| Index of Catholic Terminology |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | |
Tip: Hit CTRL-F on your keyboard to search for items on this page.
B
B.C.: Abbreviation for the words "before Christ" meaning the years before the Incarnation of the Son of God from which event the present calendar is configured.
B.V.M.: Abbreviation for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Baptism: A Sacrament administered by immersion in water or the pouring of water on the head and saying, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," and through which one enters into the Church of Christ. There are three means of Baptism for gaining salvation: (a) Baptism of water which is performed by the act of pouring water. (b) Baptism of desire is the act of perfect love of God which suffices for adults in good faith if the formal baptism with water is impossible. (c) Baptism of blood, i.e., martyrdom which also forgives the effects of sin and remits the temporal penalties of sin. Baptism is a necessary sacrament. It remits all sins, may be given to all human beings, is ordinarily performed by a priest but in a case of necessity may be given by any person who has attained the age of reason. The matter of the sacrament is the washing with water; the form is the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Baptistery: A small separate building or part of the church containing the font and set apart as the place for the administration of Baptism.
Basilica: A church to which special privileges are attached. It is a title of honor given to various kinds of churches. There are thirteen basilicas in Rome, five major and eight minor.
Beatific Vision: The act of seeing God face to face which forms the essential happiness of angels and people in heaven. This "seeing of God" is through direct knowledge whereas the knowledge of God on earth is merely by reflection through created things and revealed images.
Beatification: The first step in the process by which a deceased person is officially declared to be a Saint. The declaration is made by the Church after due process of determining the sanctity of a deceased person. It bestows the title of "blessed" on the one beatified.
Beatitudes: The eight blessings spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matt. 5:3-10.) They are: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth; blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted; blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied; blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God; blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God; blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Beelzebub: Satan. The name applied to the "prince of devils" in the New Testament.
Belief: 1) To say "I believe," literally means "I hold dear." 2) The acceptance by the mind of Catholic teaching, because it comes from divine revelation; 3) a single truth of Christian doctrine.
Benedictine Order: The Order of Saint Benedict is a confederation of congregations of monks and nuns, not a centralized religious order. Each monastery is an autonomous community following the rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia.
Benediction : A short service in which the consecrated Host is placed in a monstrance where it can be seen and venerated by the people.Incense is often used during the service, hymns may be sung, and the divine praises recited. The act of Benediction is the blessing of the people with the Sacred Host in the form of a cross by the priest. The Host is then removed from the monstrance and replaced in the tabernacle.
Benedictus: The canticle of Zachariah recited daily in the holy office. It is found in Luke 1 :68-79.
Bible: Sacred Scriptures which have been pronounced authentic by the infallible authority of the Church. The writings are both of Jewish and Christian origin. The Bible records the revelation of God to man. There are 73 books contained in the Bible; 46 in the Old Testament; 27 in the New Testament. The name is taken from the Greek and literally means "the Book." In actuality is is a library of books. See Deuterocanonical Books.
Bidding Prayers: In the United States most often called The Prayers of the Faithful, Prayers which are said at Mass after the Creed for the needs of the world and the Church. See Prayers of the Faithful and General Intercessions.
Bilocation: The act of being in two places at one time; used in reference to the presence of Christ in heaven and in the Blessed Sacrament. Also refers to saints who have appeared in two places simultaneously as in the appearance of St. Anthony at the same time in the pulpit and in a distant friary choir.
Biretta: Also berretta. A square cap of cloth with three or four leaves or projecting corners rising from the top. In the center of the crown there is a pom-pom or tassel. It used to be worn by priests and other clerics.
Biritualism: The use, in case of necessity, by a priest belonging to the Roman rite of a rite other than his own. This is the practice of missionaries of the Roman rite who work among the Eastern Churches and use an Eastern rite or that of the people among whom they work.
Bishop: The chief priest of a diocese. A member of the hierarchy of the Church. An ecclesiastic who has received the highest of the sacred orders and who has jurisdiction over a diocese; the ordinary. (I) Auxiliary-one raised to the dignity of the hierarchy and named a titular bishop and placed as an assistant to another ruling bishop. He does not enjoy jurisdiction by reason of his consecration, but receives it from the bishop whom he assists in the duties of the episcopal office. (2) Coadjutor-one raised to the dignity of a bishop and given jurisdiction in part to govern the diocese of a bishop who is partly incapacitated. He usually has the right of succession. (3) An Administrator-a bishop given complete jurisdiction to govern the diocese of a bishop who is wholly incapacitated. (4) Sufragan- diocesan bishop in an ecclesiastical province of a metropolitan who is subject to an archbishop. (5) Titular-one consecrated to a diocese or see which existed at one time but which now, because the faith has died out in that place, no longer exists. Bishops are responsible for the pastoral care of their dioceses. In addition, bishops have a responsibility to act in council with other bishops to guide the Church.
Blessed: One who has been beatified; a soul enjoying the happiness of heaven. See Beatification.
Blessed Sacrament: A term Catholics use when referring to the consecrated Host-especially when it is reserved in the Tabernacle. This is the Body of the Risen Christ in the form of bread.
Blessing: Blessing is the ritual expression of God's goodness and love. The action has traditionally communicated either the blessings of divine gifts bestowed upon us or our thankfulness for those gifts. Blessings are liturgical signs which call down God's holiness upon people or things. The Book of Blessings is a ritual book of the Church which lists several hundred prayer texts that express various types of blessings for individuals, groups and objects. Types range from blessings of pregnant mothers, to catechists, to stained glass windows. The act of blessing is usually accomplished through certain prayers spoken asking God's favor on persons or objects and raising hands in benediction over the person or object, including making the Sign of the Cross.
Boat: The boat shaped dish or vessel which holds the raw incense to be burned in the censer (Thurible).
Book of Gospels: The book which contains the Gospel texts, from which the priest or deacon proclaims the Gospel of the day.
Bread and Wine: The elements used in the celebration of Eucharist (unleavened bread and natural pure wine). NOTE: After the Eucharistic Prayer the bread and wine is referred to as: "the consecrated bread and wine" or "the Body and Blood of Christ." Catholics do not believe that the bread and wine are mere symbols; they believe the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Breaking of the Bread: The celebrant recreates gestures of Christ at the Last Supper when He broke the bread to give to His disciples. The action signifies that in communion the many are made one in the one Bread of Life which is Christ.
Breviary: A book containing the scriptures, prayers, hymns, psalms and readings which make up the Liturgy of the Hours or sometimes called the Divine Office, (a form of prayer said by the Clergy).
Brief: Also breve. A papal letter of the court of Rome signed by the Pope's secretary of briefs and sealed with the Pope's signet ring, called the fisherman's ring.
Brother: A man who is a member of a religious order, but is not ordained or studying for the priesthood. They live a religious community life and devote themselves to various works of a religious nature.
Bull: (Papal Bull) An official papal document or writing receiving its name from the lead or gold seal, called the bulla, bearing a representation of SS. Peter and Paul and the name of the reigning pontiff. Bulls are of strong parchment and are signed by the Pope and the chief members of the papal chancery. The bull is more formal than the brief and is used for more weighty pronouncements of the papal chancery. Today they are used only for very important and solemn occasions. Sometimes called a bulla.
Byzantine Rite: The celebrating of Mass, the administering of the Sacraments, and the performing of other liturgical functions after the manner now used by the Eastern Church. Its ordinary language is Greek, but it is used in several other languages. Like the Roman Catholics The Byzantine Catholics recognize the Pope as the head of the church on earth.
