Item

Description

- M -

Magisterium

Click here for 'Magisterium' Information (Vatican View Section / Facts)

Magnificat

Refers to the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Note: Click here for the 'Magnificat'

Maran-atha

"Maran-atha in 1. Cor. xvi, 22, is an Aramaic expression meaning 'the Lord is near' or 'O Lord, come.'" (Catholic Dictionary)

Marks of the Church

Click here for 'Marks of the Church'

Marriage / Matrimony

"The Sacrament of Matrimony is the Sacrament which unites a Christian man and woman in lawful marriage." (Baltimore Catechism) Note: For more information, click here (Matrimony / Sacraments). For 'Matrimony / Marriage' Reflections, click here. For 'Marriage / Family / Home' Reflections, click here 

Martyrdom

Click here for 'Martyrdom' Information (Saints Section / Facts)

Martyrology

Click here for 'Martyrology' Information (Saints Section / Facts)

Martyrs

Click here for 'Martyrs' Information (Saints Section / Facts)

Mary (Blessed Virgin)

The Mother of God (Jesus Christ). Note: Click here for more information. Also see 'Mary, Our Mother' Section (click here)

Masonry

See "Freemasonry"

Mass

"We therefore confess that the Sacrifice of the Mass is and ought to be considered one and the same Sacrifice as that of the cross, for the victim is one and the same, namely, Christ our Lord, who offered Himself, once only, a bloody Sacrifice on the altar of the cross. The bloody and unbloody victim are not two, but one victim only, whose Sacrifice is daily renewed in the Eucharist, in obedience to the command of our Lord: Do this for a commemoration of me. The priest is also one and the same, Christ the Lord; for the ministers who offer Sacrifice, consecrate the holy mysteries, not in their own person, but in that of Christ, as the words of consecration itself show, for the priest does not say: This is the body of Christ, but, This is my body; and thus, acting in the Person of Christ the Lord, he changes the substance of the bread and wine into the true substance of His body and blood." (Catechism of the Council of Trent) The Mass is an action of the priest, acting 'In Persona Christi' ("In the Person of Christ"), which occurs regardless of whether any laity are present. Note: For general information on the Mass / The Holy Eucharist, click here. For information on the incomparable, highly reverent, Traditional Latin Mass, click here

Matins

Refers to one of the traditional divisions of the Divine Office. Matins is the first hour, said in the early morning, before sunrise.

Matrimony

See "Marriage / Matrimony"

Maundy Thursday

See "Holy Thursday"

The Memorare

Refers to the popular prayer which is traditionally attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Click here for text of the Memorare

Messiah

From the Hebrew meaning 'anointed' The Messiah, who was to come save His people, was foretold by various prophecies in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ is that Messiah who came around 2,000 years ago, fulfilled the prophecies, and redeemed His people on the Cross.

Miracles

Click here for information on topic 'Miracles' (Saints Section / Facts)

Missionary

Click here for information on topic 'Missionary' (Priests & Vocations Section / Facts)

Mixed Marriage

Click here for information on 'Mixed Marriages'

Modernism

Click here for information on 'Modernism / Novelties' (Latin Mass & Catholic Tradition: Q & A)

Monk

Click here for information on topic 'Monk' (Priests & Vocations Section / Facts)

Monsignor

Click here for information on topic 'Monsignor' (Priests & Vocations Section / Facts)

Monstrance

"The Ostensorium or Monstrance is the beautiful wheel-like vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and kept during Benediction." (Baltimore Catechism)

Moral Choices

"When making moral choices, the following should be considered: (1) That evil may never be done in order that good may result, (2) The 'Golden Rule' (do unto others as you would have them do unto you), (3) Respect for one's neighbor, and (4) The evaluation of the moral choice against one's rightly formed conscience (e.g. a conscience formed according to Christ's precepts and the Church's precepts)."

