D
1,126 articles · English index · Indice italiano-
Dez, Jean
Jesuit theologian and apologist, b. at Ste-Manehould (Marne) on 3 April 1643, d. at Strasbourg on 12 September 1712. He was one of the precursors of the… -
Dharma
This Sanskrit word, etymologically connected with the Latin firmu-s, is one of the richest in meanings: statute, custom, law, duty, virtue. The Indian d.… -
Dharma-Śāstra
These are "treatises of law," sacred and profane, composed in verse, ordinarily śloka. They derive for the most part from more ancient dharmasūtra, "rules of… -
Diabolical Manifestations (DIABOLICHE, MANIFESTAZIONI)
DIABOLICHE, MANIFESTAZIONI: v. DEMONIACHE, MANIFESTAZIONI. -
Diabolical Possession (POSSESSIONE DIABOLICA)
POSSESSIONE DIABOLICA: V. DEMONIACHE MANIFESTAZIONI. -
Diaconia
A charitable assistance institution, very well known in the East and West from the 4th to the 9th century; in Rome the churches attached to the diaconiae later… -
Diaconicon (Διακονικόν), Diaconico
ART. - A small room, often with an apse, found in basilical churches beside the apse, on the side opposite the prothesis. The use seems to come from the East… -
Diacrinomeni (DIACRINÒMENI)
From the Greek διακρινόμενοι, the term means "hesitants" and was used by Leontius of Byzantium to designate the Monophysites and Eutychians who rejected the… -
Diadochus of Photicea, Saint (DIADOCO DI FOTICEA, SANTO)
The life of St. D., bishop of Photice, in ancient Epirus, has come down to us only through three texts: a mention by Photius, who names D. among the opponents… -
Dialectic (DIALETTICA)
From διαλέγομαι, I discourse. Of frequent use in philosophy, it carries quite different meanings. In the sense that is still the most common today, it is the… -
Dialectical Materialism (MATERIALISMO DIALETTICO)
D. m. is a form of materialism which asserts, in contrast to mechanistic m., the specific difference of the higher spheres of reality (life, consciousness)… -
Dialectical Theology (Barthian) (TEOLOGIA DIALETTICA (BARTHIANA))
This expression designates a doctrinal current that emerged in German Protestantism at the end of the First World War. The theologians Karl Barth, Fr. Gogarten… -
Diamante, Juan Bautista
Spanish playwright, priest and knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, prior of the convent of Morón, b. in Madrid in 1625, d. there in 1687. He wrote… -
Diamantino
Prelature in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil, suffragan of Cuyabà. It was erected by Pope Pius XI on 22 March 1929 with the apostolic constitution Cura… -
Diana
Goddess of the ancient Roman and Italic religion. A large number of scholars hold that she is an originally Italic divinity who only under Greek influence was… -
Diana, Antonio
Theatine, b. in Palermo in 1585, d. in Rome on 20 July 1663. He is among the best-known moral theologians, although tending toward laxism (St. Alphonsus… -
Diana, Benedetto Rusconi, called Il (DIANA, BENEDETTO RUSCONI, DETTO IL)
Painter, b. in Venice around 1460, d. there in 1525. In 1515, in collaboration with Lazzaro Bastiani, he worked on some standards for St. Mark's. His signed… -
Diana d'Andalò, Blessed (DIANA D'ANDALÒ, BEATA)
Dominican, b. ca. 1200, d. at Bologna on 10(?) June 1236. Daughter of Andrea (Andalò) and niece of Pietro Lovello, D. attended from 1218-19 the preaching of… -
Diano-Teggiano, Diocese of (DIANO-TEGGIANO, DIOCESI DI)
In the province of Salerno, residence in Teggiano (ancient Roman municipium). It has an area of 100 sq km with 90,000 inhabitants, of whom 89,070 are… -
Diaphony (DIAFONIA)
A genre of composition in early polyphony (v. ARS ANTIQUA), whose name is used by medieval theorists (9th-12th centuries) as equivalent to organum, which… -
Diario di Roma
This D[iary], commonly called Cracas, is the most important and characteristic Roman periodical of the 1700s and 1800s. It was begun on 5 Aug. 1716, under… -
Dias, Baltasar
Portuguese playwright of the 16th century, the best known and still today the most beloved among the people. A native of the island of Madeira and blind… -
Dias, Bartholomeu
Navigator, b. around 1450. Entrusted by the king of Portugal with exploring the western coast of Africa and having set out in 1486 or '87, he arrived first at… -
Diasie
An ancient Athenian popular festival celebrated on the 23rd of Anthesterion (March) in honor of Zeus Meilichios. The victims offered were completely burned, as… -
Diaspora
