| Index of Catholic Terminology |
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P
Pagan: A collective term meaning unbeliever.
Pallium: Special stole made of lamb’s wool worn over the chasuble by the Pope and archbishops; it signifies communion of archbishops with the Holy See.
Palm Sunday: Properly called "The Commemoration of the Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem." The Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the occasion when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people waved palm branches in his honor. This Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday.
Papacy: The office of the pope.
Papal bull: Essentially a letter from the pope to all Christendom, a bull was so called because a lead bulla or seal was attached to it by a cord. See Bull.
Papal Infallibility: The end result of divine assistance given to the Pope through which he is prevented from the possibility and liability of error in teachings involving Church dogma and articles of faith. See infallibility.
Papal Mass: A Eucharistic celebration at which the pope presides.Papal Representatives: The three types of representatives of the Roman Pontiff are: 1) Legate - An individual appointed by the Pope to be his personal representative to a nation, international conference, or local church. The legate may be chosen from the local clergy of a country. 2) Apostolic Nuncio - In the United States, the papal representative is sent by the Pope to both the local church and the government. His title is Nuncio. Although he holds the title of ambassador, under U.S. Law he is not accorded the special privilege of being the dean of the diplomatic corps. In countries where he is dean of the diplomatic corps, his title is Apostolic Nuncio. 3) Permanent Observer to the United Nations - The Apostolic See maintains permanent legates below the ambassadorial level to several world organizations. Since the Papal Legate does not enjoy the right to vote within the organization, his title at the United Nations is that of Observer.
Papal States: The temporary land holdings of the papacy prior to 1870; the last of the Papal States was formally signed over to Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Concordat.
Parables: The stories Jesus told which illustrate some of his most important teachings.
Paradise: Another word for Heaven. It literally means "God's Garden" and is so also used of the Garden of Eden.
Parish: A particular community of the Christian Faithful within a diocese, which has its own church building and is under the authority of a pastor who is responsible for providing the faithful with ministerial service. Most parishes are formed on a geographic basis, but they may be formed along national or ethnic lines.
Parish Coordinator: A deacon, religious, or lay person who is responsible for the pastoral care of a parish. The parish coordinator is in charge of the day-to-day life of the parish in the areas of worship, education, pastoral service and administration.
Parish Council:A group of people elected by the Parish who, together with the Parish Priest, look after the various needs of the Parish.
Parish Mission:A period of spiritual renewal within the Parish, usually conducted by one or more visiting Priests over the period of a week or a fortnight.
Parochial School: A Catholic school, parish or diocesan owned and administered, sometimes a private school owned and / or administered by a religious community.
Parochial Vicar: Priest who assist the pastor in the pastoral ministry of a parish also called an Associate Pastor or Curate.
Passion: The suffering and death of Jesus on the cross endured for the salvation of mankind.
Paschal Mystery: The term encompassing Jesus' suffering, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and sending of the Holy Spirit. It refers to the saving activity of Jesus by which we are redeemed and given new life by the gracious love of God.
Passion Play at Oberammergau: A type of miracle play begun in 1633 and continuing to the present often copied around the world.
Passion Sunday: See Palm Sunday.
Pastor:A priest in charge of a parish or congregation. He is responsible for administering the sacraments, instructing the congregation in the doctrine of the Church and other services to the people of the parish.
Pastoral Associate: A member of the laity who is part of a parish ministry team.
Pastoral Care:The caring work of the Church, particularly that exercised by Ordained Ministers. Pastor means "Shepherd"
Pastoral Council: A group of members of the parish who advise the pastor on parish matters; also called a Parish Council.
Pastoral Letter: A letter sent from a Bishop to his diocese on a number of occasions during the year and read out to people at Mass.
Paten: Flat dish to hold the large host (bread) at Mass.
Paul: Early convert to Christianity, apostle to the Gentiles.
Pax Christi: Literally means; "The peace of Christ". It is the name of an international Catholic movement for peace.
Pectoral Cross: A cross worn on a chain about the neck of bishops and abbots as a sign of office.
