The Church
This term describes the Church as both a visible organization and a spiritual reality beyond full human understanding.
The Church is a mystery.
The administrative body of the Catholic Church that assists the Pope in governing.
The Roman Curia
The living, teaching authority of the Church, entrusted to the Pope and bishops.
The Magisterium
Name the three levels of ordained ministry in the Catholic Church.
Bishop, Priest, and Deacon
A divinely revealed truth that the Church proposes with her full authority for belief.
Dogma
The Church is called this because it is the means through which God offers salvation to humanity.
Sacrament of Salvation
Cardinals are locked in this secret voting session until a new pope is elected.
Conclave
The day-to-day, consistent teaching of the Pope and bishops in union with him on faith and morals.
Ordinary Magisterium
A priest acts "in the person of Christ" during the sacraments — name this Latin phrase.
In Persona Christi
An authoritative teaching of the Church that, while not necessarily dogma, requires assent from the faithful.
Doctrine
This event marks when the hierarchy of the Church was formally developed.
At Pentecost / the time of the Apostles
A pope invokes this unique authority when defining a doctrine of faith or morals "from the chair."
Ex Cathedra / Papal Infallibility
Solemn pronouncements such as Ecumenical Councils or papal definitions made with full authority belong to this.
Extraordinary Magisterium
A territorial unit of the Church led by a bishop.
Diocese
Name the three stages by which the Gospels were formed.
1) Life and teaching of Jesus 2) Oral tradition by the Apostles 3) Written composition by the Evangelists
A gathering of all the world's bishops called to address major doctrinal or disciplinary issues of the Church.2
An Ecumenical Council
One of the two Marian doctrines formally defined by a Pope using the charism of infallibility.
The Immaculate Conception (1854) or the Assumption of Mary (1950)
The way the Church's understanding of a doctrine can deepen over time without changing its substance.
Development of Doctrine
The sacrament by which men are ordained as bishops, priests, or deacons.
Holy Orders
The handing on of the faith through the Church's life, worship, and teaching — distinct from Scripture.
Sacred Tradition
The first Ecumenical Council in Church history, held in 325 AD to address the Arian heresy.
The Council of Nicaea
The unbroken line of authority passed from the Apostles down through bishops to the present day.
Apostolic Succession
The full body of revealed truth — Scripture and Sacred Tradition — entrusted to the Church.
The Deposit of Faith
This term describes the office and authority of the bishops as a body, collectively governing the Church.
Episcopacy
The mission of the Church to proclaim the Gospel to all people.
Evangelization