| Racism | Unjust discrimination on the basis of a person's race; a violation of human dignity, and a sin against justice (1935). |
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| Real Presence | The unique, true presence of Christ in the Eucharist under the species or appearances of bread and wine. The Church invites the faithful to deepen their faith in the real presence of Christ through adoration and communion at the Eucharistic liturgy, and through adoration outside its celebration (1378-1379). |
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| Reconciliation, Sacrament Of | The sacramental celebration in which, through God's mercy and forgiveness, the sinner is reconciled with God and also with the Church, Christ's Body, which is wounded by sin (1422, 1442-1445, 1468). See Penance. |
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| Redeemer/Redemption | Jesus Christ, redeemer of mankind. Christ paid the price of his own sacrificial death on the cross to ransom us, to set us free from the slavery of sin, thus achieving our redemption. (571, 601; cf. 517, 1372). |
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| Relics | The physical remains and effects of saints, which are considered worthy of veneration inasmuch as they represent people who are with God. |
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| Religion | A set of beliefs and practices followed by those committed to the service and worship of God. The first commandment requires us to believe in God, to worship and serve him, as the first duty of the virtue of religion (2084, 2135). |
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| Religious Brother | a man who takes vows and promises to use his talents to serve God wherever the community decides he is needed. Brothers do not get married, live in religious communities, and have many different jobs. They are not ordained. |
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| Religious Life | See Consecrated Life. |
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| Religious Movements | Groups of people, both lay and clerical, who band together to promote a certain belief or activity. |
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| Religious Order | a community of people with a particular charism, as expressed by its founder, and recognized by the Church is a religious order. There are religious orders of priests and brothers, and religious orders of sisters. Religious communities may also have lay associates. Some religious orders are dedicated primarily to prayer (contemplative), while others focus on apostolic (active) ministries. |
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| Religious Priest/Diocesan Priest | Religious priests are professed members of a religious order or institute. Religious clergy live according to the rule of their respective orders. In pastoral ministry, they are under the jurisdiction of their local bishop, as well as the superiors of their order. Diocesan, or secular, priests are under the direction of their local bishop. They commit to serving their congregations and other institutions. |
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| Religious Sister | a woman who belongs to a religious community. Religious sisters make vows and serve God according to the charisms of their communities. Sisters are not married and work in many different jobs, according to the needs of the religious community and/or the needs of the local area. A sister in a cloistered religious community is a nun. |
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| Remission Of Sins | The forgiveness of sins, which is accomplished in us through faith and Baptism, as the fruit of the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on the cross (976, 1263). Christ gave the power to remit sins to his Apostles, and through them to the ministers of the Church (981). The remission of sins committed after Baptism is effected sacramentally through the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (1446). |
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| Reparation | Making amends for a wrong done or for an offense, especially for sin, which is an offense against God. By his death on the cross, the Son of God offered his life out of love for the Father to make reparation for our sinful disobedience (614). We are obliged to make reparation for personal sins against justice and truth, either through restitution of stolen goods or correcting the harm done to the other's good name. (2412, 2487). See Satisfaction (for sin). |
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| Repentance | See Contrition; Penance. |
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| Responsorial Psalm | Between the first and second readings, a psalm is spoken or sung by the entire assembly. The response is repeated after each verse. If sung, a cantor or choir sings the verses of the psalm. |
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| Restitution | The return of what has been unjustly taken from another (2409, 2412). |
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| Resurrection Of Christ | The bodily rising of Jesus from the dead on the third day after his death on the cross and burial in the tomb. The resurrection of Christ is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ (638). |
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| Resurrection Of The Dead | The raising of the righteous, who will live forever with the risen Christ, on the last day. The eleventh article of the Christian creed states, ""I believe in the resurrection of the body."" The resurrection of the body means not only that the immortal soul will live on after death, but that even our ""mortal bodies"" (Rom 8:11) will come to life again (988). |
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| Retreat | A period of time spent in meditation and religious exercise. Retreats may take various forms, from traditional closed forms, to open retreats which do not disengage the participants from day-to-day life. Both clergy and lay people of all ages participate in retreats. Houses and centers providing facilities for retreats are called retreat houses. |
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| Revelation | God's communication of himself, by which he makes known the mystery of his divine plan, a gift of self-communication which is realized by deeds and words over time, and most fully by sending us his own divine Son, Jesus Christ (50). |
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| Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults ( | The norms and rituals of the Catholic Church for people who wish to join the Church. Part of the process is intended for baptized Christians who wish to become Catholics. The term is used in a general sense to refer to the process of entering the Catholic Church. |
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| Rites | The diverse liturgical traditions in which the one catholic and apostolic faith has come to be expressed and celebrated in various cultures and lands; for example, in the West, the Roman and Ambrosian (Latin) rites; in the East, the Byzantine, Coptic (Alexandrian), Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean rites (1201-1203). ""Rite"" and ""ritual"" are sometimes interchanged, as in ""the sacramental rite"" or ""the sacramental ritual."" |
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| Roman Curia | The official collective name for the administrative agencies and courts, and their officials, who assist the Pope in governing the Church. Members are appointed and granted authority by the Pope. |
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| Rome - Diocese of | The City of Rome is the diocese of the Pope, who also serves as the Bishop of Rome. |
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Catholic Glossary 
