Glossary
During the Sacrament of Reconciliation you may come across words you may not be familiar with. Below is a glossary that you can refer to. Your child or students may benefit from understanding these terms also.
Feel free to print them out and place in your home or classroom.
Absolution: The moment during the Reconciliation ceremony when the priest uses the power of Jesus to forgive sins.
Anointing of the sick: The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual strength to a person during illness. Usually near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments a person will receive.
Baptism: The Christian sacrament of sprinkling water on to a person's forehead or immersing them into water, symbolising purification or rebirth and induction into the Church.
Bishop: A senior member of the clergy. A Bishop is usually in charge of a diocese.
Clergy: The body of people ordained for religious duties.
Confession: A statement from a parishioner in which they acknowledge their sin(s).
Confirmation: In the sacrament of Confirmation, the parishioners are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and are strengthened in their Christian life. They often have a sponsor for this sacrament.
Conscience: Our ‘inner voice’ which helps us to recognize what is right or wrong.
Contrition: When a person is feeling remorseful and penitent for their sin(s).
Eucharist: The Christian ceremony, or sacrament, in which bread and wine are consumed.
Holy Orders: The sacrament of induction as a member of the catholic clergy.
Holy Spirit: The third person of the Trinity; God as spiritually active in the world
Mortal Sin: A willfully committed, serious transgression against the law of God,depriving the soul of divine grace.
Penitent: The person making reconciliation. (Derived from the word Penance. See below)
Penance: Repentance, a virtue disposing a sinner to hatred of his own sin because it is an offence against God.
Parishioner: An inhabitant of a particular church parish.
Reconciliation: The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the process or steps christians take in order to reunite with God.
Sin: A deliberate action or thought that we know is against God’s law.
Ten Commandments: The laws or rules handed down to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
Anointing of the sick: The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual strength to a person during illness. Usually near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments a person will receive.
Baptism: The Christian sacrament of sprinkling water on to a person's forehead or immersing them into water, symbolising purification or rebirth and induction into the Church.
Bishop: A senior member of the clergy. A Bishop is usually in charge of a diocese.
Clergy: The body of people ordained for religious duties.
Confession: A statement from a parishioner in which they acknowledge their sin(s).
Confirmation: In the sacrament of Confirmation, the parishioners are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and are strengthened in their Christian life. They often have a sponsor for this sacrament.
Conscience: Our ‘inner voice’ which helps us to recognize what is right or wrong.
Contrition: When a person is feeling remorseful and penitent for their sin(s).
Eucharist: The Christian ceremony, or sacrament, in which bread and wine are consumed.
Holy Orders: The sacrament of induction as a member of the catholic clergy.
Holy Spirit: The third person of the Trinity; God as spiritually active in the world
Mortal Sin: A willfully committed, serious transgression against the law of God,depriving the soul of divine grace.
Penitent: The person making reconciliation. (Derived from the word Penance. See below)
Penance: Repentance, a virtue disposing a sinner to hatred of his own sin because it is an offence against God.
Parishioner: An inhabitant of a particular church parish.
Reconciliation: The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the process or steps christians take in order to reunite with God.
Sin: A deliberate action or thought that we know is against God’s law.
Ten Commandments: The laws or rules handed down to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.