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	Word	Definition as found in Blest Are We
	Abraham	The first person God chose to bring his covenant of friendship to the world.
	absolution	The priest forgives our sins in the name of God.
	adoration	A special devotion that gives thanks and praise to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration is one of the four kinds of prayer.
	anointed	The priest or deacon uses holy oil to anoint the person being baptized by tracing the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead to show that the person will continue to spread Christ’s message.
	Anointing of the Sick	The sacrament of healing that brings Jesus’ healing, comfort, and strength to those who are seriously ill, elderly, or in danger of death.
	Ascension	Jesus’ return to his Father in glory.
	assembly	Christians gathered to celebrate the Eucharist and other sacraments.
	Baptism	The sacrament of initiation by which we become members of the Catholic Church.
	Beatitudes	Jesus’ teachings about how to live and find real happiness.
	bishop	The leader of a diocese.
	Blessed Sacrament	Another name for the Eucharist.
	Christ’s mission	The Church guides us in spreading God’s peace and love to the world.
	Communion of Saints	All people, living and dead, who believe in Jesus Christ.
	Confirmation	The sacrament of initiation in which the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith and helps us become fuller members of the Church.
	conscience	Our inner self that helps us choose between what is good and what is wrong. God speaks to us in our conscience and helps us make responsible decisions.
	contemplative religious	Men and women who devote their lives to prayer and worship.
	corporal works of mercy	Show us ways to take care of the basic needs of others.
	covenant	An agreement or promise made between persons or groups of people. God makes a covenant with his people.
	deacon	A person ordained to help the parish community through service.
	divine	Jesus Christ is divine because he is God.
	Eucharist	The sacrament of initiation, a sacred meal and sacrifice, that celebrates and gives thanks for the gift of Christ. In the Eucharist, Christ strengthens us with his Body and Blood.
	examination of conscience	Deciding whether our words and actions show love for God and others.
	faith	Belief and trust in God.
	genuflect	To bend on our right knee in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, as a sign of respect for Jesus Christ.
	gifts of the Holy Spirit	Wisdom, understanding, knowledge, right judgment, courage, reverence, and wonder and awe which help us know and love God and live as his followers.
	Gospel	Passages in the New Testament about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
	grace	God’s life within us that fills us with his love.
	greed	To always want more things in our lives. It keeps us from being satisfied with what we have.
	Holy Orders	The sacrament of commitment that celebrates special service in the Church as a bishop, priest, or deacon.
	Holy Trinity	Three Persons in one God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
	homily	A talk the priest or deacon gives to help us understand God’s message in the Gospel and other readings.
	immersed	Placed in holy water for Baptism.
	justice	To be fair and respect everyone by following Jesus’ teachings.
	kingdom of God	The People of God will share in God’s love and joy at the end of time, when there will be righteousness, peace, and joy.
	law of love	The loving message in which Jesus united the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes into one.
	lay people	All those baptized who have not received Holy Orders.
	liturgy	The church at prayer worshipping God throughout the year, including the Mass and the sacraments.
	Liturgy of the Eucharist	The part of the Mass in which, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.
	Liturgy of the Word	The part of the Mass in which God speaks to us through Scripture.
	Mass	Another name for the celebration of the Eucharist.
	Matrimony	The sacrament of commitment that celebrates the covenant between a man and a woman.
	mercy	The kind and forgiving treatment of a person.
	monstrance	The special container in which the Eucharist is placed for adoration.
	moral decisions	Choices between what is good and what is wrong.
	mortal sin	Separates us from God’s grace, until we ask for forgiveness and reconciliation.
	mystery	What cannot be understood about God.
	neighbor	Each person created in God’s image.
	Noah	God made a covenant with Noah and with all that is living. This covenant will last forever.
	oil of chrism	Holy oil blessed by the bishop that is used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.
	original sin	The sin of the first man and woman on earth. We have received from them the weakness of that sin.
	Paschal mystery	Jesus saved us from our sins by his life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension.
	peace	The calm, good feeling of being together with others and with God. Peace foll1ows forgiveness.
	Pentecost	The event that marks the beginning of the Church, when Jesus sent the gift of the Holy Spirit to his first disciples.
	petition	A prayer in which we ask for God’s forgiveness and help. Petition is one of the four kinds of prayers.
	priest	A person called by God to lead the community in worship and to serve in a wide variety of ministries in the Church.
	Reconciliation	The sacrament of healing that celebrates the gift of God’s love and forgiveness.
	role models	People who show us how to bring God’s goodness into the world by their example.
	Rosary	A special prayer that honors Mary, the Mother of God, and the life of Jesus.
	sacraments	Sacred signs that celebrate God’s love for us and Christ’s presence in our lives and in the Church.
	sacraments at the service of communion	Holy Orders and Matrimony celebrate two special ways that people serve God by sharing their gifts with others.
	sacraments of healing	Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick share the gift of Jesus’ forgiveness and healing.
	sacraments of initiation	Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, through the Holy Spirit, unite us with Christ and prepare us to serve God and one another.
	sacred	Something that comes from God.
	sacred images	Statues or pictures that remind us of God and the saints.
	Scripture	The name we give to God’s word we read in the Bible.
	sin	A selfish act that makes us turn away from God’s love.
	venial sin	Failing to do God’s will in some small way. It is not as serious as mortal sin but it weakens our relationship with God.
	vocation	God’s call to use our talents to carry on Christ’s mission in the world.
	worship	To give honor and praise to God alone.