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Glossary of Church Terms
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Ecclesial
is reserved to those who are in church-recognized leadership posi-
tions, generally certified to represent the church in their area of expertise after
appropriate human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation. In a 2005
document,
Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord
, the U.S. bishops encour-
aged the growth of lay ecclesial ministry and set out general guidelines for the
formation and the recognition or certification of such ministers.
liturgy.
The general term for all the church’s official acts of worship. It includes
the Mass (also called the
eucharistic liturgy
), the celebration of the other sac-
raments, and the Liturgy of the Hours, which contains the official prayers
recited by priests and some others to sanctify parts of the day. See
Mass
,
sac-
raments
and
vespers
.
Mass.
The central act of worship in the Catholic Church. In most Eastern
Catholic churches the Mass is called the
Divine Liturgy
. The Mass is divided
into two main parts. The Liturgy of the Word includes Scripture readings and
a homily and ends with the general intercessions. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
begins with the offering of the gifts, followed by consecration of the bread and
wine and the reception of Communion. Catholics believe that in the consecra-
tion the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ.
metropolitan.
A
metropolitan see
is an archdiocese that is the chief diocese of
an ecclesiastical province. The archbishop who heads that province is called
the
metropolitan
, but usually only in contexts referring to him in his capacity
as head of the province. See
province
.
ministry.
A broad term in Catholic usage for any activity conducive to the sal-
vation of souls. It can include ordained ministry such as liturgical leadership
and administration of the sacraments, or lay ministry such as instructing chil-
dren in the faith, serving the poor, visiting the sick, or being an altar server,
reader or music leader at Mass. See
lay ecclesial ministry
.
monsignor.
An honorary ecclesiastical title granted by the pope to some dioc-
esan priests. Priests in religious orders or congregations never receive the title
of monsignor. In English the standard abbreviation as a title before the name
is
Msgr.
American publications vary in whether they use the abbreviation or
the full word before the name in news reporting. In covering the church inter-
nationally, however, it is also important to realize that the Catholic Church
and news agencies in many other nations use
Msgr
. or
Mgr
. as the religious