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Caesar - The family or surname of the
Julian house of the rulers of Rome. Afterwards, the title, like
Pharaoh of Egypt, applied to Roman emperors. It was adopted because
of the fame of Julius Caesar and persisted until the third century
A.D. It then came to be used for the junior partners on the
government in distinction from Augustus, which became the title of
the supreme ruler.
© Fireside New American Bible
Caesar, Augustus - Augustus
Caesar was a pagan and had no respect or fondness for the Jews; yet
as a matter of policy and in superstitious fear of the God of the
Jews, he caused sacrifices to be made daily in the temple at the
expense of the government. He was friendly to Herod the Great
because he found in him a capable ally in keeping the Jews in
subjection. He was the ruler at the time of the Birth of Jesus.
© Fireside New American Bible
Caiaphas - Rock or depression. He was
the son-in-law of Annas I appointed high priest (A.D. 18) by
procurator Valerius Gratus. He was a member of the Sadducees and,
therefore, apposed to Christ. Two days before the Passover, the
Sanhedrin met and discussed planes to put Jesus to death, and
Caiaphas presided over the session. He also had Peter and John
brought before him after the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost
and forbade them to preach of Christ. Caiaphas was high priest
during the rule of Pontius Pilate, but he was remover in 36 A.D. by
Vitellius, the Roman governor of Syria.
© Fireside New American Bible
Cain - Smith, spear. The first-born son
of Adam and Eve; he was the elder brother of Abel. Cain became a
tiller of the soil and offered the first fruits to God, and Abel a
shepherd, offered of his herd. Since Abel was a just man, his gifts
were accepted by God; but the works of Cain were wicked and God
rejected his offerings. This so infuriated Cain that he killed his
brother, Abel. Cain was then banished from his soil he had worked,
and fearing the revenge of his brothers he withdrew to the land of
Nod. He was given a special mark of protection by God, however (the
nature which is unknown), so that others would be deterred from
harming him. Cain’s wife was his sister, a necessity in this first
person, and their son Henoch was the ancestor of the Cainites who
were adept in the mechanical arts. They were also known for the
wicked characteristics of revenge, blasphemy, contempt, and murder.
© Fireside New American Bible
Calumny -
Injuring another person's good name by lying. It is doubly sinful,
in unjustly depriving another of his good name and in telling an
untruth. Since calumny violates justice, it involves the duty of
making reparation for the foreseen injury inflicted. Hence the
calumniator must try, not only to repair the harm done to another's
good name, but also to make up for any foreseen temporal loss that
resulted from the calumny, for example, loss of employment or
customers.
© Fireside New American Bible
Calvary - Skull. A rocky hill north of
Jerusalem where Christ was crucified. There was an old popular
belief that Adam’s head was buried there; then too, it was a
mound-like eminence. For these reasons it was called the Skull
(Latin, Calvaria; Aramaic, Golgotha).
© Fireside New American Bible
Golgotha, or the place where Jesus was crucified (Luke 23). It was
so called because it resembled a head or skull. Mount Calvary was
near Jerusalem and was the place where criminals were normally
executed.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Canon - Directly derived from the Greek
word for rule, ‘kanon’, this refers to a particular law, rule or
standard. (1) the most commonly known use of this term regards the
Church’s body of laws, the cannons of the Church, or cannon law by
which the earthly society of the Church is governed. Most ecumenical
councils, Vatican II being an exception, also issued a group of
cannons concerning faith or morals which bound all Catholics. (2)
Another important use of this word refers to the cannon of Sacred
Scripture, that is the book of the Old and New Testaments accepted
as authentic and normative by the Church. (3) In the Mass, the
oldest known Eucharistic Prayer used continuously in the Latin Rite
of the Church is known as the Roman Cannon, that is, the anaphora
set for use by the Roman Rite. (4) The word “canonization,” used to
signify the elevation of a person to the honors of the altar,
proclaiming him or her a saint of the Church, refers both to the
authentic catalog or list of persons who may be venerated in this
fashion, as well as the fact that their names are now a part – even
if only implicitly – of the Roman Cannon (now called “Eucharistic
Prayer I”), where two separate symbolic lists, or litanies, of
saints are enumerated. (5) A member of a canonically erected
cathedral chapter, or other group or body of clerics - usually
priest – set up to assist the diocesan bishop in ruling his flock or
for solemnly celebrating the Liturgy of Hours in public, referred to
as a cannon. A member of such a chapter is endowed and addressed
with the title “Cannon,” which is prefixed to his name. (6) Style of
contrapuntal music where each voice enters at a different time, all
imitating the first melody. This type of work may be used
effectively to vary a simple melody sung by the congregation (e.g.
