| Index of Catholic Terminology |
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E
Easter:The day on which Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. In the western Church the Feast is celebrated on the Sunday following the first new moon after the vernal equinox, which is March 21.
Easter Triduum: A three day festival of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. See Triduum.
Eastern Orthodox Church: Church of the East more or less centered in
Eastern-Rite (Oriental) Church / Eastern Church: Term used to describe the Catholic churches which developed in
Ebionites: Those who became Christians and wished to retain Jewish custom and ceremony and held that the Jewish law was binding on Christians.
Ecclesial: Having to do with the Church in general or the life of the Church.
Ecclesiastical: Refers to official structures or legal and organizational aspects of the Church.
Ecclesiasticus: Also called Sirach: A deuterocanonical book of the Old Testament; it is rejected in Protestant versions of the Bible but contained in their Apocryphal.
Ecstasy: A state of trance or rapture in which one is not in one's usual mental state; the suspension of the activity of the senses while the mind is absorbed in God
Ecumenical Council: A council for the universal Church to which all bishops and others entitled to vote are called from the entire world to gather under the Pope or his legates to determine the interpretation of doctrines or laws for the Church. The decrees of such a council, after papal sanction, apply to the universal Church and bind in conscience. The latest one was Vatican II which closed in 1965.
Ecumenism: A movement for spiritual understanding and unity among Christians and their churches. The term also is extended to apply to efforts toward greater understanding and cooperation between Christians and members of other faiths.
Ejaculation: An obsolete term referring to a short prayer; a few prayerlike words or pious aspirations which one can make at any time or in any place.
Elect/Election: The term applied to those catechumens who have been called by the Church to the celebration of the initiation sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at Easter. The local Bishop gives voice to this call at the celebration of the Rite of Election. In this sense, election does not describe the result of a political process or voting, but the action of God through the agency of the Church. In Sacred Scripture the elect are those freely chosen by God to receive the gift of salvation and to bear witness to God.
Elevation: The raising of the consecrated species of bread and wine after the Consecration of the
Ember Days: Obsolete days of fast and abstinence which coincided with the change of seasons. They were nature feasts spiritualized from pagan practices at the changes of the seasons (A.S. ymbren, running about, revolution)-three days of prayer, fasting for spiritual renewal and blessings on the seasons, four times a year: the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the weeks which would include: St. Lucia's Day, Dec. 13 (the third Sunday of Advent); the First Sunday in Lent; Pentecost; and Holy Cross Day, Sept. 14. (Ember Days and Ember Weeks were fixed by the Council of Placentia, 1095).
Embolism: An added prayer. It usually refers to the prayer appended to the last clause of the Lord's Prayer in the Mass, beginning with "deliver us Lord from every evil. . ."
Eminence: Title of address given to Cardinals of the Church. This is the official title of a Cardinal since 1630 and thus a Cardinal should be addressed as "Most Eminent" or "Your Eminence."
Emmanuel: Hebrew name given to the Messiah in prophecy, which means "God with us."
Enclosure:That part of a convent or monastery to which outsiders are not permitted.
Encyclical:A letter from the Pope to the whole Church addressed to bishops, usually dealing with matters of faith and the Christian life.
Eparchy: A diocese in the Eastern and
Epiclesis : The invocation of the Holy Spirit which takes place twice during The Eucharistc Liturgy in the midst of the Eucharistic Prayer. The first time the Holy Spirit is invoked to come upon the Bread and Wine so that they may become the Body and Blood of Christ. The second time Holy Spirit is invoked to come upon the entire assembly and make them one Body in Christ.
Epikeia: An interpretation of a law whereby it is considered not to bind in a particular case because of some special circumstances; an interpretation of the law in a particular instance against the letter of the law but in keeping with its spirit; an interpretation of the mind of the lawmaker which reasons that he, knowing the conditions, would not wish his law to bind in this particular case.
