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.
Browsing by the letter 'C'
- C.C.
- C.I.C.
- C.J.P.
- C.L.
- C.L., CLICO.
- C.M.
- C.P.E.N.
- CABRINI SHRINE
- CAESAROPAPISM
- CAIAPHAS
- CAIN
- CALAMUS
- CALCED
- CALEB
- CALENDAR, CHRISTIAN
- CALENDS
- CALIFORNIA MISSIONS
- CALIX
- CALIXTINES
- CALUMNY
- CALVARY
- CALVINISM
- CAM.
- CAM.AP., C.A.
- CAMALDOLESE
- CAMAURO
- CAMERLENGO
- CAMPANILE
- CAMPO SANTO
- CAN.
- CANA
- CANAAN
- CANC.
- CANDELABRUM
- CANDLE
- CANDLEMAS
- CANDLESTICK
- CANON
- CANON LAW
- CANONESS
- CANONICAL AGE
- CANONICAL DOUBT
- CANONICAL FORM
- CANONICAL HOURS
- CANONICAL LIFE
- CANONICAL PENANCE
- CANONICALS
- CANONICITY
- CANONIST
- CANONIZATION
- CANONS REGULAR
- CANONS SECULAR
- CANOPY
- CANTAT
- CANTERBURY
- CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
- CANTICLE
- CANTICLE OF CANTICLES
- CANTICLE OF THE SUN
- CANTOR
- CANTORIAL STAFF
- CAP.
- CAP. DE SEQ.
- CAPERNAUM
- CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
- CAPITAL SINS
- CAPITAL VIRTUES
- CAPITULATION
- CAPPA CHORALIS
- CAPPA MAGNA
- CAPPA PUERI JESU
- CAPPEL
- CAPSULA
- CAPTIOUS
- CAPUCHINS
- CARD.
- CARDINAL
- CARDINAL BISHOP
- CARDINAL DEACON
- CARDINAL ELECTORS
- CARDINAL PRIEST
- CARDINAL VICAR
- CARDINAL VIRTUE
- CARDINALS, RETIRED
- CARDIOGNOSIS
- CARECLOTH
- CARMEL, MOUNT
- CARMELITE ORDER
- CARNIVAL
- CAROL
- CARPENTER'S SQUARE
- CARTAGO
- CARTESIANISM
- CARTHUSIANS
- CASE OF CONSCIENCE
- CASES OF CONSCIENCE
- CASSOCK
- CASTEL GANDOLFO
- CASTI CONNUBII
- CASTRATION
- CASUALISM
- CASUISTRY
- CATACOMBS
- CATACOMBS, OUR LADY OF THE
- CATAFALQUE
- CATECHESIS
- CATECHETICAL SYNTHESIS
- CATECHISM
- CATECHIST
- CATECHUMEN
- CATECHUMENATE
- CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
- CATEGORY
- CATHARI
- CATHARSIS
- CATHEDRA
- CATHEDRACTICUM
- CATHEDRAL
- CATHEDRAL SCHOOLS
- CATHOLIC
- CATHOLIC ACTION
- CATHOLIC CHURCH
- CATHOLIC HERMENEUTICS
- CATHOLIC SCHOOL
- CATHOLICAM CHRISTI ECCLESIAM
- CATHOLICISM
- CATHOLICITY
- CATHOLICOS
- CAUSALITY
- CAUSE
- CC.VV.
- CELEBRANT
- CELEBRATION
- CELEBRET
- CELESTIAL HIERARCHY
- CELESTINES
- CELIBACY
- CELL
- CELLA
- CELTIC CHURCH
- CELTIC CROSS
- CELTIC RITE
- CEMETERY
- CEN. ECCL.
