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V Vagi (var-jee), n.pl.; L. Vagrants,wanderers, those with no domicile or quasi-domicile. They are bound to observe both the general and particular laws In force in the place where they find themselves. Valid, adj.; L., Fr. Founded on truth or fact; in Church law, that which conforms to conditions essential to the efficacy of a sacrament; that is, the proper rite in administration, the intention and jurisdiction of the minister, and the moral fitness and intention of the recipient. Validation, n.; L., Fr. The legal process or ecclesiastical action which rectifies an irregular marriage which is null because of defect of consent or one or another canonical impediment. Validity, n.; L., Fr. The quality of being valid; that which fulfills all essential conditions. Vatican, n.; L. The independent city and state within the city of Rome which is the seat of the Church, where the Pope resides and where the household of the Vatican lives; the entire group of buildings surrounding the residence of the Pope. The name by which the Council of the Vatican held in December of 1869 is known. Veil, n.; L., Fr. (1) The long vestment worn by the celebrant at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, which is placed upon his shoulders and the ends of which he uses to hold the monstrance in his hands; the humeral veil; also called by its Latin name, velum.(2) A covering of the head and shoulders used by members of religious orders of women. The Mantellona worn by women at Holy Mass and girls at Confirmation usually made from lace or some other material. Velleity, n.; L. A desire of the mind which is not fully willed; a weak desire or one with incomplete volition. Velum, n.; L. The humeral veil; the scarf-like vestment worn over the shoulders of the celebrant at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Venerable, adj. & n.; L. A title given to one whose cause for canonization is being advanced; a title of sanctity; a title of address applied to nuns and lay brothers. Veneration, n.; L. The admiration of, the imitation of,and prayer to the saints which is given to them by men because of their great sanctity, their supernatural excellence as the friends and familiars of God, (Cf. Dulia.) Venia, n.; L. The act of satisfaction performed by a religious after the commission of a venial fault. Venial Sin, adj.; L.) O.Fr. An offense against God in a light matter or without full consent of the will which does not destroy grace or friendship with God or the right to eternal happiness, but is a partial or small aversion from God; venial sin may be so slight that it is called a venial fault rather than a sin. (Cf. Sin.) Vemicle, n.; L. Name sometimes given to the veil of Veronica or a representation of it. Verse, n.; L., A.S. (1) A subdivision of a chapter of the Bible or of a psalm or canticle. (2) During Mass, a sentence said by the priest to which a response is given. It may be sung with the choir giving the response, A versicle, (3) The solo portion of the Gradual of the Mass when it is sung. Versicle, n.; L. A prayer, usually brief, which is followed by a response. It is indicated by the symbol V. Vesperale, n.; L. Latin: Vesperale. A book containing the office and music for Vespers throughout the year. Vesperal (cloth), n.; L. The cloth used to cover the mensa when it is not in use so as to prevent soiling of the altar linens- Also called stragulum. Vespers, n. pl.; L. (i) The sixth canonical hour of the Breviaium Romanum. (2) The devotion consisting of the public recitation of the Vesper hour of the Breviarium Romanum by the choir and the ministers of the service, during which incensing of the altar is performed. Vessels, n.pl.; L., O.Fr. The various receptacles used in the ceremonies of divine service in the Church; usually they are made of gold or are gold-plated and are either consecrated or blessed. (Cf. Chalice; ciborium.) Vestibule, n.; L., Fr. An enclosed entrance. The back part of a church, usually Just within the door and immediately before the door entering the main part of the church or the nave. Vestiges, n.pl.; L. Beings not having reason and so not made to the image and likeness of God; yet they respect God because of His act of creating them. Vestments, n.pl.; L, O.Fr. The garments worn by the priest in celebrating the Mass or other acts of divine worship; the official garb or liturgical dress of priests and bishops in offering the divine sacrifice. Veto, n.; L. An authoritative prohibition. The right formerly claimed by rulers or governments to prevent a particular cardinal or other candidate from receiving papal election because he was considered not acceptable. This has been canceled and is no longer permitted. Viaticum, n.; L. Holy Communion or the Eucharist, given to persons in danger of death. Originally the word was applied to food taken on a Journey. The Viaticum may be received without fasting, and may be repeated during the time of the same illness. Vicar Apostolic, adj. & n.; L., O.Fr. A cleric, usually a titular bishop, who governs