“Amazing Grace”).
© Fireside New American Bible
Canon law - The name given to the
official body o flaws for the Catholic Church. The name is derived
from the Greek word ‘kanon,’ meaning a measure of rule. The earliest
Church laws were regulations, called cannons, enacted by territorial
synods or councils of bishops that meet to discuss problems and
other issues related to the Church and to propose solutions. The
earliest such gatherings date from the beginning of the fourth
century. In time, the cannons of the various synods and councils
were gathered together in ‘Canonical Collections’. In addition to
the legislation enacted by the local bishops’ groups, the Pope also
issued regulations. By the middle of the Middle Ages, there were
numerous collections of cannon laws from the Christian world, yet
there had been not systematic collection of them. In 1140, a monk
named Gratian published the ‘Concordance of Disconcordant Canons,’
commonly known as the ‘Decree of Gratian’. It contained not only
legal norms, but quotations from the Scripture and the Fathers of
the Church. This was the first systematic arrangement of the cannons
as Gratian attempted to reconcile conflicting pieces of legislation.
Although it is the highly doubtful that the ‘Decree’ was ever given
official recognition, it nevertheless became the most important
source of Church law.
In 1234, the Dominican canonist St. Raymond of Penafort completed a
systematic arrangement of papal decrees that was officially approved
by Pope Gregory IX and became known as the ‘Decretals of Gregory
IX’. This was the first official book of laws for the Catholic
Church. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Church’s laws were
a confused and unorganized mass, consisting of ‘Gratian’s Decree’
and ‘Decretals of Gregory IX’, legislation enacted by various Popes,
and the canons enacted at various ecumenical councils. St. Pius X
recognized the need for a codification of the Church law and
assigned the task to Pietro Cardinal Gasparri. Gasparri and his
associates labored for fourteen years, and in 1917 the First Code of
Canon Law was promulgated. The Code is a book that contains the
Fundamental laws of the Roman Catholic Church. In addition to those
laws contained in it, the body of the canon law also included the
liturgical norms, contained in the liturgical books as well as other
laws enacted by the Popes. When Pope John XXIII announced in 1959
that he would call an ecumenical council, he also announced the
revision of the Code. The revision process actually started in 1965
and was completed in 1983 when Pope John Paul II promulgated the
revised Code.
© Fireside New American Bible
Canonization - Declaration by the
Pope that a deceased person is raised to the full honors of the
altar, i.e., a saint after previously having been beatified. Two
miracles credited to the beatus (feminine: beata) are usually
required before canonization to attest the heroic virtue of the
saint. Beatification allows veneration of the blessed, canonization
requires it. The canonization is celebrated at St. Peter's and is
usually followed by a solemn triduum in another church in the city
or elsewhere within a limited time.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Canticle of Canticles -
An allegorical love poem in the Bible that has several layers of
meaning. Basically it expresses the special love of God for the
Chosen People; prophetically the espousal of Christ with his church;
universally the love of God for a devoted soul; by accommodation the
delight of God with the soul of the Blessed Virgin. It was read in
the Jewish liturgy on the octave of the Passover. Traditionally
ascribed to Solomon, the imagery of the two lovers, united and then
separated, sought and then found, reflects the changing
relationships of God and his people, depending on their varying
loyalty to him.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Capital Punishment - The
death penalty imposed by the state for the punishment of grave
crimes. It is certain from Scripture that civil authorities may
lawfully put malefactors to death. Capital punishment was enacted
for certain grievous crimes in the Old Law, e.g., blasphemy,
sorcery, adultery, and murder. Christian dispensation made no
essential change in this respect, as St. Paul expressly says: "The
state is there to serve God for your benefit. If you break the law,
however, you may well have fear: the bearing of the sword has its
significance" (Romans 13:4). Among the errors of the Waldenses
condemned by the Church in the early thirteenth century was the
proposition that denied the lawfulness of capital punishment (Argentré,
Collectio de Novis Erroribus, I, 86). St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-74)
defends capital punishment on the grounds of the common good. The
state, he reasons, is like a body composed of many members, and as a
surgeon may cut off one corrupt limb to save the others, so the
civil authority may lawfully put a criminal to death and thus
provide for the common good.
