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'AbbaVol. I, p. 38 'ABBA. – 1. Aramaic term, emphatic state of 'ab, “father,” which occurs in the vocative sense in the New Testament, always followed by ὁ πνεῦρ, in Rom. 8:5 and…
'Aboth (Pirqē 'Abāth, "Chapters of the Fathers")('ABOTH (PIRQĒ 'ABĀTH, «CAPITOLI DEI PADRI»))Vol. I, p. 92 'ABOTH (Pirqē 'Abāth, “chapters of the Fathers”). — Treatise IX of the IVth Order of the Mišnah (v.), not followed by the commentary or gēmarā. It has no…
Ab('AB)Vol. I, p. 31 'AB. - The fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, of 30 days. It began with the new moon of July. The name, corresponding to the Assyrian abu, does not occur in…
Ab IpsisVol. I, p. 75 « AB IPSIS. - The opening words of the apostolic letter which Pius XI addressed on 15 June 1926 to the apostolic vicars and prefects of China, concerning the…
Abaco, Saint, Martyr(ABACO, SANTO, MARTIRE)Vol. I, p. 32 ABACO, saint, martyr: v. MARIO, MARTA, AUDI-FACE e ABACO, santi, martiri.
Abacus(ABACO)Vol. I, p. 32 ABACO. - 1. IN THE LITURGY. - From the Greek ἄβαξ = tablet, it is the small table which, according to the Caeremoniale Episcoporum, must be placed near the…
Abad y Lasierra, Agustín Ignacio(ABAD Y LASIERA, AGUSTÍN IGNACIO)Vol. I, p. 34 ABAD y LASIERA, AGUSTÍN IGNACIO. – Spanish Benedictine, born in Estadilla (Aragon) in 1745, died in 1813. He spent eleven years in Puerto Rico, collecting…
Abad y Queipo, Manuel JoséVol. I, p. 34 ABAD y QUEIPO, MANUEL JOSÉ. — Spanish magistrate and prelate, born in Asturias (Spain) in 1749, died in 1825. Having gone as a judge to Michoacán (New Spain)…
AbaddonVol. I, p. 34 ABADDON. — A Hebrew term (perdition, from abhad, “to perish”), occurring in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament (6 times) and in Apoc. 9:11. The…
Abana (Hebrew 'Abhānāh "Stony", from 'eben "Stone")(ABANA (EBR. 'ABHĀNĀH «PIETROSO», DA 'EBHEN «PIETRA»))Vol. I, p. 34 ABANA (Heb. 'abhānāh “stony,” from 'ebhen “stone”). - A river of Damascus, mentioned by the Syrian general Naaman (II Reg. 5, 12), who contrasts its importance…
Abandoned Childhood(INFANZIA ABBANDONATA)Vol. VI, p. 1115 ABANDONED INFANCY. — I. a. is synonymous with infancy in abandonment (from Old French abandon, at the mercy and discretion of others). This category includes…
Abandonment(ABBANDONO)Vol. I, p. 41 ABBANDONO. - I. ASCETICS. - 1. Notions. - A. (virtue, spirit, act of a.) is an attitude of spiritual life of high perfection, whose nature, degrees, exercises,…
AbasgiVol. I, p. 35 ABASGI. - Aborigines of the western Caucasus, dwelling in the region between the Singames and Pityus; semi-dependent on Rome from the time of Hadrian. Under…
Abati, AlessandroVol. I, p. 38 ABATI, ALESSANDRO. – Bishop of Toscanella and Viterbo, born in Rome on 8 July 1681, died in Viterbo in 1748. Having entered the prelature, he became secretary…
Abaulzit, Firmin(ABAUZIT, FIRMIN)Vol. I, p. 38 ABAUZIT, FIRMIN. - Protestant theologian, born at Uzès in 1679, died in 1767 at Geneva, where he lived and worked for much of his life. Cultured and studious,…
Abba Areka (Arika or Ha-Arokh "The Long"), Rabbi, called (by honor) Rab(ABBA AREKA (ARIKA O HA-AROKH «IL LUNGO»), RABBI, DETTO (PER ONORE) RAB)Vol. I, p. 38 ABBA AREKA (ARIKA or HA-AROKH “the long one”), Rabbi, called (as an honorific) Rab. — Jewish scholar, born in Palestine around 160, died at Sura in 247. A…
Abba Cornaglia, PietroVol. I, p. 38 ABBA CORNAGLIA, PIETRO. – Musician, born in Alessandria on 20 March 1851, died there on 2 May 1894. Organist and director of the cathedral chapel, he wrote the…
Abbadia SVol. I, p. 40 ABBADIA S. SALVATORE - A Benedictine abbey on the slopes of Monte Amiata, founded in 743; in 1230 it passed to the Cistercians, who retained it until 1792.…
Abbadie, Antoine d'Vol. I, p. 40 ABBADIE, ANTOINE d'. - Explorer, geographer, astronomer, born in Dublin, to a family of French émigrés, on 9 January 1810, and died in Paris on 19 March 1897.…
Abbadie, JacquesVol. I, p. 40 ABBADIE, JACQUES. — Born at Nay in Béarn in 1654 or 1658, died in London in 1727. He studied at the Protestant universities of Saumur and Sedan, and at the…
Abbas AntiquusVol. I, p. 42 ABBAS ANTIQUUS. — This name is commonly used to designate, in order to distinguish him from Niccolò de' Tudeschis, known as the Abbas siculus or panormitanus…
Abbasid Dynasty('ABBASIDI)Vol. I, p. 43 'ABBASIDI: v. ISLAMISMO. ABBAS MODERNUS, (PANORMITANUS, SICULUS): v. DE' TUDESCHI, NICCOLÒ.
