S

Sabaoth (Hebrew). " Lord God of Sabaoth." The word " sabaoth " means " hosts." Sabbath (Hebrew). The seventh day of the week. In memory of Jesus Christ's Resurrection the early Christians superseded the Sabbath by the Sunday.

Sacraments. Visible signs of an invisible grace ordained by Jesus Christ, by which His life is imparted to our souls.

Sacrifice. A holy deed, an offering. The great Christian sacrifice is the Holy Eucharist, as a continuous commemoration and representation of the Sacrifice on Calvary.

Sacrilege. The pollution of sacred things ; origin-ally the robbery of a temple.

Sacring Bell. The bell rung at the Holy Eucharist at the solemn time of consecration.

Sacristan. The person in charge of the sacred utensils of a church.

Saint. One who is baptized ; a holy person. Technically, one whom the Church has marked out for signal honour by placing his name in the Kalendar.

Salvation. The life which God won for humanity by Christ upon the Cross of Calvary.

Sanctuary. The portion of a church which encloses the altar.

Sanctus (Latin). " Holy." The hymn in the Holy Eucharist beginning " Holy, holy, holy."

Satan. The word in Hebrew means " adversary."

Scapular. A kind of woollen apron worn back and front in monasteries for the protection of the " habit."

Sceptic. A doubter of religious truth.

Schism. A separation from the Church. We pray in the Litany to be delivered from " heresy and schism."

Seal. The seal of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation ; the seal of secrecy imposed upon the priest who hears a confession.

Sedilia. Seats (usually three) constructed in the wall on the south side of the sanctuary for the officiating ministers, the celebrant, deacon, and sub-deacon.

See. Originally a bishop's official seat, or throne ; by extension the district over which he has jurisdiction, his diocese.

Septuagesima Sunday. The third Sunday before Lent, about seventy days before Easter.

Septuagint. The Greek translation of the Old Testament, begun at Alexandria in the third century B.C.

Sequence. A hymn between the Epistle and the Gospel.

Sequestration of a Benefice. On the vacation of a benefice the profits are set apart and dis-tributed according to law by persons appointed by the bishop.

Seraphim. See ANGEL.

Sexagesima. The second Sunday before Lent, about sixty days before Easter.

Sexton. A contraction of the word "sacristan."

Sext. The canonical office for the sixth hour, i.e. noon.

Shrine. Originally a casket or other receptacle in which sacred relics were kept ; the tomb of a saint; an altar built over the body of a saint, e.g. S. Alban's shrine.

Shrove Tuesday. The day preceding Ash Wednesday, on which it was customary for Christians to be shriven or shrove (absolved) by the priest, after confession.

Sidesman. A lay official appointed to assist the churchwardens in their duties.

Simony. Trading in Church offices. It is forbidden both by canon and statute law.

Sin. Disobedience to the law of God with full know-ledge and consent.

Soul. The immortal Part of !mini united in life to his body, which, though sepal sited in death, is destined to be reunited in the resurrection.

Sponsor. A godparent at Holy Baptism or Confirmation.

Stations of the Cross. A devotion commemorating fourteen stages of our Lord's Passion from Pilate's house to Calvary. They are sometimes represented by pictures or carvings in churches.

Stole. A vestment placed over the left shoulder of a deacon at his ordination. It is worn by the priest over both shoulders when administering the Sacraments.

Succentor. One who assists the precentor.

Suffragan Bishop. An assistant-bishop. Sometimes used of the diocesan bishops in relation to the archbishop, but more commonly of an assistant to a diocesan bishop. He has no see, and therefore no jurisdiction.

Sunday. The Christian's Sabbath, the day for rest and worship, being the commemoration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week.

Supernatural. Beyond nature ; not opposed to nature.

Surrogate. A clergyman representing the bishop in issuing marriage licences.

Sursum corda (Latin). " Lift up your hearts."

Synod. An assembly of the clergy of a diocese summoned by and presided over by the bishop, or of the bishops of a province presided over by the archbishop.