Theologians further reason that, in receiving its authority from God
through the natural law, the state also receives from him the right
to use the necessary means for attaining its end. The death penalty
is such a means. If even with capital punishment crime abounds, no
lesser penalty will suffice.
The practical question remains of how effective a deterrent capital
punishment is in some modern states, when rarely used or only after
long delays. In principle, however, it is morally licit because in
the most serious crimes the claims of retribution and deterrence are
so demanding that the corrective value of punishment must, if
necessary, be sacrificed.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Cardinal - A high official of the
Roman Catholic Church ranking next to the Pope. He is a member of
the Sacred College and is appointed by the Sovereign Pontiff to
assist and advise him in the government of the Church. The names of
newly created cardinals are usually announced at a papal consistory.
They may wear a specially designed red hat and cassock. They are the
ones who elect a pope, who, for centuries now, has always been a
cardinal before his election. The new Code of Canon Law requires
that only priests may be raised to the cardinalate. Those who are
not yet bishops must receive episcopal consecration (Canon 351).
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Catacombs - Subterranean galleries
used as burial grounds by the Christians of the first centuries.
Here, by Roman law, they were immune from disturbance. The tombs of
the martyrs buried there became altars for the celebration of the
divine mysteries. The disposition and maintenance of the catacombs
are now reserved to the Holy See. The best known of these
rediscovered cemeteries are in Rome.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Catechism - A popular manual of
instruction in Christian doctrine. In the early Church, catechetical
instruction was standardized in preparation for baptism as in the
writings of St. Augustine (354-430) and St. Gregory of Nyssa
(330-95). After the invention of printing, books of catechetical
instruction multiplied. The best known catechisms in the Catholic
Church are St. Peter Canisius' Summa of Christian Doctrine (1555)
and the Catechism of the Council of Trent, or Roman Catechism
(1566). Numerous catechisms were published in various countries
authorized by their respective hierarchies, e.g., the so-called
Penny Catechism in Great Britain and the series of Baltimore
Catechisms in the United States. Since the Second Vatican Council,
all catechisms published by ecclesiastical authority must also be
"submitted to the Apostolic See for review and approval" (General
Catechetical Directory, 119).
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Catechumenate - The period of
instruction in the faith before baptism and admission of converts to
the Catholic Church. The Second Vatican Council set down specific
directives on the catechumenate by: 1. distinguishing between the
more intense and normally prolonged catechumenate in mission lands;
2. stressing the importance of not only instruction but training in
the practice of virtue; 3. pointing out the responsibility of the
whole Christian community to co-operate in the preparation of
catechumens; and 4. directing that the catechumenate be integrated
with the liturgical year and the celebration of the Paschal Mystery
(Ad Gentes Divinitus; 13-14).
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Cathedral - The official church of a
bishop, where his permanent episcopal throne is erected. It is the
mother church of a diocese and its clergy have precedence. The
cathedral must be consecrated, and the date of consecration and the
date of its titular feast must be observed liturgically.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Catholic - Its original meaning of
"general" or "universal" has taken on a variety of applications in
the course of Christian history. First used by St. Ignatius of
Antioch (A.D. 35-107) (Letter to the Smyrneans, 8, 2), it is now
mainly used in five recognized senses: 1. the Catholic Church as
distinct from Christian ecclesiastical bodies that do not recognize
the papal primacy; 2. the Catholic faith as the belief of the
universal body of the faithful, namely that which is believed
"everywhere, always, and by all" (Vincentian Canon); 3. orthodoxy as
distinguished from what is heretical or schismatical; 4. the
undivided Church before the Eastern Schism of 1054; thereafter the
Eastern Church has called itself orthodox, in contrast with those
Christian bodies which did not accept the definitions of Ephesus and
Chalcedon on the divinity of Christ.
