United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Appendix A. Glossary • 519

LUST: One of the Capital Sins; it is an inordinate desire for earthly pleasures, particularly sexual pleasures.

MASS AS A SACRED MEAL: The Mass is a sacred banquet, like the Last Supper, in which bread and wine become Christ’s Body and Blood, received in Holy Communion. MASS AS A SACRIFICE: Through the ministry of the ordained priest, the Holy Spirit makes present at Mass Christ’s Paschal mystery, his dying and rising in which Christ is offered to the Father to give him adoration and praise to save us from our sins and bring us divine life. MEDITATION: Prayer in which, in order to respond to the Lord, one tries to understand more fully or deeply God’s Revelation of the truths of the faith. MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD: This priesthood, received in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, differs in essence from the priesthood of the faithful. The ministerial priest hood serves the priesthood of the faithful by building up the Church in the name of Christ, who is head of the Body, by offering prayers and sacrifices to God on behalf of people. A priest is given the power to consecrate the Eucharist, MATRIMONY: Another name for the Sacrament of Marriage.

-M

MAGISTERIUM: The teaching office of the pope, and bishops in communion with him, guided by the Holy Spirit. The pope and bish ops are the authoritative teachers in the Church. MARKS OF THE CHURCH: The name given to four singular charac teristics of the Church: the Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. MARRIAGE, SACRAMENT OF: “The matrimonial covenant by which a man and a woman estab lish between themselves a partner ship of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this cov enant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament” (CCC, no. 1601, citing CIC, can. 1055 §1; cf. GS, no. 48 §1, CCEO, can. 776). MARTYR: One who witnesses to Christ and the truth of the faith, even to the point of suffering.