TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC DICTIONARY ONLINE—E

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Easter, n.; A.S. The feast commemorating the Resurrection of our Lord. In the western Church the Feast is celebrated on the Sunday following the first new moon after the vernal equinox, which is March 21.

Easter water, n.; A.S. Water drawn from the baptismal font or from an adjacent vessel after the solemn blessing of the baptismal font on Holy Saturday has been performed partially, or before the holy oils have been poured in. It is used in the Church from Holy Saturday until the Sunday after Easter.

Eastern Church, n.; A.S., Gr. Official name used at Rome for Catholics of eastern rites considered collectively. In the plural it refers to the Eastern rites. These may be either Catholic, that is, united with and under the authority of the Pope, or dissident, that is, non-Catholic. The latter may be schismatical or heretical, separated from the Holy See and having other errors. They all teach the real Presence, the Mass, confession, veneration of the Blessed Virgin and, the saints, etc., and so must be distinguished from Protestant churches.

Ebionites, n.pl.; Gr., L. Those who became Christians and wished to retain Jewish custom and ceremony and held that the Jewish law was binding on Christians.

Ecclesia, n.; Gr., L. The Church of Christ; a church; a word borrowed from the Latin and Greek languages and applied to a church.

Ecclesiastes, n.; Gr.; Bib. A book of the Old .Testament supposedly written by King Solomon.

Ecclesiastic, n.; Gr., L. A member of the clergy; name applied to one in Holy Orders.

Ecclesiastical, adj.; Gr., L. Of or pertaining to the Church.

Ecclesiasticus, n.; Gr., L.; Bib. A deuterocanonical book of the Old Testament; it is rejected in Protestant versions of the Bible but contained in their Apocrypha,

Ecstasy, n.; Gr. A state of trance or rapture in which one is not in his usual mental state; the suspension of the activity of the senses while the mind is absorbed in God.

Ecumenical, adj.; Gr., L. Also Oecumenical. A council for the universal Church to which all bishops and others entitled to vote are called from the entire world to gather under the Pope or his legates to determine the interpretation of doctrines or laws for the Church. The decrees of such a council, after papal sanction, apply to the universal Church and bind in conscience.

Education , n.; L. The training of the moral and intellectual faculties of a human being for the purpose of achieving a more perfect degree of knowledge and character; religious education is training in the doctrines and moral laws of the Church. Education must be directed to definite ends; the principal ends are three and they follow in this order of importance: first, religious, for man must be directed toward God; second, civil, for man is a social being and must be trained in his relations to the State and society; third, domestic, for man must be trained as a member of a family so that he may fulfill in society his responsibilities.

Ejaculation, n.; L. A short prayer; a few prayerlike words or pious aspirations which one can make at any time or in any place.

Election, n.; L. (1) In Canon Law, the choosing of a person suited for a vacant position. (2) In theology, the decreeing of God that a chosen person is to receive a special grace.

Eleemosynary, n.; L. One collecting alms or one dispensing alms; one dependent on alms. adj. Pertaining to alms; supported by charity.

Elevation, n.; L. The raising of the consecrated species of bread and wine after the Consecration of the Mass for the adoration of the faithful.

Elias, n.; Heb.; Bib. A prophet of the Old Testament.

Elijah, n.; Heb.; Bib. Hebrew for the name Ellas, used in Protestant versions of the Bible.

Eliseus, n.; Heb., L.; Bib. A prophet, successor to Elias.

Elisha, n.; Heb.; Bib. Hebrew for the name Eliseus, used in Protestant versions of the Bible.

Ember Days, n. (adj.) pl.; A.S, Days of fast and abstinence which are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday which follow December 13, the first Sunday of Lent, Pentecost, and September 14.

Embolism, n.; Gr., L An added prayer. It usually refers to the prayer appended to the last clause of the Lord's Prayer in the Mass, beginning with the word Libera. A memento prayer.

Eminence, n.; L. Title of address given to Cardinals of the Church. This is the official title of a Cardinal since 1630 and thus a Cardinal must be addressed as "Most Eminent" or "Your Eminence."

Emmanuel, n.; Heb.; Bib. The name given to the Messias in prophecy, which means "God with us."

Enclosure, n.; 0,Fr. (1) The rule separating a convent from the world by forbidding those within to commune with those outside the walls; a measure for protecting the spirituality of religious, (2) That part of the religious house reserved for religious to the exclusion of externs or at least to certain externs. (Cf. Cloister.)

Encratites, n.pl,; Gr. An heretical sect begun in the second century by Tatian; they denied the divine origin of the Mosaic law and taught a false asceticism.   

Encyclical, n.; Gr., L. A letter addressed by the Holy Father to all bishops in communication with the Holy See to inform them of certain measures or for the general instruction of the faithful under their care.

Endowment, n.; L O.Fr. In the Church, property that has been set apart for the support of a church or some religious institution.

Energumen, n.; Gr. One possessed by the devil; one to be exorcised.

