GGabbatha, n.; Aram., Heb. The place wherein Pilate tried and condemned Christ. Gabriel, n.; Heb. The archangel who announced to the Blessed Virgin that she was to be the mother of God; he also announced the birth of St. John the Baptist to Zachary. Galicanism, n.; L. The political belief which held that the national church should have certain powers over and above the authority of the Holy See; it led to the dominance of the State over the Church. It receives its name from some leaders in the Church of France and arose in the tenth century. Gaudete Sunday (Gow-day-tay), n.; L. The third Sunday of Advent, so named because of the first word of the introit which is the Latin imperative of the verb "rejoice." Gehenna, n.; Heb., Gr. The name applied to hell, taken from the desolate valley of Hinnon in Palestine. Gendarmes (Pontifical), n. pl.; Fr. The police force of the Vatican palaces and gardens. The force is made up of ex-service men from the Italian army and all must be of good character. (Cf. Guards.) General, n.; L., O.Fr. The superior of a religious order who has authority over all his subjects and has spiritual jurisdiction over his subjects in either internal or external forums; it is really an adjective qualifying the nouns provost, superior, or master, but generally used alone to designate the head of the order. General Confession, n.; L., O.Fr. A confession of sins committed since baptism or over some stated period, embracing sins already confessed; necessary for those who have made previous bad confessions, in which case it must include all sins com- mitted since the last good confession; when not necessary, advised as of great spiritual value to some, but dangerous to others because it may lead to scrupulosity. Genesis, n.; Gr., L. The first book of the Bible, written by Moses and telling of the creation of the world and man and the revelation to the chosen people. Genuflection, L. The act of bending the right knee to the floor in adoration and reverence for God in the Blessed Sacrament. A double genuflection, or die bending of both knees to the floor and the bowing of the head, is an act of reverence made before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. The single genuflection is also used to signify an act of homage given to the Pope, a cardinal, or a bishop in his own diocese. Genuflexorium, n.; L. A seat or small bench or portable folding chair with arm-rests but no back. It receives its name from the fact that in ordination the bishop kneels before it while reciting the litany and uses it as a bookrest; a faldstool. Gethsemane , n.; Gr. The garden to the east of the city of Jerusalem beyond the brook of Cedron and at the foot of the Mount of Olives where Christ suffered His agony and was apprehended. Ghost, Holy, n.; A.S. The third person of the Blessed Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son, truly God; the Holy Spirit-Gifts (of the Holy Ghost) (gifts),n.pl.; O.E. The gifts, seven in number, bestowed upon the just by the Holy Ghost. They are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Girdle, n.; A.S. A cincture or band with which the priest or other cleric encircles his waist in order to bind the alb. (Cf. Cincture.) Glebe, n.; L. The land surrounding a church or religious building, the cultivation of which may afford maintenance for the church. Gloria Patri, n.; L. The Latin words which are the first two words of the doxology "Glory be to the Father." Glory, n.; L. (1) The splendor which attends or accompanies the revelation of the power of God to men. (2) The cloud over the ark of the covenant which represented the presence of God; the shekinah. (3) The state of happy existence which the soul enjoys in the presence of the beatific vision. (Cf. Beatific vision.) (4) It is sometimes applied to the aureole. Glossator, n.; L. In the early days of transcribing scriptural writings, the one who wrote the commentaries or notes to the text. (Obs.) Gloves, n. pi. A.S.; The liturgical covering of the hands worn by the bishop or a privileged prelate when reading a Pontifical High Mass (not a requiem); they are worn only until the washing of the hands at the Lavabo. They usually are the same color as the vestments of the feast day. Also called chirothecae. Gluttony , n.; L., O.Fr. Inordinate indulgence in food or drink; the taking of food or drink in excess or in such a manner as to be harmful to the body; eating or drinking for the sole purpose of pleasure. Gnosticism, n.; Gr. A philosophico-religious sect of early Christian times whose chief tenet was that its members possessed certain knowledge of natural and supernatural things not given to nor obtainable by others. God, n.; A.S. The Supreme Being who owes His existence to no other, who is absolutely and infinitely perfect and who has created all things; the eternal Spirit who created and rules the universe and in whom is every perfection, and who is simple and immutable in His spiritual substance. The three persons of the Blessed Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost — three Persons in one God. Godfather), n.; A.S. The male sponsor of an infant at his baptism; the one who makes the profession of faith for the person baptized. He becomes spiritually related to the baptized person and receives the commission in charity