- CENOBITE
- CENSER
- CENSOR
- CENSORSHIP OF MEDIA
- CENSURE, ECCLESIASTICAL
- CENSURE, THEOLOGICAL
- CENTURIATORS
- CEPHAS
- CEREMONIAL
- CEREMONY
- CERTAIN CONSCIENCE
- CERTITUDE
- CESSATION OF LAW
- CHAIN PRAYER
- CHAINED BIBLES
- CHAIR OF PETER
- CHALDEAN CHRISTIANS
- CHALDEAN RITE
- CHALICE
- CHALICE VEIL
- CHALLONER'S BIBLE
- CHAMBERLAIN
- CHANCE
- CHANCEL
- CHANCELLOR
- CHANCERY, APOSTOLIC
- CHANCERY, DIOCESAN
- CHANGE
- CHANT
- CHANTED MASS
- CHANTRY
- CHANTRY SCHOOLS
- CHAOS
- CHAPEL
- CHAPEL OF EASE
- CHAPLAIN
- CHAPLET
- CHAPTER HOUSE
- CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE
- CHAPTER, ECCLESIASTICAL
- CHAPTER, LEGISLATIVE
- CHAPTER, LITURGICAL
- CHAPTER, MONASTIC
- CHARACTER
- CHARIS
- CHARISM FOR MIRACLES
- CHARISMA
- CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT
- CHARISMS
- CHARISMS OF ADMINISTRATION
- CHARISMS OF KNOWLEDGE
- CHARISMS OF PRAYER
- CHARISMS OF SERVICE
- CHARITY
- CHARITY, ACT OF
- CHARM
- CHARTERHOUSE
- CHARTRES
- CHASTITY
- CHASTITY, VOW OF
- CHASUBLE
- CHEATING
- CHEERFULNESS
- CHERUB
- CHERUBIC CONTEMPLATION
- CHERUBIM
- CHEVET
- CHILDERMAS DAY
- CHILDLIKENESS
- CHILDREN
- CHILDREN OF GOD
- CHILDREN'S CRUSADE
- CHILDREN'S MASS
- CHILIASM
- CHIME
- CHIMES
- CHINA, OUR LADY OF
- CHINESE RITES
- CHI-RHO
- CHIROGRAPHUS
- CHIVALRY
- CHLOE
- CHOICE
- CHOIR
- CHOIR RELIGIOUS
- CHOLERIC TEMPERAMENT
- CHORALE
- CHORISTER
- CHRISM
- CHRISMA
- CHRISMAL or CHRISMATORY
- CHRISMARIUM
- CHRISMATION
- CHRISMATORY
- CHRISOM
- CHRIST
- CHRIST CANDLE
- CHRIST THE KING
- CHRIST, NEW TESTAMENT NAMES AND TITLES
- CHRISTE ELEISON
- CHRISTENDOM
- CHRISTENING
- CHRISTIAN
- CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
- CHRISTIAN CHURCH
- CHRISTIAN DECALOGUE
- CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
- CHRISTIAN FORTITUDE
- CHRISTIAN JUSTICE
- CHRISTIAN LAW
- CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITIES
- CHRISTIAN LOVE
- CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE
- CHRISTIAN MARXISM
- CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY
- CHRISTIAN SCHISMS
- CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE
- CHRISTIANITY
- CHRISTIANIZATION
- CHRISTIANIZE
- CHRISTIANS IN ISRAEL
- CHRISTMAS
- CHRISTMAS TREE
- CHRISTMASTIDE
- CHRISTOCENTRIC
- CHRISTOCENTRICITY
- CHRISTOCENTRISM
- CHRISTOLOGY
- CHRISTOTOKOS
- CHRIST'S HEADSHIP
- CHRISTUS DOMINUS
- CHRONICLES, BOOKS OF
- CHURCH
- CHURCH AND SYNAGOGUE
- CHURCH BUILDING
- CHURCH MILITANT
- CHURCH MUSIC
- CHURCH OF SILENCE
- CHURCH PURGATIVE
- CHURCH SUFFERING
- CHURCH SUPPORT
- CHURCH TRIUMPHANT
- CHURCH UNITY OCTAVE
- CHURCH WARDEN
- CHURCHING
- CHURCHMAN
- CHURCHYARD
- CIBORIUM
- CILICIUM
- CINCTURE
- CIRCUMCELLIONS
- CIRCUMCISION
- CIRCUMINCESSION
- CIRCUMINSESSION
- CIRCUMSCRIPTION
- CIRCUMSTANCE
- CISTERCIANS
- CITIZEN
- CITY OF GOD
- CIVIL ALLEGIANCE
- CIVIL LAW
- CIVIL MARRIAGE
- CIVIL MORALITY
- CIVITAS DEI
- CLA.
- CLAIRVOYANCE
- CLANDESTINITY
- CLAPPER
- CLARITY
- CLEMENCY
- CLEOPAS
- CLERESTORY
- CLERGY
- CLERIC
- CLERICAL CELIBACY
- CLERICAL DRESS
- CLERICAL IMMUNITY
- CLERICALISM
- CLERICS OF THE PONTIFICAL CHAPEL
- CLERK
- CLERKS REGULAR
- CLINICAL BAPTISM
- CLOISTER
- CLOPAS
- CLOSED TIMES
- CLOTHING OF RELIGIOUS
- CLOTHING OF THE DEAD
- CLOUD OF UNKNOWING
- CLUNY, ORDER OF
- COADJUTOR BISHOP
- COAT OF ARMS
- COBRE
- COCK
- COD.
