The end of a church, usually semi-circular, at the end of the choir, in the part of the church also known as the chevet.

A painter who studied at the Académie Julian and the Beaux-Arts, he joined the Nabis (prophets) group and then moved towards a more classical style. In 1919, he founded the Ateliers d’art sacré with George Desvallières.

From the Greek pentêkostê, fiftieth, an event that took place fifty days after Easter and the resurrection of Christ, marking the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the birth of the Church. This gift of the Spirit was manifested ‘by fire divided into tongues’ (Acts 2, 1-14).

Christian theology recognises the Holy Spirit as the 3rd person of the Trinity, the mysterious reality of a single God in the loving unity of three distinct, equal and indivisible persons, the Father, the Son and the Spirit.

Symbolises the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. At Christ’s Baptism, the four Gospels (Mt 3:16 – Mk 1:10 – Lk 3:22 – Jn 1:32) mention the Spirit descending and remaining on Christ in the form of a dove. The Council of Nicaea (325) declared the dove to be a valid symbol of the Spirit.

Wife of Joseph and mother of Jesus. A young Jewish girl, the daughter of Anne and Joachim, she shared with her people the expectation of the Messiah. She learned from the Archangel Gabriel that the child she was carrying was from God and would be called ‘Son of the Most High’ (Luke 1, 31-32).

From the Greek apostolos, sent. Members of the early Church responsible for proclaiming the Gospel. The Gospel of Luke gives the name of Apostles to the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world.

Christian authors from the first centuries of the Church, speaking Greek, Latin or Syriac, who are authorities on matters of faith. Through their works, the value of their doctrine and their teaching, they built the first structures of the Church and made a lasting contribution to Christian formation.

A Pharisaic Jew from a Hellenistic background, and a Roman citizen who persecuted Christians, he converted and became the apostle of the pagans. He played a key role in the spread of Christianity through his letters, the Epistles, and his interpretation of the teachings of Jesus Christ.

A term applied to liturgical actions, which are perceptible and effective signs of divine grace, performed to manifest God’s active presence.

There are seven in Catholicism. Three are for initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist; two are for healing: Penance or Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick; and two are for mission: Holy Orders or Ordination and Marriage.

From the Latin ‘to be sent’, the expression covers various historical evangelisation movements. The words of Jesus ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’ in the Gospel (Mat 28:19-20) sent the Apostles and their successors out to spread Christ’s message to humanity.