Epiphany: Literally "manifestation." Christ is made manifest first, to the Magi .The feast which commemorates the visit of the Wise Men(Magi) to the stable in
Episcopacy: The office of bishop; the body of the bishops collectively.
Episcopal: Refers to a bishop or groups of bishops as a form of Church government, in which bishops have authority
Epistle: The Scripture read during the Mass before the Gospel. These are usually taken from epistles or letters of the Apostles which are writings of scripture addressed to the early Church as instructions. .
Eschatology: Doctrine concerning the last things: death, judgment, heaven and hell, and the final state of perfection of the people and the
Esther: (1) The Jewish wife of the Persian King Assuerus (Xerxes I, 485-465 B.C.). (2) An historical book of the Old Testament.
Eternity: No beginning or end. That attribute of God by which He is without beginning or end and without succession or change of any kind.
Eucharist: 1) Literally Thanksgiving. 2) The Liturgy of the
Eucharistic Adoration: See Holy Hour and
Eucharistic Presence: Term denoting the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament under the appearances of bread and wine.
Eucharistic Congress: A large diocesan, national or international gathering of the faithful to adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
Eucharistic Minister: Or Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. A person who distributes Communion at mass or who takes Communion to the homebound, or those in hospitals, or nursing homes.
Evangelical: Refers to Christians who emphasize the need for a definite commitment to faith in Christ and a duty by believers to persuade others to accept Christ.
Evangelist: A preacher or revivalist who seeks conversions by preaching to groups.
Evangelists: The authors of the four Gospels, namely, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Evangelization: Spreading the "Good News." The process of proclaiming and helping to bring about the
Evening Prayer: Evening Prayer, most commonly known as Vespers, is the official prayer that marks the end of the day. It consists primarily of sung psalms and other readings from Scripture.
Examination of conscience: The recalling to mind of past sins so that they may be confessed, repented of, and forgiven.
Exarch/Exarchy: A church jurisdiction, similar to a diocese, established for Eastern-rite Catholics living outside their native land. The head of an Exarchy, usually a bishop, is an Exarch.
Excardination: The act of transferring a person in Holy Orders from the jurisdiction of one bishop to another; the going out from a diocese of a cleric to take up service in another diocese.
Ex Cathedra: Literally, "from the chair." The expression used to denote an official teaching of the pope which is infallible.
Exclaustration: Permission granted to a professed religious to live in the world temporarily while still retaining the obligation of the vows.
Excommunication:Cutting someone off from the community of the Church because of serious offenses against her law or teaching. It is resorted to only rarely.
Exegesis: The study and expounding of the meaning of the Scriptures; the scientific interpretation of the sense of Sacred Scripture.
Exegete: One who studies the Sacred Scriptures; one proficient in exegesis
Exodus: The going out of the Israelites from
Exorcism: Exorcism is the Church's prayer which seeks to free persons from the power of evil. The New Testament reports that Jesus and his disciples engaged in such liberating actions. In the history of the Church two forms of exorcism have evolved. Major (or solemn) exorcisms seek to free a person from a persistent spiritual condition. Today these forms of exorcism are restricted to bishops or those priests whom they specially delegate. The other type of exorcism is found in the process of Christian initiation and consist of prayers and gestures expressing the Church's desire that those to be baptized be delivered from temptation and the power of evil. These "Minor Exorcisms" may be celebrated during the stage of the catechumenate. The "Scrutinies," which contain exorcism prayers, are celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent with the elect. The ritual used for the baptism of infants also contains a prayer of exorcism.
Exorcist: One performing the act of exorcism; one having received the sacramental of Exorcist by which he has the power, to be exercised only with permission, of expelling devils.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: The placing of the Eucharist before the faithful for veneration. A public act of adoring the Eucharist.
Extreme Unction: Former name for the Anointing of the Sick. See Anointing of the Sick.
Exultet: The name applied to a hymn of praise sung at the blessing of the paschal candle on Holy Saturday.
Ezekiel: A book of the Old Testament named after its author, a prophet of the sixth century B.C.
Ezra: A priest of early