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:

NEW WORLD

A term used to describe the restoration of the present world on the Last Day. Its revealed basis is in the New Testament, where Christ speaks of the "regeneration," i.e., the new formation of the world (Matthew 19:28); St. Paul speaks of the whole of creation being under a curse and awaiting redemption (Romans 8:18-25); St. Peter of a "new heaven and a new earth" concurrent with a destruction of the world, in which justice will dwell (II Peter 3:13); and St. John gives an elaborate description of the New Jerusalem, which is the tabernacle of God among men (Revelation 21:1-8). St. Augustine teaches that the properties of the future world will be just as suited to the immortal existence of the glorified human body as were the properties of the present world to corruptible existence of the mortal body (De Civitate Dei, 20, 16).