The term διασπορά ("dissemination," "dispersion") occurs 7 times in the Greek Bible (Deut. 28:25 [cod. B]; Ps. 146:2; Jud. 5:19 [Vulg. 23]; II Macc. 1:27; John… -
Diasura
DIASURA: v. SYRIA, DEA. -
Diatessaron (DIATÉSSARON)
Work of Tatian, who fused the text of the four Gospels into a single orderly narrative. The fact is reported to us by the historian Eusebius (Hist. eccl., IV… -
Díaz del Castillo, Bernal (DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, BERNAL)
Spanish chronicler, b. at Medina del Campo in 1492, d. around 1581. He left for America in 1514 with P. Davila and took part in the expedition for the… -
Díaz del Ribero, Francisco (DIAZ DEL RIBERO, FRANCISCO)
Spanish sculptor and architect, b. at Mazcuerras (Santander) in Jan. 1592, d. at Granada on 1 Apr. 1670. He had acquired a reputation as a skilled cabinetmaker… -
Di Bagno Guidi, Giovanni Francesco
DI BAGNO GUIDI, GIOVANNI FRANCESCO: V. BAGNO, GIOVANNI FRANCESCO. -
Di Bagno Guidi, Nicolò
DI BAGNO GUIDI, NICOLÒ: V. BAGNO, NICOLÒ. -
Di Bartolo, Erasmo
Musician, b. in Gaeta in 1606, d. in Naples in 1656, called p. Raimo, of the confraternity of the Trinity in Naples. He was first a singer of the chapel and of… -
Di Bartolo, Salvatore
Palermitan theologian, b. 6 Nov. 1838, d. 15 June 1906. He completed his studies under the guidance of Msgr. Domenico Cilluffo (Elogio funebre di D. Cilluffo… -
Dibon (DIBON)
A Moabite city, a stop or station of the Israelites on their journey toward the Promised Land (Num. 33:45), conquered and rebuilt by Gad, whence the name… -
Di Breme, Lodovico Arborio Gattinara
Born in Turin in 1780, died there on 15 August 1820. Almoner of the viceroy of Italy Eugène de Beauharnais, councillor of state in the first Kingdom of Italy… -
Dicastillo, Juan de
Spanish Jesuit theologian, b. in Naples to Spanish parents on 28 Dec. 1584, d. at Ingolstadt on 6 March 1653. A religious in 1600, he taught scholastic… -
Dickens, Charles
English novelist, b. at Portsea on 7 Feb. 1812, d. near Chatham-Rochester on 9 June 1870. The early hard years of his life are narrated to us in the form of a… -
Didaché
The only manuscript of this opuscule was discovered by Theophilus Bryennios, metropolitan of Nicomedia, in 1875 in the Library of the monastery of the Holy… -
Didactics (DIDATTICA)
DIDATTICA: v. EDUCAZIONE. -
Didascalia
This apocryphal writing purports to be "the Catholic doctrine" of the 12 Apostles and claims to have been written in Jerusalem after the "decree" of the… -
Didaskaleion
Journal founded in 1912 by the Salesian Paolo Ubaldi. The program, indicated by the subtitle Studies in the philosophy of ancient Christian literature, was, as… -
Diderot, Denis
Philosopher, b. at Langres (Champagne) on 5 Oct. 1713, d. at Paris on 30 July 1784. Destined by his father for the ecclesiastical state, he attended the Jesuit… -
Didiot, Jules
Priest, theologian, b. at Cheppy (Meuse) on 14 Aug. 1840, d. at Montbras (near Maxeys-sur-Vaysse [Meuse]) on 20 Dec. 1903. Having earned a doctorate in… -
Didon, Henri
Dominican, preacher, b. at Touvet (Isère) on 17 March 1840; d. at Toulouse on 15 March 1900. From 1865 in Paris, he carried on his vigorous, effective and… -
Didot Family (DIDOT, FAMIGLIA)
Famous French printers and booksellers, perhaps originally from Lorraine, but who carried on their activity in Paris from the 18th century onward. FRANÇOIS… -
Didrachma (DIDRAMMA)
A silver coin worth two drachmas, also designated by the term stater (στατής). It corresponded to half a shekel of the Hebrew monetary system, and constituted… -
Didron, Adolphe-Napoléon
Art historian, b. at Hautvillers (Marne) on 13 March 1806, d. in Paris on 13 Nov. 1867. He completed his early studies in the seminaries of Meaux and Reims. In… -
Didymus the Blind (DIDIMO IL CIECO)
Ancient ecclesiastical writer, b. around 313 in Alexandria, where he spent his whole life, d. there between 395 and 399. At the age of four he became blind; he… -
Die
City and ancient diocese of France, today the capital of an arrondissement in the department of Drôme. A sanctuary of the goddess Andarta situated in a valley… -
Dieckhoff, August Wilhelm
Protestant theologian, b. 5 February 1823 at Göttingen, d. 12 September 1894 at Rostock. Extraordinary professor of systematic and historical theology in 1854… -
Dieckmann, Hermann
Jesuit, historian, b. at Osnabrück (northern Germany) on 2 July 1880; d. at Valkenburg (Holland) on 15 Oct. 1928. First a professor of letters at S. Leopoldo… -
Diedo, Francesco