Penance: The sacrament of Penance where sins are forgiven, popularly called "confession" but properly called Reconciliation.. The word also refers to acts of self-denial which draw one closer to Christ.
Penitentiary: A tribunal in the Curia Romana, presided over by a cardinal, having jurisdiction over certain matters, as penance, confession, dispensation, absolution, and impediments, and dealing with questions of conscience reserved for the Holy See.
Pentecost: Literally means; fifty days. It marks the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. Also known as Whit Sunday.
Peripatetic: Walking or traveling about. Of or pertaining to Aristotle, or the Aristotelian school of philosophy, who taught philosophy while walking in the Lyceum in ancient Athens. Jesus was a peripatetic preacher and teacher.
Permanent Diaconate: The first of the major orders of holy orders. See Deacon.
Persecutions: Local or general oppression of early Christians.
Petition: Asking God for our needs in prayer.
Pilgrimage: A journey to a holy place. For example, the Holy Land, Rome and Lourdes.
Pontiff / Pontifical: Pontiff is used as an alternative form of reference to the Pope. Pontifical has to do with the Pope.
Poor Box: Collection box at front entrance for alms for the less fortunate.
Postulant: A person who has applied to join a religious order and is waiting to be admitted.
Prayer: The raising of the mind and heart to God in adoration, thanksgiving, reparation and petition. The official prayer of the Church as a worshipping community is called liturgy.
Prayer of Serenity: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Reinhold Neibur.
Prayer of the Faithful: Prayers which are said at Mass after the Creed for the needs of the world and the Church. Also refers to as; "Biding Prayers." See General Intercessions and Bidding prayers.
Preaching: The proclamation of the Gospel challenging the listener to make a commitment. It also means to deliver a sermon.
Precepts of the Church: Church guidelines governing Catholics 1) Keep Holy the Lord's day, 2) Lead a sacramental life, 3) Study Catholic Teaching, 4) Observe Catholic marriage laws, 5) Strengthen and Support the Church, 6) Do penance, 7) Join in missionary spirit of the Church.
Preface: A part of the Mass leading up to the Eucharistic Prayer.
Prefect: A cardinal in charge of a congregation in the Curia Romana.
Presbyterial Council: Also known as the priestsÍ council, this is the principal consultative body mandated by the Code of Canon Law to advise the diocesan bishop in matters of pastoral governance. It consists of bishops and priests serving the diocese.
Preparation of the Gifts: The time in the Mass when the bread and wine to be used in the celebration are brought to the celebrant, usually by representatives of the faithful.
Priest: Someone who is ordained to minister within the Church. The main duties of the Priest are; preaching, celebrating Mass, administering the other sacraments and exercising a role of leadership within the Church.
Primacy: Papal primacy refers to the Pope’s authority over the whole Church.
Prior: An officer in a monastic order or religious house, sometimes next in rank below an abbot.
Procession: A solemn walk for a religious purpose, usually accompanied by prayers and hymns.
Profession: The taking of vows on joining a religious order.
Profession of Faith: The assembly together recalls and proclaims the fundamental teachings of the Roman Catholic faith. The Profession of Faith, also referred to as the Creed, is used on all Sundays and Holy Days. See Nicene Creed.
Proselytize: To bring one to another’s viewpoint whether in religion or other areas.
Province: 1) A territory comprising one archdiocese called the metropolitan see and one or more dioceses called suffragan sees. The head of an archdiocese, an archbishop, has metropolitan rights and responsibilities over the province. 2) A division of a religious order under the jurisdiction of a provincial superior.
Provincial: The head of an ecclesiastical province, or a member of a religious order presiding over the order in a given district or province.
Psalms: The book of 150 hymn prayers in the Old Testament.
Purgatory: A state in which the souls of the dead are purified and perfected in love before finally becoming one with God in Heaven.
Purification and Enlightenment: The third stage of Christian initiation. It begins on the First Sunday of Lent and concludes on Holy Saturday as the Easter Vigil commences.
