Terms of Reference | The Things That Catholics Say

  1. Asperges: nothing to do with asparagus. Asperges refers to the rite of sprinkling the congregation and/or objects with holy water. The name comes from the first word of Psalm 51 in Latin (Asperges me) that is sung during the traditional form of the rite.
  2. Aspergillum: not to be confused with Aspirin, a painkiller. An aspergillum is an implement for sprinkling holy water.
  3. Curia: nothing to do with relief from disease. An an assembly, council, or court of church officials responsible for governance.
  4. Hypostatic: nothing to do with an electric charge built up when a priest walks across carpeting in the sanctuary. The Hypostatic Union refers to the union of the human and divine natures in Jesus Christ.
  5. Mantilla (man-tee-yuh): not for men, i.e., not a man-tilla. A traditional female liturgical lace or silk veil or shawl worn over the head and shoulders, often over a high hair ornament called a peineta.
  6. Nun. Not to be confused with 'none', i.e., someone who is religiously unaffiliated (or an agnostic or an atheist) or a liturgical hour of the Office of None (noh-na; ninth), around 3pm. A member of a religious community of women, especially a cloistered one, living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
  7. Paraclete (pah-rah-kleet): does not refer to a spike on soccer boots or golf shoes, nor to a tropical bird capable of mimicking human speech. Paraclete is a term that occurs five times in the Johannine texts of the New Testament. In Christian theology, the word commonly refers to the Holy Spirit and is translated as advocate, counsellor, or helper.
  8. Pew (pyoo): not an exclamation concerning the incense or the scent of a congregant. A church bench that typically includes a kneeler.
  9. Relics: does not refer to the oldest members of the congregation. Objects of religious significance, typically the physical remains or personal effects of a saint or other holy person, preserved for veneration.
  10. Surplice: not to be confused with surplus. The surplice is a loose white linen vestment varying from hip-length to calf-length, worn over a cassock by clergy, acolytes, and choristers.
  11. Tintinnabulum: nothing to do with a French cartoon album. A bell that is mounted on a pole and carried in processions.
  12. Zucchetto (zoo-ket-to): not a type of frozen dessert nor the name of a character in a story about a puppet that comes to life. A skullcap worn by clergy.

Comments

Popular Posts

Life At The Altar Rail: 22 Behaviours Categorized

You Know You're In A Progressive Catholic Parish When... .

Review: Saint Gregory's Prayer Book

You know you're a REAL altar server when... .

Zigzagging Toward The Catholic Renaissance

Instituted Acolytes & The Exercise of the Subdiaconal Ministry

WISDOM 6

For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness.

1 JOHN 5

Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son.

ST AUGUSTINE

The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.

MARCUS AURELIUS

There is but one thing of real value - to cultivate truth and justice, and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men.