Venetian humanist gentleman, professor of law at Padua, d. at Verona on 25 March 1484. By the Roman Cristoforo Persona, in the preface with which the latter… -
Diego Joseph of Cádiz, Blessed (DIEGO GIUSEPPE DA CADICE, BEATO)
Preacher and Capuchin writer of the province of Andalusia, b. at Cadiz on 30 March 1743, entered the novitiate on 31 March 1758, d. at Ronda (Malaga) on 24… -
Diego of Alcalá, Saint (DIEGO DI ALCALÁ, SANTO)
B. around 1400 at S. Nicolás del Puerto (Andalusia). Of obscure birth, he showed from childhood a great love of solitude. He took the Franciscan habit as a lay… -
Diego of Jesus (DIEGO DI GESÙ)
Discalced Carmelite theologian, in the world Diego Salablanca, b. in Granada (Spain) in 1570, d. at Toledo on Sept. 3, 1621. In 1586 he became a Carmelite, and… -
Diego Suarez [Antsiranana], Apostolic Vicariate of (DIEGO SUAREZ, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI)
In Africa, on the island of Madagascar. It originates from the apostolic vicariate of Madagascar erected on 21 Jan. 1848 and divided on 16 Jan. 1896 into the… -
Diehl, Charles
Byzantinist, b. at Strasbourg on July 4, 1859, d. at Paris on Nov. 2, 1944. He was a professor at the Sorbonne and a member of the Institut de France. D.… -
Diekamp, Franz
Theologian, b. at Geldern (Rhineland) on 8 Nov. 1864, priest in 1887, from 1902 professor of dogmatic theology at Münster (Westphalia), d. in 1943. Author of… -
Diekamp, Wilhelm
Historian, b. at Geldern on 13 May 1854, d. at Rome on 25 Dec. 1885. Having completed his studies in theology and history with splendid success, he began his… -
Dientzenhofer Family (DIENTZENHOFER, FAMIGLIA)
German architects originally from Aibling in Bavaria, divided into two branches, one active in Bamberg and the other in Prague; of the Bamberg branch the… -
Diepenbrock, Melchior von
Cardinal, b. at Bocholt (Westphalia) on 6 January 1798, d. at Johannisberg Castle (Upper Silesia) on 20 January 1853. Initially an officer in the army, he was… -
Dieringer, Franz Xaver
Theologian, b. at Rangendingen, near Hechingen, on 22 Aug. 1811, d. at Veringendorf (Hohenzollern), on 8 Sept. 1876. He studied at Tübingen and Freiburg… -
Dies Irae
Sequence for the Mass of the Dead, consisting of seventeen ternary stanzas of paroxytone monorhymed octosyllables, plus six of a closing section, in a… -
Dies Orientalis
DIES ORIENTALIS: V. ORIENTE CRISTIANO. -
Diessbach, Nikolaus Joseph Albert von (DIESSBACH, NICOLAUS JOSEPH ALBERT VON)
Jesuit, apostle of the good press, b. in Bern, of a patrician Calvinist family, on 15 February 1732, d. in Vienna on 22 December 1798. At the age of 15 he… -
Diessel, Gerhard
Redemptorist preacher, b. at Freren (Hannover) on 21 Jan. 1845, d. at Dornbirn (Austria) on 6 Aug. 1907. He studied at Louvain and at Münster. Ordained a… -
Dietenberger, Johann (DIETENBERGER, IOHANN)
Dominican theologian and polemicist, b. in Frankfurt am Main in 1475, d. in Mainz on 4 Sept. 1537. Having been awarded a doctorate in theology at Mainz (1515)… -
Dietwinus (DIETWINO)
In the sources Theod(ew)inus, cardinal. The year of his birth is unknown. A monk at Marmoutier and abbot of Gorze, in December 1134 or shortly thereafter he… -
Di Francia, Annibale Maria
Canon of Messina, born there on 5 July 1851 and died there on 1 June 1927. Of a noble family and of fervent intellect, having become a priest in 1878, he… -
Digambara
DIGAMBARA: v. GIAIANISMO. -
Digest (DIGESTO)
DIGESTO: v. CORPUS IURIS CIVILIS. -
Di Giacomo, Salvatore
Dialect poet, b. in Naples on 12 March 1860, d. there on 4 April 1934. Having abandoned the faculty of medicine, he devoted himself very young to journalism… -
Di Giovanni, Vincenzo
Historian and philosopher, priest, b. at Salapante (Trapani) in 1832, d. there in 1903. He was professor of philosophy at the lyceum and at the seminary of… -
Digne, Diocese of (DIGNE, DIOCESI DI)
City and capital of the department of Basses-Alpes in France; it is a suffragan of Aix. It comprises almost entirely the ancient dioceses of Sisteron, Riez… -
Dignity (DIGNITÀ)
In a generic sense, dignities are ecclesiastical offices with attached jurisdiction and precedence of honor. In a strict and specific sense, they are prebendal… -
Dijon, Diocese of (DIGIONE, DIOCESI DI)
Capital of the department of the Côte-d'Or in France, it is situated at the confluence of the rivers Ouche and Suzon on the Bourgogne canal. The diocese… -
Dikr
In Arabic "mention"; it is the glorification of Allah carried out through the litanic repetition of certain words or phrases. The repetition may be done aloud… -