Abbate CiccioVol. I, p. 43 ABBATE CICCIO: v. SOLIMENA.
Abbatini, Antonio MariaVol. I, p. 43 ABBATINI, ANTONIO MARIA. - Musician, b. at Città di Castello in 1597 (?), d. there between 1679 and 1680. From 1628 he was maestro di cappella of the Lateran…
Abbatini, GuidobaldoVol. I, p. 43 ABBATINI, GUIDOBALDO. - Painter, b. at Città di Castello in 1600 or 1605, d. at Roma in 1656. After an education in his native city that cannot be specified…
Abbazia, Martyrs of the(ABBAZIA, MARTIRI DELL')Vol. I, p. 49 ABBEY, MARTYRS OF THE: v. SEPTEMBER, MARTYRS OF.
Abbaḥu, Rabbi(ABBĀHŪ, RABBI)Vol. I, p. 41 ABBAHU, RABBI. - Palestinian scholar of the "college of doctors of Caesarea," who lived at the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th century. He established…
Abbess(ABBADESSA)Vol. I, p. 39 ABBADESSA. — A word derived from the Late Latin abbatissa, itself formed by analogy with abbas (abbot, father), the title of the Superior entrusted with the…
Abbey(ABBAZIA)Vol. I, p. 43 ABBEY. — I. DEFINITION AND HISTORY. — Abbatia has acquired various meanings over the centuries, always, however, in relation to the word abbas, from which it…
Abbey of Centula(CENTULA, ABBAZIA DI)Vol. III, p. 761 CENTULA, ABBAZIA di: v. SAINT-MIQUIER.
Abbeys and Monasteries(ABBAZIE E MONASTERI)Vol. I, p. 589 ABBEYS AND MONASTERIES. — The territory of the diocese of A., together with that of the suppressed dioceses incorporated into it, was extraordinarily rich in…
Abbo of Fleury (Abbo or Abbo Floriacensis), Saint(ABBONE DI FLEURY (ABBO O ABO FLORIACENSIS), SANTO)Vol. I, p. 51 ABBONE of FLEURY (Abbo or Abo Floriacensis), saint. — Born in the territory of Orléans between 945 and 950. His pious parents offered him as a child (oblatus)…
Abbo of Saint-Germain(ABBONE DI SAN GERMANO)Vol. I, p. 52 ABBONE di SAN GERMANO. - Monk of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (mid-9th century). Little is known of him, and he has often been confused with his namesake of Fleury.…
Abbondio and Abondanzio, Martyrs(ABBONDIO E ABBONDANZIO, MARTIRI)Vol. I, p. 51 ABBONDIO and ABBONDANZIO, martyrs: v. RIGNANO FLAMINIO.
Abbondio, Saint(ABBONDIO, SANTO)Vol. I, p. 50 ABBONDIO, saint. — Fourth bishop of Como, patron of the diocese. He is particularly known for the mission he carried out in Constantinople in 450, as legate of…
Abbot (or Abate)(ABATE (O ABBATE))Vol. I, p. 35 ABATE (or ABBATE). — A word of Aramaic origin, Abba, meaning Father. It is found several times in the New Testament (Mk 14:36; Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6); each time it…
Abbot, EzraVol. I, p. 52 ABBOT, EZRA. - American Reformed theologian, born at Jackson, Maine, 28 April 1819; died at Cambridge, Massachusetts, 21 March 1884. From 1856 he worked in the…
Abbot, GeorgeVol. I, p. 52 ABBOT, GEORGE. - English Protestant, born at Guildford to a cloth manufacturer in 1562, and died on 4 Aug. 1633. While still a student, he attracted attention…
Abbreviations(SIGLE)Vol. XI, p. 352 SIGLE : v. ABBREVIAZIONI.
