Western Church

Western Church

n

1. (Christianity / Roman Catholic Church) the part of Christendom that derives its liturgy, discipline, and traditions principally from the patriarchate of Rome, as contrasted with the part that derives these from the other ancient patriarchates, esp that of Constantinople

2. (Christianity / Roman Catholic Church) the Roman Catholic Church, sometimes together with the Anglican Communion of Churches

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Western Church - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy Church of Rome, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Church, Roman Catholic indulgence - the remission by the pope of the temporal punishment in purgatory that is still due for sins even after absolution; "in the Middle Ages the unrestricted sale of indulgences by pardoners became a widespread abuse" Divine Office - canonical prayers recited daily by priests (e.g. the breviary of the Roman Catholic Church) Little Office - a Roman Catholic office honoring the Virgin Mary; similar to but shorter than the Divine Office Office of the Dead - an office read or sung before a burial mass in the Roman Catholic Church placebo - (Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead confession - (Roman Catholic Church) the act of a penitent disclosing his sinfulness before a priest in the sacrament of penance in the hope of absolution beatification - (Roman Catholic Church) an act of the Pope who declares that a deceased person lived a holy life and is worthy of public veneration; a first step toward canonization canonisation, canonization - (Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church) the act of admitting a deceased person into the canon of saints Mass - (Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Churches) the celebration of the Eucharist novena - a Roman Catholic devotion consisting of prayers on nine consecutive days Stations, Stations of the Cross - (Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary ostensorium, monstrance - (Roman Catholic Church) a vessel (usually of gold or silver) in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adoration pallium - (Roman Catholic Church) vestment consisting of a band encircling the shoulders with two lappets hanging in front and back ultramontanism - (Roman Catholic Church) the policy that the absolute authority of the church should be vested in the pope sursum corda - (Roman Catholic Church) a Latin versicle meaning `lift up your hearts' breviary - (Roman Catholic Church) a book of prayers to be recited daily certain priests and members of religious orders missal - (Roman Catholic Church) a book containing all the prayers and responses needed to celebrate Mass throughout the year Vulgate - the Latin edition of the Bible translated from Hebrew and Greek mainly by St. Jerome at the end of the 4th century; as revised in 1592 it was adopted as the official text for the Roman Catholic Church Paternoster - (Roman Catholic Church) the Lord's Prayer in Latin; translates as `our father' Mass card - (Roman Catholic Church) a card sent to a bereaved family that says the sender has arranged for a Mass to be said in memory of the deceased spiritual bouquet - (Roman Catholic Church) a card indicating that the sender will perform certain devotional acts on behalf of another kiss of peace, pax - (Roman Catholic Church) a greeting signifying Christian love for those assisting at the Eucharist Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Immaculate Conception - (Christianity) the Roman Catholic dogma that God preserved the Virgin Mary from any stain of original sin from the moment she was conceived gradual - (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass Catholic Church - any of several churches claiming to have maintained historical continuity with the original Christian Church Rome - the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church Curia - (Roman Catholic Church) the central administration governing the Roman Catholic Church College of Cardinals, Sacred College - (Roman Catholic Church) the body of cardinals who advise the Pope and elect new Popes Rota - (Roman Catholic Church) the supreme ecclesiastical tribunal for cases appealed to the Holy See from diocesan courts Roman Catholic - a member of the Roman Catholic Church apostolic delegate - (Roman Catholic Church) a representative of the Holy See in a country that has no formal diplomatic relations with it bishop - a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ Brother - (Roman Catholic Church) a title given to a monk and used as form of address; "a Benedictine Brother" cardinal - (Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes dean - (Roman Catholic Church) the head of the College of Cardinals