Dilata
It is the formula of reply in use at the Holy Congregations (v. CONGREGAZIONI PONTIFICI), when to a recourse or petition or to a doubt proposed no affirmative… -
Dilemma
From δὶς λῆμμα (double assumption), a form of reasoning in which from two or more members of a disjunctive premise one draws either an identical conclusion, or… -
Dilgskron, Karl
Redemptorist, b. in Vienna on 31 Aug. 1843, and d. there on 1 June 1912. He taught philosophy and theology at Mautern (Styria); from 1878 to 1883 he was a… -
Dili, Diocese of (DILI, DIOCESI DI)
On the island of Timor in the Indonesian archipelago. It is the capital city of the Portuguese colony of Timor, that is, of the eastern part of the island… -
Diligence (DILIGENZA)
In its primary meaning it indicates an assiduous and exquisite care, a particular attentiveness in doing something. Even in the spiritual life and in ascetics… -
Dilthey, Wilhelm
German philosopher, b. 19 Nov. 1833 at Biebrich, d. 10 Oct. 1911 at Siusi (Bolzano). He was professor at Basel, Kiel, Breslau; in 1882 he succeeded Lenze at… -
Dimas of the Cross (DIMAS DELLA CROCE)
In the world Giacinto Tonelli, Carmelite missionary. Born on 13 Nov. 1577 at Monteleone (Spoleto), he professed in Rome on 25 March 1610. From 1616 in the… -
Di Meo, Alessandro
Born at Vulturara on 3 Nov. 1726, died at Nola on 20 March 1786. He entered the Redemptorists, making his profession on 17 Jan. 1749. St. Alphonsus sent him to… -
Dimissory Letters (DIMISSORIE, LETTERE)
Authorization that an Ordinary grants, normally in writing, to a bishop (even if unspecified, who as a rule should be of the same rite as the ordinand and in… -
Dina (DINA)
Daughter of the patriarch Jacob, born to him by Leah (Gen. 30:21) while he was in Mesopotamia. In Palestine, in the region of Shechem, Dinah, who must have… -
Dinajpur, Diocese of (DINAJPUR, DIOCESI DI)
Erected by apostolic brief of 25 May 1927 by dismemberment of the diocese of Krishnagar (India), it has an area of 45,383 sq. km. and a population of about 10… -
Dindia (D'India), Sigismondo
A Palermitan musician who lived in the 17th century. He was in Florence between 1608 and 1609 and, from 1611-12, was head of chamber music to Duke C. Emanuel I… -
D'Indy, Paul-Marie-Théodore-Vincent
Musician, b. in Paris on 27 March 1851, d. there on 2 Dec. 1931. A pupil of César Franck, he was later, together with him, Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Duparc and… -
Dinei (DINEI)
In Ezra 4:9 they are named in the series of exiles from Babylon, from Susa, etc., transplanted by the Assyrian kings into Samaria (v. APARSACHEI). According to… -
Di Netta, Vito Michele, Venerable (DI NETTA, VITO MICHELE, VENERABILE)
Born at Vallata (Avellino) on 26 February 1787, died on 3 December 1849. From the seminary of S. Angelo dei Lombardi he passed to the novitiate of the… -
Dino, Mugellano
Jurist of the 13th century. After completing his studies at Bologna, he taught law first at Pistoia, then at Bologna. In 1297 he was summoned to Rome by… -
D'Insengard, Giuseppe
Missionary of St. Vincent, apostle of the catechism, b. of the barons d'I. at La Spezia on 25 Sept. 1844, d. at Rome on 9 July 1913. Ordained priest on 21… -
Diocesan Associations (ASSOCIAZIONI DIOCESANE)
In France the law of 9 Dec. 1905, by denying legal personality to all ecclesiastical bodies, and therefore patrimonial capacity, replaced them with a single… -
Diocesan Consultors (CONSULTORI DIOCESANI)
It is a college of secular priests which, in dioceses where the cathedral Chapter (v.) cannot be established or re-established, the bishop must, unless the… -
Diocesan Worker Priests (SACERDOTI OPERAI DIOCESANI)
They were founded by Manuel Domingo y Sol, a priest of the diocese of Tortosa, in 1881, for the direction of the "St. Joseph" colleges he had established in… -
Diocese (DIOCESI)
In the ecclesiastical order it is that territory, well defined in its extent and in its boundaries, which is governed by a bishop with ordinary power according… -
Diocese of Alessio [Lezhë] (ALESSIO, DIOCESI DI)
The Turkish invasion made of this very ancient Albanian diocese (14th century) a true mission territory. As early as 1240 the Franciscans had a convent there.… -
Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana (ALEXANDRIA IN LUISIANA, DIOCESI DI)
In the United States, a suffragan of New Orleans. Erected on July 23, 1853 under the name of Natchitoches, it was transferred to A. on Aug. 6, 1910. Catholics… -