Abbreviations, Lapidary(ABBREVIAZIONI LAPIDARIE)Vol. I, p. 54 LAPIDARY ABBREVIATIONS — 1) Bolsena, Inscription of the reliquary of S. Cristina: i(c) r(e)g(ui)es(cit) c(or)p(us) b(eat(ae) X(ristinae) m(ar(yris). 2)…
Abbreviator(ABBREVIATORE)Vol. I, p. 52 ABBREVIATORE. — He was an official of the Apostolic Chancery, entrusted with the task of drafting the preliminary version (notam facere) of pontifical acts.…
Abde'('ABDE')Vol. I, p. 59 'ABDE'. - Arabized name of the ancient Nabataean city of « Palaestina tertia », Eboda (Ptolemy, V, 16, 4) or Oboda (Stephen of Byzantium, Onomast., 525, 23),…
Abderhalden, EmilVol. I, p. 59 ABDERHALDEN, EMIL. – Swiss physiologist and biological chemist (1877–1946), professor at the University of Halle. Pontifical Academician from 1936. In addition…
Abdication(ABDICAZIONE)Vol. I, p. 60 ABDICAZIONE. - This word, which in ancient Roman law served to indicate every kind of renunciation, and later took on the specific meaning of renunciation of a…
AbdinghofVol. I, p. 61 ABDINGHOF. – Benedictine abbey at Paderborn in Westphalia, founded in 1015 by Bishop Meinwerk, who summoned Cluniac monks there, and consecrated in 1031. It…
AbdonVol. I, p. 61 ABDON. – One of the minor judges, son of Hillél, a native of Pireathon, present-day Far'ata, 10 km southwest of Naplusa. A wealthy landowner, he had 41 sons…
Abdon and Sennen(ABDON E SENNEN)Vol. I, p. 61 ABDON and SENNEN - Coronation of the Martyrs (center). Fresco in the Cemetery of Ponziano. ABDON and SENNEN - Parchment of the relics of the saints deposited…
Abdon and Sennen, Saints, Martyrs(ABDON E SENNEN, SANTI, MARTIRI)Vol. I, p. 61 ABDON and SENNEN, saints, martyrs. - According to the Passio, of no historical value, they were kings of Persia, captured by Decius and killed in an…
Abduction (Matrimonial Impediment and Crime)(RATTO (IMPEDIMENTO MATRIMONIALE E DELITTO DI))Vol. X, p. 330 RATTO (Matrimonial impediment and crime of). — I. NOTION. — In its proper etymological meaning, the term r. (from the Latin rapere) implies the concept of the…
Abecedaries(ABECEDARI)Vol. I, p. 61 ABECEDARIA. - Poetic compositions in which the verses and stanzas begin according to the letters of the alphabet in their natural sequence. We already have…
Abel (Able, Abble), Thomas, Blessed(ABEL (ABLE, ABBLE), THOMAS, BEATO)Vol. I, p. 63 ABEL (ABLE, ABBLE), THOMAS, blessed. — English theologian, who died at Smithfield on 30 July 1540. In 1516 he was «Magister artium» at Oxford and became…
Abel (Hebrew 'Abhēl 'meadow'; possibly Aramaic from Canaanite 'Abil 'channel')(ABEL (EBR. ABHÈL «PRATO»; FORSE PERÒ È ARAMAIZZAZIONE DAL CANANEO ABIL «CANALE»))Vol. I, p. 62 ABEL (Hebr. Abhèl “meadow”; perhaps, however, an Aramaization from the Canaanite abil “canal”). — Name of five Palestinian or Transjordanian localities. 1.…
Abel (Hebrew Hēbel; Septuagint Greek Ἀβέλ)(ABELE (EBR. HÉBEL; GRECO DEI SETTANTA ἈΒΕΛ))Vol. I, p. 67 2. IN ARCHAEOLOGY. — Unknown in cemetery painting, the offering of A. and Cain is represented by 14 funerary sculptures. Usually the two brothers appear with…
