it has undertaken some revision, and debates on the filioque notwithstanding, this creed is accepted by all mainstream Christian traditions. It is proposed for use in the liturgy on solemnities not as a prayer per se but as a symbol of faith. The alternative (suggested for used during Lent and Easter and used at the beginning of the rosary) is the so-called Apostles’ Creed (not of apostolic authorship, so similarly misleading in name) is briefer and is used in most parishes year-round.
Novena · from the Latin novem (nine) is a series of nine days dedicated to prayer for a certain intention. It is typically more petitionary or sombre in tone than the more festive octaves (eight days); this may be attributed to its Jewish origins in association with the nine-day mourning periods. The most famous novena appears 17–24 December in preparation for Christmas (marked by the ‘O’ antiphons). A common novena is the novena to the Holy Spirit leading up to Pentecost.
Novice · is a beginner in any field. It comes from the Latin word novus (new) and usually applies to the first formal phase of religious life (lasting 1–2 years and subject to very strict guidelines in Canon Law and congregational constitutions) involving rigorous training in the ways of religion and the evangelical counsels. The regime is so strict that novices are not only dispensed from the usual disciplines of Chrisian life (e.g. fasting in Lent) but are forbid from also undertaking such penances on their own. One never repeats a noviciate; even if one moves religious order, the noviciate is always recognised. If a priest joins an order, they too must also undertake the noviciate, even though they have been through almost a decade of religious-styled seminary training.
Novus Ordo · is a term for the way of celebrating Mass (The ‘Mass of Vatican II’) that is quickly becoming obsolete and is recognised by many as increasingly not fit-for-purpose. It was originally used when Pope S. Paul VI published the ‘new typical edition’ of Mass in the Missal of 1970. Now, approaching fifty years of use, it is no longer new. Often this term is used in contrast to the ‘Tridentine’ form of the Mass (the ‘Latin Mass’; another misleading term as it is really the Missal of Pope John XXIII, revised in 1962 but with ancient origins — not the Mass of Trent). It is considered more proper to forfeit the term ‘Novus ordo’ for the wording of Pope Benedict XVI and call the Missal of 1970 the ‘Ordinary Form’ (then the 1962 Missal becomes the ‘Extraordinary Form’).
Many say the ‘Novus Ordo’ is recognisable for its use of the vernacular (English) and versus populum (the priest leading part of the Mass from behind the altar). In fact, the Extraordinary Form can and has used both through the centuries; and the missal of Paul VI is written to use Latin as the primary language and ad orientem (all facing the altar) as the default. To the average faithful attending, a ‘Novus Ordo’ and a ‘Tridentine’ Mass could be almost indistinguishable.
Nuncio · represents the Pope from an ecclesial (Church organisation) perspective. This means they are the civil ambassadors of the Holy See (as a country) to their respective jurisdiction(s). Practically speaking, nuncios are the envoys of the Pope, doing the groundwork in the selection and deposition of bishops. Nuncios are chosen from among the presbyterate and are highly trained as diplomates before spending many years in apprentice as secretary to nuncios. When then appointed to a nunciature, they are ordained to the episcopate and given the rank of Archbishop.
Nun · is an colloquial umbrella term for religious women living together in community. Usually, there is a contemplative dimension to their lives.
Nuptial Mass · is a Mass with the Rite of Christian Marriage. The rite is not ‘tacked in’ after the homily arbitrarily as the prayers and readings of the Mass speak to the mystery of the Sacrament and how it ties into the mysteries of God’s love.
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The Labyrinth at the Cathedrale of Notre-Dame de Chartres in Stein, France (Wikimedia commons).
Laicisation · simply means the reducing of persons or things having an ecclesiastical character to a lay condition. It may be done for disciplinary reasons (e.g. in response to an ecclesiastical crime) or by election of the cleric (i.e. a discernment to discontinue the practice of ministry with the possibility of pursuing another vocation). It applies to deacons, priests, and bishops permanently leaving active ministry. It may also apply at times to buildings or objects consecrated for sacred use (e.g. altars). The power to recategorize someone as lay (or ‘reduce them to the lay state’) is an exercise of the healing ministry entrusted to the Church with the ‘power of the keys’; it is for the good of souls, especially the minister-come-layman’s own soul.
Laity · as a broad term comes from the Greek work laos (λαός) as in ‘the people’ or through the adjectival form as ‘the people at large’. The Church uses it to denote God’s people — that is the baptised who form the Church. In general, it is a term for the vast majority of the Church who hold no other rank. It is used to draw a distinction between the governed (the lay) and those governing (presbyters/bishops); such a distinction has been present since Jesus singled out and commissioned the apostles. As Church hierarchy developed, it came to draw a distinction between all ordained (even subdeacon) and those not ordained. Technically, priests are a part of the laos — the people of God as a whole. But in practice the word ‘laity’ is opposed to ‘clergy’. Religious are often mistakenly considered non-lay. This is a remnant of a time they used to be considered as a third ‘state’ — where members of the Church were lay, religious, or clergy. But rightly, religious are lay unless also ordained (e.g. a Dominican priest).
