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524 • Conclusion and Appendices
which one enters into awareness
of a loving communion with God.
“Prayer is the response of faith to
the free promise of salvation and
also a response of love to the thirst
of the only Son of God” (CCC,
no. 2561).
PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH:
Laws made by the Church that
indicate basic requirements for
her members.
PREJUDICE:
Negative precon-
ceived judgment of another; irratio-
nal suspicion or hatred of another
because the person belongs to a
particular race, religion, or group.
PRESBYTER:
A term referring to
an ordained priest.
PRIDE:
The Capital Sin that
involves excessive self-esteem and
a strong desire to be noticed and
honored by others; excessive pride
sets one in opposition to God.
PRIEST:
A baptized man ordained
through the Sacrament of Holy
Orders. “Priests are united with
the bishops in priestly dignity and
at the same time depend on them
in the exercise of their pastoral
functions; they are called to be
the bishops’ prudent co-workers”
(CCC, no. 1595). With the bishop,
priests form a presbyteral (priestly)
community and assume with him
the pastoral mission for a particular
parish. They serve God’s People in
the work of sanctification by their
preaching, teaching, and offer-
ing the Sacraments, especially the
Eucharist and the forgiving of sins.
PRIESTHOOD OF THE
FAITHFUL:
Christ gives
the faithful a share in his priest-
hood through the Sacraments of
Baptism and Confirmation. This
means that all baptized and con-
firmed members of the Church
share in offering prayer and sacri-
fice to God. The priesthood of the
faithful differs in essence from the
ministerial priesthood.
PRIVATE REVELATIONS:
These
are revelations made in the course
of history that do not add to or
form part of the Deposit of Faith,
but rather may help people live
their faith more fully.
PROCREATIVE PURPOSE OF
MARRIAGE:
The aspect of mar-
riage that requires that a married
couple be open to the children that
God may send them and resolve to
raise them as true followers of Jesus
Christ. The unitive and procre-
ative aspects of marriage form an
unbreakable bond.