Diocese of Alexandria in Ontario (ALEXANDRIA IN ONTARIO, DIOCESI DI)
In Canada, a suffragan of Kingston. Erected on 23 January 1890 under the name of A. in America, changed on 15 November 1910 to A. in Ontario. The diocese… -
Diocese of Amoy [Xiamen] (AMOY, DIOCESI DI)
District of the civil province of Fukien (China), it was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 3 Dec. 1883 and enlarged in area by decree of 19 July 1913; on 3… -
Diocese of Apuania (APUANIA, DIOCESI DI)
In Tuscany, in the province of A., with a population of 200,000 inhabitants spread over an area of 1,155 sq km. It has 215 parishes with 234 priests. A. is an… -
Diocese of Asti (ASTI, DIOCESI DI)
City of Piedmont, on the hills south of the Tanaro, near the confluence of the Borbore with the Versa. An important agricultural and wine-producing center, it… -
Diocese of Astorga (ASTORGA, DIOCESI DI)
In Spain, suffragan of Valladolid since 1851. The ancient Asturica Augusta, in the province of León, 40 km. from that city, sits on a height (870 m.) in the… -
Diocese of Basel (BASILEA, DIOCESI DI)
In Switzerland; it comprises the cantons of Aargau, Basel (city and countryside), Bern, Lucerne, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau and Zug. The bishop resides… -
Diocese of Ceneda (CENEDA, DIOCESI DI)
CENEDA, DIOCESI di: v. VITTORIO VENETO, DIOCESI di. -
Diocese of Città della Pieve (CITTÀ DELLA PIEVE, DIOCESI DI)
In Umbria, in the province of Perugia. The ancient Castrum plebis in fact belonged to the vast diocese of Chiusi, from which it was detached when an… -
Diocese of Città di Castello (CITTÀ DI CASTELLO, DIOCESI DI)
In Umbria (province of Perugia), immediately subject to the Holy See. It has an area of 875 sq km, has 156 parishes with 112 diocesan priests and 10 regulars… -
Diocese of Connor (CONNOR, DIOCESI DI)
CONNOR, DIOCESI di: v. DOWN, DIOCESI di. -
Diocese of Corrientes (CORRIENTES, DIOCESI DI)
City in the Argentine Republic, capital of the province of the same name. It is situated 37 km south of the confluence of the Paraná and Paraguay rivers. It… -
Diocese of Cortona (CORTONA, DIOCESI DI)
In Tuscany, in the province of Arezzo, immediately subject to the Holy See. The date of foundation of the episcopal church of Cortona is not very ancient… -
Diocese of Diakovar (DIAKOVAR, DIOCESI DI)
DIAKOVAR, DIOCESI di: v. SIRNIO, DIOCESI di. -
Diocese of Fargo (FARGO, DIOCESI DI)
City in the State of North Dakota, in the United States of America and seat of a diocese suffragan of St. Paul of Minnesota, comprising 30 counties in the east… -
Diocese of Fidenza (FIDENZA, DIOCESI DI)
In Emilia, in the province of Parma. The Church of F. traces its remote origins to the cult of the martyr St. Donninus, which developed on the site of ancient… -
Diocese of Fiesole (FIESOLE, DIOCESI DI)
A city of Tuscany, a suffragan of Florence since 1420. Its territory is varied, vast and articulated; it extends over part of the valleys of the Sieve, in its… -
Diocese of Fossano (FOSSANO, DIOCESI DI)
Suffragan of Turin. In the province of Cuneo, it comprises the territory extending to the left of the Stura river, at the crossing of the railway lines and… -
Diocese of Freiburg in Breisgau (FRIBURGO IN BRIGOVIA, DIOCESI DI)
It is the metropolis of the suffragan dioceses of Mainz and Rottenburg and covers an area of 16,212 sq km. Of the 2,530,490 inhabitants, 1,545,645 are… -
Diocese of Fréjus (FRÉJUS, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in southern France; the territory corresponds to that of the department of Var. The diocese has an area of 5,609 sq km with a population of… -
Diocese of Fulda (FULDA, DIOCESI DI)
In Germany, a suffragan of Paderborn, it has an area of 19,958 sq. km., population 3,603,800 of whom 838,580 are Catholics, 465 churches, 284 parishes, 394… -
Diocese of Fushun (FUSHUN, DIOCESI DI)
In southeastern Manchuria, on the border with Korea. It was erected as an apostolic prefecture on 4 Feb. 1932, with territory detached from the mission of… -
Diocese of Mixtecas (MIXTECAS, DIOCESI DI)
MIXTECAS, DIOCESI di: v. HUAJUAPAM DE LEÓN, DIOCESI di. -
Diocese of Saint John of Acre (Akkā, Ptolemais) (VESCOVATO DI SAN GIOVANNI D'ACRI ('AKKĀ, TOLEMAIDE))
Episcopal see of the Melkites with residence at Haifa, suffragan of Tyre. It was an episcopal see from the 3rd century. The series of Greek-Catholic bishops… -
