Frequently Used Abbreviations

aka = "also known as"

B16 = Pope Benedict XVI (2006 - present)

CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994)

CRR = Catholic Research Resources (this web site)

EWTN = Eternal Word Television Network, Catholic cable channel broadcast out of Alabama USA (TV, radio, internet)

ExtraOrd or EO = Extra-ordinary form of the Mass, uses the 1962 Missal, aka Tridentine Latin Mass

FSSP = Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, an organization of priests & seminarians who adhere to the 1962 missal and liturgy (aka the Extra-Ordinary form of the Roman rite). They were founded in 1988 by a group that broke off from the SSPX before the formal excommunications. They have from their inception and continue to be in good standing with the Holy See.

GIRM = General Instruction of the Roman Missal, contains the official instructions on how Mass is to be celebrated (in the Ordinary form).

ISBN = International Standard Book Number, a unique numerical indentifier assigned to published books since about 1970 (helpful when searching for a specific copy or edition of a book)

JP2 or JPII = Pope John Paul II (1978 - 2005)

NT = New Testament, holy scripture written after the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

OCLC = when followed by a number refers to the unique library catalog record used by most libraries in the United States (very helpful when requesting an inter-library loan or searching a library catalog, such as WorldCat.org)

Ord or O = Ordinary form of the Mass, uses the current Missal, aka Novus Ordo Mass

OT = Old Testament, Holy Scripture written before the birth of Christ

P = Protestant

RCC = Roman Catholic Church

SSPX = Society of St. Pius X, an organization of traditionalist Catholics, the largest and most well known of its kind, founded by Marcel Lefebvre, who reject most if not all of the "spirit" of the Second Vatican Council. The bishops of the society were formally excommunicated in 1988, but these bans were lifted in early 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Full reconciliation is still pending. (5-July-2009)

USCCB = United States Conference of Catholic Bishops