Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Glossary

Christian faith, the mystery of the Holy Trinity (90, 234). HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION: Principal feast days on which, in addition to Sundays, Catholics are obliged by Church law to participate in the Eucharist; a precept of the Church (2043, 2180). HOLY SEE: The seat of the central administration of the worldwide Catholic Church; the name is taken from the seat or diocese of the Pope, Bishop of Rome and successor of St. Peter as Vicar of Christ and pastor of the universal Church (cf. 882). HOLY SPIRIT: The third divine Person of the Blessed Trinity, the personal love of Father and Son for each other. Also called the Paraclete (Advocate) and Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the divine plan for our salvation (685; cf. 152, 243). HOLY WATER: Blessed water, a sacramental whose sprinkling or use is a reminder of Baptism and a means of sanctification (1668). HOLY WEEK: The week preceding Easter, beginning with Palm (Passion) Sunday, called the “Great Week” in the liturgies of the Eastern Churches. It marks the Church’s annual celebration of the events of Christ’s Passion, death, and Resurrection, culminating in the Paschal Mystery (1169). HOMILY: Preaching by an ordained minister to explain the Scriptures proclaimed in the liturgy and to exhort the people to HOLY ORDERS: See Orders, Holy

accept them as the Word of God (132, 1100, 1349). HOMOSEXUALITY: Sexual attraction or orientation toward persons of the same sex and/or sexual acts between persons of the same sex. Homosexual acts are morally wrong because they violate God’s purpose for human sexual activity (2357). HOPE: The theological virtue by which we desire and expect from God both eternal life and the grace we need to attain it (1817). HUMILITY: The virtue by which a Christian acknowledges that God is the author of all good. Humility avoids inordinate ambition or pride, and provides the foundation for turning to God in prayer (2559). Voluntary humility can be described as “poverty of spirit” (2546). HYMN: Sacred poetry set to music and meant to raise the hearts of Christian people to God, especially during liturgical services (1156). HYPOSTATIC UNION: The union of the divine and human natures in the one divine Person (Greek: hypostasis ) of the Son of God, Jesus Christ (252, 468). ICON: Religious painting traditional among many Eastern Christians. Christian iconography expresses in images the same Gospel message that Scripture communicates by words (1160). ICONOCLASM: A heresy which maintained that veneration of religious images is unlawful. Iconoclasm was condemned as -I