P

Palm Sunday. The Sunday before Easter Day : so called in remembrance of the triumphal entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

Pantheism. The doctrine that God is everything and everything is God.

Papacy. A word expressing the office and state of a Pope.

Paraclete. The Greek word meaning " Comforter." A title for God the Holy Spirit.

Paradise. A popular name for the abode of the righteous after death ; from a Greek word, probably of Persian origin, meaning a park.

Parish. The district assigned to the ministration of a singly priest (with or without assistants). Parochial Church Council. A body of lay people, with the incumbent as chairman, chosen by qualified electors, to assist in the work of a parish.

Parochial Church Meeting. An annual meeting of qualified electors of a parish church under the presidency of the incumbent.

Parson. Strictly the clergyman in charge of a parish; formerly " person."

Paschal Candle. A candle blessed on Easter Eve and placed on the Gospel (north) side of the altar until Ascension Day.

Passion Sunday. The Fifth Sunday in Lent, from which day pictures in the church are veiled until Easter Eve.

Pastoral Staff. The symbol of office (a shepherd's crook) carried by a bishop as the chief pastor of the diocese.

Paten. A dedicated plate of gold or silver used at the Holy Communion.

Pater Noster (Latin). " Our Father." The Lord's Prayer.

Patriarch. The highest rank in the Greek Church ; there are also patriarchs in Venice and Lisbon.

Patron. One who has the right to present to a benefice.

Patron Saint. A saint chosen as the special pro-tector of a person, church, country, or guild.

Peculiar. A church which is independent of the bishop's control, e.g. Westminster Abbey.

Pectoral Cross. A cross worn on the breast by bishops.

Pelican. A bird which was supposed to feed her young with her own blood and therefore a symbol of the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Penance. The rite by which sins committed after baptism may be absolved. An act of self-denial in atonement for sin.

Penitential Psalms. Psalms vi, xxxii, xxxviii cii, cxxx, cxliii. All are in the services for Ash Wednesday.

Pentateuch. The first five books of the Old Testament.

Pentecost. The Christian festival of Whitsun Day superseded the Jewish feast of Pentecost.

Perpetual Curate. See INCUMBENT.

Piscina. A drain for disposing of the water used for cleansing the chalice and paten. It is often a niche with a canopy in the south wall of the sanctuary.

Plainsong. See CHANT, PLAIN.

Postulant. One who is seeking admission to a religious order.

Prayer. The lifting up of the mind and heart to God.

Prayer of Humble Access. The prayer imme-diately preceding the Prayer of Consecration in the Holy Communion Service.

Prebend. An office in a cathedral to which a certain part of the cathedral revenue is attached as stipend. 

Prebendary. The holder of a prebend.

Precentor. The leader of the choir in Divine Service. 

Predestination. The doctrine taught by Calvin that the soul is irrevocably predestined to salvation or damnation. Preface, The. The portion of the Holy Communion Service which begins " Lift up your hearts " and ends with the Sanctus. 

Prelate. A bishop, abbot, prior, or dignitary of the Roman Curia.

Presbyter. A priest.

Presence, Real. From our Lord's words, "This is My Body, this is My Blood," we infer that He is really present at the Blessed Sacrament, though the Presence cannot be grasped by our natural senses.

Prie=Dieu. A prayer desk. " Pray God."

Priest. The second order in the Christian ministry.

Primate. A name for the chief bishop in a province.

Prime. The canonical office at 6 a.m.

Primus. The title of the chief bishop of the Scotch Episcopal Church.
Prior. The chief officer, under the abbot, of an abbey. The head of a priory or religious house in which there is no abbot. 

Pro=Cathedral. A church serving as a temporary cathedral.

Proctor. A clergyman elected by his brethren to represent them in Convocation.

Prolocutor. The chairman of the Lower House of Convocation.

Protestant. One who protests against the claims of the Pope.

Province. A group of dioceses presided over by a metropolitan.

Provost. A dignitary with duties similar to a dean.

Psalter. The Book of Psalms.

Puritans. A sect originating in the seventeenth century, which professed simplicity of life and excessive strictness in morality.

Pyx. A small vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is carried to the sick. A receptacle for the Reserved Sacrament hanging above the altar.