Index of Catholic Terminology

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O

Old Testament: Hebrew Scriptures --that part of the Bible written before the time of Christ.

Opus Dei: Literal translation: the work of the Lord. A personal prelature dedicated to spreading through society an awareness of the call to Christian virtue, awareness, and witness in oneÍs life and work. Members are not of a religious order, do not take vows, but sometimes live in community.

Order, Congregation, Society: A religious order is the title loosely applied to all religious groups of men and women. A society is a body of clerics, regular or secular, organized for the purpose of performing an apostolic work. A congregation is any group bound together by common rules.

Ordinary: Diocesan bishops, religious superiors, and certain other diocesan authorities with jurisdiction over the clergy in a specific geographical area, or the members of a religious order.

Ordinary Time: Time during the Church year not related to specific feasts: the day after the Sunday after January 6 to the day before Ash Wednesday and the day after Pentecost to the day before Advent.

Ordination:The conferring of Holy Orders on a man, by which he becomes a Bishop, Priest or Deacon.

Ordo: Book of directions for the Mass and Divine Office on a daily basis.

Original Sin: The result of the sin of our first parents which affects all people in its consequences.

Our Lady:The title Catholics use most frequently when referring to Mary, the mother of Jesus.