to guide him spiritually should necessity arise. (Cf. Sponsor.) Godmother, n.; A.S. The female sponsor of an infant at baptism; she makes the profession of faith in the name of the child and assumes a responsibility in the spiritual guidance of the child should the necessity arise. A spiritual relationship is established between the one baptized and the godparent. (Cf. Sponsor.) Golden Rose, adj.; A.S. A replica of a rose and a thorny branch fashioned in gold, sometimes ornamented with precious gems, which the Pope blesses on Laetare Sunday, and which is sent occasionally as an award to Catholic sovereigns or to churches or Catholic cities. Golgotha, n.; Aram., Heb. The "place of the skull" in Aramaic; the mount of Calvary Where Christ was crucified. Gong, n.; Jav. An instrument used instead of the small bell during the Mass but condemned as imliturgical by the Congregation of Sacred Rites. Good Faith. A phrase used in allusion to the holding of an erroneous belief, that is objectively untrue, due to invincible ignorance. Thus one may sincerely believe the errors of an heretical sect and be saved. Generally, such an honest state of mind should be corrected, except when prudence demands silence for the sake of a greater good, private or public. Good faith is also necessary to prescription (Can. 1512) .-C.E.; Slater, Manual of Moral Theology, N. Y., 1908. Good Friday. Friday in Holy Week, anniversary of the death of Christ, on which the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ are commemorated; a day of fasting and penance from the earliest ages of the Church. Black vestments are worn by the priest, and until the Mass the altar is covered only by a single linen cloth and there are no lights. The morning services are in three parts: a Prophecy; Lesson from the Scriptures, the reading of the Passion and prayers for all mankind, the unveiling and adoration of the Cross, accolupanied by the chanting of the Improperia; and the Mass of the Presanctified, before which the first, already consecrated on Holy Thursday, is taken in solemn procession from the Altar of Repose to the main altar. It is not a Mass properly speaking, as there is no consecration, but the Host is incensed, elevated before the people, and consumed by the priest. Holy Communion is given to the faithful only in case of sickness. It is customary to have services from twelve noon until three in commeoration of the Three Hours' Agony of Christ, and the office of Tenebrae is sung in the evening.-C.E.; Gueranger, tr. Shepherd, Liturgical Year: Passiontide and Holy Week, Lond., 1886. Good Thief. Traditionally known as Dismas, one of the thieves crucified with Christ, who rebuked his companion for demanding that Christ should save them, prayed instead a share in His Kingdom, and received the assurance: "This day thou shalt be with Me in paradise." A portion of the cross on which he died is preserved in the Chapel of Relics, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome. He is patron of persons condernned to death. Good Works, n. pl. Actions of a spiritual value by the performance of which one deserves a supernatural reward from God; actions tending toward the perfection of the person performing them; acts which tend toward the increase of grace. Gospel, n.; A.S. (1) Literally "good news." A recording of the life and works of Jesus wrirten by an evangelist. (2) Collectively, the writings of the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, contained in Sacred Scripture. (3) The reading of an extract from Sacred Scripture, taken from the gospel narrative, which takes place in the ceremonies of the Mass just before the Offertory. There is a second Gospel right after the final blessing of the Mass which is of the feast day or vigils, days of -special commemoration, and days in Lent when a feast is celebrated, but usually this second gospel is the first fourteen verses of the Gospel of St. John, first chapter. Gothic (vestments), adj.; L,, Fr. Vestments cut to an oblong circular pattern in the chasuble rather than the square Roman pattern and worn over the shoulders and upper part of the arms. A wide variety of full or ample vestments with long and narrow stoles and maniples are usually so designated. Grace, n.; L. Specifically, grace is a supernatural gift freely
given by God to rational creatures to enable them to obtain eternal life. Generally, however, all tliat one receives as free gifts from God may be termed graces or favors. Grace (at meals), n.; L. A prayer of blessing and thanks to God said over the food which is taken at table. The thanksgiving for food. Gradine, n.; L., It. The back portion of an altar forming a shelf on which are placed the crucifix, candles, or decorations. It is not prescribed by the rubrics, nor is it forbidden. The present tendency is to dispense with it. Also called scabellum. Gradual, n.; L. (1) The antiphon sung after the Epistle; it is also called responsory. These antiphons were called "gradual" because they were sung while people marched. (2) The book (Latin: Graduale Romanum) containing the ordinary and all the proper parts of the Mass which are to be sung by the choir during the entire liturgical year. Gradual Psalms, n.pl.; L. Psalms 119 to 133 as numbered in the Vulgate which have a somewhat similar theme, namely, joy and trust in the providence of God. Graffito, n.; It. A writing or picture scratched or drawn on the walls or stones of ancient monuments or on the walls or tombs of the catacombs. Grail, n.; O.Fr. An organization for Catholic Action for young girls originated by the religious order, "The Women of Nazareth" or "The Ladies of the Grail." Grail. (the Holy), n.; O.Fr. The sacred vessel which according to legend was used by Christ at the Last Supper. The legend has been immortalized by famous writers but has never been given credence by the Church. Greater Litanies, n. pi. Name given to the ceremony including the