Envy, n.; L., Fr. Willful grieving because of another's tem- poral or spiritual good, thus lessening one's own seeking of spiritual good; malicious begrudging of another's good by which one is sad or broods on it. It is one of the seven capital sins because it easily leads to other sins. Its contrary virtue is charity toward one's neighbor. (Cf. Capital sins.)

Epact, n.; Gr., L. Name applied to the difference in duration between the lunar and solar years, the lunar year being eleven days shorter than the solar year; by this we are able to determine the days in the month of the civil calendar.

Eparchy , n.; Gr., L. A diocese in the Eastern and Russian Churches.

Epiclesis, n.; Gr. Also epildesis. A form of prayer said after the consecration of the Mass in the oriental liturgies and considered by some schismatic Greeks to be necessary for consecration.

Epigonation, n.; Gr. A vestment worn by priests of the Greek and other oriental Churches which is a square cloth hanging from the girdle; an apron-like vestment; also worn by the Pope in the West.

Epikeia, n.; Gr. Also Eipieikeia. An interpretation of a law whereby it is considered not to bind in a particular case because of some special circumstances; an interpretation of the law in a particular instance against the letter of the law but in keeping with its spirit; an interpretation of the mind of the lawmaker which reasons that he, knowing the conditions, would not wish his law to bind in this particular case.

Epiphany, n.; Gr. L. Literally, a manifestation; the feast celebrated on January 6; the feast commemorating the manifestations of our Lord, first, to the Magi, or wise men; second, of His divinity made at His Baptism in the Jordan; third, of His power by His miracle at Cana.

Episcopacy, n.; L., Fr. The office of bishop; the body of the bishops collectively, (Cf. Bishops.)

Episcopate, n.; L., Fr. (1) Collectively, the body of ruling bishops. (2) The active term of office of a bishop.

Epistle, n.; Gr., L. The lesson from scripture read during the Mass between the collects and the Gospel. These are usually taken from epistles or letters of the Apostles which are writings of scripture addressed to the early Church as instructions.

Epistolary, n.; Gr., L. Latin: Epistolarium. A liturgical book containing the epistles of- the Mass; a book used by the subdeacon, containing the pericopes or passages of Sacred Scripture appointed for liturgical use, which are chanted at the Epistle of a solemn high Mass. (Cf. Evangeliarium.)

Equiprobabilism,n.; L. See Aequiprobabilism.

Equivocation, n.; L. (1) The use of a word having several different meanings, usually with intent to deceive or give a wrong impression. (2) Mental reservation, and as such it is permissible only on conditions governing such reservation. (Cf. Mental reservation.)

Erastianism, n.; L. A system under which the Church is subordinate to the state; church authority in the hands of state dignitaries. Said to have arisen with Erastus in the sixteenth century.

Eschatology, n.; Gr. Science of the last things; study of death, judgment, hell, purgatory, the renovation of the world by fire, eternal life.

Esdras, n.; Heb.; Bib. A priest of early Israel; a book of the Old Testament written by Esdras.

Esonarthex, n.; Gr. In the ancient churches, the outdoor vestibule for the three lower classes of public penitents. (Obs.)

Espousal, n.; L,, O.Fr. The engagement to marry; mutual promise to marry made by two persons capable of so contracting; a betrothal.

Essence, n.; L., Fr. Philosophical term applied to the source of all attributes; that which causes a thing to be what it is; that which distinguishes one thing from another. The nature of a thing considered apart from its existence.

Esther, n.; Heb.; Bib. (1) The Jewish wife of the Persian King Assuerus (Xerxes I, 485-465 B.C.). (2) An historical book of the Old Testament.

Eternal, adj.; L., O. Fr. Existing without beginning or end and without succession or change of any kind. Everlasting, perpetual.

Eternal Law, n.; L. The plan and divine will of God manifested and promulgated from all eternity, regulating all created activities. All persons, things, and events are subject to this eternal law.

Eternity, n.; L., O.Fr. That attribute of God by which He is without beginning or end and without succession or change of any kind. The measure of the duration of a being that is absolutely immutable, i.e., God.

Eucharist , n.; Gr., L The Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ truly present under the species of bread or wine; the Sacrament of the real presence, Term denoting the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament and the Sacrifice under the appearances of bread and wine. The sacrifice of Christ's body and blood.

Eucharistic Congress, adj.; Gr., L. A large diocesan, national or international gathering of the faithful to worship our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. (Cf. Congress.)

Euchites, n.pl.; Gr., L, An heretical sect which arose in the east and which rejected all practices of religion except prayer.

Euchology, n.; Gr. The combined missal and ritual book used by the Greek Church for its ceremonies.

Eulogia, n.; Gr. In the early Church a substitute for communion, merely bread which had been blessed but not consecrated. (Obs.)

Eutrapely, n.; Gr. Courtesy, urbanity. Part o£ the virtue of temperance; the moderation in the use of recreation or recreational pastimes; the avoidance of extremes in such pastimes.

Eutychianism, n.; Gr. The heretical teaching of Eutyches of the early fifth century. He taught that Christ's human and divine natures are identical.

Eutychians, n.pl.; Gr. Heretics who claim that there is identity in the human and divine natures of Christ.

