R

Racism: A theory which holds that any one or several of the different races of the human family are inherently superior or inferior to any one or several of the others. The teaching denies the essential unity of the human race, the equality and dignity of all persons because of their common possession of the same human nature, and the participation of all in the divine plan of redemption.  It is radically opposed to the virtue of justice and the precept of love of neighbor. Differences of superiority and inferiority which do exist are the result of accidental factors operating in a wide variety of circumstances, and are in no way due to essential defects in any one or several of the branches of the one human race. The theory of racism, together with practices related to it, is incompatible with Christian doctrine.

Rapture: The belief that at the Parousia the Christians will be taken up in the air to meet Christ, cf 1Th 4:17.

Rash Judgment: Attributing faults to another without sufficient reason; a violation of the obligations of justice and charity.

Rationalism: A theory which makes the mind the measure and arbiter of all things, including religious truth. A product of the Enlightenment, it rejects the supernatural, divine revelation, and authoritative teaching by any church.

RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Introduced in 1972, the Rite indicates the stages of formation of catechumens and their sacramental introduction in the Church.

Real Presence: Among the many ways of Christ’s presence in the Church, the presence par excellence in the Eucharist.

Recapitulation: According to St. Irenaeus, Christ embodied Adam and all his posterity in order to redeem mankind from sin. Then, according to Eph 1:10, God's plan is to "recapitulate" (to gather all under one head) everything in Christ

Reception: The process by which a doctrine or document of the Church is accepted by the people or local communities.

Recidivism: A tendency to lapse into a previous sinful condition or pattern of behavior; especially, a falling back or relapse into prior criminal habits.

Recollection: Meditation, attitude of concentration or awareness of spiritual matters and things pertaining to salvation and the accomplishment of God’s will.

Reconciliation: The work of God through Christ to win over us sinners (R 5:8-11); the name of the sacrament of penance.

Redaction criticism: is the study of editorial activity. A redactor is simply an editor who shapes the material he has received for a purpose. Sometimes the purpose of the redactor is in harmony with the author and sometimes it is not.

Reductionism: Attempt to explain complex realities in simplistic ways. In Christianity, ways of diluting the Gospel, to make it “acceptable” or “understandable.”

Regula fidei: is the "rule of faith" or the "standard of faith" or "standard of the faith." There were three sources from which the "regula fidei" was established: (1) Scripture; (2) the Magisterium; (3) Oral Tradition.

Re-incarnation: The belief that souls pre-exists their embodiment and can live many lives until they are purified. Christianity rejects this belief (DS 403, 854, 1140).

Relations in God: are the relationships constitutive of the Divine Persons: paternity, filiation, active spiration and passive spiration

Relativism: Theory which holds that all truth, including religious truth, is relative, i.e., not absolute, certain or unchanging; a product of agnosticism, indifferentism, and an unwarranted extension of the notion of truth in positive science. Relativism is based on the tenet that certain knowledge of any and all truth is impossible. Therefore, no religion, philosophy or science can be said to possess the real truth; consequently, all religions, philosophies and sciences may be considered to have as much or as little of truth as any of the others.

Relics: The physical remains and effects of saints, which are considered worthy of veneration inasmuch as they are representative of persons in glory with God. Canon Law corrects abuses (cn. 1190); veneration must be related to the central worship of God (SC 111); discipline concerning relics is subject to control by the Congregations for the Causes of Saints and for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Religion: The adoration and service of God as expressed in divine worship and in daily life. Religion is concerned with all of the relations existing between God and human beings, and between humans themselves because of the central significance of God. Objectively considered, religion consists of a body of truth which is believed, a code of morality for the guidance of conduct, and a form of divine worship. Subjectively, it is a person’s total response, theoretically and practically, to the demands of faith; it is living faith, personal engagement, self-commitment to God. Thus, by creed, code and cult, a person orders and directs his or her life in reference to God and, through what the love and service of God implies, to all people and all things.

Reliquary: A vessel for the preservation and exposition of a relic; sometimes made like a small monstrance.

Reparation: The making of amends to God for sin committed; one of the four ends of prayer and the purpose of penance.

Reprobation: Act whereby God excludes from salvation those in state of unrepented mortal sin.

