Index of Catholic Terminology

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N

National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB): Episcopal conference of U.S. bishops. The membership is comprised of diocesan bishops and their auxiliary bishops. The conference decides matters of ecclesiastical law and issues policy statements on political and social issues.

National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Important United States shrine in Washington, D.C.

Natural Law: The laws which govern the nature of things; the natural moral law refers to proper human action by people.

Neophyte: From Greek, neophutos, or "new plant, new growth," this term refers to those newly initiated who have celebrated Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Neophytes, the newly initiated, are grafted onto Christ as vines to the branch and are so designated up until the first anniversary of their initiation.

Nave: Main body of a church building.

New Testament: The Christian Scriptures of the Bible.

Newman Apostolate: An apostolate to the Catholic college and university community, now commonly known as ñcampus ministry.î

Nicene Creed: The formula of chief doctrines of the Catholic Church formulated by councils of the Church and recited by Catholics at each Sunday Mass. See Creed.

Novena:Nine days of prayer. It has its origins in the nine days the disciples spent in prayer awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit between the Ascension and the Pentecost.

Novice:A person who has been accepted into a religious order and who is undergoing a period of training and formation before taking vows.

Novitiate:The period a novice spends in training.

Nun: Nun 1) Strictly, a member of a religious order of women with solemn vows; 2) in general, all women religious, even those in simple vows who are more properly called sisters.

Nuptial Mass:A Mass which includes the Wedding Service. Not all Weddings in the Catholic Church are accompanied by Mass. There is no rule regarding this, it is up to the Bride and Groom.