- CODE OF CANON LAW
- CODEX
- CODEX SINAITICUS
- CODEX VATICANUS
- CODEX, BODMER
- COEDUCATION
- COENOBITE
- COENOBIUM
- COERCION
- COG. LEG.
- COG. SPIR.
- COGNITION
- COIF
- COLETTINES
- COLISEUM
- COLL. CONC.
- COLLATERAL LINE
- COLLATION
- COLLECT
- COLLECTIONS
- COLLECTIVISM
- COLLEGE
- COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
- COLLEGE, APOSTOLIC
- COLLEGIAL PERSON
- COLLEGIALITY
- COLOGNE (cathedral)
- COLORS, LITURGICAL
- COLOSSIANS, LETTER TO THE
- COLUMBARIA
- COMFORTER
- COMITY
- COMM. PREC.
- COMM. SEQ.
- COMMAND
- COMMANDED ACT
- COMMEMORATION
- COMMENDATORY ABBOT
- COMMERCIAL WORK
- COMMINGLING
- COMMISSION FOR MIGRANTS AND TOURISM
- COMMISSION FOR RELIGIOUS RELATIONS WITH HEBRAISM
- COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS
- COMMISSION FOR THE ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHIVES
- COMMITMENT
- COMMITTED SECRET
- COMMITTEE FOR THE FAMILY
- COMMON
- COMMON ERROR
- COMMON GOOD
- COMMON LIFE
- COMMUNAL PENANCE
- COMMUNICABLE ATTRIBUTE
- COMMUNICANT
- COMMUNICATE
- COMMUNICATION
- COMMUNICATION OF PROPERTIES
- COMMUNIO ET PROGRESSIO
- COMMUNION
- COMMUNION ANTIPHON
- COMMUNION CLOTH
- COMMUNION OF CHILDREN
- COMMUNION OF SAINTS
- COMMUNION PATEN
- COMMUNION PAUSE
- COMMUNION RAIL
- COMMUNION RITE
- COMMUNION, FREQUENT
- COMMUNION, SPIRITUAL
- COMMUNISM
- COMMUNITY
- COMMUNITY, CLERICAL
- COMMUTATION
- COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE
- COMPARATIVE RELIGION
- COMPASSION
- COMPATHY
- COMPENSATIONISM
- COMPL., COMP., CPL.
- COMPLINE
- COMPOS MENTIS
- COMPOSTELA, SANTIAGO DE
- COMPUNCTION
- CON.
- CONC.
- CONC. VAT. I (II)
- CONC.TRID.
- CONCEALMENT
- CONCELEBRANT
- CONCEPTION
- CONCEPTUALISM
- CONCILIARISM
- CONCILIARITY
- CONCLAVE
- CONCOMITANCE
- CONCOMITANT GRACE
- CONCORDAT
- CONCUBINAGE
- CONCUPISCENCE
- CONCUPISCENCE OF THE EYES
- CONCUPISCENCE OF THE FLESH
- CONCURSUS
- CONDIGN
- CONDITIONAL ADMINISTRATION
- CONDITIONAL BAPTISM
- CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY
- CONDITIONAL MORALITY
- CONDITIONAL VOW
- CONDONATION
- CONDUCT
- CONF.
- CONF. DOCT.
- CONF. PONT.
- CONFERENCE OF CHARITY
- CONFESSIO
- CONFESSION
- CONFESSIONAL
- CONFESSIONS OF FAITH
- CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE
- CONFESSOR
- CONFESSOR (liturgical)
- CONFIDENTIALITY
- CONFIRMATION
- CONFIRMATION CHARACTER
- CONFIRMATION NAME
- CONFIRMATION RITE
- CONFITEOR
- CONFLICT
- CONFLICT OF OBLIGATIONS
- CONFLICT OF RIGHTS AND DUTIES
- CONFRATERNITY
- CONGREGATIO DE AUXILIIS
- CONGREGATION FOR BISHOPS
- CONGREGATION FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION
- CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP
- CONGREGATION FOR ORIENTAL CHURCHES
- CONGREGATION FOR RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR INSTITUTES
- CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS
- CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY
- CONGREGATION FOR THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS
- CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
- CONGREGATION FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF PEOPLES
- CONGREGATION FOR THE SACRAMENTS AND DIVINE WORSHIP
- CONGREGATION OF RITES
- CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION
- CONGREGATION, RELIGIOUS
- CONGREGATIONALISTS
- CONGRUENT MERIT
- CONGRUISM
- CONGRUOUS
- CONJUGAL CHASTITY
- CONJUGAL LOVE
- CONJUGAL RIGHTS
- CONOPAEUM
- CONS.
