A term meaning “advocate” or “helper,” used in the Gospel of John to describe the Holy Spirit, the Third Divine Person of the Trinity
Paraclete
A personal, solemn promise of faithful love that involves mutual commitments and creates a sacred relationship
Covenant
A Greek title for Mary meaning “God bearer.”
Theotokos
Having to do with the relationship of a child to his or her parent
Filial
The conscious and deliberate rejection of a truth of the faith by a baptized person of a truth of faith that must be believed
Heresy
The uninterrupted passing on of apostolic preaching and authority from the Apostles directly to all bishops.
Apostolic Succession
The books of the Bible officially recognized by the Church as the inspired Word of God
Canon of Scripture
A name for the first and most fundamental community of faith: the family
Domestic Church
The gift from God that allows human beings to choose from among various actions, for which we are held accountable
Free Will
From the Greek words for “God” and “justice,” referring to the study of evil and suffering in the world, which seems contrary to the existence of a presumably good God
Theodicy