In general, today the term "Catholic" refers to those Christians who
profess a continued tradition of faith and worship and who hold to
the Apostolic succession of bishops and priests since the time of
Christ.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Chair of Peter - A portable
chair preserved at the Vatican, believed to have been used by St.
Peter the Apostle. The feast of the Chair of St. Peter commemorates
the date of his first service in Rome. A similar feast of the Chair
of St. Peter commemorates the foundation of the See of Antioch.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Charismatic Movement - A
modern revival of Pentecostalism in many Christian churches,
including Roman Catholic. The term "charismatic" is preferred in
Catholic circles to "Pentecostal," which is more commonly used by
Protestant leaders of the movement.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Charity - The infused supernatural
virtue by which a person loves God above all things for his own
sake, and loves others for God's sake. It is a virtue based on
divine faith or in belief in God's revealed truth, and is not
acquired by mere human effort. It can be conferred only by divine
grace. Because it is infused along with sanctifying grace, it is
frequently identified with the state of grace. Therefore, a person
who has lost the supernatural virtue of charity has lost the state
of grace, although he may still possess the virtues of hope and
faith.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Chastity - The virtue that moderates
the desire for sexual pleasure according to the principles of faith
and right reason. In married people, chastity moderates the desire
in conformity with their state of life; in unmarried people who wish
to marry, the desire is moderated by abstention until (or unless)
they get married; in those who resolve not to marry, the desire is
sacrificed entirely.
Chastity and purity, modesty and decency are comparable in that they
have the basic meaning of freedom from whatever is lewd or
salacious. Yet they also differ. Chastity implies an opposition to
the immoral in the sense of lustful or licentious. It suggests
refraining from all acts or thoughts that are not in accordance with
the Church's teaching about the use of one's reproductive powers. It
particularly stresses restraint and an avoidance of anything that
might defile or make unclean the soul because the body has not been
controlled in the exercise of its most imperious passion.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Childlikeness - The quality of
guileless openness that Christ declared is one of the conditions for
attaining salvation (Matthew 18:3). It is the virtue of humility, at
once ready to do God's will and having no selfish interests of one's
own.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Choir - 1. the part of a church reserved
for choristers; 2. an organized body of singers who perform or lead
the musical part of a church service; 3. in monasteries where the
Divine Office is chanted the stalls accommodating the monks or nuns
and separated from the sanctuary by carved low partitions; 4. one of
the nine orders of angels.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Christ - This is the Greek
form of the Hebrew and Aramaic Messias or Messiah. It can best
be translated "the anointed." Jesus is seen as the "truly
anointed" by the Spirit of God. Frequently it is joined to the
proper name of Jesus, and also it is often used alone. Christ
is the most popular title given to Jesus by the New Testament
writers. Very early in the Church the followers of Christ came
to be known as Christians.
© Fireside New American Bible
Christian - A person who is
baptized. A professed Christian also believes in the essentials of
the Christian faith, notably in the Apostles' Creed. A Catholic
Christian further accepts the teachings of the Roman Catholic
Church, participates in the Eucharistic liturgy and sacraments of
Catholic Christianity, and gives allegiance to the Catholic
hierarchy and especially to the Bishop of Rome.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Christmas - Feast of the Nativity of
Jesus Christ. In the early Church the feast was celebrated along
with the Epiphany. But already in A.D. 200 St. Clement of Alexandria
(150-215) refers to a special feast on May 20, and the Latin Church
began observing it on December 25. The privilege of priests offering
three Masses on Christmas Day goes back to a custom originally
practiced by a pope who about the fourth century, celebrated a
midnight Mass in the Liberian Basilica (where traditionally the
manger of Bethlehem is preserved), a second in the Church of St.
Anastasia, whose feast falls on December 25, and a third at the
Vatican Basilica. Many of the present customs in various countries
are traceable to the Church's Christianizing the pagan celebrations
associated with the beginning of winter and the new year.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Chronicles, The First and Second Books of -
Originally a single work, this Old Testament text as first divided
into two scrolls in the Septuagint. This became necessary
because the Greek version required more space than the original
Hebrew, which typically did not write in the vowels. The title
of these books in Greek is Paraleipomena - "things left over" or
"things omitted." It was Jerome who proposed the title
"Chronicles of the Whole of Sacred History," hence the present
English designation of the books as "Chronicles." These books
present a narrative that runs from the creation to the return from
the Exile under Cyrus. It parallels the account found in
Genesis through II Kings. Chronicles reworks history in order
to make a religious statement. The clear goal of the work is
to foster regard for the law and to assert the blessing that accrue
from adherence to it.
