Theology 3.1 vocab list Flashcards
Anamesis
Greek term meaning “memorial” or “remembrance.” St. Paul uses the term twice in the earliest account we have of the institution of the Eucharist in 1 Corinthians
11.
Eucharist
From the Greek word for “thanksgiving.” In the Gentile (non-Jewish) Mediterranean world of the first century, this is the term commonly used for the bread and wine ritual that in the New Testament is called “the breaking of the bread.” It is the central Christian liturgical celebration, established by Jesus at the Last Supper. In the Eucharist, the sacrificial death and Resurrection of Jesus are both remembered and renewed.
Liturgy
The original meaning in Greek was a “public work” or “service on behalf of then people.” In Christian tradition, it means the church’s public worship of God through word
and sacrament.
Passover
The night the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites marked by the blood of the lamb and spared the firstborn sons from death. It also is the feast that celebrates the deliverance of the Chosen People from bondage in Egypt and the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land. Jesus re-interprets this feast during the final days of his life in light of his Passion (his agony in the garden at Gethsemane, his trial, and his Crucifixion).
Baptism
The first of the Seven Sacraments and one of the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation by which one finds belonging in the Church and a new creature in Christ. This was originally performed by fully immersing someone in water, but a smaller amount of water poured over one’s head is more common today. Every time this sacrament is publicly celebrated or recalled in some way, Christians remember that they belong and are to be a people of belonging.
Sacraments of Christian Initiation
The three Sacraments—Baptism, Confirmation, and
the Eucharist—through which people enter into full membership in the Church.
Catechumenate
From the Greek for “to let re-echo.” It is the period for instruction and socialization into the Christian community, a time to let the faith of the community re-echo in the hearts of the new believers. In the early church during persecution times, it lasted about three years. When revived in 1972 as part of the RCIA process, the
catechumenate was estimated to last about one year.
Normative
Refers to the standard according to which a thing is done; this standard is not necessarily affected by the number of times a thing is done. Adult Baptism through the RCIA is normative in the Catholic Church, even though infant Baptism is more common.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
The process by which an unbaptized person, called
a “catechumen,” and those who were baptized in another Christian denomination, called
“candidates for full communion,” are prepared to become full members of the Church. This process involves four periods of time: evangelization and pre-catechumenate, the period of the catechumenate, purification and enlightenment, and the period of post- baptismal catechesis or mystagogy.
Common priesthood of the faithful
The name for the priesthood shared by all who are baptized. The baptized share in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ by participating in his mission as priest, prophet, and king.
