We are indebted to Fr. John Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary for the definitions marked with an asterisk. The numbers after the definition correspond to the lesson in which the word appears above.
Atonement – The reparation of an offense. This occurs through a voluntary performance that outweighs the injustice done. If the performance fully counterbalances the gravity of the guilt, the atonement is adequate. And if the atonement is done by someone other than the actual offender, but in his stead, it is vicarious atonement (2.4).* The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ is an act of vicarious atonement for the sins of the entire human race.
Final Judgment – The universal judgment of the human race at the final resurrection of the dead (2.5).* Also known as “General Judgment.”
Fullness of Time – An expression used by Saint Paul in Galatians 4:4 referring to how Jesus Christ was sent into the world by the Eternal Father when the prophesied time had arrived (2.2).
Old Testament Mediators – Men in the Old Testament who interceded for mankind with God, prefiguring the mediation of Jesus Christ (2.2).
Paschal Mystery – A general term to describe the redemptive work of Christ, especially the events of the Last Supper and the Passion, reaching their climax on Easter Sunday (2.4).*
Passion Week – The events surrounding the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ; part of the religious rite of Holy Week in the Catholic Church (2.3).*
Redemption – The salvation of humanity by Jesus Christ. Literally, to redeem means to free or buy back. Humanity was held captive in that it was enslaved by sin. Since the devil overcame human beings by inducing them to sin, they were said to be in bondage to the devil. Moreover, the human race was held captive as to a debt of punishment, to the payment of which it was bound by divine justice. On all these counts, the Passion of Christ was sufficient and superabundant satisfaction for human guilt and the consequent debt of punishment. His Passion was a kind of price or ransom that paid the cost of freeing humanity from both obligations. Christ rendered satisfaction by giving the highest value, Himself, and therefore his Passion is called humanity’s Redemption. (2.4).*
Sacrament – A sensible sign, instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and inward sanctification are communicated to the soul. The essential elements of a sacrament of the New Law are: 1) institution by Christ the God-man during his visible stay on earth, and 2) a sensibly perceptible rite that actually confers the supernatural grace it symbolizes (2.3).*
Sacramental Order – The system of Sacraments through which God works to save humanity (2.3).
Separated Brethren – All Christians who are baptized and believe in Christ but are not professed Catholics. More commonly the term is applied to Protestants (2.3).*
Testamentum – Latin word for “covenant” (2.3).