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Appendix A. Glossary • 525
PROVIDENCE:
See “Divine
Providence.”
PRUDENCE:
The Cardinal Virtue
by which one knows the true good
in every circumstance and chooses
the right means to reach that end.
-R-
RCIA:
The Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults. This is the title
of the process designed to pre-
pare adults for entrance into the
Catholic Church by the reception of
the Sacraments of Initiation.
REAL PRESENCE:
When the
bread is consecrated, it is changed
into Christ’s Body. When the wine
is consecrated, it is changed into
Christ’s Blood. Jesus Christ is
substantially present in a way
that is entirely unique. This happens
through the power of the
Holy Spirit and the ministry of
the priest or bishop acting in
the person of Christ during the
Eucharistic prayer.
REDEMPTION:
The salvation
won for us by Jesus. By his
Incarnation, ministry, death and
Resurrection, Jesus has freed us
from original and actual sin and
won eternal life for us.
REINCARNATION:
The false
belief that a dead person’s spirit
returns to life in another body
either of an animal or another
person. This belief is not compat-
ible with the Catholic faith, which
teaches that every human person
has only one body and one soul,
and is unique and unrepeatable.
RELATIVISM:
The position that
there is no objective truth, only
subjective opinions.
RELIGION, VIRTUE OF:
The
habit of adoring God, praying to
him, offering him the worship that
belongs to him, and fulfilling the
promises and vows made to him
are acts of the virtue of religion
that fall under the obedience of
the First Commandment.
RELIGIOUS OR CONSECRATED
LIFE:
A permanent state in life
into which certain men or women
freely commit themselves to a
life of special service to Christ,
marked by the profession of
the evangelical counsels: pov-
erty, chastity, and obedience.
RESURRECTION:
This is the
triumph of Jesus over death on
the third day after his crucifixion.
Christ’s risen body is real, but
glorified, not restrained by space
or time.