- CONSCIENCE
- CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
- CONSCIOUSNESS
- CONSECR.
- CONSECRATED ALTAR
- CONSECRATED GROUND
- CONSECRATION
- CONSECRATION OF VIRGINS
- CONSECRATION TO MARY
- CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART
- CONSENT
- CONSEQUENT CONSCIENCE
- CONSERVATION
- CONSISTENCY
- CONSISTORIAL ADVOCATES
- CONSISTORY
- CONSOLATION, OUR LADY OF
- CONST. AP.
- CONSTANT
- CONSTITUTION, CONCILIAR
- CONSTITUTION, PAPAL
- CONSTITUTION, RELIGIOUS
- CONSUBSTANTIATION
- CONSUETUDINARIAN
- CONSULTOR
- CONSUMMATED MARRIAGE
- CONSUMMATUM EST
- CONTEMPLATION
- CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE
- CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
- CONTINENCE
- CONTINGENT
- CONTINUITY
- CONTRACEPTION
- CONTRACEPTIVE CULTURE
- CONTRACEPTIVE INTERCOURSE
- CONTRACEPTIVE STERILIZATION
- CONTRACT
- CONTRADICTION
- CONTRADICTION, PRINCIPLE OF
- CONTRITION
- CONTROL OF PASSION
- CONTROVERSIAL THEOLOGY
- CONTUMACIOUS
- CONTUMACY
- CONTUMELY
- CONVENT
- CONVENTION
- CONVENTUAL
- CONVENTUALS
- CONVERGENCE
- CONVERSION
- CONVERT
- CONVULSIONARIES
- CO-OPERATING GRACE
- CO-OPERATION IN EVIL
- CO-ORDINATOR
- COPACABANA, OUR LADY OF
- COPE
- COPTIC RITE
- CORAM POPULO
- CORBAN
- CORBONA
- CO-REDEMPTRIX
- CORINTHIANS, LETTERS TO THE
- CORNELIUS
- CORNERSTONE
- CORNETTE
- CORONA
- CORONATION, PAPAL
- CORONATION, ROYAL
- CORPORAL
- CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
- CORPSE
- CORPUS CHRISTI
- CORPUS DOMINI
- CORPUS JURIS CANONICI
- CORRECT CONSCIENCE
- CORRECTION
- COSMIC CHRIST
- COSMIC EVOLUTION
- COSMOGONY
- COSMOLOGY
- COSMOS
- COTERIE
- COUNCIL FOR THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF THE CHURCH
- COUNCIL OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES OF EUROPE (C.C.E.E.)
- COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM
- COUNCIL, PROVINCIAL
- COUNCILS OF THE CHURCH
- COUNSEL
- COUNSELING
- COUNSELS
- COUNTER REFORMATION
- COUNTERCULTURE
- COURAGE
- COVADONGA
- COVENANT, BIBLICAL
- CO-VENERATION
- COVETOUSNESS
- COWL
- CR.
- CRANIOTOMY
- CRASS IGNORANCE
- CREATION
- CREATIONISM
- CREATOR
- CRÈCHE
- CREDENCE
- CREDIBILITY
- CREDO
- CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM
- CREDO UT INTELLIGAM
- CREDULITY
- CREED
- CREMATION
- CRESCENS MATRIMONIORUM
- CRESCENT MOON
- CRIB
- CRIME
- CRIMES OF LOGIC
- CRITERIOLOGY
- CRITICISM, BIBLICAL
- CRITICISM, HIGHER
- CRITICISM, HISTORICAL
- CRITICISM, LITERARY
- CRITICISM, LOWER
- CRITICISM, TEXTUAL
- CROSIER
- CROSS
- CROSS ON STAFF
- CROWN
- CROWN OF THORNS
- CRUCIFIX
- CRUCIFIXION
- CRUELTY
- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
- CRUET
- CRUSADER'S CROSS
- CRUSADES
- CRUX ANSATA
- CRUX DECUSSATA
- CRUX GEMMATA
- CRYPT
- CSIKSOMLYO-SUMULEU
- CUBICULA
- CUJUS REGIO, EJUS RELIGIO
- CULPA
- CULPABLE
- CULT
- CULTURE
- CUM ADMOTAE
- CUPIDITY
- CURATE
- CURÉ
- CURIA, DIOCESAN
- CURIA, ROMAN
- CURIOSITY
- CURSE
- CURSILLO MOVEMENT
- CURSING
- CUSTODIA
- CUSTODIA OF THE HOLY LAND
- CUSTODY OF THE SENSES
- CUSTOM BOOK
- CUSTOM, ECCLESIASTICAL
- CUSTOS
- CYRENE
- CZESTOCHOWA
