Glossary of Terms with Definitions that are Catholic in origin and usage
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| CALENDAR OF THE ROMAN CHURCH |
CALENDAR OF THE ROMAN CHURCH, THE GENERAL, is often referred to as ”of the Universal Church,” but in fact not used by Catholics of Eastern rites,nor by some religious orders. In accordance with its name it originated in the calendar of the local Roman church, and in sequence contains a large number of feasts of native Roman saints, particularly of early martyrs; but in the past 350 years it been greatly extended and altered and now merits the epithet, universal: 20 or more feasts are of saints whom we should now call of Eastern rite, and its most recent addition died only in the 20 Century. Since the 16th century this calendar is used in all diocese and congregations (except a few which have their own proper calendars) of the Western church, modified according to local requirements but in such a way that all the great feasts, of our Lord, our Lady, the principal saints and martyrs, etc., are celebrated on the same day. But a religious order with a large number of saints and beati will have a corresponding proportion of feasts peculiar to itself, e.g., the Dominicans have about 70 such in the course of the year; a new and radically reformed calendar was approved for the Benedictines in 1915. The archdiocese of Westminster has over 30 special feasts of saints, some of which are fairly general in England but all are nearly unknown elsewhere. The same variation takes place in the ranks of feasts; e.g., David (March 1) is of the highest rank in Wales, a double feast only in Birmingham, and not observed at all in Liverpool. Ireland and Scotland have both a number of local saints who do not appear in other calendars. When a church calendar is printed, as such, without explanation it is usually the general calendar of the Roman church, and to be of any practical use must be checked by and made to agree with the local ordo. |
| CALLISTUS, CALIXTUS I. ST., POPE |
CALLISTUS, CALIXTUS I. ST. Pope and whose feast is kept by the Western church, on Oct. 14. His pontificate lasted from 217 to 222. He was much vilified by certain heretical groups which he strongly opposed; their testimony about him in "Philosophumena" is quite unreliable. He mitigated in some respects the penitential discipline of his time, and after him is named the cemetery of San Callisto in Rome, of which at one time he had charge. His relics repose in the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. |
| CALUMNY |
CALUMNY is the deprivation of another of his good name by imputing to him, behind his back, something injurious to his reputation of which the speaker or writer knows he is innocent. It incurs an obligation of making restitution so far as possible (cf., Detraction). |
| CALVARY, MOUNT |
CALVARY, MOUNT - The hillock on the west side of Jerusalem upon which our Lord was crucified. It was about 15 feet high. Together with the Holy Sepulchre near by, it was buried with rubbish by the Emperor Hadrian and a grove or temple of Venus planted on the site. It had been brought within the circuit of the western wall of Jerusalem, as it still is, by King Agrippa I about A.D. 43. In 325 the Empress St. Helen had the sites uncovered. Constantine built a basilica and other buildings, Calvary being made to look tidy by being cut perpendicularly so as to make a cube with a flat top, 18 by 15 feet, and surrounded by porticos. In the 5th century a chapel was built on it. After other vicissitudes the diminished hill was included actually under the roof of the Crusaders' church of the Resurrection, and so it remains to this day. It is completely disguised by buildings and is apparently simply a chapel approached by steep stairs. Only about a quarter of the chapel actually rests on the hill of Calvary, the remainder being built up artificially. It contains three altars, two for the use of Catholics and one for the Orthodox, and an amazing bust of our Lady of Sorrows. |
| Catholic Church |
The "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church" founded by Jesus Christ where one can find the fullness of the means of salvation. |