Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

Random Term from the Dictionary:

ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST

A term applied to the relation with Christ implied in every reception of a sacrament. This relation depends primarily on which sacrament is received, and therefore mainly refers to the Eucharist, where Christ is received in the fullness of his incarnate divinity. But it may be applied to all the sacraments to bring out two factors: that each sacrament is primarily administered by Christ as a continuation of his redemptive work in the world, and that the benefits derived from a sacrament also depend on the believing and trustful love of Christ with which the sacrament is received.