| Index of Catholic Terminology |
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G
Gabbatha: the place wherein Pilate tried and condemned Christ.
Gabriel: The archangel who announced to the Virgin Mary that she was to be the mother of God; he also announced the birth of
Gaudete Sunday : Relatively obsolete term for the third Sunday of Advent, so named because of the first word of the introit which is the Latin imperative of the verb "rejoice."
Gehenna: The name applied to hell, taken from the desolate
General Absolution: The form of Sacramental forgiveness of sins given when individual confession by a large number of people is not possible. This is only in extreme circumstances, and the penitent should make an individual act of reconciliation as soon as possible.
General Intercessions: Prayer of intercession for all of humankind; for the Church, civil authorities, those with various needs, for all peoples, and for the salvation of the world. The celebrant invites all to pray, another minister proclaims the prayers of petition and the assembly responds by asking God to hear and to grant their requests. See Prayers of the Faithful and Biding prayers.
Genuflection:Kneeling on one knee as a sign of honor and worship to Jesus Christ and an expression of faith in his presence in the tabernacle under the form of bread. Catholics genuflect when entering and leaving a Church.
Gethsemane: The garden to the east of the city of Jerusalem beyond the brook of Cedron and at the foot of the Mount of Olives where Jesus suffered His agony and was apprehended. Here he asked some apostles to pray with him for at least one hour, and so in the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, we "stay" with the resurrected Jesus for one hour, Matthew 26:40.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Seven virtues related to the work of the Holy Spirit in people: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.
Gloria: Ancient hymn of praise in which the Church glorifies God. It is used on all Sundays (outside of Advent and Lent), and at solemn celebrations. The text originates from the Christmas narrative in the Gospel of Luke (Luke
Glory : 1) The splendor which attends or accompanies the revelation of the power of God to us. (2) The cloud over the ark of the covenant which represented the presence of God; the 'shekinah'. (3) The state of happy existence which the soul enjoys in the presence of the beatific vision.
God: The Supreme Being who owes His existence to no other, who is absolutely and infinitely perfect and who has created all things; the eternal Spirit who created and rules the universe and in whom is every perfection, The one God subsists in three equal Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Godparent: Someone who undertakes to ensure that a child who is baptized will be brought up in the Catholic faith. One Godparent must be Catholic, although he or she may be assisted by a Godparent who is a member of another Christian Church.
Good Friday: The Friday of Holy Week on which the Church commemorates the Passion and death of Christ.
Gospel: A word meaning "Good News". The proclamation of the "Good News" of salvation won for humanity by Jesus Christ. The word is also used of the four books of Matthew, Mark,Luke and John; books that tell of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Gospel of John: Proclaims the Good News to the people of
Grace: A free gift from God to human beings, grace is a created sharing in the life of God. Grace is God's revelation of Himself. It is given through the merits of Christ and is communicated by the Holy Spirit. Grace is necessary for salvation. We cannot earn Grace. It is freely given by God.
Grace at Meals:A short prayer before and after meals thanking God for the food we eat and asking his blessing on those who prepare it.
Grail, the Holy: The sacred vessel which according to legend was used by Christ at the Last Supper. The legend has been immortalized by famous writers but has never been given credence by the Church.
Greek Church: An independent unit of the Orthodox Eastern Church; the Church which has been separated from the jurisdiction of the Pope and is governed by a synod of nine men of which the archbishop of
Gregorian calendar: The most recent in the attempts to make the calendar year correspond to the natural year. The Gregorian calendar (instituted in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII) corrected for the loss of one day every 128 years by dropping three leap years every 400 years. Century years were leap years only if evenly divisible by 400.
Gregorian chant: Church music dating back to at least the sixth century; one voice, vocal plainsong - sung without organ.
Gremial: A rectangular piece of cloth placed upon the lap of the bishop when he sits during the celebration of the ceremony of Ordination during the time he anoints the Hands of the Priest. Its original use was as a means of keeping vestments from becoming soiled; also called gremial veil.
Gray Friars: The name by which the Franciscan Friars Minor formerly were known in
Guardian Angel: The angel, one appointed to every human being, whose duty it is to aid us to avoid evil, to pray, and to help us guard our thoughts at all times, and who presents our soul to God if we are saved.