Diocese of Siedlce (SIEDLCE, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in Poland. It has an area of 14,300 sq km with a population of 784,300 inhabitants, of whom 740,188 are Catholics, distributed in 264… -
Diocese of Socorro and San Gil (SOCORRO E SAN GIL, DIOCESI DI)
In the Republic of Colombia (South America). It has an area of 12,900 sq. km., with a population of 345,546 inhabitants, of whom 345,406 are Catholics… -
Diocese of Sorocaba (SOROCABA, DIOCESI DI)
Suffragan of São Paulo, in the state of the same name, in Brazil. It has an area of 23,506 sq. km. and a population of 468,000 inhabitants, of whom 450,000 are… -
Diocese of Southwark (SOUTHWARK, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in England. It has a population of 5,083,495 inhabitants (1931 census), of whom about 280,000 are Catholics (1950), distributed in 238… -
Diocese of Sovana-Pitigliano (SOVANA-PITIGLIANO, DIOCESI DI)
In the province of Grosseto, it has an area of 2,000 sq km and a population of 60,000 inhabitants, of whom 59,000 are Catholics, distributed in 51 parishes… -
Diocletian, Roman Emperor (DIOCLEZIANO, IMPERATORE ROMANO)
Born of a humble family in Dalmatia around 243, perhaps not far from Salona, he made his way, like many of his compatriots from the Illyrian provinces, in the… -
Diodati, Giovanni
Protestant exegete, b. in Geneva in 1576 to an emigrated Lucchese family, and d. there on 3 Oct. 1649. At only 21 years of age he obtained the chair of Hebrew… -
Diodorus (DIODORO)
Bishop of Tarsus, ascetic and second founder of the Antiochene exegetical school, b. in the first quarter of the 4th century, d. before 392. He studied at… -
Diodorus, Saint, Martyr (DIODORO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
DIODORO, santo, martire: v. PAPIA, DIODORO and CLAUDIANO, saints, martyrs. -
Diognetus, Epistle to (DIOGNETO, EPISTOLA A)
Only one manuscript is known (the Strasbourg manuscript, destroyed in 1870, once in the possession of the humanist Reuchlin), which contained the Epistle to D.… -
Diomira Maria del Verbo Incarnato, Venerable (DIOMIRA MARIA DEL VERBO INCARNATO, VENERABILE)
Capuchin nun, in the world Maria Teresa Serri, b. in Genoa on 27 Feb. 1708 to Swiss parents, d. at Fanano (Modena) on 14 Jan. 1768. She entered the monastery… -
Dionigi della Natività and Redento della Croce, Blessed (DIONIGI DELLA NATIVITÀ E REDENTO DELLA CROCE, BESTI)
D. della N., Discalced Carmelite, in the world Pietro Berthelot, b. 12 Dec. 1600 at Honfleur in Normandy. As a youth he devoted himself to commercial… -
Dionigi of Piacenza (DIONIGI DA PIACENZA)
Capuchin missionary of the Carli family; at the age of fifteen he took the habit of the Order at Cesena on 25 April 1652. With Father Michelangelo Guattini da… -
Dionisi, Gian Giacomo
Philologist and scholar, b. at Verona on 22 July 1734, d. there on 14 Apr. 1808. A canon and librarian of the Veronese Chapter, he left valuable studies on… -
Dionysius (DIONIGI)
Greek monk (1318-90), who in 1374 rebuilt on Mount Athos a monastery which from his name was called "Dionysios". For it he obtained in 1375, from the emperor… -
Dionysius Bar Ṣalībī (DIONIGI BAR ŞALİBİ)
Syriac Monophysite writer, d. 2 November 1171. Ordained deacon at Melitene in 1154, he was made bishop of Mar'ash and later of Mabbug; then in 1166 he became… -
Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, Saint (DIONIGI, VESCOVO DI CORINTO, SANTO)
Contemporary of Pope Soter (before 175). Author of seven "Catholic Epistles" (encyclical letters) addressed to the faithful in Lacedaemonia, Athens, Nicomedia… -
Dionysius of Alexandria, Saint (DIONIGI D'ALESSANDRIA, SANTO)
Father of the Church, b. at the end of the 2nd century, d. around 264. The son of pagans, he came to the faith through reading and meditation. He was a… -
Dionysius of Luxembourg (DIONISIO DA LUSSEMBURGO)
He entered the Capuchins of the Rhenish province on May 1, 1669, died at Kochem on February 11, 1703. A preacher of wide renown, he also wrote many polemical… -
Dionysius of Tell Mahre (DIONIGI DI TELLMAHRÉ)
Monophysite patriarch and annalist, a native of Tellmahre, d. 22 Aug. 845. He was first a monk in the monastery of Kenneshre and, after this had been burned… -
Dionysius, Pope (DIONISIO, PAPA)
The anonymous author of the Liber Pontificalis, who reflects the historical mentality of the 6th century, asserts that he came from the monastic order; perhaps… -
Dionysius, Rusticus, and Eleutherius, Saints, Martyrs (DIONIGI, RUSTICO ED ELEUTERIO, SANTI, MARTIRI)
