Back to index

M

Mary: The mother of Jesus, sometimes called the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Maundy Thursday: Thursday of Holy Week. The day on which the first Lord's Supper, the Last Supper, was celebrated with the 12 Disciples. Maundy Thursday services often include "stripping the altar" (removing all items including hangings) and foot washing.

MC - Master of ceremonies: This is one of the most experienced servers who is able to take charge of the whole ceremony. This server will also deal with problems as they arise in the Mass. If done well then no one will know that any problems have occurred.

Messiah: Derived from the Hebrew "meshiach" which means "consecrated person" or "anointed one." It is translated as the Greek word "Christos," and the English "Christ."

Miracle: An event in which God suspends one or more natural laws and makes an impossible outcome happen.

Mitre: The tall, pointed liturgical hat worn by a bishop during formal worship. Its shape is said to be symbolic of the tongues of fire, which rested on the original bishops at the first Pentecost.

Morality: A system which differentiates between right and wrong conduct.

Moses: The Jewish leader who led the Jews from slavery in Egypt, and was given the ten commandments by God on Mount Sinai.

Moveable feast: Any Church festival that does not fall on a fixed calendar day, but varies from year to year. Easter is the most important movable feast since many other movable feasts are determined by when Easter occurs.

Links