Blest Are We
Blest Are We



Glossary
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Go to the Blest Are We First Edition Glossary

  Presented in the Blest Are We Faith & Word Edition

A  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  L  M  O  P  R  S  T  Y 


  Word   Definition as found in Blest Are We - Faith & Word Edition
  altar   An altar is a raised place where sacrifices are offered. The altar used for the center of worship during the Mass is also a table, where we gather to share the eucharistic meal.
  amen   Amen is a word we usually say at the end of our prayers. It means "I believe" or "So it is."
  ark of the covenant   The ark of the covenant was a special box that held the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments.
  catholic   The word catholic means “universal.â€? With a capital C, it describes the Church founded by Christ's apostles.
  chosen people   In the Old Testament the chosen people were Abraham and his descendants
  conscience   Our conscience is our ability to judge what is right and what is wrong.
  corporal works of mercy   The corporal works of mercy are loving deeds that relieve the physical suffering of others.
  covenant   A covenant is a sacred agreement or relationship, sometimes sealed by a ritual or ceremony. Isaac honored the covenant the Lord made with his father, Abraham.
  discernment   Discernment is discovering, with God’s help, God’s will for our lives.
  Essenes   Essenes were devout Jewish people who lived simply in the desert.
  exile   Exile is the forced removal of people from their homeland to another land. The Israelites captured by the Assyrians were living in exile.
  Exodus   The Exodus is the Old Testament story of how God freed the Hebrews in Egypt. Exodus is the second book of the Old Testament.
  faith   Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
  fidelity   Fidelity is faithfulness and loyalty to something or someone. Joseph is a model of fidelity to God.
  guidance   Guidance is help in making the right choices. God gives us guidance to help us develop our conscience.
  heaven   Heaven is a life of everlasting happiness with God, and with all people who love him.
  hell   Hell is everlasting suffering and separation from God after death.
  Incarnation   The Incarnation is God’s Son becoming man, one like us, Jesus Christ, who is both man and divine.
  laity   The laity are people who are part of the church community and are not clergy or religious brothers and sisters.
  liturgical year   The liturgical year is the Church's yearly calendar of celebrations and seasons.
  manna   Manna is the breadlike food that God gave the Israelites in the desert.
  meditation   Meditation is a type of prayer in which we are silent and concentrate on listening to God through our feelings, imagination, and thoughts. We can meditate by thinking about a Scripture story, art, and music.
  messiah   A messiah is a person chosen to save people from a particular fate. The word means “savior.â€? Jesus Christ is our Messiah, chosen by God to free us from sin and death.
  ministry   A ministry is a way of serving and caring for others in Christ's name.
  moral virtues   The moral virtues are four spiritual qualities-temperance, prudence, justice, and fortitude-that help us avoid sin.
  original sin   Original sin is the sin of the first man and woman, passed on to all human beings. Because of it, we are weakened in our ability to resist sin and do good.
  Paschal Mystery   The Paschal Mystery is the way that Jesus' Passion , Death, Resurrection, and Ascension saved us from sin and gave us life after death.
  Passover   Passover is the Jewish celebration of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.
  patriarch   A patriarch, a term meaning "father," is a great leader of the Hebrews from early Scripture times. A patriarch is also the male leader of a family or clan.
  persistence   Persistence is the act of continually pursuing something in spite of obstacles. Prayer often requires persistence.
  Pharisees   Pharisees were Jewish people who accepted both the written law of the Old Testament and spoken teachings and tradition.
  piety   Piety is putting God above everything else.
  precepts of the Church   The precepts of the Church are the Church's teachings about our obligations.
  promised land   The promised land is Canaan, the sacred place God promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites in Egypt.
  prophet   A prophet is a person sent by God to speak out against behavior that does not follow God's will.
  psalms   Psalms are religious songs and prayers from the Old Testament. Psalms often express praise, thanksgiving, or sorrow.
  purgatory   Purgatory is a final purification from sin after death.
  Resurrection   Resurrection is the new life given to us when our bodies reunite with our souls at the end of time.
  revelation   Revelation is God's act of revealing himself and inviting us to respond with faith.
  reverence   Reverence is honor and respect. We can show our reverence for God through our prayers.
  sacrament   A sacrament is a sacred sign and cause of grace instituted by Christ in the Church to continue the saving action of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
  sacramental   A sacramental is a symbolic prayer, blessing, object, or action instituted by the Church that can lead us to a fuller participation in the grace of the sacraments.
  sacramental grace   Sacramental grace is the unique gift of God's love that we receive in each sacrament.
  sacrifice   A sacrifice is an act of unselfish giving. It is also a ritual offering made to God by a priest on behalf of the people.
  Sadducees   Sadducees were Jewish people who accepted only the written law of the Old Testament and rejected spoken teachings and tradition.
  salvation   Salvation is freedom from the pain of sin.
  spiritual works of mercy   The spiritual works of mercy are loving deeds to meet the spiritual needs of others.
  supplication   Supplication is humbly and earnestly asking for help. Like Esther
  Temple   The Temple was the Jewish place of worship in Jerusalem that contained the ark of the covenant.
  temple of the Holy Spirit   Each of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit dwells within us. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we are called to imitate Jesus.
  theological virtues   The theological virtues - faith, hope, and charity - come from God and help us become more holy. They connect us with the Trinity.
  transubstantiation   Transubstantiation is the sacred mystery in which bread and wine are changed into the real presence of Jesus Christ.
  Yahweh   Yahweh is the most sacred name of God, spoken to Moses. It means "I am who I am."