They are commemorated in the Hieronymian Martyrology on 9 October. The oldest document of the cult of D. is the Life of St. Genevieve, in which mention is made… -
Dionysius, Saint (DIONIGI, SANTO)
He was bishop of Milan in 355 when the emperor Constantius convened the Council there at the suggestion of Pope Liberius. It seems that at first D. had… -
Dionysius the Areopagite (DIONIGI L'AREOPAGITA)
I. THE WORKS. - The corpus of the Areopagitic writings contains the following treatises (as is attested by the very ancient Syriac version of Sergius of… -
Dionysius the Carthusian (DIONIGI CERTOSINO)
Theologian, exegete and mystic, b. at Ryckel (Belgian Limburg) in 1402, d. at Roermond on 12 March 1471. His life, absorbed in contemplation and theological… -
Dionysius the Small (DIONIGI IL PICCOLO)
A Scythian monk, moribus omnino Romanis, who, in order to supply the deficiencies of the various translations of the Greek canons that had been circulating in… -
Dionysus (Diónysos, Diónysos) (DIONISO (ΔΙΌΝΥΣΟΣ, ΔΙΌΝΥΣΟΣ))
Greek divinity: "the god of ecstasy and terror, of frenzy and exhilarating intoxication, the mad god whose appearance drives men mad." Scholars disagree on the… -
Dioscorus I (DIOSCORO I)
Patriarch of Alexandria from 444 to 451, died in exile at Gangra in Paphlagonia on 4 December 454. Of Dioscorus's life before he became bishop, it is known… -
Dioscorus, Pope (DIOSCORO, PAPA)
Deacon of the church of Alexandria, forced by the Monophysite controversies to go into exile, he took refuge in Rome, where he was aggregated to that clergy.… -
Dioscorus, Saint, Martyr (DIOSCORO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
Son of a Christian lector of Cynopolis (Upper Egypt) and a tax collector, he was arrested by the curator of the city, and having refused to sacrifice to the… -
Dioscuri (Didachúra) (DIOSCURI (ΔΙΔΑΧΟΎΡΑ))
Greek divinities: they were twins, Castor and Pollux, young and very beautiful, sons of Zeus and of Leda, brothers of Helen, but, according to others, only… -
Diotrephes
A figure remembered with reproach in III John 9 ff. The name (Διοτρεφής) is found in inscriptions and in Greek authors (J. Chaine, p. 256). D. must have been… -
Di Pietro, Camillo
Cardinal, born in Rome on 10 January 1806, died there on 6 March 1884. Nephew of Michele Di Pietro, who honored the sacred purple during the pontificate of… -
Di Pietro, Michele
Cardinal, b. at Albano on 18 Jan. 1747 and d. at Rome on 2 July 1821. Having earned his degree at Rome, he taught theology, law and ecclesiastical history at… -
Diplomatic Agent (AGENTE DIPLOMATICO)
Organ of political relations between States, charged with representing the sending State, temporarily or permanently, in the State where he exercises his… -
Diplomatic Corps (CORPO DIPLOMATICO)
It consists of the body of diplomatic agents permanently accredited to a given State, who are usually considered collectively for merely protocol reasons, but… -
Diplomatic Couriers (CORRIERI DIPLOMATICI)
These are those who carry out the transport of the official correspondence of diplomatic agents (v.). By virtue of the right recognized to the latter to… -
Diplomatic Dispatch (DISPACCIO DIPLOMATICO)
DISPACCIO DIPLOMATICO: v. RAPPORTO DIPLOMATICO. -
Diplomatic Immunities (IMMUNITÀ DIPLOMATICHE)
Customary rules of general international law impose on States a series of obligations, the content of which takes concrete form in a special treatment to be… -
Diplomatics (DIPLOMATICA)
Diplomatics (from diploma, understood in the broad sense of "document") is the science that studies public and private acts for the purpose of determining the… -
Diplovataccio, Tommaso
Jurist, b. in Corfu in 1468 and d. in Pesaro on 29 May 1541. He devoted himself to the study of law at various universities in Italy, taking his degree at… -
Dipolie (Διπύλια) (DIIPOLIE (ΔΙΠΎΛΙΑ))
A festival of the Athenian calendar that fell on the 13th day of the month Scirophorion (= June 29). It was dedicated to Zeus Polieus, protector of the city… -
Diptych (DITTICO)
I. ART. - From δίς = twice and πύσσειν = to fold. This name was given to two tablets or leaves joined on one side by a hinge or a cord or rings so that they… -
Dirckinck (Dircking), Johannes
Jesuit writer, b. 13 April 1641 at Bocholt (Westphalia), d. 26 January 1716 at Geist (Büren). Professor of humanities and philosophy; he was also rector at… -
Di Rosa, Gennaro, Venerable (DI ROSA, GENNARO, VENERABILE)