Abel, HeinrichVol. I, p. 62 ABEL, HEINRICH. - Jesuit, nephew of the celebrated minister of state K. Abel, born at Passau on 15 Dec. 1843, died at Vienna on 23 Nov. 1926. Having entered…
Abel, KarlVol. I, p. 62 ABEL, KARL. - Minister of State in Bavaria, b. at Wetzlar on 17 Sept. 1788, d. at Munich on 3 Sept. 1859. His career as a civil servant led him to the office…
Abel, VasilievVol. I, p. 63 ABEL, VASILIEV. - Russian monk (in the world Basilio Vasiliev), born in 1757 at Akulov, in the government of Moscow, died in 1841 in the monastery of…
Abelard (Abailardus, Abaelardus), Peter(ABELARDO (ABAELARDUS, ABAELARDUS), PIETRO)Vol. I, p. 63 ABELARDO (Abaelardus, Abaelardus), PIETRO. – French philosopher and theologian. 1. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. – Born in 1079 at Pallet (Palatium), a village of Lesser…
Abele (Akele) Sijjōn(ABELE (LEGG. AKELE) SIJJÖN)Vol. I, p. 68 ABELE (legg. Akele) SIJJÖN. — “Those who mourn for Zion,” among the Jews. The term appears after the Arab conquest of Palestine (634–40), but the Talmüd…
Abelly, LouisVol. I, p. 68 ABELLY, LOUIS. — French theologian and writer, of whom neither the year (1603, 1604, 1606) nor the place of birth (in the Vexin or in Paris) is known with…
AbenesraVol. I, p. 69 ABENESRA: v. IBN EZRA ABRAMO.
Abercius, Saint(ABERCIO, SANTO)Vol. I, p. 69 ABERCIO, saint.—Bishop of Hierapolis (or Geropolis) in Phrygia. Feast day 22 October. His Life relates that, when a decree of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus…
Aberdeen, Diocese of(ABERDEEN, DIOCESI DI)Vol. I, p. 70 ABERDEEN, DIOCESIS of. — Situated in Scotland (Great Britain), it is suffragan to Saint Andrews and Edinburgh and comprises northern Scotland, the Orkney and…
Aberle, Moritz vonVol. I, p. 71 ABERLE, MORITZ von. - Theologian and biblical scholar, b. 25 Apr. 1817 at Rottum near Biberach, ordained priest 29 Aug. 1842, d. 3 Nov. 1875 at Tubinga, where…
Abernethy, JohnVol. I, p. 71 ABERNETHY, JOHN. — Irish Presbyterian theologian of liberal views, born to a Protestant minister in Ulster, according to some at Brigh, according to others at…
Abert, Friedrich PhilippVol. I, p. 71 ABERT, FRIEDRICH PHILIPP. – German theologian, born on 1 May 1852 in Münnerstadt, died in Bamberg on 23 April 1912. He held the chair of dogmatic theology at…
AbgarVol. I, p. 72 ABGAR. — Name of several kings of Osrhoene. The best known are: 1° ABGAR V UKHAMA (“the black,” according to Tacitus), who reigned from 4 B.C. to A.D. 7 and…
Abgar DpirVol. I, p. 72 ABGAR DPIR. - Also called Safar, an Armenian nobleman of Senekerim, king of Sebaste, born in Eudocia (Tokat). In the year 1561, during a meeting with the…
Abgar of Edessa, Letter of(ABGAR DI EDESSA, LETTERA DI)Vol. I, p. 72 ABGAR di EDESSA, LETTERA di: V. ADDAI, DOTTRINA di: EDESSENI, ATTI.
Abhidhamma Piṭaka(ABHIDHAMMA PIŢAKA)Vol. I, p. 72 ABHIDHAMMA PIŢAKA: V. TRIPIŢACA.
