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D
Dalmatic:The vestment the deacon wears over the alb on solemn occasions.
Deacons/Diaconate: The diaconate is the first order or grade in ordained ministry. Any man who is to be ordained to the priesthood must first be ordained as a transitional deacon. Deacons serve in the ministry of liturgy, of the word, and of charity. The Permanent Diaconate is for men who do not plan to become ordained priests. The program is open to both married and unmarried men.
Dean/Vicar: The title of a priest appointed by the bishop to aid him in administering the parishes in a certain vicinity, called a ñdeanery.î The function of a dean involves promotion, coordination, and supervision of the common pastoral activity within the deanery or vicariate.
Deanery:Several parishes form a Deanery. This unit is administered by one of the Priests' of the Deanery who has the title; 'Dean'.
Decade: One part of a rosary consisting of an Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory be to the Father; one mystery or the meditation on one mystery while saying the above prayers.
Decalogue: A common term meaning the Ten Commandments of God.
Decretal: A letter containing a pontifical decision; the formal reply of the pope concerning a question of discipline. Collection of such laws or decisions.
Dedication of a Church: The act whereby a church is solemnly declared to be set apart for the worship of God. Today, it is often said that a church is dedicated to some particular saint, but this is incorrect. The misconception arises from a popular devotion to the saint carried on in that church or the name given to the particular church.
Demon: Evil spirit; an angel who was cast out of heaven with Lucifer; an inhabitant of hell.
Demoniac: One possessed by a devil or evil spirit.
Denudation: A term applied to the stripping of the altar on Holy Thursday; removal of coverings.
Deposit of Faith: The combination of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition make up the one deposit of faith. The sum total of revealed truths given by Christ to His Church; truths guarded by the Church and taught by the Church through the magisterium. See Tradition.
Desecration: The act by which a thing which has been consecrated is made unfit for sacred use; after desecration a thing must be consecrated again. This may also be taken in the sense of the degrading or insulting use of something sacred.
Despair: The contrary of hope; the state of being hopeless; deliberate act of the will by which one turns away from salvation, considering it as impossible of attainment.
Determinism: The denial of free will; the assertion that the acts of man are determined by a set rule or formula over which he has no power of choice.
Deuterocanonical Books: Books of the Bible which are not found in the Hebrew Bible but which are found in the Septuagint Greek translation; later their canonicity was established by the Church. The Old Testament collection in "Catholic Bibles" contains the Deuterocanonical Books because it was compiled from the Septuagint Greek translation. This is the basic reason why there are more books in the "Catholic Version" of the Bible.
Deuteronomy: The fifth book of the Old Testament of the Bible. 35. Development (of Doctrine) n.; L., Fr. The more clear or more explicit formulation or expression of a belief contained in the deposit of faith; a clarification or defining of some tenet of belief.
Devil:The biblical name for the evil one. A creature who rebelled against God and causes evil.
Devil's Advocate: The official whose duty it is to bring objections against the beatification and canonization of a saint. Also called Promotor Fidei.
Devotion: (1) A manner of reverence and piety; devoutness. (2) A formula of prayer or a pious exercise.
Diocese: A particular church area; a fully organized ecclesiastical jurisdiction under the pastoral direction of a bishop as local Ordinary.
Diocesan Curia: The personnel and offices assisting the bishop in directing the pastoral activity, administration and exercise of judicial power of the diocese.
Diaconate: The order of deaconship. See Deacon.
Diaspora: The dispersion of the Jews by their conquerors; the places to which they were dispersed.
Didache: Literally " the teaching." Popularly known as "The Teaching of the Apostles." A writing of the first century, very valuable because of its testimony of the doctrine and teaching of the early Church.
Dirge: In its literary sense, a poem dedicated to a departed person or referring to death; sometimes applied to an antiphon read in the Office of the Dead. Sometimes applied to the Office of the Dead.
Discalced: Barefooted; refers to those branches of religious orders who observe the austerity of not wearing shoes, e.g., the Discalced Carmelites.
Discernment: describes the attempt to sift through an individual's or a group's experience to determine the call of the divine and where the Holy Spirit may be leading. It has also been called "Christian decision-making." It should be understood that discernment is on-going in the life of the follower of Jesus and relies on private and liturgical prayer, the use of Scripture and sometimes also the assistance of a Spiritual Director.
Dispensation:Exemption from a Church law in a particular case for a special reason.
Disciple: Literally "a learner." A learner of the way of Christ. See Apostle
Divorce: The legal unbinding of the marriage bond with permission to marry again. In the ecclesiastical law no one may dissolve the marriage bond consummated between baptized persons; the only grant of a separation with permission to marry between baptized persons is a declaration of nullity (annulment), which is a declaration that no marriage existed validly in the first instance. The Pauline privilege grants the unbaptized permission to remarry under proper conditions. See Pauline Privilege.
Doctrines:The beliefs of Catholics, expressed in the Creed and other official documents.
Dogma:Doctrines put forward by the Church which are to be accepted by Catholics as true and clear statements of belief.
Dogmatic Theology: The systematic teaching of the doctrines of faith; the application of philosophy to religious tenets.
Domicile: A person's legal residence in virtue of which he becomes subject to authority (bishop, pastor) and is entitled to certain rights. It can be acquired either by taking up residence in a place with the intention of remaining there, or by actual residence in a place for the period of ten years without any specified intention. Quasi-domicile, which is similar to domicile, is acquired by actual residence in a place with the intention of remaining there for the greater part of the year, or by actually remaining there for more than six months without any intention.
Dominican Order: The popular name for the Order of Friars Preachers. The order was founded by Saint Domingo de Guzman (known as Saint Dominic) between 1215 and 1221. Like the Franciscans, the Dominicans are mendicant friars.
Dormition: A name given to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven, derived from the Latin word 'dormire', to sleep. Literally it is a 'sleeping'. The word is used today by the Greek Church.
Douay Bible: An old Bible translation which was the norm for Catholics in the
Dove: A symbol of the Holy Spirit also a symbol of peace.
Doxology: A prayer of glory: (1) the greater doxology is the Gloria in Excelsis which is recited during the Mass. (2) The lesser doxology is the prayer beginning "Glory be to the Father."