CATHOLIC WORD BOOK - Knights of Columbus, Supreme Council

A
Abbacy Nullius: A non diocesan territory
whose people are under the pastoral care of
an abbot acting in general in the manner
of a bishop.
Abbess: The female superior of a monastic
community of nuns; e.g., Benedictines,
Poor Clares, some others. Elected by
members of the community, an abbess has
general authority over her community but
no sacramental jurisdiction.
Abbey: See Monastery.
Abbot: The male superior of a monastic
community of men religious; e.g.,
Benedictines, Cistercians, some others.
Elected by members of the community, an
abbot has ordinary jurisdiction and general
authority over his community. Eastern
Rite equivalents of an abbot are a
hegumen and an archimandrite. A regular
abbot is the head of an abbey or monastery.
An abbot general or archabbot is the head
of a congregation consisting of several
monasteries. An abbot primate is the head
of the modern Benedictine Confederation.
Abiogenesis: The term used to describe the
spontaneous generation of living matter
from non-living matter.
Ablution: A term derived from Latin,
meaning washing or cleansing, and
referring to the cleansing of the hands of a
priest celebrating Mass, after the offering
of gifts; and to the cleansing of the chalice
with water and wine after Communion.
Abnegation: The spiritual practice of selfdenial
(or mortification), in order to atone
for past sins or in order to join oneself to
the passion of Christ. Mortification can be
undertaken through fasting, abstinence, or
refraining from legitimate pleasure.
Abortion: Abortion is not only “the
ejection of an immature fetus” from the
womb, but is “also the killing of the same
fetus in whatever way at whatever time
from the moment of conception it may be
procured.” (This clarification of Canon
1398, reported in the Dec. 5, 1988,
edition of L’Osservatore Romano, was issued
by the Pontifical Council for the
Interpretation of Legislative Texts — in
view of scientific developments regarding
ways and means of procuring abortion.)
Accidental expulsion, as in cases of
miscarriage, is without moral fault. Direct
abortion, in which a fetus is intentionally
removed from the womb, constitutes a
direct attack on an innocent human being,
a violation of the Fifth Commandment. A
person who procures a completed abortion
is automatically excommunicated (Canon
1398 of the Code of Canon Law); also
excommunicated are all persons involved
in a deliberate and successful effort to
bring about an abortion. Direct abortion is
not justifiable for any reason, e.g.,
therapeutic, for the physical and/or
psychological welfare of the mother;
preventive, to avoid the birth of a defective
or unwanted child; social, in the interests
of family and/or community. Indirect
abortion, which occurs when a fetus is
expelled during medical or other
treatment of the mother for a reason other
than procuring expulsion, is permissible
under the principle of double effect for a
proportionately serious reason; e.g., when
a medical or surgical procedure is necessary
to save the life of the mother. Such a
-3-