Abiathar (Hebrew *'Ebhithār* 'father of abundance')(ABIATHAR (EBR. *'EBHITHĀR* « PADRE DI ABBONDANZA »))Vol. I, p. 73 ABIATHAR (Heb. 'Ebhithār, “father of abundance”). — High priest, great-grandson of Heli through Phinehas, son of the high priest Achimelech; he escaped the…
AbigailVol. I, p. 74 ABIGAIL. – Name of two women of the Bible. 1. Wife of Nabal, residing at Maon, who possessed extensive fields and flocks on Carmel, at the edge of the desert…
Abignente, FilippoVol. I, p. 74 ABIGNENTE, FILIPPO. — Politician, born in Sarno (Salerno) on 9 April 1814, died in Rome on 13 June 1887. He was elected deputy to the Neapolitan Chamber in…
Abihu (Hebrew 'Abihû 'my father is He'; Septuagint: 'Abioû)(ABIU (EBR. 'ABIHÛ «MIO PADRE È EGLI»; SETTANTA: 'ABIOÛ8))Vol. I, p. 81 ABIU (Heb. ’Abihû “my father is He”; Septuagint: ’Abioû8). — Second-born of Aronne (Ex. 6:23), he followed Mosè onto Sinai with Aronne and the 70 elders (Ex.…
Abijah(ABIA)Vol. I, p. 72 ABIA. – Name of various biblical figures (Heb. Abiyām in Reg., 'Abiyāhu and 'Abiyāh in Par., ‘Jahweh is father’). 1. Son of Roboam and his successor on the…
Abilene (Vulgate: Abilina)(ABILENE (VOLGATA: ABILINA))Vol. I, p. 74 ABILENE (Vulgate: Abilina). - A tetrarchy (Lk. 3:1), so named after its capital Abila, often mentioned by Flavius Josephus as Abila of Lysanias. Abila stood…
AbimelechVol. I, p. 75 ABIMELECH. – A proper name which in Hebrew means: “the Father” or: “my father (a divine name?) is king.” From the El-Amarna letters, Abimiliki of Tyre (14th…
Abina, Rabbi (abbreviated as *Rabina*, following Talmudic usage)(ABINA, RABBI (ABBREVIATO IN *RABINA*, SECONDO L'USO TALMUDICO))Vol. I, p. 75 ABINA, RABBI (abbreviated as Rabina, according to Talmudic usage). – Jewish doctor of the school of Sura on the Euphrates, the last of the Amoraim (v.). He was…
Abinal, AntoineVol. I, p. 75 ABINAL, ANTOINE. – Jesuit missionary, born at Chanac on 10 January 1829, died on 11 November 1887 in Madagascar. Together with Fr. La Vaissière, he published…
Abishag (Hebrew 'father of error' [?])(ABISAG (EBR. « PADRE DI ERRORE » [?]))Vol. I, p. 75 ABISAG (Hebr. “father of error” [?]).—Girl from Shūnem (today Sōlem), a locality on the southern slopes of little Hermon. Of rare beauty, she was chosen by the…
Abishai (Hebrew *Abīfai*)(ABISAI (EBR. *ABĪFAI*))Vol. I, p. 75 ABISAI (Heb. Abīfai). - Nephew of David, son, like Joab, of his sister Sarvia. A faithful collaborator of his uncle, he accompanied him by night into the camp…
Ablegate(ABLEGATO)Vol. I, p. 82 ABLEGATO. — This name designates an ecclesiastic appointed by the Pontiff to undertake particular missions, such as: 1) conveying the blessed swaddling bands…
Ablution (Latin ab-luo, Greek ἀπο-λοίω 'wash away')(ABLUZIONE (LAT. AB-LUO, GR. ἈΠΟ-ΛΟΊΩ « PORTO VIA LAVANDO »))Vol. I, p. 82 ABLUTION (Lat. ab-luo, Gr. ἀπο-λοίω “I carry away by washing”). — A. is a rite intended to place an individual or group in a state of ritual purity with regard…
Abner (Hebrew: 'the father is light')(ABNER (EBR.: « IL PADRE È LUCE »))Vol. I, p. 87 ABNER (Heb.: “the father is light”). - Saul’s cousin on his father’s side (I Sam. 14, 50 f.; according to I Par. 9, 9 he would have been his uncle) and…
Aboab, Isaac(ABOAB, ISACCO)Vol. I, p. 87 ABOAB, ISACCO. - Rabbi who lived around 1300 in Spain. In his work Menôrâth ha-mâôr (“the candelabrum of lights”), he sets forth in popular form the Talmudic…
Aboab, Isaac, Da Fonseca(ABOAB, ISACCO, DA FONSECA)Vol. I, p. 87 ABOAB, ISACCO, da FONSECA. - Rabbi, born at Castres d'Aire (Spain) in 1605, died in 1693. He was scarcely 7 years old when his parents, in order to escape the…
Abomination of Desolation(ABOMINAZIONE DELLA DESOLAZIONE)Vol. I, p. 87 ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION. — Idolatrous profanation in the ravaged Temple, as the collapse of Jerusalem approached, foretold by Jesus. Jesus refers to Daniel…
Abondance (Abundance)Vol. I, p. 88 ABONDANCE (ABUNDANCE). JEHAN d’. — It is thought that this was not his real name, but the pseudonym of the famous French dramatic poet who died around 1550 and…
Abondio, Saint(ABONDIO, SANTO)Vol. I, p. 88 ABONDIO, santo: v. ABONDIO.
