Subject specific vocabulary – Component 1: Catholic Christianity
The following subject specific vocabulary provides definitions of key terms used in our GCSE Religious Studies B specification (8063), Component 1: Catholic Christianity.
Students should be familiar with and gain an understanding of these terms.
Catholic Christianity
Altar
Feature of Catholic church where the Eucharist is celebrated.
Apostolic succession
The authority and power of Peter and the apostles passed on to the next generations of popes and bishops.
Anselm
St Anselm of Canterbury, 11th century Christian philosopher and theologian.
Ascension
Going or being taken up; the event forty days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to glory in heaven, understood as the restoration of the cosmic order.
St Augustine
St Augustine of Hippo, 4th century Christian philosopher and theologian.
Baptism
The sacrament of initiation in which a person becomes a child of God and part of the Church.
Beatitudes
Series of blessings taught by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount.
Creation
Bringing the world into existence; the belief that the world is God’s loving creation.
Creator
Understanding of the nature of God, the belief that he created the universe.
Crucifix
Feature of Catholic churches, an image of the cross with Jesus on it (depicting his crucifixion).
Conscience
The voice of God in the heart of a person, guiding him/her to do what is right.
Denominations
Groups/divisions within the Church, eg Anglican, Orthodox.
Dignity
Being worthy of respect and honour; belief that all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity because they are part of God’s creation in his image.
Discipleship
Following Jesus.
Divine Word
Another name for God the Son. In the Bible, John 1 describes God creating the world through his eternal Word. This links the eternal Word to Jesus in the statement: ‘”The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
Duty
Having a responsibility or moral obligation to act in a certain way.
Eschatology
Beliefs about the ‘end times’, including life after death and judgement.
Eternity
Belief in an endless life after death.
Eucharist
Literally 'thanksgiving'; Mass; one of the seven sacraments in which the death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated, using bread and wine.
Eucharistic acclamations
Words of praise that are said or sung during Mass.
Euthanasia
Assisting with the ending of life for a person who is terminally ill or has degenerative illness; often known as assisted suicide.
Evangelism
Preaching the gospel (the good news about God) to convert people to the Christian faith.
Four marks of the Church
The four attributes of the Church identified in the Nicene Creed: one, holy, catholic, apostolic.
Free will
Being able to make our own choices; a gift from God which comes with being responsible/accountable for our actions.
Grace
The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it.
Heaven
Belief that after death Christians can enter a state of being with God for eternity.
Hell
Belief in a place of eternal suffering, or a state after death of being in separation from God.
Hierarchy
A system of authority within an organization, eg the pope and bishops form part of the Catholic hierarchy.
History
One of the literary forms found in the Bible; parts of the scripture that give account of the story of Israel and the early church.
Image of God/imago dei
The belief that humans share some of the qualities of God; it is stated in Genesis 1:27 “So God created humankind in his image.”
Incarnation/Incarnate Son
Literally 'in flesh', or 'enfleshed;' belief that God took on human form in the person of Jesus.
Irenaeus
St Irenaeus of Lyon, 2nd century Christian theologian and Bishop of Lyon.
Judgement
The belief that God will decides whether each person should receive eternal life or eternal punishment based on their earthly life.
Justice
Fairness in the way people are treated.
Kingdom of God
The reign of God over the earth.
Catherine LaCugna
Twentieth century Catholic theologian whose work included ‘God for Us’ (1991) about the love of God as shown in the Trinity.
Last rites
Prayers and actions that prepare a dying person for death.
Law
One of the literary forms found in the Bible; rules or commands which must be followed, the law of God is revealed in the Bible.
Lectern
Feature of Catholic churches, platform or stand from which scripture is read.
Liturgy
Acts of public/divine worship.
Lord’s Prayer
The prayer taught to the disciples by Jesus; also known as the 'Our Father' and widely said by Christians in both church services and privately.
Magisterium
Teaching and authority of the Catholic church; includes conciliar magisterium where bishops of the church form a council to make decisions about teachings, and pontifical magisterium which is papal infallible teaching.
Mission
Literally ‘sent out’; the duty of Christians to spread the gospel (the good news about Jesus).
Natural law
Belief in a natural order to the world, and a natural moral law, given by God.
Nicene Creed
Statement of Christian doctrine agreed by bishops at the Council of Nicaea in 325.
Omnipotent
All-powerful; an attribute of God.
Paschal mystery
Four key ideas about parts of Jesus’ life and death and how they led to saving humanity from sin (life, death, resurrection, ascension); important for beliefs about redemption and salvation.
Peace
The opposite of war; harmony between all in society.
Pilgrimage
A religious journey to a holy site/sacred place, it is an act of worship and devotion.
Plainchant
Chants used within liturgy.
Prayer
The raising of the heart and mind to God; listening and speaking to God.
Priesthood
Being an ordained member of the clergy, a person who has taken holy orders; a vocation and sacrament.
Prophecy
One of the literary forms found in the Bible, messages/revelation from God.
Psalms
Poems from the Old Testament (Bible) which are read or sung during liturgy.
Purgatory
A state of cleansing to remove the effects of sin.
Reconciliation
Bringing people back to a good relationship with God and with one another.
Redemption
Belief that through his atonement for our sins, Jesus secures our salvation; through Jesus humans are redeemed/saved.
Resurrection
The event three days after the crucifixion when God raised Jesus from the dead, restoration through recreation.
Revelation/revealed
When God is revealed, or reveals himself to humans (eg through scripture, the person of Jesus).
Sacramental nature of reality
The grace of God as revealed/present in the physical world.
Seven sacraments
The outward and visible sign of an invisible and spiritual grace; in the Catholic church these are: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, Marriage, Holy orders.
Salvation
The belief that Christians are set free from sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Sanctity of life
The belief that all human life is precious and holy/sacred as it is created by God.
Second Vatican Council
Council of leaders of the Catholic Church in 1962-65 which agreed changes to Church practice and doctrine (conciliar magisterium).
Son of God
A title used in the Bible for Jesus, stressing his divinity.
Son of Man
A title that Jesus used for himself, which refers to both his suffering as a human and to the authority given to him by God.
Spontaneous prayer
Informal prayers spoken from the heart which are personal and unique to the person/people at the time.
Stations of the Cross
A series of 14 ‘stations’ (often images, carvings or statues) that depict the Passion of Jesus from his condemnation by Pilate to the tomb. This is an example of popular piety used for prayer and devotion.
Stewardship
The idea that humans have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God.
Sustainability
Working to develop ways of living that help protect natural resources and ecological balance, often with long-term goals in mind.
Symbol
An image or sign that is used to represent something else, eg Icthus (fish) symbol.
Tabernacle
A feature of Catholic churches; where the consecrated Eucharist is reserved/stored.
Transcendent
An attribute of God; belief that God is beyond time and space, he is unlimited.
Trinity
Triune God; belief that there are three Persons in one God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Virtues
Good habits/a persons’ disposition towards doing good and moral actions, eg kindness, humility.
Vocation
Belief in a calling from God for a particular path in life, eg priesthood or family.
Word of God
Belief that the Bible (holy scripture) is the revealed word of God.