© Fireside New American Bible
Church - The faithful of the whole
world. This broad definition can be understood in various senses all
derived from the Scriptures, notably as the community of believers,
the kingdom of God, and the Mystical Body of Christ.
As the community of believers, the Church is the assembly (ekklesia)
of all who believe in Jesus Christ; or the fellowship (koinonia) of
all who are bound together by their common love for the Savior. As
the kingdom (basileia), it is the fulfillment of the ancient
prophecies about the reign of the Messiah. And as the Mystical Body
it is the communion of all those made holy by the grace of Christ.
He is their invisible head and they are his visible members. These
include the faithful on earth, those in purgatory who are not yet
fully purified, and the saints in heaven.
Since the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church has been defined as
a union of human beings who are united by the profession of the same
Christian faith, and by participation of and in the same sacraments
under the direction of their lawful pastors, especially of the one
representative of Christ on earth, the Bishop of Rome. Each element
in this definition is meant to exclude all others from actual and
vital membership in the Catholic Church, namely apostates and
heretics who do not profess the same Christian faith, non-Christians
who do not receive the same sacraments, and schismatics who are not
submissive to the Church's lawful pastors under the Bishop of Rome.
At the Second Vatican Council this concept of the Church was
recognized as the objective reality that identifies the fullness of
the Roman Catholic Church. But it was qualified subjectively so as
to somehow include all who are baptized and profess their faith in
Jesus Christ. They are the People of God, whom he has chosen to be
his own and on whom he bestows the special graces of his providence.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Church Militant - The Church on
earth, still struggling with sin and temptation, and therefore
engaged in warfare (Latin, militia) with the world, the flesh, and
the devil.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Church Suffering - The Church
of all the faithful departed who are saved but are still being
purified in purgatorial sufferings.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Church Triumphant - The
Church of all those in heavenly glory who have triumphed over their
evil inclinations, the seductions of the world, and the temptations
of the evil spirit.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Coliseum - A building in Rome also
known as the Flavian Amphitheater. It was begun in A.D. 72 by
Vespasian (9-79) and completed in A.D. 80 by Titus (39-81). It is
now in ruins. Its form is elliptical, 620 feet long, 525 feet wide,
built four stories 157 feet in height. A special terrace was
reserved for privileged spectators, a private gallery for the
emperor, seats in tiers for ordinary citizens, and standing room for
all the rest. It could seat 45,000. During the Middle Ages it was
used as a stronghold by the Frangipani; later it came into
possession of the municipality. Much of its walls were removed for
their stone until Pope Clement X declared it a shrine, sanctuary of
the martyrs who gave their lives within its limits during the
persecutions. It is now a place of pilgrimage for visitors to Rome.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Colossians, The Letter
to the - Written by St. Paul while he was in prison,
probably in Rome or at Ephesus. The Church at Colossae, on the Lycus,
was founded not by Paul but by Epaphras, yet Paul wrote to the
converts there to teach them about the primacy of Christ, head of
the Church and Redeemer of mankind. Faith in Christ delivers
believers from the false wisdom of the world and vain observance.
