GLOSSARY

Associates
Persons associating themselves to a religious community in order to share their spirituality and mission in a more intense way.

Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross
Religious Community of the Catholic Church with Franciscan spirituality. Short forms are Holy Cross Sisters, and Ingenbohl Sisters. Latin short form is SCSC = Sororum Caritatis Sanctae Crucis

Charism
In the Bible, a special gift of the Holy Spirit; in religious communities, the specific calling brought about through the Holy Spirit, the mission of a community.

Evangelical Counsels
Poverty, obedience, celibacy are Gospel values lived as vows in religious communities.

Retreat
Spiritual Exercises (according to St Ignatius of Loyola) of five, ten or thirty days, led by a retreat director. Retreats are meant to give the participants a new encounter with themselves and with God, and to effect a spiritual deepening.

Formation
The education given for life in a religious community

Franciscan Minority/Poverty
The central attitude of values in the Franciscan spirituality is founded in the descent of God in Jesus Christ to human beings. Minority is an expression standing for relationship, meaning to know ourselves to be small before God and to experience our greatness in the fact that God is bending down towards us. In being “minor”, living space is opened to other persons.

General Chapter
The highest decision making authority of the entire Congregation, takes place every six years

General Superior
The president, leader of the entire Congregation

General Leadership
The general superior, together with several general councilors, leads the entire Congregation

Sisters of Ingenbohl
Short form for Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross in Switzerland, corresponding to the place of the Motherhouse at Ingenbohl

Institute
Short form for a Religious Institute. The Canon Law of the Catholic Church speaks of “Institutes of Consecrated Life”, as distinct from “Societies of Apostolic Life”, Personal Prelatures, Secular Institutes and Communities of Secular Priests

Juniorate
The time between First Profession and the Profession of Vows for Life – at least 5 years

Candidacy
The time of getting acquainted until the entry into Postulancy

Congregation
The expression of Canon Law for a religious community, mostly in an international association of more recent times, which is engaged in pastoral, apostolic or charitable activities. The term is no longer used in the Canon Law of 1983; it is now changed into “Institute of Consecrated Life”

Constitutions – Rule of the Order
The Rule of the Order is the order of life of a community, authored by one of the great founders of Religious Orders (Saints Benedict, Francis, Dominic etc.). These are gradually adapted to the circumstances in the course of time, as constitutions or statutes.

Convent, Community
Local community of several sisters

Superior of the Community
The sister leading a local community

Holy Cross Sisters
Short form of the official name “Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross” in countries outside Switzerland

Lauds
Morning Prayer of the Church

Motherhouse
Organizational and spiritual center, emotional home place

Noviciate
Second phase of formation as immediate preparation for First Profession

Treasurer
Administrator of the assets

Order
Religious community. The concept of “Order“, more than simply “Community”, implies life according to a definite Rule. Traditionally, until the new Canon law of 1983, a difference was made between “Order” and “Congregation”.

Postulancy
First time of getting to know and living together in a Religious Community (usually 6 months) before entering the Novitiate

Profession
Religious action within the framework of a public celebration of vows within which women or men consecrate their lives to God for service to people; at the same time, they are legally received into their religious community.
The consecration takes place in steps: the temporary profession: 1-3 years; commitment for life (after about 5 years)

Province
Member community of the entire Institute. A province includes the local communities of a certain area. It has its own legal personality. In important matters, it is responsible to the General Leadership.

Provincial House
Headquarters of a province with the place of administration

Provincial Superior
Leader of the Province

Provincial Leadership
Leader of the province along with the provincial councilors

Provincial Chapter
The highest consultative and decision making authority of the province

Refectory
Dining room of a convent

Recreation
Common time of relaxation

Liturgy of the Hours
Prayer of the Church at various times during the day, an obligation for clergy and religious

Sisters
Members of the more recent Religious Institutes, as compared to the *nuns” (members of the more ancient monastic communities)

Ratio Formationis
Basic Plan for Religious Formation
Plan for the first and ongoing formation in a religious community

Theodosia
Internal magazine of the Congregation, named after our Founder, Fr. Theodosius Florentini

Vespers
Evening Prayer of the Church

Vicariate
Member communities of the entire Institute with their own legal identity, but without full autonomy

Visitation
Regular prescribed visits of the provincial / general leadership as a means to ensure unity and religious observance