V

Vagantes: A Latin word meaning wandering monks, not having fixed residence in a monastery.

Validation of marriage may be effected by a simple renewal of consent when its nullity arises only from a defective consent in one or both parties. When, however, matrimony is invalid on account of the existence of some ecclesiastical impediment, it may be revalidated by simple dispensation or by that known as Sanatio in Radice.

Vg: = Vulgate, v.g. (verbi gratia) = for example

Venerable: form of address for a person who has reached the first stage of canonization.

Veni Creator Spiritus: A Latin phrase, meaning “Come, Creator Spirit” that is part of a hymn sung to the Holy Spirit.  The hymn invokes the presence of the Holy Spirit and was perhaps first composed by Rabanus Maurus (776-856).  The hymn is commonly sung as part of the Divine Office, papal elections, episcopal consecrations, ordinations, councils, synods, canonical elections, and confirmations.

Venial Sin: See under Sin.

Verbatim: word for word

Veronica: A word resulting from the combination of a Latin word for true, vera, and a Greek word for image, eikon, designating a likeness of the face of Christ or the name of a woman said to have given him a cloth on which he caused an imprint of his face to appear.

Vespers: From the Latin for evening, the evening service of the Divine Office, also known as Evening Prayer, or among Anglicans as Evensong.

Viaticum: Holy Communion given to those in danger of death. The word, derived from Latin, means provision for a journey through death to life hereafter.

Vicar Apostolic: A titular bishop who administers a region that is not yet a diocese as a representative of the Holy See.

Vicar Forane: A Latin term meaning “deputy outside” that is applied to the priest given authority by the local bishop over a certain area or region of the diocese.

Vicar General: A priest or bishop appointed by the bishop of a diocese to serve as his deputy, with ordinary executive power, in the administration of the diocese.

Vicar, Judicial: The title given to the chief judge and head of the tribunal of a diocese.

Vicarious atonement:  The theory of the atonement which states that Christ's death was "legal."  It satisfied the legal justice of God.  Jesus bore the penalty of sin when he died on the cross.  His death was a substitution for the believers.  In other words, he substituted himself for them upon the cross.  Jesus hung in our place as He bore our sin in his body on the cross.  See 1 Pet. 2:24.

Victim: A living being offered in sacrifice to God. The destruction of the victim is its immolation. The voluntary surrender of the victim is the offering or oblation. Together they constitute the sacrifice

Victorines: Medieval philosophers-theologians Hugh, Andrew, and Richard of St. Victor.

Virginity: Observance of perpetual sexual abstinence. The state of virginity, which is embraced for the love of God by religious with a public vow or by others with a private vow, was singled out for high praise by Christ (Mt. 19:10-12) and has always been so regarded by the Church.

Virtue: A habit or established capability for performing good actions. Virtues are natural (acquired and increased by repeating good acts) and/or supernatural (given with grace by God).

Virtues, Cardinal: Prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice, which are like supporting structure of moral life.

Virtues, Theological: Faith, hope and charity (love), directed toward God.

Visions: A charism by which a specially chosen individual is able to behold a person or something that is naturally invisible.  A vision should not be confused with an illusion or hallucination.  Like other charisms, a vision is granted for the good of people; it should be noted, however, that they are not essential for holiness or salvation.  Many saints throughout history have beheld visions, among them St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Francis of Assisi.

Vocation: A call to a way of life. Generally, the term applies to the common call of all persons, from God, to holiness and salvation.  Specifically, it refers to particular states of life, each called a vocation, in which response is made to this universal call; viz., marriage, the religious life and/or priesthood, the single state freely chosen or accepted for the accomplishment of God’s will. The term also applies to the various occupations in which persons make a living.

Voluntarism: A doctrine that stresses the will at the expense of the intellect.

Vow: A promise made to God with sufficient knowledge and freedom, which has as its object a moral good that is possible and better than its voluntary omission. A person who professes a vow binds himself or herself by the virtue of religion to fulfill the promise. The best known examples of vows are those of poverty, chastity and obedience professed by religious (see Evangelical Counsels, individual entries). Public vows are made before a competent person, acting as an agent of the Church;vows of this kind are either solemn, rendering all contrary acts invalid as well as unlawful; or simple, rendering contrary acts unlawful.Vows professed without public recognition by the Church are called private vows.

Vulgate: “popular” is the official Latin translation of the Bible, made by St. Jerome.

W-Z

Whitsunday: Pentecost Sunday

Wisdom Literature: A literary genre to which belong five books of the OT: Job, Proverbs, Qohelet, Sirach and Wisdom. Sometimes Psalms and Song of Songs are also included here.

Witness, Christian: Practical testimony or evidence given by Christians of their faith in all circumstances of life — by prayer and general conduct, through good example and good works, etc.; being and acting in accordance with Christian belief; actual practice of the  Christian faith.

Wrath of God: Anthropomorphism describing God as if he were angry; it shows God’s displeasure with sin.

Writ, Holy: Holy Scrpture

Yahweh: The name of the God of the Jews, written as the tetragrammaton YHWH. It can means “I am who I am,” or “I will be what I will be,” or “He who causes to be”...

Yew Sunday: medieval names for Palm Sunday. The difficulty of procuring palms for that day's ceremonies led to the substitution of boughs of yew, willow, or other native trees. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as "Yew Sunday" or by the general term "Branch Sunday".

Yule and "Yuletide" are also archaic terms for Christmas,

Zeal: The expression of charity that permits one to serve God and others fully with the objective of furthering the Mystical Body of Christ.

Zucchetto: A small skullcap worn by ecclesiastics, most notably prelates and derived from the popular Italian vernacular term zucca, meaning a pumpkin, and used as slang for head. The Holy Father wears a white zucchetto made of watered silk; cardinals use scarlet, and bishops use purple. Priests of the monsignorial rank may wear black with purple piping. All others may wear simple black.……………………………………..