158 RELIGION. 



Astrol'atry. — The worship of the stars. 



As'tro-Theol'ogy (Gr. as/roii, a star, and tlirology). — Theology 

 ibiiiided on the observation of the celestial bodies. 



Auric'ular Confes'sion. — The disburdening of the conscience 

 privately to a confessor. 



Bap'tism. — The rite of initiation into the community of Chris- 

 tians. 



Bap'tistery. — A place where the sacrament of baptism is 

 administered. 



Beatifica'tion. — In the Roman Catholic Church, an act of 

 the pope by which he declares a person beatified or 

 blessed after death. This is the first step toward canon- 

 ization, or the raising of one to the dignity of a saint. 



Benedic'tion. — A solemn act of imploring the blessing of 

 God, performed by a priest or minister in the official 

 services of the church. 



Ben'efice. — An ecclesiastical living. 



Beneficiary. — One who holds a benefice. A beneficiary is 

 not the proprietor of the revenues of his church, but he 

 has the administration of them without being accountable 

 to any person. 



Bre'viary. — A book containing the daily service of the Uoman 

 Catliolic Church. 



Bulls. — Popish bulls are letters called apostolic by the canon- 

 ists, strengthened with a leaden seal, and containing in 

 them the decrees and commandments of the pope. 



Gan'on. — In an ecclesiastical sense, a rule either of doctrine 

 or discipline, enacted especially by a council, and confirmed 

 by the authority of the sovereign. 



Cas'uistry. — The doctrine and science of conscience and its 

 cases, with the rules and principles of resolving the same, 

 drawn partly from natural reason or equity, and partly 

 from the authority of Scripture, the canon law, councils, 

 etc. 



Christmas. — The day on which the nativity of Jesus Christ 

 is celebrated. 



Ch.ristol'og'y (Gr. Chrisfos, Christ, and lopos, a discourse). — 

 A discourse or treatise concerning Christ. 



Circutninces'sion. — The reciprocal existence in each other of 

 the three persons of the Trinity. 



Confirma'tion. — A rite whereby a person, arrived to years of 

 discretion, undertakes the performance of eveiy part of 



