TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC DICTIONARY ONLINE—N

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Nahum, n.; Heb.; Bib. The author of a prophetical book of the Old Testament bearing his name.

Nails (holy, n.pl.; A.S. The nails with which our Lord was fastened to the cross and which tradition claims were discovered at the finding of the cross by St. Helena. It is not known where they are now.

Name day, n., A.S, The day of the feast of the saint whose name one bears, sometimes celebrated rather than one's birthday or in addition to this; the day com- memorating one's baptismal name.

Narthex, n.; Gr., L. In ancient basilicas, that space leading from the outer doors to the inner doors; the vestibule in Gothic churches.

Natal, adj.; L. Also, natale;natalicia. The day upon which a saint dies, hi.s birthday in heaven which is celebrated in the Church rather than the natural birthday anniversary.

Nativity, n,; L. The natural birth of Jesus, who was born of the Blessed Virgin; the Incarnation; die day celebrating the birth of Christ, Christmas.

Natural Law, n.; L, Ethical precepts implanted by God in the rational nature of man, by the fulfillment of which man tends to God as his natural end; the rational creature's participation in the eternal law of God.

Nave, n.; L. In cruciform churches, the portion o£ the building from the crossing to the narthex. That part of the church building in which the laity kneel and assist at Mass.

Nazarene, n.; Gr., L. An inhabitant of the village of Nazareth in Palestine; name referred to Christ because of His residence there.

Necrology, n.; Gr. A book in which are listed the names of the dead of a particular place or institution so that they may be prayed for; a list of benefactors or friends so that they may be remembered in the prayers of those living.

Nehemiah, n.; Heb.;Bib. The Hebrew form of Nehemias, the author of the book of the Old Testament called Second Book of Esdras.

Neophyte, n.; Gr. The name by which a newly baptized member of the early Church was known.

Neo-Scholasticism, n.; Gr., L. Contemporary school of scholastic philosophers who emphasize the close contact philosophy should have with contemporary thought and with recent scientific findings.

Nestorians (nes-tor-ee-ans), n.pl.; Gr. The followers of Nestorius who held the false doctrine that there were two persons and two natures) in Jesus Christ united by a union in which was not physical and that the powers of the one person could not be ascribed to the other; they arose in the latter part of the fifth century. There are Nestorians in India today and religious descendants of the Nestorians in Africa.

Ne Temere, n.; L. The papal decree of Pius X issued in 1907 regarding the laws of clendestinity of marriage; it states, simply, that a Marriage is invalid unless it is Contracted before a parish priest in his own parish, or before a bishop in his own diocese, or by a delegate of either, in the presence of at least two witnesses and that it must be registered in the places where the contractmg parties were baptized. The first two words of the decree Translated: Lest, rashly— which form its title.

Neum, L. A group notes sung to one syllable in in plainchant (Cf.Gregorian Ligature.)

New Testament, n.; The books of the Bible which contain the revelation of God since the coming of Christ; the gospels, epistles, Acts of the Apostles, and the Apocalypse. There are twenty-seven books in the New Testament.

Nicene (ny-seen), adj.; Gr., L. Of or pertaining to the city of Nice (ancient Nicaea) in Asia Minor where the First Ecumenical Council of the Church was held in A.D. 325; or pertaining to a Church council held at Nice.

Nicene Councils, n. pi.; Gr., The two general councils of Nicaea, the first in A-D. 325 and the second in A.D. 787.

Nicene Creed, n.; Gr., L. The statement of religious beliefs composed the first Council of Nice. (Cf.Creed.)

Nimbus, n.; L. A circle of light pictured surrounding the head of a representation of Christ or one of the saints; a halo. (Cf.Aureole.)

Nocturn, n.; L. Also,nocturne. A division of the hour of Matins in the breviary.

Node, n.; L. The knob in the stem of a chalice between the base and the cup.

Noe (no'e), n.; Heb,; Bib. The form of the Hebrew name Noah used in the Douay Bible.

Nomination, n.;L. The ordinary manner of appointing clerics to ecclesiastical offices by ecclesiastical superiors. It is opposed to presentation, election, and postularion.

Nomocanon (no-mo-kan-non), n.; L. A collection of ecclesiastical law, the elements of which are borrowed from secular and canon law. Found only in Eastern Church law,

None, n.; L., Fr. One of the hours of the Roman Breviary; literally, the ninth.

Novatianism (no-va-shan-izm), n.; L. The heresy begun by Novatian in the latter part of the third century which held that the Church could not absolve lapsed members.

Novena, n.; L. The pious practice of devoting nine days to public or private prayer for gaining special graces.

Novice, n.; L., O.Fr. One who has entered a religious order and is preparing after the time of postulancy to accept the rule of the order; one serving his or her novitiate.

Novitiate, n.; L. (1) A time of probation, usually of one year, during which the novice prepares to receive the rule of the order he or she has entered; the time in which one prepares for profession in a religious order followed by profession in temporary vows. (2) The residence set aside as living quarters for novices.

Nullity, n.; L., Fr. The fact resulting from a diriment impediment which permits a marriage to be declared invalid, which means that no marriage ever existed. The decree of nullity is the declaration of a competent ecclesiastical court that a marriage is invalid, and therefore null.

Numbers, n.pl.; Bib. The fourth book of the Old Testament written by Moses.

Nun, n.; L., A.S. A maid or widow consecrated by three ma]or religious vows to God and living in a convent of a religious order; a lady dedicated to serve God in the religious life; one espoused to Christ; commonly called a sister, although in canon law a distinction is made between those having solemn vows, called nuns, and those having- simple vows, called sisters.

Nunc Dimittis, L. Literally, "Now do you dismiss." The first two words in the Latin version of the Canticle of Simeon recorded in Luke 11:29-32 which has come to be the name of this canticle.

Nuncio, n.; L., It. An official prelate representing the Holy See at the seat of a foreign government. His duty is to handle all affairs between the Holy See and the civil government. (Cf. Legate, Internuncio, Delegate.)

Nuptial Blessing, ad.;L. The blessing read by the priest after the Pater Noster of the Mass (Pro Sponsis), called nuptial, which may not be given apart from the Mass except with dispensation. The blessing is directed more to the woman than to the man. It is not given if the woman has received it at a previous marriage, nor during special times or seasons of the Church calendar.

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