Religious Rituals

noun a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting, and repentance, observed by many denominations, marking the beginning of Lent

adjective describing the specific day within the Christian calendar

• Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar.
• Are you giving anything up for Ash Wednesday this year?
• I always feel so guilty after Ash Wednesday because I can't eat meat.
• Ash Wednesday is like hitting the reset button on your spiritual life.

noun A 2014 horror film directed by Scott Cooper, starring Johnny Depp

• The controversial movie depicted a ritualistic Black Mass ceremony.
• Have you heard about that new horror film with a Black Mass scene?
• I can't believe they're actually planning a Black Mass in the abandoned church.
• The corrupt politician's actions were like a Black Mass on society.

noun the removal of the foreskin of a male or the prepuce of the clitoris in a female

• The parents decided to have their son undergo circumcision for cultural reasons.
• My cousin just had a circumcision and he said it wasn't as bad as he thought.
• I heard getting cut is a common practice in some cultures.
• The circumcision of the budget was necessary to allocate funds to more pressing needs.

noun the act of cremating

• The family chose cremation as the method of disposition for their loved one's remains.
• I heard that they're planning on cremation instead of a traditional burial.
• Cremation is becoming more popular as people look for more eco-friendly options.
• The artist's creativity was like a cremation of old ideas, making way for new inspiration.

noun the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread

• The Eucharist is a central sacrament in the Catholic Church.
• We're going to receive the Eucharist at mass this Sunday.
• I love chowing down on the Eucharist during communion.
• The Eucharist symbolizes the spiritual nourishment of believers.

noun a Christian religious ceremony in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed as symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ

• The Holy Communion is a sacred ritual in the Catholic Church.
• I always feel at peace after receiving Holy Communion during mass.
• Dude, I can't make it to brunch today, I have to go for Holy Communion.
• For some, receiving Holy Communion is like a spiritual recharge.

noun a sacrament in certain Christian churches conferring special status upon those ordained to the ministry

• The bishop ordained the new priests into holy orders during the ceremony.
• My cousin just joined the holy orders to become a priest.
• I heard that dude is about to take the plunge into holy orders.
• She felt like she was being called to her own version of holy orders in her career.

noun a physical act of touching or placing hands on someone as a form of blessing, healing, or ordination in religious or spiritual ceremonies

• In some religious traditions, the laying on of hands is used to confer blessings or healing.
• My grandma always said a little laying on of hands could cure any ailment.
• Dude, I swear, after that laying on of hands session, I felt like a new person.
• The mentor provided guidance to the new employees through a figurative laying on of hands, helping them navigate the challenges of their new roles.

verb to participate in or engage in an activity, especially eating or drinking

• The guests will be partaking in a traditional tea ceremony.
• We're all partaking in the potluck dinner tonight.
• Let's sneak out and partake in some late-night snacks.
• By partaking in the community service project, she felt like she was making a difference.

verb to repeat or say aloud from memory

• During the ceremony, each student had to recite a passage from a famous speech.
• My little sister loves to recite nursery rhymes before bedtime.
• I can totally recite all the lyrics to that song, it's my jam!
• The actor was able to recite his lines flawlessly, as if they were second nature to him.

noun a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order

adjective relating to or characteristic of a ritual

• The religious ritual was performed with great reverence and precision.
• Every morning, my coffee ritual involves brewing a fresh pot and enjoying it on the porch.
• Our pre-game ritual before every match is to blast our favorite pump-up song in the locker room.
• The daily ritual of checking her phone for messages became a comforting habit.

verb to perform or observe with solemn rites or ceremonies; to make solemn, serious, or grave

• The priest will solemnize the marriage ceremony in the church.
• They're planning to solemnize their relationship with a small gathering at home.
• I heard they're gonna solemnize their union at the beach next weekend.
• The artist's brushstrokes solemnize the beauty of the landscape in his painting.

verb past tense of raise, to lift or move something upward

adjective raised or lifted up

• The soldier upraised his sword in a salute.
• She upraised her hand to ask a question in class.
• He upraised his fist in anger during the argument.
• Her upraised voice could be heard throughout the room.

noun a farewell address or speech given at a graduation ceremony

adjective of or relating to a farewell address or speech

• The valedictory speech at the graduation ceremony was moving and eloquent.
• I heard that Sarah's valedictory speech was really good.
• Did you catch the valedictory address? It was lit!
• The sunset served as a valedictory to the day, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun

• Many people gather to worship at the altar of science and reason.
• We always worship at the shrine of good food whenever we visit that restaurant.
• She's totally obsessed with that band, always worshiping at their temple of music.
• Some people seem to worship at the altar of their own ego, never considering others.

adjective relating to or suitable for washing or cleansing the body

• The ablutionary rituals in many religious traditions involve cleansing the body before prayer.
• I always feel refreshed after my ablutionary routine in the morning.
• I can't start my day without an ablutionary shower.
• The act of forgiveness can be seen as an ablutionary process for the soul.

noun a wreath typically made of evergreen branches and decorated with candles, often used as a symbol of the Advent season in Christianity

• The advent wreath is a traditional Christian symbol used to mark the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
• We need to remember to light a candle on the advent wreath each Sunday before Christmas.
• I love the cozy vibes that the advent wreath brings to our living room during the holiday season.
• The advent wreath serves as a reminder of the light and hope that Christmas brings into our lives.