The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia by William James Miller (thriller books to read .TXT) 📕

3. The two Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself—Baptism and the Supper of the Lord—ministered with unfailing use of Christ's words of Institution, and of the elements ordained by Him.

4. The Historic Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church.

Qualifications for Holy Orders.—These are stated in the Preface to the Ordinal set forth in the Prayer-book as follows: that the Candidate be of the age required by the Canon in that case provided; that he be a man of virtuous conversation and without crime; and, after examination and trial, found to be sufficiently instructed in the Holy Scripture and otherwise learned as the Canons require. (See EXAMINATION FOR HOLY ORDERS.)

Quick.—A word used in the Creed and elsewhere in the Prayer-book, being the old English word for the living as distinguished from the dead.

Quicunque Vult.—The name given to the Athanasian Creed, from the first Latin words with which it begins, and meaning "Whosoever will." The Athanasian Creed is not used in the American Church, but is found in the English Prayer-book and is required to be said on certain Festivals.

Quiet Day.—The name given to a day set apart {224} for special devotions, meditation and instruction for the members of a parish, or school or society. There is always a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, hours of prayer with a meditation or instruction given by the Priest, with times of silent prayer and intercession. Such days have been found to be very helpful in deepening the spiritual life, and are usually conducted by a Priest well experienced in such work, and who is specially invited for the purpose.

Quinquagesima.—The name given to the Sunday next before Lent, because it is the fiftieth day before Easter; Quinquagesima meaning fiftieth. (See SEPTUAGESIMA.)

Rail.—(See ALTAR RAIL.)

Ratification, The.—The American Prayer-book having been set forth, it was duly ratified by the action of the General Convention on October 16th, 1789, and the certificate of such ratification appears in every copy of the Prayer-book, declaring "it to be the Liturgy of this Church," and requiring "that it be received as such by all the members of the same."

Real Presence.—The name given to the Church's doctrine concerning Christ's Presence in the Holy Eucharist. The term "Real Presence" is intended to signify that the Presence of our Lord in this Sacrament is a reality; that while His Presence is spiritual, it is none the less real, and not simply figurative. The sacrament is not a mere sign or token of an absent {225} Christ. It is a great deal more. As it is Christ who invites, bids and calls us to this Feast and provides the spiritual food for it, it would be strange indeed if we were uncertain whether He is there to receive us and to feed us; and if He is present, His Presence must be very real. Under the outward form of Bread and Wine we have the Scriptural warrant to believe that the Body and the Blood of Christ are given, taken and received verily and indeed by the faithful in the Lord's Supper, to the strengthening and refreshing of their souls,—as declared in the Church Catechism and the Twenty-eighth Article of Religion. Being assured of this fact, it is useless and only fruitful in doubt and perplexity, to speculate upon the manner of this Presence, which is a Mystery of the Gospel; as such the Church has received and taught it, but has never explained or defined. This being the attitude of the Church, it will be our wisdom to say of this Mystery:

  "Christ was the Word that spake it;
   He took the Bread and brake it,
   And what that Word did make it,
   That I believe and take it."

Reception into the Church.—(See BAPTISM, PRIVATE.)

Recessional.—The name given to the retiring of choir and clergy in due order after a church service. Some objection has been raised to this use of the word, but as nothing better has been substituted for it, the word continues in use. {226}

Rector.—The official title of the Priest who has charge of a Parish and as such is its ruler, guide and director. The word means "one who rules." Like other organizations, the Parish must have a head, and by the canons of the Church, the Rector is head of the Parish. As such he is ex officio head of all its organizations. He is the presiding officer at all Vestry meetings, superintendent of the Sunday-school, and President of all Guilds, Brotherhoods and other parochial societies. These offices he may delegate to others, but ex officio the Rector is head of all, and all that may be done in the parish is to be done with reference to his consent and approval.

Rectory.—The house owned by the parish, intended for the use of the
Rector as his home.

Red Letter Days.—Those Festivals of the Church for which Collect, Epistle and Gospel are provided in the Prayer-book. They are so called from having been printed in the Calendar in red letters. The words have passed into popular use to denote any notably auspicious or favorable day; a day to be remembered.

Refreshment Sunday.—The Fourth Sunday in Lent is so called from the Gospel for the day, which relates the feeding of the five thousand by our Lord in the wilderness. As the late Bishop Coxe pointed out in his "Thoughts on the Services," "having thus far (in the Lenten services) considered the havoc of sin, we come now to consider its repair; and because the sufficiency of Christ to refresh and satisfy our hunger and thirst after righteousness is exhibited in the Gospel for this day. It has little of the austere character of the other Sundays in Lent; and its design is the {227} encouragement of catechumens and penitents." (See FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT; also LENT, SUNDAYS IN.)

