Supplementary Vocabulary

The lay faithful and, specifically, catechists, should become familiar with Canon Law because Canon Law guides the Church and protects the rights of the faithful. It spells out how the Church is to conduct itself. […]

Note the distinction between the words can and may. “Can” means “is able to,” or “has the power to.” In the courses, it often refers to the validity of the Sacraments. “May” means “is permissible,” “allowed,” or “is lawful,” and […]

All created things have both substance and accidents. The accidents or properties of these created things are constantly changing. In regard to angelic and human persons, strictly speaking, physical properties pertain not only to the […]

The teaching of Saint Thomas Aquinas on “absolute evil” is the teaching of the Catholic Church: there is no such thing as “absolute evil” in the sense that evil can exist apart from some antecedent […]