Aborigines(ABORIGENI)Vol. I, p. 88 ABORIGINES. – Indigenous inhabitants of the place in which they live (autochthonous). In the ethnological sense, the term is applied to those inhabitants of a…
Abortion(ABORTO)Vol. I, p. 89 ABORTO. – 1. MORAL THEOLOGY. – It is the expulsion of the ovum, embryo, or immature, that is, nonviable, fetus; in other words, one not yet naturally or…
About, EdmondVol. I, p. 93 ABOUT, EDMOND. – Journalist and novelist, b. at Dieuze on 14 February 1828, d. in Paris on 16 January 1885. For his ideas, sentiments, and biting, polemical…
Abra de Raconis, Charles-François D'(ABRA DE RACONIS, CHARLES-FRANCOIS D')Vol. I, p. 93 ABRA DE RACONIS, CHARLES-FRANCOIS d'. – French theologian, born at Raconis, in the diocese of Chartres, around 1580, died on 16 July 1646; he came from a…
Abrabanel (Abravanel)Vol. I, p. 93 ABRABANEL (Abravanel). — One of the most powerful Jewish families of Spain, where it was already present in 1310. In 1492, when the Jews were expelled by…
Abraham(ABRAMO)Vol. I, p. 94 ABRAMO. – Patriarch of the Old Testament, son of Tare, descendant of Shem. His history, rich in detail, is narrated in Gen. 11:26–25:11. I. A. IN THE HOLY…
Abraham ben Chanan(ABRAMO BEN CHANANIA)Vol. I, p. 99 ABRAMO BEN CHANANIA. – A converted rabbi of the Galiki family, born at Monselice, died around 1625. Having become a Christian in 1605 or shortly thereafter, he…
Abraham ben David ha-Levi(ABRĀHĀM BEN DĀVID HA-LĒVI)Vol. I, p. 94 ABRĀHĀM ben DĀVID HA-LĒVI. – Jewish-Spanish philosopher and historiographer, born in Toledo, died around 1180. He is a notable figure in the history of…
Abraham Ecchellensis(ABRAMO ECCHELLENSE)Vol. I, p. 100 ABRAMO ECCHELLENSE. – In Arabic Hāqil, because he was a native of the village of Hāqil in Lebanon (born in 1605, died on 5 July 1664). He studied at the…
Abraham I Albathantzi(ABRAMO I ALBATHANTZI)Vol. I, p. 98 ABRAMO I ALBATHANTZI. - Armenian Katholikos, from 607 to 610-11. He ascended the patriarchal throne, which had already been vacant for three years, during…
Abraham ibn EzraVol. I, p. 94 ABRAHAM ibn EZRA: v. IBN EZRA ABRAHAM.
Abraham of Balmes (Ben Meir)(ABRAMO DI BALMES (BEN MEIR))Vol. I, p. 98 ABRAMO di BALMES (BEN MEIR). – Hebrew grammarian, b. in Lecce in the 15th century, d. in Venice in 1523. A celebrated physician, educated at the University of…
Abraham of Kaškar(ABRAMO DI KAŠKAR)Vol. I, p. 98 ABRAMO di KAŠKAR. - B. in the year 491 at KAŠKAR, today al-Wāšit, in Mesopotamia, he is called the Great and the father of monasticism among the Nestorians. D.…
Abraham of Nisibis(ABRAHAM DI NISIBI)Vol. I, p. 94 ABRAHAM di NISIBI: v. NARSAL.