This letter anticipated the centuries-old conflict that the Church
would have with Gnosticism
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Communal Penance - Group
celebration of the sacrament of penance in one of several different
ways, authorized by Pope Paul VI in 1973. One form has a communal
penitential service, with individual confession of sins with
absolution. Another form is entirely communal, including general
absolution. When general absolution is given in exceptional
circumstances, the penitents are obliged to make a private
confession of their grave sins, unless it is morally impossible, at
least within a year.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Communion - In Christian parlance
the most sacred expression for any one of different forms of
togetherness. As communion between God and the human soul in the
divine indwelling; between Christ and the recipient of the Eucharist
in Holy Communion; among all who belong to the Mystical Body in
heaven, purgatory, and on earth in the Communion of Saints; and
among those who belong to the Catholic Church as a communion of the
faithful.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Consecration to Mary - An
act of devotion, promoted by St. Louis de Montfort (1673-1716), that
consists of the entire gift of self to Jesus through Mary. It is,
moreover, a habitual attitude of complete dependence on Mary in
one's whole life and activity. In making the act of consecration, a
person gives himself or herself to Mary and through her to Jesus as
her slave. This means that a person performs good works as one who
labors without wages, trustfully hoping to receive food and shelter
and have other needs satisfied by the master, to whom one gives all
one is and does, and on whom one depends entirely in a spirit of
love.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Contraception - Deliberate
interference with marital intercourse in order to prevent
conception. It is the performance of the marriage act with the
positive frustration of conception. Also called conjugal onanism,
from the sin of Onan, referred to in the Bible (Genesis 38:8-10);
Neo-Malthusianism from the name of the English sociologist Malthus
(1766-1834); it is popularly termed birth control, where those
concerned with high birthrates have come to equate contraception
with population control.
The Catholic Church has forbidden contraception from earliest times,
and the number of papal statements dealing with the subject
indicates the Church's constant tradition. In modern times the most
significant document was Humanae Vitae in 1968 by Paul VI. After
referring to the long history of the Church's teaching, he declared
that the "direct interruption of the generative process already
begun," even though done for therapeutic reasons, is to be
"absolutely excluded as a licit means of regulating birth." Equally
to be excluded is direct sterilization for contraceptive reasons.
"Similarly excluded is every action that, either in anticipation of
the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of
its natural consequences, purposes, whether as an end or as a means,
to render procreation impossible" (Humanae Vitae, II, 14).
Few aspects of Christian morality in modern times have given rise to
more difficulties of conscience than the Catholic doctrine on
contraception. This was reflected in Paul's admission, shortly after
Humanae Vitae: "How many times we have trembled before the
alternatives of an easy condescension to current opinions."
One of the results of the Church's teaching on contraception has
been to emphasize her right to teach the faithful, even to binding
them gravely in conscience, in matters that pertain to the natural
law. Yet the basic motivation offered to married people to live up
to this difficult teaching is highly supernatural, namely the
prospect of loving one another in such a way that they will share
the fruits of their affection with another person whom their mutual
love will bring into being.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Corinthians, Letters to the
- Two letters of St. Paul written from Ephesus to his converts at
Corinth. The first was occasioned by certain problems that Paul
sought to resolve. He therefore spoke of the need for unity
(1:10-4:21), sins against chastity (5:1-6:20), marriage and
sacrifices to idols (7:1-11:1), Christian worship and the gifts
(11:2-14:40), the hymn on charity (13), the resurrection of the dead
(15:1-58). In the second letter, St. Paul confronts his enemies at
Corinth. He defends his apostolate, recounts the achievements God
worked through him in spite of his own weakness and incompetence,
asks funds for the Christians in Jerusalem, and once again defends
his call as an Apostle and the extraordinary gifts the Lord
conferred on him. It is very probable that St. Paul wrote four
letters to the Corinthians, of which only two are extant.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Corporal works of mercy
- The seven practices of charity, based on Christ's prediction of
the Last Judgment (Matthew 5:3-10) that will determine each person's
final destiny. They are: 1. to feed the hungry; 2. to give drink to
the thirsty; 3. to clothe the naked; 4. to shelter the homeless; 5.
to visit the sick; 6. to visit those in prison; and 7. to bury the
dead.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
Crucifixion - Execution of a
criminal by nailing or binding to a cross. Originally used in the
East, it was adopted by the Romans and was commonly inflicted on any
condemned person who could not prove Roman citizenship. Normally
preceded by scourging, it was later (from A.D. 69) imposed on
certain lower-class citizens. Emperor Constantine abolished this
method of capital punishment.
The crucifixion of Christ between two thieves is recorded by all
four Evangelists. According to tradition, the cross of Christ was a
crux immissa, with the upright extending above the transom. Also,
most probably, Christ was fixed to the cross with four nails and
covered with a loincloth, as prescribed by the Talmud.
© Modern Catholic Dictionary, Eternal Life Publications
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