Hi Carmen,

Catholic Apologetics is the science of explaining the Catholic Faith in a rational and reasonable manner with love and patience.

The term Apologetics comes from the Greek word, apologia (απολογία), meaning:

• a speaking in defense of a teaching, or
• a presentation or defense for what one believes.

Many are confused by this word because in common English language it implies or suggests something different:

An apology is a justifiable or unjustifiable excuse for doing something wrong.

This different definition is not being used here. Good Catholics are never sorry for being Catholic, rather they feel blessed to be Catholic.

In the Catholic Church, the word apology takes on a secondary meaning:

the science of explaining the Catholic Faith in a rational and reasonable manner with love and patience.

Examples you will see:

• The Apology of Justin Martyr.
  Here St. Justin Martyr is giving his defense of the Catholic faith on a certain topic in the form of a talk or speech.

Note in both definitions whether:

• one is referring to an apology in the sense of apologizing for something they did wrong or
• in the sense of giving a [talk/speech] in defense of what one believes

one is giving reasons or a defense in both definitions.

Hope this helps,

Mike