Abraham, Abbot of Clermont, Saint(ABRAMO, ABATE DI CLERMONT, SANTO)Vol. I, p. 98 ABRAMO, abbot of CLERMONT, saint. – Born in a place on the Euphrates and died in 485. Having undertaken a journey to visit the solitaries of Egypt, he was…
Abraham, Bishop of Ephesus(ABRAMO, VESCOVO DI EFESO)Vol. I, p. 98 ABRAMO, bishop of EFESO. - Perhaps the successor of Hypatios, still living in 542, or of Andrea, present at the Fifth Ecumenical Council (553). Initially a…
Abram, NicolasVol. I, p. 94 ABRAM, NICOLAS. — A humanist and Jesuit exegete from Lorraine, born at Xaronval in 1589, died at Pont-à-Mousson on 7 December 1655. He entered the Society…
Abramites(ABRAMITI)Vol. I, p. 94 ABRAMITI. — Two sects bore this name: 1) certain heretics of the 9th century, scattered throughout Syria, who, accepting the ideas of Abramo di Antiochia,…
Abramo II (Adam Peter I) Arzivian (Aintaptzi)(ABRAMO II (ADAMO PIETRO I) ARZIVIAN (AINTAPTZI))Vol. I, p. 98 ABRAMO II (ADAMO PIETRO I) ARZIVIAN (Aintaptzi). - Armenian Catholic patriarch, b. at Aintab on 12 Apr. 1679, d. on 1 Oct. 1749. Ordained priest and later…
Abramo of Bēth Rabbān(ABRAMO DI BĒTH RABBĀN)Vol. I, p. 98 ABRAMO di BĒTH RABBĀN. - Syriac doctor, who lived from 449 to 569. He was the director for about 60 years of the school of Nisibis, in which he succeeded…
Abramo of Habran (or of Carrhes), Saint(ABRAMO DI HABRAN (O DI CARRHES), SANTO)Vol. I, p. 98 ABRAMO di HABRAN (o di CARRHES), saint. — Born in the diocese of Cyrus around the middle of the 4th century, he withdrew while still young into the desert of…
Abramo Qidōnāya (or of Bēth Qidōnā)(ABRAMO QIDONĀYA (O DI BĒTH QIDONĀ))Vol. I, p. 100 ABRAMO QIDONĀYA (or of BĒTH QIDONĀ). - Born in A.D. 296 into a well-to-do family, he consented to marriage under parental pressure. Once the wedding had been…
Abramov, Nikolai Alekseyevich(ABRAMOV, NIKOLAJ ALEKSEVIC)Vol. I, p. 100 ABRAMOV, NIKOLAJ ALEKSEVIC. - Born at Kourgan (Tobolsk) in 1812, died at Semipalatinsk in 1870. A scholar of the history of Christianity in Siberia, he was the…
AbraxasVol. I, p. 100 ABRAXAS – A Gnostic gem of talismanic value, depicting on the obverse A. with the head of a rooster (solar animal) and serpent’s legs (= earth); in his hands,…
Abruzzo(ABRUZZO (ABRUZZI))Vol. I, p. 103 ABRUZZO (ABRUZZI). - 1. GEOGRAPHY. - Region of central Italy bordered by the Marches, Umbria, Latium, and Molise, which faces the Adriatic between the mouths…
Absalom(ASSALONNE)Vol. II, p. 118 ASSALONNE: v. ABSALOM.
Absalom (Hebrew 'Abšalôm "The Father is Peace")(ABSALOM (EBR. 'ABŠALÔM « IL PADRE È PACE »))Vol. I, p. 108 ABSALOM (Hebr. 'Abšalôm “the father is peace”). — David’s third-born son, endowed with natural attractions but possessed of unbridled ambition. Eager to rise…
Absalon, Archbishop of Lund(ASSALONNE, ARCIVESCOVO DI LUND (ABSALON))Vol. II, p. 118 ASSALONNE, archbishop of LUND (Absalon). — Primate of Denmark and Sweden, born in 1128 of a noble family, died on 21 March 1201 and was buried in the monastery…
Absel (Absel), Wilhelmus Van(APSEL (ABSEL), WILHELMUS VAN)Vol. I, p. 1017 APSEL (ABSEL), WILHELMUS van. - Pious Carthusian writer, born at Breda (Holland) at the beginning of the 16th century; died at the Charterhouse of La Chapelle…
Absence(ASSENZA)Vol. II, p. 123 ABSENCE. — In juridical language, the term a. is sometimes used in the ordinary sense of non-presence, and sometimes in a special sense. In the first sense,…
Absolute(ASSOLUTO)Vol. II, p. 137 ABSOLUTE. — A word derived from the Latin “absolutus,” which corresponds, in part of its meaning, to the Greek terms δλος and τέλειος, and now assumes one or…
Absolution(ASSOLUZIONE)Vol. II, p. 138 ASSOLUZIONE. – It is the act of absolving. In Latin, absolvere is used in the sense of completing, finishing, for example, absolvere opus, and in the sense of…
Absolutism(ASSOLUTISMO)Vol. II, p. 137 ABSOLUTISM. — This term, in the historical sense, is ordinarily used to designate the monarchical period extending from the sixteenth to the eighteenth…
Abstention(ASTENSIONE)Vol. II, p. 153 ABSTENTION (of JUDGES, WITNESSES, etc.): v. PROCESSO.