Evangeliarium, n.; L. Evangelistarium. A book for the use of the deacon, containing the passages in which are sung at the Gospel of solemn High Mass; a lector book. (Cf. Epistolary.) The two books, the epistolary and the evangeliarium are nearly always combined to form the comes, or the lectionary.

Evangelical Counsels, adj.; Gr., L. The holy admonitions of Christ to poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Gospel; they are not absolutely necessary for salvation, but lead to a more perfect life.

Evangelists, n. pl.; Gr., L. The authors of the four Gospels, namely, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Evangelize, v.; Gr., L. To convert; to preach and teach the gospel and the doctrines of the Catholic religion; to catechize.

EVOAE, n.pl.; L. The final syllables of any psalm or canticle in any chanted sequence which leads into the antiphon.

Ewer, n.; L. O.Fr. The metal pitcher from which water is poured for the washing of the hands of a bishop or other prelate during a Pontifical High Mass.

Examen, n.; L. A particular or general examination of conscience made daily as a devotion. Also referred to the examination of conscience to be made before confession.

Examination of Bishops, n.; L. The questionnaire and profession of faith asked of a bishop who is to be consecrated.

Examination of conscience, n.; L. The recalling to mind of past sins so that they may be confessed, repented of, and forgiven. The practice of making a daily check-up of the faults and sins committed during the day. (Cf. Examen.)

Exarch, n.; Gr., L. A bishop next in rank to a patriarch, or one ruling a province in the Eastern Church.

Excardination, n.; L. The act of transferring a person in Holy Orders from the jurisdiction of one bishop to another; the going out from a diocese of a cleric to take up service in another diocese.

Exclaustration, n,; L. Permission granted to a professed religious to live in the world temporarily while still retaining the obligation of the vows; one granted this permission is not allowed to wear the religious garb.

Excommunication, n.; L. A censure imposed by the authority of the Church depriving one of the sacraments, excluding one from divine services, prayers of the Church, Christian burial, and canonical rights. There are two classes of excommunicates: (1) Tolerati, or those whom the faithful are not obliged to avoid; (2) Vitandi, or those with whom the faithful are forbidden to commune either in religious or civil matters.

Exeat, n.; L. Permission granted a cleric to transfer from one diocese to another; the declaration of excardination.

Execration, n.; L. The loss of consecration on the part of a church, altar, or chalice and paten. (Cf. Desecration.)

Exegesis, n.; Gr. The study and expounding of the meaning of the Scriptures; the scientific interpretation of the sense of Sacred Scripture.

Exegete, n.; Gr. One who studies the Sacred Scriptures; one proficient in exegesis.

Exemption, n.; L. The privilege granted to persons or places by which they are placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See and cease to be subject to the jurisdiction of the local bishop.

Exequatur, n.; L. The right claimed by bishops or temporal rulers to examine papal bulls or constitutions in order to decide on their fitness before putting them into force in their territories.

Exercises (spiritual), n. pl.; L. A system of prayers and other religious acts made according to a fixed plan. The tide St. Ignatius of Loyola gave to his series of meditations, counsels, and considerations on the religious life and the striving for Christian perfection,

Exodus, n.; Gr.; Bib. (1) The going out of the Israelites from Egypt. (2) Title of the second book of the Old Testament.

Exomologesis,, n.; Gr., L. A ritual of penance beginning with confession and performed for the lenten season during the early centuries of the Church. (Obs.)

Exorcism, n.; Gr., L The act and means of driving out the devil from a possessed person by an ecclesiastically approved series of prayers found in the Rituale Romanum. The rite is divded into three chapters or tituli:- Rules to be observed by exorcists, The rite for exorcising those possessed by an evil spirit, and exorcism of Satan and the fallen angels. An exorcism may only be conducted by a properly ordained Priest who has the express permission of his Bishop.
There are lesser exorcisms that do not imply a possession as in imparted to persons or objects.

Exorcist, n.; Gr., L. One performing the act of exorcism; one having received the sacramental ordination of Exorcist by which he has the power to bless water, say the Baptismal exorcism and exorcise and expel the devil from those diabolically possessed. (Cf. Energumen)

Expectative, n.; L The right to be assigned to a benefice not yet vacant; the right to be collated to a benefice.

Exposition (of the Blessed Sacrament) n.; L., O. Fr.The placing of the Most Holy Sacrament before the faithful for veneration. A public act of worshipping the Eucharist. (Cf. Benediction.)

Extavagants, n.pl.; L. The fifth and sixth parts of the old canon law; constitutions now incorporated in the body of canon law.

Extreme Unction, n.; L. The Sacrament of anointing a person in danger of death from sickness or injury, accompanied by prayers from the ritual; it is administered by a priest for the salvation of the soul through grace, and it may give health to the body. The sacrament of the dying.

Exultet, n.; L. The name applied to a hymn of praise sung at the blessing of the paschal candle on Holy Saturday.

Ezechiel, n.; Heb., Gr.; Bib. A book of the Old Testament named after its author, a prophet of the sixth century B.C.

Ezra, n.; Heb.; Bib. The Hebrew name of Esdras, used in Protestant versions of the Bible.

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