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Ordinary Magisterium (OSV Encyc. 1997)
The Church as Teacher - "Magister" - hands on the doctrine of salvation to each generation. Her "Magisterium" or teaching office is exercised when, in the name of Jesus and with his presence and protection, she teaches truths which need to be believed and practised (faith and morals) if one is to get to heaven: "Go and make disciples of all nations..., teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Mt 28:18-20); "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he does not believe will be condemned" (Mk 16:15-16).
The Magisterium can be "ordinary" or "extraordinary". Both express the mind of God, and so call equally for our response. The extraordinary magisterium is usually exercised through a solemn proclamation of dogma by the Pope (with or without the participation of the whole Catholic Hierarchy) or by an Ecumenical Council. The ordinary Magisterium is that exercised by the Pope alone or by the bishops teaching in communion with him, "when, without arriving at an infallible definition and without pronouncing in a 'definitive manner', they propose... a teaching that leads to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals" (CCC 892).
The teaching of the ordinary Magisterium is also infallible (LG 25). It cannot turn out to be wrong, although greater light may be cast on it (and so it appears with greater "definition", always in a line of continuity), in consequence of the constant prayer and theological reflection that should characterize the life of the whole Church.