Morning Offering

Refers to a prayer generally said each morning in which all the day's prayers, works, etc. are offered for certain persons, causes, petitions, etc. Note: For Morning Offering prayers, try here (Prayers & Devotions Section)

Mortal Sin

"Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God." (Baltimore Catechism) Should one die with an unrepented mortal sin on his or her conscience, he or she will be condemned to hell. After committing a mortal sin, one should immediately make a perfect act of contrition and, as soon as possible, make a good sacramental Confession. A person who has committed a mortal sin must make a good sacramental Confession and receive absolution before partaking of the Holy Eucharist. It should be noted that there is no sin - no matter how horrible - that the Church cannot forgive (that is, the Church - by the authority and power of Christ - can forgive all sin, without exception, for those who are properly disposed). For additional information on the conditions necessary to make a sin mortal, click here. For additional information on the Sacrament of Confession, click here. For additional information regarding the reception of Holy Communion, click here. For additional information on Sin / Mortal Sin, click here. For Reflections on topic 'Sin', click here. 

Mortification

Refers to the voluntary denial of lawful pleasures to discipline the body and expiate sin. Note: Click here for 'Mortification' Reflections.

Motu Proprio

Click here for information on papal writings. Note: For actual papal writings ('Classic Encyclicals'), click here

Mysteries

"A mystery is a truth which we cannot fully understand." (Baltimore Catechism) Note: For 'Mysteries' Reflections, click here. 

Mysteries of the Rosary

Click here for 'How to Pray the Rosary / Mysteries of the Rosary'

Mystical Body

As indicated in Holy Scripture, the Church is the 'Mystical Body' of Christ. Note: Click here for 'Mystical Body' Reflections. 

Mysticism

Click here for 'Mysticism' information (Saints Section / Facts)

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- N -

The Nativity

See "Christmas"

Natural Family Planning

Click here for Natural Family Planning information ('Is NFP Approved by the Church?')

Nave

Refers to the main portion of a church building (for use by the laity). Traditionally the nave has been separated from the sanctuary with an altar rail. Note: For more information, try the 'Church Talk' Section (click here)

New Adam

Refers to Jesus Christ

New Covenant

"The law and dispensation of Jesus Christ as opposed to the old covenant of Moses, which it infinitely surpassed and superseded and yet fulfilled (cf. Matt. v, 17-18; 2 Cor. iii; Gal. iv; Heb. viii-x)." (Catholic Dictionary)

New Eve

Click here for 'New Eve / Second Eve' (Mary, Our Mother Section / Facts)

New Testament

The part of Holy Scripture written after Jesus' death. It includes four gospels, various letters, and the Apocalypse. Note: For more information, try the 'Scripture / Parables' Section (click here)

No Salvation Outside the Church

Refers the doctrine confirmed by popes, saints, and councils that there is no salvation outside the Church. Click here for 'Combating Religious Indifferentism / No Salvation Outside the Church'. Click here for 'No Salvation Outside the Church' Reflections. 

Nocturn

"A very old term applied to night Offices" (Catholic Encyclopedia)

None

Refers to one of the traditional divisions of the Divine Office. None is the sixth hour of the Divine Office, which is said at the ninth hour of each day (3 p.m.).

Novena

Novenas are "prayers generally said once per day for each of nine consecutive days in petition for a spiritual or other favor." Note: Click here for novenas (Prayers & Devotions Section)

Novissima

See "Last Things"

Novus Ordo

Latin for "New Order." The Novus Ordo Mass refers to the Mass imposed on the faithful in the wake of the Second Vatican Council of the 1960's. For more information on the Novus Ordo Mass vs. the Traditional Latin Mass, click here.

Nun

Click here for 'Sister / Nun' (Priests & Vocations Section / Facts)

Nuptial Mass

Refers to the Traditional Wedding Mass. Note: For information on the Church's traditional rites, click here (Latin Mass / Catholic Tradition Section). For more information on Marriage / Matrimony, click here. For 'Matrimony / Marriage' Reflections, click here. For 'Marriage / Family / Home' Reflections, click here. 

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