Abstinence(ASTINENZA)Vol. II, p. 155 ASTINENZA. — From the Latin abs-teneo, “I keep away,” a. signifies abstaining from something either temporarily or entirely. From the dietary point of view, a.…
Abstract, Abstraction(ASTRATTO, ASTRAZIONE)Vol. II, p. 161 ASTRATTO, ASTRAZIONE. — 1. In general, “a.” is the designation of mental contents, ideas or universal concepts (v.), in opposition to things existing in…
Absurd(ASSURDO)Vol. II, p. 151 ASSURDO. — From Latin absurdus, which in its proper sense had the same value as absonus (ab privative, sonus, sound): out of tune, dissonant, discordant (cf.…
Abu 'l-Walīd Marwān ibn Janāḥ(ABU 'I-WALĪD MARWĀN IBN GANĀH)Vol. I, p. 116 ABU 'L-WALĪD MARWĀN ibn GHANAH: v. JONA IBN GANACH.
Abu Bakr(ABŪ BAKR)Vol. I, p. 112 ABŪ BAKR. – The first successor of Muhammad as head of the Muslim community: thus the first in the series of caliphs (v. CALIFFO), and specifically the first…
Abu Hanīfa, al-Nu'mān ibn Thābit(ABŪ HANĪFA, AN-NU'MĀN IBN THĀBIT)Vol. I, p. 113 ABŪ HANĪFA, AN-NU'MĀN IBN THĀBIT. — Muslim traditionalist and jurist, founder of one of the four principal legal systems or rites (madhhab) currently in force…
Abu Isḥāq ibn al-'Assāl(ABŪ ISHĀQ IBN AL-'ASSĀL)Vol. I, p. 114 ABŪ ISHĀQ IBN al-'ASSĀL. - Coptic theologian and exegete of the 13th century. He was the son of the sheikh Fahr ad-Daula, renowned in Coptic literature; two of…
Abubacer (Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Muhammad ibn Tufail)(ABUBACER (ABŪ BAKR MUHAMMAD IBN ABD AL-MALIK IBN MUHAMMAD IBN TUFAIL))Vol. I, p. 112 ABUBACER (Abū Bakr Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Muhammad ibn Tufail). - An Arab-Spanish physician, mathematician, and philosopher of the Islamic religion, b.…
Abukara, Teodoro (Thāwādōrās)(ABUKARA, TEODORO (THĀWĀDĀRĀS))Vol. I, p. 114 ABUKARA, TEODORO (Thāwādārās). — His name in Arabic is Abu Qurrah, “father of joy.” He was bishop of Harrān (Mesopotamia). There are indications that he lived…
AbuliaVol. I, p. 115 ABULIA. - From the Greek à privative and βουλὴ “will”; abulia is a pathological alteration of the will, consisting in a more or less considerable diminution of…
AbunaVol. I, p. 115 ABUNA. – In Arabic, “our father”; this is what Christians in Arab countries call the priest. In Ethiopia it is the title of the head of the dissident Church.…
Abuse(ABUSO)Vol. I, p. 115 ABUSE. — It is the illicit, unreasonable use of a thing or of a right. Moral theology has not yet elaborated a true doctrine of abuse; this must therefore be…
Abyssinia(ABISSINIA)Vol. I, p. 75 ABISSINIA: v. ETIOPIA.
Abū 'l-Barakāt (Shams ar-Ri'āsah Ibn Kabar)(ABŪ 'I-BARAKĀT (ŠAMS AR-RI'ĀSAH IBN KABAR))Vol. I, p. 113 ABŪ 'I-BARAKĀT (Šams ar-Ri'āsah ibn Kabar). — A Monophysite Coptic theologian of the thirteenth–fourteenth century, who died before 1327. He was a priest and…
Abū Hennis (better Deyr Abū Hennis)(ABŪ HENNIS (MEGLIO DEYR ABŪ HENNIS))Vol. I, p. 114 ABŪ HENNIS (more correctly Deyr Abū Hennis). — Coptic village situated southwest of Sheikh 'Ibada (Antinoupolis), preserving the remains of an important…
Abū l-'Alā al-Ma'arrī(ABŪ 'I-'ALĀ AL-MA'ARRĪ)Vol. I, p. 112 ABŪ 'I-'ALĀ al-MA'ARRĪ. Born to Muslim parents in al-Ma'arrah or Ma'arrat an-Nu'mān (Syria) in 973, and died in 1058. He is renowned as a poet and thinker; he…
