| Calumny | A false statement which harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them (2477). |
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| Cana Conference | A Catholic family movement, originally designed to aid married couples and families in their spiritual and interpersonal relationships. The program is now divided into Pre-Cana, for couples engaged to be married, and Cana Conferences, programs for married people. |
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| Canon | Greek for rule, norm, standard, measure. Designates the Canon of Sacred Scripture, the list of books recognized by the Church as inspired by the Holy Spirit. |
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| Canon Law | The rules (canons or laws) which provide the norms for good order in the visible society of the Church. Those canon laws that apply universally are contained in the Codes of Canon Law. The most recent Code of Canon Law was promulgated in 1983 for the Latin (Western) Church and in 1991 for the Eastern Church (The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches). |
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| Canon Of Scripture | The Church's complete list of sacred books of the Bible (120). |
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| Canon Of The Mass | The central part of the Mass, also known as the Eucharistic Prayer or ""anaphora,"" which contains the prayer of thanksgiving and consecration (1352). |
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| Canonization | The solemn declaration by the Pope that a deceased member of the faithful may be proposed as a model and intercessor to the Christian faithful and venerated as a saint on the basis of the fact that the person lived a life of heroic virtue or remained faithful to God through martyrdom (828; cf. 957). |
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| Cantor | person who leads the singing during the liturgy. |
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| Capital Sins | Sins which engender other sins and vices. They are traditionally numbered as seven: pride, covetousness, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, and sloth (1866). |
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| Cardinal | Cardinals are appointed by the Pope and constitute the senate of the Church. They aid the Pope as his chief counselors. |
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| Cardinal Virtues | Four pivotal human virtues (from the Latin carbo, ""pivot""): prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. The human virtues are stable dispositions of the intellect and will that govern our acts, order our passions, and guide our conduct in accordance with reason and faith (1805, 1834). |
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| Cassock (KASS-uhk) | a long, black garment worn by altar servers under the surplice; also worn by diocesan priests (black); monsignors (rose); bishops (violet), cardinals (red), and the Pope (white). |
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| Catechesis | An education of children, young people, and adults in the faith of the Church through the teaching of Christian doctrine in an organic and systematic way to make them disciples of Jesus Christ. Those who perform the ministry of catechists in the Church are called ""catechists"" (5, 426-427). |
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| Catechesis (cat-UH-key-sis) | religious instruction and formation for persons preparing for baptism and for the faithful in various stages of spiritual development. |
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| Catechetical (cat-uh-KIT-uh-kal) | referring to the procedures for teaching the faith. |
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| Catechetics (cat-uh-KIT-iks) | from the Greek meaning ""to sound forth,"" it is the procedure for teaching religion. |
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| Catechism | A popular summary or compendium of Catholic doctrine about faith and morals and designed for use in catechists (11). |
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| Catechumen | A person who is preparing for Baptism. The catechumenate is the formation of these catechumens in preparation for their Christian Initiation, and aims at bringing their conversion and their faith to maturity within the occlusal community (1248). The candidates are anointed with oil of catechumens by which they are strengthened in their conversion from sin and renunciation of Satan (1237). |
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| Cathedra | the archbishop's chair. It is the symbol of his role of chief teacher and pastor of the local church. The word is Greek and means chair. The word cathedral comes from cathedra, meaning, literally, chair of the bishop. |
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| Cathedral | The official church of the bishop of a diocese. The Greek word cathedra means chair or throne; the bishop's ""chair"" symbolizes his teaching and governing authority, and is located in the principal church or ""cathedral"" of the local diocese of which he is the chief pastor (cf. 1572). |
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| Catholic | One of the four marks or notes of the Church, taken from the Nicene Creed. The Church is catholic or universal both because she possesses the fullness of Christ's presence and the means of salvation, and because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race (750, 830). |
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| Catholic Campaign for Human Development | The US Catholic bishopsÌ domestic anti-poverty program. Started in 1970, it is funded through an annual collection in Catholic parishes. |
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| Catholic Church | The Church established by Christ on the foundation of the Apostles, possessing the fullness of the means of salvation which he has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession (830). |
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| Catholic Relief Services | Overseas aid agency established by Catholics in the United States. |
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| Celebrant | the person who presides over the assembly and consecrates the Eucharist. |
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Catholic Glossary 
