In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Glossary Abstinence. Day on which meat and soup or gravy made from meat may not be eaten. Adoration. Acts of worship when the sacrament is displayed in the monstrance on the altar. Archbishop. A bishop of an archdiocese who has a limited canonical role over the bishops of the province. The latter are known as suffragan bishops. Archdiocese. A diocese presided over by an archbishop and one of several dioceses within a province. Begging tour. A trip through the secular world by two or more sisters for the purpose of soliciting money for support of the congregation. Permission is required from the bishop where the sisters live and those prelates whose jurisdictions they visit. Benediction. A worship service, with incense, when the sacrament is removed from the tabernacle and displayed in a monstrance for a time of prayer, singing, and blessing. Branch house. A group of women religious living apart from the motherhouse of the congregation but under its jurisdiction and general supervision. Candidate. A woman admitted to the first probationary training of a congregation and frequently called a “postulant.” She is not typically clothed in the official habit of the congregation but in some simple dark garb. Canon. Usually refers to the body of church law; can also be a portion of the mass or a member of the clergy. Cape. Part of a nun’s habit over the upper arms and shoulders. Chapter. Official governing body of a congregation, consisting of elected delegates; also a meeting of a congregation for the purpose of altering governance, conducting general business, or holding elections. Cloister. Enclosed building or set of buildings or part of a building in which only members of a religious community may enter. Coif. Hoodlike cap usually white and worn under the veil; interchangeable with “wimple,” a linen cloth arranged in folds over the head. 316 : Glossary Confessor. A priest who hears confessions and administers the sacrament of pen­ ance. In the nineteenth century, nuns and sisters typically had a regular confessor assigned to a convent, so that priest “heard” all the confessions for that convent. Congregation. Community of women religious with simple vows. Convent. Residence where a group of religious women share community life. Council. Leadership group within a congregation. Diocese. Territory designated by the Vatican that embraces all the parishes and peoples within the given area. Divine Office. Public liturgical prayer of the church, distinct from the liturgies; it is intended to sanctify the day through formal prayer at stated hours. Women who have taken solemn vows incur an obligation to recite the Divine Office each day. Entrance. Date on which a woman enters a convent with the intention of determining if she has a religious vocation. Eucharist. The sacrament of the Catholic Church, defined by the Council of Trent (1545–63), that through the transformation of bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ become present, although the original appearances remain; the consecrated host and wine may also be called communion. Excommunication. Censure within the Catholic Church whereby a person is deprived of reception of the sacrament of communion. Friar. A professed religious male, usually a priest, working under a father general or central director. Generalate. Central administrative offices of a congregation that has subordinate, provincial, or regional administrations. Grille. Wooden or metal grating that separates the private enclosure of cloistered nuns from the visiting room used by the public. Habit. The special dress or attire for the members of a religious order or group; each group has its own regulation habit, approval for which comes from the Holy See. Holy See. The term includes the pope and the various congregations, offices, and tribunals that aid him in governing the Catholic Church. The Holy See is located in the Vatican. Institute. A religious society of women living together in a motherhouse or at mission stations but all under a common rule, observing the vows of poverty, chastity , and obedience and having approval by ecclesiastical authority. Mission. Each sister’s assignment for the following year. Monastery. Autonomous religious house of a community, usually with a contemplative rule; the term is often broadly applied to a residence for nuns and monks. Motherhouse. The first religious house of an order or society from which other foundations develop; the usual residence of the mother general. Novena. Devotion, usually directed to the Blessed Virgin Mary or a particular saint, that requires nine consecutive days of recitation of a set group of prayers. Novice. A woman received into the novitiate...

Share