Religion Vocabulary Guide
Chapters 1 to 16
Chapter 1
creation-all things seen and unseen
Book of Genesis-first book of the Bible containing the story of creation
inspired-guided by God
Chapter 2
community- a group of people who share space and time
covenant- a sacred agreement (God made a covenant with His people.)
The Ten Commandments – The first three show us how to be faithful to God. The other seven show us how to be faithful to ourselves and to one another.
natural moral law-the moral order of the world that is part of God's design
Chapter 3
Reduce-use less of our products and natural resources
Reuse-use items over again
Recycle-to find new uses for things we might have thrown away
stewardship-to keep our world safe and act with loving care towards all creation
stewards-caretakers (of the Earth)
common good-working to become the best we can be in our world, acting for the benefit of all members of the world
Chapter 4
Immaculate Conception-the belief in our church that Mary was born without sin The feast day is celebrated December 8th.
original sin-the first sin by the first humans where they chose to disobey God
Chapter 6
grace-God's own life within us
free will-we have the power to choose between good and evil
conscience-free will and reason working together helping us to love good and avoid evil
When making moral decisions we should: STOP-THINK-PRAY-CHOOSE
Chapter 7
bishop – chief pastor or leader of a diocese, greets candidates of Confirmation and administers the sacrament
Holy Trinity – our name for the three Persons in one God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit: trinity means a union of three: We praise the Holy Trinity when we make the Sign of the Cross.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit – seven powerful gifts that help us grow in our relationship with God and others. They open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so he can guide us to make good and unselfish choices. We receive these gifts in Baptism and Confirmation.
Wisdom: helps us see ourselves as God wants us to be and to act as God wants us to act.
Understanding: helps us get to know God, ourselves, and other people better
Counsel: helps us give good advice to others
Fortitude: helps us stand up for what is right even when doing so is difficult
Knowledge: helps us be open to God’s loving communication
Piety: helps us show faithful love and honor to God
Fear of the Lord: helps us recognize that God is greater and more wonderful than any created thing
Chapter 8
All Saints Day – November 1st, celebration of all the holy women and men who have chosen to put God first. On this day we pray that we will some day be among the saints.
Canonized: officially proclaimed (made) a saint.
Information Discussed in Class
Halloween – All Hallows Eve: October 31st In the past it was believed that the spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back. This is where our tradition of dressing in costumes comes from.
Day of the Dead – November 2nd: a traditional Mexican celebration. Candy skulls and colorful skeletons are decorated to represent dead friends and relatives. It is a happy celebration. A special place in the house is often decorated with favorite food or treasured items of the deceased to welcome the visit of their souls.
Chapter 9
The Law of Love – "Love one another as I have loved you." Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself. Following this law means making unselfish and caring choices. It means seeing the needs of others and doing something to help them take care of those needs.
Corporal Works of Mercy - Corporal means for the body. They help us meet the physical (bodily) needs of others. They help us follow the Law of Love. (clothe the naked, visit the sick, shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead)
Chapter 10
Beatitudes – Beatitude means happy. The Beatitudes remind us that when we put God first in our lives we can be truly happy. This means loving God above all things and loving God’s people as we love ourselves.
Chapter 11
Reconciliation- a peaceful reunion; the sacrament of forgiveness in the Church
Chapter 12
Advent – four weeks of preparation for Christmas: a time to practice waiting for the fullness of God’s kingdom: We prepare to celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth. We light four candles as we wait, one for each of the weeks we are waiting. Three are traditionally purple and one is pink (the Third Week).
Chapter 13
magisterium-chief teachers of the Church (Pope, Cardinals, Bishops)
Precepts of the Church-six responsibilities we have as part of our duty to God and each other
Chapter 14
deacon-a man ordained to share God's word and serve the community
ministry-the way we choose to serve God and others
Chapter 15
vows-sacred promises
Chapter 16
Christmas – celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Messiah – the promised one who would bring the kingdom of God.
Prince of Peace – another name for Jesus because He came to reconcile us with God.
Information Discussed in Class
Mary - mother of Jesus
Bethlehem – birth place of Jesus
St. Nicholas – feast day, Dec. 6th. Saint Nicholas was a bishop. The story of St. Nicholas tells us that a poor man living in the same town as Nicholas had lost all his money. This man had 3 daughters and they could not get married unless they had a dowry (money) to give their new husbands. Nicholas heard about them. One night he took a bag of gold and threw it in the open window of the man's house. The oldest girl was soon married. Nicholas did the same for the second and third daughters. The last time the father saw Nicholas and graciously thanked him.
Our Lady of Guadalupe - feast day Dec. 12th: Mary appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico as the Mother of Jesus. She left an image of herself on his cloak.
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