United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

518 • Conclusion and Appendices

then meditates on words or phrases that resonate.

ends with the celebration of Christ the King. It includes Advent, the Christmas Season, Lent, the Easter Season, and Ordinary Time, as well as various Feasts of Mary, the Apostles, and many other saints. LITURGY: From the Greek, mean ing “public work.” It refers espe cially to the public worship of the Church, including the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. By their Baptism, all God’s people are called to offer a sacrifice of praise to God at liturgy. The ordained priest at liturgy acts in the person of Christ, the Head of the Church, to make Christ’s saving grace present by the power of the Holy Spirit. LITURGY OF THE HOURS: The public daily prayer of the Church which extends the praise given to God in the Eucharistic celebration. LORD’S DAY, (THE): A name used synonymously for Sunday, the day of the Lord Jesus’ Resurrection. LORD’S PRAYER, (THE): Another name used for the prayer more commonly known as the Our Father. This prayer is sometimes called the Lord’s Prayer because it is a prayer taught by Jesus to his Apostles and disciples.

LECTIONARY: The official liturgi cal book of the Church containing Scripture passages for use in the Liturgy of the Word. LENT: This is an annual period of forty days beginning on Ash Wednesday for Latin Catholics, which is set aside for penance, fasting, and almsgiving in prepara tion for the coming celebration of Easter. It is modeled in part on the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert prior to beginning his public ministry. The penance, fasting, and almsgiving are meant to help lead the believer to ongoing conversion and a deeper faith in the Lord who redeemed us. LITANY: Literally a list, such as in the list, or litany, of saints. In such a prayer, the name of the saints is spoken or sung and the congrega tion responds with a repeated invo cation, “Pray for us.” For example, in the Litany of Loreto, the list of qualities of the Virgin Mary are recited or sung, again with the response, “Pray for us.” LITURGICAL YEAR: The calendar that guides the liturgies and prayers of the Church. It commences on the First Sunday of Advent and

LOVE: See “Charity.”