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.

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EPHPHETA

Imperative of the "to open" in Aramaic. Part of the ceremony of baptism where accepted by the bishops' conference. the celebrant touches the ears and lips of each child baptized, while saying, "May the Lord Jesus, who made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak, grant that you may soon be able to receive His word and profess the faith to the praise and glory of God the Father," to which all answer, "Amen." The ceremony resembles the curing of the deaf-mute (Mark 7:31-37).