Catholic Postscript
Catechize (verb), catechesis and catechism (nouns) and catechetical (adjective): all these words derive from the Greek roots ‘kata’ and ‘ekhein‘– ‘to sound down’ or ‘to echo’ and refer to the process of educating children and adult Christians to achieve maturity in the Faith.
Lay Apostolate: The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 863) calls an apostolate “every activity of the Mystical Body” that aims “to spread the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth.” The Decree on Apostolate of Lay People (AA) #3 states,
“On all Christians rests the noble obligation of working to bring all men throughout the whole world to hear and accept the divine message of salvation.”
Magisterium: The teaching authority of the Church vested in the Holy Father and his fellow bishops. As Catholics we are bound to accept all Magisterial teachings.
Ecclesiastic Permission to Publish: Printed materials that proclaim and explain the teachings of the Church require prior approval, first by a deputized Censor who grants his approval (Nihil Obstat), then by the diocesan Bishop or Vicar General who grants formal approval (Imprimatur).
Nihil Obstat: (Latin: nothing hinders) is the certification that nothing in the text is contrary or harmful to faith and morals.
Imprimatur: (Latin: let it be printed) When a bishop grants his imprimatur to a written work, he is assuring the reader that the work has been expertly reviewed by his censors (theologians and/or canon lawyers) and contains nothing contrary to Catholic faith or morals.
