CFC [P.343]

Koinonia: community or fellowship in the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2:42-47; 2 Cor 13:13; Phil 2:1), or the sharing in the Eucharist (cf. 1 Cor 10:16), or in Christ’s sufferings. (Cf. Phil 3:10.)

Lent: the liturgical season of 40 days of prayer and penance (imitating Jesus’ 40-day fast in the desert), beginning on Ash Wednesday, and preparing for Easter, the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.

Lex orandi, lex credendi: an old Latin axiom that states “the law of prayer is the law of belief,” i.e., liturgy is a reliable expression of the Church’s basic beliefs.

Liberation Theology: stresses the Exodus and prophetic calls for justice and of liberation from sin and its consequences, especially structures of injustice and economic oppression.

Liturgy: originally any “public service” (cf. Phil 2:17, 30), it now refers to the official public worship of the Church, especially the Eucharist and the administration of the Sacraments.

Magisterium: the teaching authority of the Church, exercised primarily by the bishops, both collegially and individually, as successors of the Apostles, and united under the Pope as successor of St. Peter.

Ministry: authorized service of God in the service of others, according to specific norms of the Church. The rendering of this service is a sharing in Christ’s roles as prophet, priest and king. It can be conferred on all the faithful in virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, and on clerics in a particular way through the Sacrament of Orders. (Cf. Vatican II, PO 1; AA 10; Christi-fideles Laici, 14 et passim.)

Mystery: not an obscure, inexplicable matter, but God’s loving plan and present saving action, revealed through Jesus Christ. (Rom 16:25; Eph 1:9; 3:9; Col 1:26-27; 2:2; 4:3.) “Mystery” is not primarily what we cannot understand, but rather something about which there is always more to understand. (Cf. Vatican I, ND 132.)

Natural Law: the universal moral law built into human beings by God in creating them, and accessible to the light of reason. (Cf. GS 79; DH 2.)

Paraclete: “helper,” a title applied in John’s Gospel to the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 14:16; 15:16; 16:7), the Spirit of Truth who will guide the disciples in everything Christ has taught them.

Parousia: the Second Coming of Christ in glory to judge the world. (Cf. Mt 24:29-31; 35:31-46; Nicene-Const. Creed.)