A Synodal Glossary

With the 2015 Synod on the Family upon us, Catholic faithful around the world are braced for the deluge of text about to be ceremoniously dumped upon them. Unfortunately, much of this text will be composed in a dialect not entirely familiar to all readers. To assist in the work of interpreting these texts - such as the English translation of Pope Francis' opening address - the following Synodal Glossary is provided.

(Note: This Synodal Glossary is by no means exhaustive, and may be updated at any point in the future. Also, suggestions for additional entries may be posted below in the comment section.)

deaconess n. (ˈdē-kən-əs) 1. (archaic) a woman charged with administering immersion baptism to nude female catechumens in the early Church [defunct]; cf. Romans 16:1. 2. (modern) a woman given administrative power in the hierarchy of the Church [fantasy].

deposit of faith n. (dĭ-pŏz′ĭt əv fāth) 1. (archaic) The body of revealed truth contained in Sacred Scripture and Holy Tradition proposed by the Church for belief by the faithful. 2. (modern) see > deposit of life 2. 

deposit of life n. (dĭ-pŏz′ĭt əv līf) 1. (archaic) The apostolic life, i.e. that manner of living observed in the Holy Apostles and the Saints of the Church. 2. (modern) a. The manner of living observed in any self-identified 'spiritual' person (see > People of God). b. A source of revelation equal to and possibly surpassing that contained in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. 

family n. pl. (făm'ə-lē) 1. (archaic) A group of persons related by marriage or blood and who typically include a father, mother, and their children. 2. (modern) A group of persons sharing a common interest of mutual and/or self-gratification. 

parrhesia n. (pär-hrāzîä) 1. (archaic) The boldness to defend the truth of the Christian faith before secular political and/or pagan religious authorities. 2. (modern) The boldness to speak one's mind, especially when doing so requires contradicting Sacred Scripture or established Church teaching. 

People of God n. (ˈpē-pəl əv ˈgäd) 1. (archaic) The communion of all those made holy by the grace of Christ, esp.: a. The Catholic faithful on earth, the imperfectly justified in purgatory and the perfectly justified in heaven. b. The union of men united by the profession of the same faith and by participation in the same Sacraments under the direction of their lawful pastors especially of the one representative of Christ on earth, the Pope. 2. (modern) All those who self-identify as 'spiritual' but not necessarily 'religious'.

renewal n. (ri-ˈnü-əl) 1. (archaic) a process resulting in a return to an original condition. 2. (modern) a process resulting in something never before seen.

Salus Animarum n. (sä-ləs änē-m'ärəm) lit. "salvation of souls" 1. (archaic) The facilitation of the attainment of the ultimate end of human life, i.e. the beatific vision in heaven. 2. (modern) The facilitation of a feeling of inner peace and self-satisfaction. 

shepherd n. (shĕp′ərd) lit. "herder of sheep" 1. (archaic) One who cares for and guides a group of people, as a minister or teacher. 2. (modern) One who satisfies the desires of those entrusted to his care.