chanting of the Litany of the Saints and the procession which precedes the Rogation Mass on April 25. Greca, n.; It. A black clerical overcoat worn by the clergy when the cassock is worn on the street. Greek Church, adj.; Gr. An independent unit of the Orthodox Eastern Church; the Church which has been separated from the jurisdiction of the Pope and is governed by a synod of nine men of which the archbishop of Athens is the head. Gregorian Altar, adj.; Gr., It. An altar in the church of St. Gregory in Rome which has been given the special privilege of a plenary indulgence applicable to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. The indulgence may be gained by celebrating Mass at the altar and this without any conditions. Also an altar to which has been applied the Gregorian privilege; since legislation of 1912 no further Gregorian altars will be conceded to churches. Gregorian Masses, adj.; Gr., It. Thirty Masses said for the repose of a soul after death and read on successive days. Gregorian Music, adj.; Gr., It. Gregorian chant. The music of the liturgy. The notation and musical form so designated because it was supposed to have been finally developed by St. Gregory in the latter part of the sixth century. Gremial, n.; L. Also gremiale. A rectangular piece of silk cloth decorated with gold or lace and placed upon the lap of the bishop when he sits during the celebration of Pontifical Mass or during the ceremony of Ordination and at other liturgical ceremonies; its original use was as a means of keeping vestments from becoming soiled; also called gremial-veil. Grey Friars, (adj.), n. pi.; A.S., L. The name by which the Franciscan Friars Minor formerly were known in England because their habit was slate gray in color. Grille, n.; L., O.Fr. Or Grill. (1) The screen or latticework which is prescribed by canon law to be placed between the priest and penitent in the confessional. (2) The screen separating strictly enclosed nuns from visitors in the visiting parlor or interviewing room. Also the grating or latticework which separates the nuns choir from the altar of their convent chapel. Guadalupe, n.; Sp. A small town near Mexico City, celebrated for the vision of the Blessed Virgin to a peon, Juan Diego, in 1531; it is the place of the shrine bearing that name. The Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe is on December 12. Guardian, n.; O.Fr. (1) A person under whose care a child is placed; the one responsible for the bringing up of an orphan child. (2) The superior of a Franciscan friary, elected for a term of three years. Guardian Angel, n.; O.Fr., L. The angel commissioned by God to care for a human being while on earth. (Cf. Angels.) Guards (Papal), n.pl,; L., O.Fr. Protectors. In Vatican City
there are three types of guards: (1) Noble Guards: the personal bodyguard of the Holy Father, of which there are seventy-seven, and they are chosen with great care from the Roman nobility. They wear a blue uniform with gold trimmings. Guimpe, n.; Fr. A cloth, usually stiffly starched, worn about and below the neck on the habits of some nuns. Gunpowder Plot. A conspiracy in English history, formed by Catesby, Percy, Digby, Winter, Guy Fawkes, and others, to blow up the Parliament Houses in London, 16O4. It was discovered by the arrest of Guy Fawkes, 16O5, and the conspirators were put to death. An attempt was made to incriminate the Church by arresting the Jesuit priests Greenway and Garnet, to whom the conspirators had made their last confession; but the priests kept the seal of confession. Garnet was executed, 16O6. The effect of the plot was the passage of new drastic measures of persecution against the Catholics. Guy Fawkes (157O-6O6). Conspirator, b. York, England; d. London. He was educated at York free school where he knew the Wrights and Fr. Greenway, later also implicated in conspiracy. Of Protestant parents, he became an ardent Catholic, and was solicited as a "confident gentleman," courageous and cool. With a military reputation in Continental wars, by Winter and Catesby, the originator of the Gunpowder Plot, to return to England and actually accomplish it, 16O4. Suspicions having been aroused, he was arrested, Nov., 16O5, on lonely vigil at the "mine" (a cellar adjoining the House of Parliament where the gunpowder was stored), and though at first courageously defiant, was horribly tortured for nine days into confession. After trial he was executed, Jan., 1606, at the Tower with Thomas Winter, Rokewood, and Keyes. Gyrovagues, n.pl.; Gr., L. The name applied to a group of spurious monks who wandered through the countries of Southern Europe in the early centuries and lived a rambling, unstable life. |