| Index of Catholic Terminology |
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J
Jehovah: A non-word; a linguistic mistake. Appeared for the first time in 1530. Since written Hebrew did not use vowels until quite late, the ancient manuscripts read simply YHWH (as it would be in English) for "God". Through the centuries, the name of God came to be considered so sacred that it was not to be pronounced. So wherever YHWH appeared in the ancient text, the scribes added vowel marks signaling the reader to say "Adonai" instead of "Yahweh." 71 bese marks, "vowel pointings," were not separate letters, but smaller symbols usually below a consonant to indicate its vowel sound. When one adds the vowels for Yahweh YHWH-the result, if you're not aware that it is intended that adonai is to be read, comes out sounding like "Yahowah" (Jehovah).
Jeremiah: Old Testament prophet of
Jesuits: The popular name for the monastic order called the Society of Jesus. The order was founded by Ignatius de Loyola in 1534, and was recognized by the pope in 1540. The mission of the Jesuits was in three areas: teaching, service to the nobility, and missionary work in foreign lands. Their greatest mark was made in education, and the Collegio Romano was their primary seminary.
Jesus: The name of Jesus, meaning Savior in Christian usage, derived from the Aramaic and Hebrew Yeshua and Joshua, meaning Yahweh is salvation. There are a number of symbols for the name Jesus which you may see in Churches or works of art. These are some of them: IHS:three letters from the Greek name, Jesus. INRI:the initial letters form the Latin inscription written on the cross: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, (Jesus of
Jesus Prayer: A common Eastern Rite prayer: Lord Jesus, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Joseph:Husband of Mary, venerated as a saint. His feast day is celebrated on March 19.
Judith: Hebrew Scriptures and part of the catholic editions of the Bible, but not part of the Protestant versions. See Deuterocanonical