a territory not yet established as a diocese. (Cf. Vicariate Apostolic.) Vicar Capitular, n.; L. The canon chosen by the chapter to administer a diocese during the period of vacancy caused by the death of the bishop. Vicar Forane, n.; L, A rural dean; a senior priest entrusted with vigilance over Church discipline in the several parishes which constitute the deanery; he has the power of summoning and presiding at meetings of the clergy of this district. Vicar General, n.; L. An official of a diocese appointed by the bishop and holding ordinary jurisdiction with the bishop; an assistant to the bishop, his jurisdiction is coterminus with the reign of the bishop. (Cf. Bishop.) Vicariate Apostolic, n.; L. An ecclesiastical district in a missionary country presided over by a vicar apostolic who is appointed by the Pope. Vigil, n.;L.,O.Fr. Originally this meant a watch in prayer and fasting kept on the night before a feast; later it included the day before the feast; a time of preparation for a feast; the day immediately preceding a feast day. It is also applied to the custom of watching over the bodies of the dead before burial; a wake. Vimpa, n.; L. A veil of silk worn over the shoulders and down the arms of the acolytes who carry the mitre and the pastoral staff at a Pontifical Mass. Violation, n.; L., O.Fr. The act whereby a church, oratory, or cemetery is deprived of its consecration through the commission of one of the public crimes stated in Church law, such as murder. Virgin Birth, n.; L., O.Fr. The miraculous bearing of Christ, the Son of God, by Mary while she, by divine intervention, remained a virgin. Virginity, n.; L. The highest state of chastity; the state in which one avoids all indulgence in sexual acts; the state of being physically a virgin. Virtue, n.; L., O.Fr. (1) An essentially good habit giving one the power and the inclination to do good acts; briefly, a habit of right conduct. There are three classes of virtues: intellectual, moral, and theological. (Cf. Cardinal Virtues and Theological Virtues.) (2) In the plural, one of the choirs of angels. (Cf. Angel.) Vision, n.; L., O.Fr. The actual appearance of God or angels or saints, or also the devil, to living persons. Visit, n,; L., O.Fr. (1) The practice or devotion of spending some time each day in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament; also the practice of going into a church whenever one chances to be near a church to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, (2) The periodic visit of a bishop to the Pope in the Vatican. (Cf. Visitation; Ad limina.) Visitation, n.; L. (1) The Journey of the Blessed Virgin to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and her prolonged stay with Elizabeth. (2) Episcopal visitation: the obligation the bishop has to visit all parishes in his diocese every five years. (3) Visitation ad limina: the obligation which rests upon all bishops ruling a diocese to visit at prescribed periods of time, usually five or ten years, the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Rome and the Supreme Pontiff. This is also known simply as the ad limina visit. Visitatrix, n.; L. The designated title of the sister or nun to whom is entrusted the duty of periodically visiting the several houses belonging to a religious community. Vitandus, n.; L. An excommunicated person whose penalty demands that he be shunned or avoided by the faithful. Vitta, n.; pl. vittae.; L. Literally: a ribbon. One of the two pendants hanging from the back of a mitre. (Cf. Infula.) Vocation, n.; L. The calling or the disposition by which a person is inclined to serve God in a special state such as the priesthood or as a member of a religious order; the strong inclination or desire to serve God in a special manner. The elements of a vocation are: (a) the right intention to avoid all sins and to secure one's salvation; (b) freedom from impediments; admission or call, by the superior of the order or the bishop. Also used in general to denote any calling in life, e.g., the vocation of marriage. Votive Mass, adj.; L. A Mass which does not correspond to the office of a particular day but is said at the choice of the priest; the reading of a Mass not assigned to a particular day. (Cf. Mass.) Votive Offerings, adj. & n.pl.; L. Objects dedicated to God or His saints; contributions dedicated to a particular devotion. Vow, n.; L., O.Fr. A deliberate, free promise made to God by which one obligates himself under pain of sin by the virtue of religion to the performance of some act more pleasing to God than its opposite. Public vows arc either solemn or simple. Solemn vows invalidate any act against the vows; simple vows merely forbid or render unlawful any act against the vows. Vulgate, n.; L. A Latin version of the Bible made up of a translation by St. Jerome in the fourth century of the protocanonical books of the Old Testament and of a few of the deuterocanonical books, and a revision of all the other books of the Old and New Testaments, and recognized by the Church as the authentic and authorized version.