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Appendix A. Glossary • 521
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NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING:
A morally permissible system for
the regulation of births, which
employs the natural fertility pat-
terns and can be used within certain
conditions of marriage and family
life. (See CCC, nos. 2366-2372.)
NATURAL LAW:
The natural law
is our rational apprehension of
the created moral order, an ability
we have due to our being made in
God’s image. It expresses the dig-
nity of the human person and forms
the basis of our fundamental rights.
NEOPHYTYE:
This term desig-
nates an adult who has been newly
received into the Catholic Church.
NESTORIANISM:
A significant
heresy affecting early Christianity,
founded by Nestorius (who died
around AD 451) who believed
Mary gave birth to the human
Jesus, to whom the Son of God was
united in some way. Hence Mary
would not be the Mother of God.
The Council of Ephesus repudi-
ated Nestorius and proclaimed
Mary as
Theotokos
—Birth-giver
of God (sometimes translated as
“God-bearer”).
NEW LAW:
The title given to the
manner of living and acting taught
by Jesus. When we follow the New
Law, we are maintaining our part of
the covenant with God.
NEW TESTAMENT:
The desig-
nation for the second part of the
Bible; this part contains the four
Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles,
various Letters or Epistles, and the
Book of Revelation.
NICENE CREED:
This creed
resulted from the deliberations of
the bishops at the Councils of Nicea
(AD 325) and First Constantinople
(AD 381). These Councils clarified
and defended the ancient teachings
of the Church about the humanity
and divinity of Christ and the divin-
ity of the Holy Spirit.
NOVENA:
Nine days of prayer,
usually invoking the intercession
of the Virgin Mary or a saint. The
novena traces its development to
the scriptural nine days of prayer
by Mary, the Apostles, and disciples
asking for the gift of the Holy Spirit
after the Ascension of Jesus Christ
into heaven.
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OBEDIENCE OF FAITH:
Faith
is hearing the Word of God and
resolving to obey what God is ask-
ing of us. Jesus said, “Blessed are