Requiem: A Mass offered for the repose of the soul of one who has died in Christ. Its name is derived from the first word of the Gregorian (Latin) entrance chant (or Introit) at Masses for the dead: Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord”). The revised Rite for Funerals refers to the requiem as the Mass of Christian Burial; however, it would not be uncommon to hear people employ the former usage.

Rescript: A written reply by an ecclesiastical superior regarding a question or request; its provisions bind concerned parties only.  Papal dispensations are issued in the form of rescripts.

Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament: The practice of keeping in a tabernacle consecrated hosts to serve for communion of the sick and adoration of the faithful (canon 934-44).

Reserved Censure: A sin or censure, absolution from which is reserved to religious superiors, bishops, the pope, or confessors having special faculties. Reservations are made because of the serious nature and social effects of certain sins and censures.

Resipiscence: Wisdom derived from severe experience; hence, repentance.

Restitution: An act of reparation for an injury done to another. The injury may be caused by taking and/or retaining what belongs to another or by damaging either the property or reputation of another. The intention of making restitution, usually in kind, is required as a condition for the forgiveness of sins of injustice, even though actual restitution is not possible.

Retribution: 1) Something justly deserved; recompense  2) Punishment or reward distributed in a future life based on performance in this one. Day of Retribution= is called the Judgment Day.

Reviviscence of the Sacraments: is the revival of effects which were impeded at the time when a sacrament was received validly but in state of sin. Rev.of merits=  the merits lost by sin, can be recuperated by the grace of pardon.

Rigorism: Moral system which in case of doubt insists on law over liberty, even when the case for liberty is more probable. It was condemned in 1690 (DS 2303).

Ring: In the Church a ring is worn as part of the insignia of bishops, abbots, et al.; by sisters to denote their consecration to God and the Church. The wedding ring symbolizes the love and union of husband and wife.

Rite: Way of celebrating worship or sacraments. Also, the way in which a church lives Christianity, a tradition, such as Latin, Maronite, Coptic, etc.

Ritual: A book of prayers and ceremonies used in the administration of the sacraments and other ceremonial functions.  In the Roman Rite, the standard book of this kind is the Roman Ritual.

Rogito: The official notarial act or document testifying to the burial of a pope.

Rosary: A form of mental and vocal prayer centered on mysteries or events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Its essential elements are meditation on the mysteries and the recitation of a number of decades of Hail Marys, each beginning with the Lord’s Prayer. The Mysteries of the Rosary, which are the subject of meditation, are: (1) Joyful — the Annunciation to Mary that she was to be the Mother of Christ, her visit to Elizabeth, the birth of Jesus, the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the finding of Jesus in the Temple. (2) Sorrowful —Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemani, scourging at the pillar, crowning with thorns, carrying of the cross to Calvary, and crucifixion. (3) Glorious — the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Mary’s Assumption into heaven and her crowning as Queen of angels and men (4) Mysteries of light– Baptism in the Jordan, Cana Wedding, Proclamation of the Kingdom, Transfiguration and First Eucharist. The complete Rosary, called the Dominican Rosary, consists of 15 decades. In customary practice, only five decades are usually said at one time. Rosary beads are used to aid in counting the prayers without distraction. The Rosary originated through the coalescence of popular devotions to Jesus and Mary from the 12^th century onward. Its present form dates from about the 15^th century.  Carthusians contributed greatly toward its development; Dominicans have been its greatest promoters.

Rubric: “red”, Directives printed in red to indicate the way ceremonies should be performed.

Rule: A plan of life and discipline approved by the Holy See, by which members of a religious order conduct their lives in an abbey, other monastery or religious order. A rule is often prescribed by the founder of an order, such as the Rule of St. Augustine or the Rule of St. Benedict, etc., and administered by a superior of the order.

The Rule of Faith: The word rule (Lat. regula, Gr. kanon) means a standard by which something can be tested, serving as its norm or measure. Since faith is Divine and infallible, the rule of faith must be also Divine and infallible; and since faith is supernatural assent to Divine truths upon Divine authority, the ultimate or remote rule of faith must be the truthfulness of God in revealing Himself. But since Divine revelation is contained in the written  books and unwritten traditions (Vatican Council, I, ii), the Bible and  Divine tradition must be the rule of our faith; since, however, these are only silent witnesses and cannot interpret themselves, they are commonly termed "proximate but inanimate rules of faith". Unless, then, the Bible and tradition are to be profitless, we must look for some proximate rule which shall be animate or living.