From this Christian sense, the word has come to be used for those not familiar or professional in a field. For instance, I am a professional when it comes to horticulture, an amateur when it comes athletics, and a layman when it comes to health care or the practice of medicine.
Latin [language] · originated with the Roman empire and was adopted by the Western Church since the earliest centuries. It remains the official language of the Church and should have pride of place (as the default) in Roman Rite liturgies. It is especially helpful when catering to diverse or multi-national Mass attendance (e.g. Stanthorpe seasonal workers and migrants). In terms of religious anthropology, it is the sacred language of Western Christianity and much of the Western world.
Lectionary · is the book where excerpts of the Bible are ordered for the readings at Mass. This saves marking or mistaking readings, to keep the structure of the readings through the year.
Liberal arts (artes liberales) · are not ‘arts’ per se (in the modern sense) but the seven classical disciplines of learning: language, oratory, and logic;
and arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. This system of traces its origins to Greek structures of thought but was formally developed through the Middle Ages. It has parallels with oriental structures of thought and teaching, and algins well with Catholic ideals for education. Many highly regarded educators of the present day use liberal arts fundamentals in their pedagogy, even without knowing or naming it.
Limbo · is the temporary state or place for souls before their final end (heaven or hell). The Church does not officially teach that limbo exists, but it is commonly held in devotion as the place where non-baptised wait for the return of Jesus. Limbo is often cited when talking about salvation for people who died before Jesus came and babies who die prior to baptism; as a place for those with original sin by no personal guilt or culpability, who we trust to God’s mercy.
Litany · is a form of responsive petition used in both public and private prayer.They usually consist of a series of names or titles for God or some heavenly being, followed by a repeated response such as “Pray for us” or “Hear us”. There is a short litany at the beginning of most Masses when the people recite the kyrie in response to the priest’s invocation. Most famous is the litany of saints used at the Easter vigil, ordinations, religious professions, and some weddings. Other litanies currently popular include the Litany of the Holy Spirit, a Litany of Humility, and the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; they are a popular practice in lent, or on feast days (e.g. Pentecost or Sacred Heart).
Liturgical Year · marked by distinct colours traces the mysteries of Jesus through each rotation of the earth. The year begins on the first Sunday of Advent and culminates on Easter Sunday (like a day begins at midnight but culminates at midday). The significance of the seasons is ordered the same as its development: First, a period of preparation for those initiated at Easter — Lent (violet/purple); and a time to celebrate the resurrection through Pentecost — Eastertide (white/gold); then similar but briefer seasons were added either side of Christmas — Advent (violet/purple) and Christmastide (white/gold); the space in between was counted in an ordinal way — Ordinary Time (green). These seasons are punctuated by feasts and solemnities relating to God or the saints.
Liturgy · literally the work of the people (from the Greek leitourgia (‘people’s work’, often on signs around roadworks in Greece) is the formal prayer of the Church. It is distinct from other prayers in that it is the official texts such as the Mass and Liturgy of the hours as opposed to composed prayers or devotionals. One does not plan liturgies; one prepares the liturgy as planned and approved by the Church authorities.
Liturgy of the Hours · see Divine Office. It is also called ‘the liturgy of the hours’ because it marks the hours of the day. This follows the charge of St Paul to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17–18). Two primary hours (known as ‘cardinal’ hours from the Latin word which means ‘hinge’) are considered primary according to the following structure: Office of Readings (Matins) – Any time; Lauds [cardinal] (at dawn, or first thing); Terce (mid-morning); Sext (noon); None (mid-afternoon); Vespers [cardinal] (evening, or at the end of the workday); Compline (before bed, or last thing at night).
Logos (λόγος) · literally translates as ‘word (of God)’ and refers to the Jesus. From Greek philosophy and lit.
Lord’s Prayer · also known by its Latin title and opening line ‘Pater noster’ is the pattern of all prayer (St Augustine); it became known as the “Lord’s Prayer” in England just before the Reformation. It has been the basis for extensive commentary and (in)formed the structure of numerous seminal catechetical resources.
The words are drawn from the gospel of Luke 11:2–4 when Jesus was asked by the disciples how to pray; it differs minorly from the text of Matthew 6:9–15 (in the middle of the ‘sermon on the mount’). It does not seem to mimic Jewish prayers of the time but was taken up by the early Church in her prayer. It is still recited formally by the Church three times a day: in Morning Prayer (Lauds), Evening Prayer (Vespers) and at Eucharist (Mass). Many recited it often in the Rosary.
Before the rosary was a thing, beads were used by people to count recitations of the Lord’s Prayer. This was helpful for those who wished to have regular prayer in their lives but could not read (the psalms) or did not have access to printed spiritual literature. This included many monks, religious, and lay faithful.