Pesek Chapter 6 Flashcards
Herod the Great
A wicked, ambitious king who took over the government of Palestine with the support of the Romans. He was from Idumea and was half-Jewish, but he portrayed himself as a Jew returned from exile.
Galilee
A district in the northern part of ancient Israel, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, whose population was not deported with the rest of the kingdom.
Pharisees
From the Aramaic perishaya, “the separated ones.” Members of an ancient Jewish sect, active during the earthly life of Jesus Christ, distinguished by their strict observance of the traditional, written law and their oral law.
Sadducees
A Jewish sect, descendants of Zadok, that believed in accommodating Judaism to modern life. They held most of the positions of power in the priesthood. Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and denied the existence of angles and spirits.
Jesus Christ
The Only-Begotten Son of God and the Word of God who took on human nature for the redemption of human beings. Christ means “Anointed One.” Given by the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation, the name Jesus means “God saves.” This expresses his identity and mission “for he will save his people from their sins”. St. Peter proclaimed, “There is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
John the Baptist
A cousin of Jesus, older by six months. His baptizing and preaching in the wilderness prepared the way for Jesus.
Pax Romana
Latin term for “Roman peace.” It refers to an era beginning a few decades before the birth of Christ and lasting a few hundred years in which the Roman Empire was ruled by a single emperor and enjoyed tranquility and order.
Bethlehem
The city where Jesus Christ was born. It was the ancestral home of David, which is why Joseph, being of the house of David, had to go there to be enrolled.
Annunciation
The visit of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to inform her that she was to be the mother of the Savior. After giving her consent to God’s word, Mary became the mother of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Epiphany
From the Greek for “manifestation,” the manifestation of Christ to the world. The Feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of the Christ child by the Magi, the baptism of Christ in the Jordan, and his first miracle at the wedding in Cana.
Gospel
A translation of the Greek for “good news of victory.” The good news of God’s mercy and love revealed in the life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. The Apostles, and the Church following them, proclaim this to the entire world.
Baptize
To immerse in water, to was ceremonially. The baptism of John the Baptist was an external sign of repentance. The Sacrament of Baptism instituted by Christ cleanses from sin.
Apostles
From Greek for “one sent forth.” Refers to the Twelve chosen by Jesus during the course of his public ministry to be his closest followers, as well as St. Matthias, Paul of Tarsus, and the enlighteners of whole nations.
Blasphemy
A word or deed against God, the Virgin Mary, the saints, the Church, or other things dedicated to God. This is forbidden by the Second Commandment and, in and of itself, always illicit by reason of its object. Such an act entails a disorder of the will that can never be justified by appealing to the good effects that could possibly result.
Caiaphas
The high priest appointed by the Roman government. He rent his garments at Jesus’ “blasphemy.”
Gethsemane
Aramaic for “oil press”; a garden outside Jerusalem where Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper and where he was betrayed and arrested.
Mount of Olives
A hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane.
The Twelve
The Apostles whom Jesus chose to help him in his ministry. This corresponds to the number of tribes of Israel.
Upper Room
The room where Jesus and the Apostles celebrated the Last Supper; the locked gathering place for the first Christians before Pentecost; one of the first Christian churches; also known as the Cenacle.
Immaculate Conception
In light of God’s free choice of Mary from all eternity to be the Mother of his Son, this dogma was defined by Pope Bl. Pius IX in 1854. From the moment f her conception, Mary - by a singular grace of God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ - was preserved from all stain of Original Sin.
Crucifixion
A form of execution in which the condemned is nailed or otherwise secured to a cross and left to die of slow asphyxiation.
Pilate
The Roman governor of Judea. Although he found Jesus innocent, he sentenced him to crucifixion.
Sanhedrin
The supreme council of the Jews. It had competence in every aspect of Jewish life.