Regeneration.—The inward and spiritual gift in Holy Baptism is regeneration, that is being born anew. It is well to note that Regeneration, or the "New Birth" is often confounded with "Conversion," or they are regarded as synonymous terms. This is a mistake and contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture. Regeneration is a New Birth unto God whereby we become partakers of the nature of Christ. As the natural birth, so the new and spiritual Birth can take place only once, and that in Holy Baptism. A baptized Christian may repeatedly fall from Grace, and by repentance, by amendment of life and by forgiveness he may be again restored, (this is Conversion), but he cannot be said to be again regenerate without a grievous misapprehension of the language of the Bible and a total departure from the Doctrine of the Primitive Church. By Regeneration, therefore, is meant that gracious act of God whereby for Christ's sake. He brings us into a new relationship with Himself, adopts us as His own children, translates us into the kingdom of His Son, incorporates us into His Church, and so brings us under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Regeneration is the name originated for Baptism by our Lord Himself in His discourse with Nicodemus, as recorded in the third chapter of St. John's Gospel, and it is for this reason that this passage is appointed to be read in the service for the Baptism of Adults. (See BAPTISM, HOLY; also INFANT BAPTISM.)

Register.—(See PARISH REGISTER.)

Registrar.—The title of an officer of the {228} Convention, whether of the General Convention or of the Convention or Council of a Diocese. His duty is to collect and preserve such papers, reports, journals and other documents relating to the history and property of the Church as are now or may hereafter become the property of the Convention, and to keep the same in a safe and convenient place.

Religious Orders.—In the American Church there are many religious orders composed of men or women who have separated themselves from the world that they may devote themselves by associated effort more unreservedly to the Church's work. Some are bands of Priests, like the "Society of the Mission Priests of St. John Evangelist," or the "Order of the Holy Cross," this latter also including laymen; others are bands of laymen alone, such as the "Order of the Brothers of Nazareth"; and others are Sisterhoods, composed of women who have devoted themselves for life to the work of the Church, such as the "Sisters of St. Mary," "Sisters of St. Monica," etc. Members of the Sisterhoods do work in schools, hospitals, and among the wretched, the poor and neglected. These religious orders have proved to be very efficient aids in the Church's work in many parts of our land and are highly commended for the sacrifice they display and for the admirable methods of their work.

Reproaches, The.—In the ancient observance of Good Friday there was used a service called "The Reproaches." This consisted of certain striking passages read from Micah 3:3 and 4, as well as other Scriptures, with the respond, "Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us." {229}

They are called "Reproaches" from the character of the first passage read, namely, "O my people what have I done unto thee, and wherein have I wearied thee? Answer me;" this being read also as a respond to the other passages. The Reproaches are now frequently used in many churches on Good Friday as a separate service and are very solemn and impressive.

Reredos.—A carved or sculptured screen of wood or stone placed above and back of the Altar, The word is a compound of the old English rere, the same as "rear," and the French word dos, derived from the Latin dorsum, meaning "back."

Responds.—In the old system of reading Holy Scripture in Divine Service, short selections from different books of the Bible were read successively, with short Anthems being sung after each, which were called "responds." This responsory system of reading Holy Scripture is still retained in its old form in the case of the Ten Commandments when read in the Communion service. One of the principal changes made in revising the Prayer-book in 1549 was the setting forth of longer Lessons with responsory canticles sung at the end only. Thus the respond to the First Morning Lesson is the Te Deum, and the respond to the Second Lesson is the Benedictus, etc.

Responses.—The name given to the answers made by the people in the
Church services as in the Versicles, the Litany, after the Ten
Commandments, etc.

Responsive Service.—The glory of the Episcopal Church is its responsive service, as provided by the Book of Common Prayer. By means of this, the people have their part in the service. Thus {230} worship becomes general throughout the whole congregation and the people are not silent spectators, nor yet simply an audience. But however reasonable and desirable this may be, there is a deeper principle involved. The responsive character of the services brings out and emphasizes the "Priesthood of the People." St. Peter, in his First General Epistle, writing to the Baptized, says of them, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praise of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light." Thus the Baptized are called in Holy Scripture "a royal priesthood," and this doctrine pervades the Prayer-book. The whole system of responsive worship is founded upon the Priesthood of the Laity, and enables them to show forth the praise of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous Light. (See AMEN; FORMS; also VERSICLES.)

Retable.—A shelf at the back of the Altar, usually fastened to the reredos, on which are placed the Altar cross, the vases for flowers, and the candlesticks. The necessity for the retable arises from the fact of the reverent usage of the Church, which requires that nothing shall be placed on the Altar but the Eucharistic vessels, the book rest and the book.

Retreat.—This is a term used to designate a time of retirement as a means of deepening the Spiritual life of the Clergy, for whose benefit it is held. It involves a temporary submission to the monastic rule of silence, meditation, confession and conference. In Holy Scripture we read of our Lord and His disciples {231} constantly going into retreat in some shape or other. Christ on the hilltop, St. Paul in the desert near Damascus, St. Peter on the roof of his house, retired for prayer and meditation. The Retreat as now conducted gives each one the opportunity to make special effort to see more clearly those great principles of Religion which can only be seen by such effort and by such special spiritual exercises. In some Dioceses an annual Pre-Lenten Retreat is held