Priest, b. in Naples on 28 June 1823, d. there on 28 Feb. 1905. Ordained a priest on 29 March 1847, he exercised the sacred ministry in hospices and prisons… -
Di Rosa, Maria Crocifissa, Blessed (DI ROSA, MARIA CROCIFISSA, BEATA)
In the world, Paolina Di Rosa, Foundress of the Ancelle della Carità (v.), born in Brescia to a noble family on 6 Nov. 1813, died there on 15 Dec. 1855. At the… -
Diruta, Girolamo (DIRUTA, GEROLAMO)
Musician, b. in Perugia ca. 1560. The date of his death is unknown. A pupil of Zarlino, A. Gabrieli, Costanzo Porta and C. Merulo, in 1574 he was a Conventual… -
Disarmament (DISARMO)
The common good, the essential end of the State, imposes on public authority the duty of providing for internal order and of defending against possible… -
Disc (DISCO)
The term discus or missorium, and improperly bouclier ("shield"), is customarily used to designate a concave platter of silver or another precious material, of… -
Discalced Augustinian Hermits (ROMITANI SCALZI DI SANT'AGOSTINO)
One of the three families of the Augustinian Order, whose origin goes back to the last decade of the 16th century, in the full movement of spiritual renewal… -
Discalced Carmelite Tertiaries of Malabar of the Latin Rite (TERZIARI CARMELITANI SCALZI DEL MALABAR DI RITO LATINO)
Founded on 26 April 1874 by Msgr. Leonardo Mellano, archbishop of Verapoly, at Manjummel (Malabar). They were approved by the S. Congr. of Propaganda Fide on 9… -
Discalced Carmelite Tertiaries of Syro-Malabarese (TERZIARI CARMELITANI SCALZI SIROMALABARESI)
First indigenous Congregation of eastern India, founded in 1831 in Mannanam (Malabar) by the priests Thomas Palakal and Thomas Porukara, under the name of… -
Discalced Clerics (Passionists) (CHIERICI SCALZI (PASSIONISTI))
Retreat of Sts. John and Paul. General house since 10 Dec. 1773: there the founder of the Congregation, St. Paul of the Cross, died on 18 Oct. 1775 - Rome… -
Discant (DISCANTO)
By this term, which is meant to be regarded as a translation of the Greek term Sixquola, is indicated an ancient form of polyphony (v. ARS ANTIQUA) that… -
Discernment of Spirits (DISCERNIMENTO DEGLI SPIRITI)
Supernatural wisdom (discretio spirituum), recommended by Sacred Scripture (I Thess. 5:19-21), which allows one rightly to distinguish the origin, at least… -
Discernment of Spirits (DISCREZIONE DEGLI SPIRITI)
DISCREZIONE DEGLI SPIRITI: v. DISCERNIMENTO DEGLI SPIRITI. -
Disciples (DISCEPOLI)
A designation for Protestants also called Campbellites, because they were followers of Thomas Campbell (1763-1853). He was an Irish Presbyterian who, in 1807… -
Disciples (DISCOLI)
DISCOLI : v. PEDAGOGIA EMENDATIVA. -
Disciples of the Lord (DISCEPOLI DEL SIGNORE)
This title (μαθηταί Κυρίου) in the Gospel often designates the Apostles (v.), in Acts all believers. In a stricter sense, it indicates those followers of Jesus… -
Disciplinants (DISCIPLINANTI)
DISCIPLINANTI: v. FLAGELLANTI. -
Discipline (DISCIPLINA)
An instrument of penance, which ordinarily consists of a set of cords or chains, small or large, simple or ending in bars and little balls of hard substances… -
Discord (DISCORDIA)
I. DEFINITION. - D. is not merely a divergence of opinions, nor merely a scattering of efforts in pursuing common goals; properly speaking, it is a formal… -
Discus (Dískos, Diacárion) (DISCOS (ΔΊΣΚΟΣ, ΔΙΑΚΆΡΙΟΝ))
In the Eastern rites this name is given to a small metal plate (of gold, silver, or gilded brass), deeper than the Western paten, but serving the same purpose.… -
Diseases, Insurance Against (MALATTIE, ASSICURAZIONE CONTRO LE)
Insurance against i. is the last to be incorporated into modern systems of social insurance, and this is explained by a complex of reasons that may be… -
Dishypatos, David (DAVIDE DISHYPATOS)
Byzantine polemicist of the 14th century. The particulars of his life are unknown; it is certain, however, that he was a native of Thessalonica and that he… -
Disinheritance (DISEREDAZIONE)
DISEREDAZIONE: v. EREDITÀ; SUCCESIONE; TESTAMENTO. -
Dismas, the Good Thief, Saint (DISMAS, IL BUON LADRONE, SANTO)
From the Greek ὄναμή, "dying," he is the well-known figure who was converted at the point of death on Calvary, crucified at the right hand of Jesus, of whom… -
Dismemberment of Dioceses (DISMEMBRAZIONE DELLE DIOCESI)
DISMEMBRAZIONE DELLE DIOCESI: v. BENEFICIO ECCLESIASTICO. -
Dismission (DIMISSIONE)
A word used in various meanings in ecclesiastical legal terminology. The main meanings currently in use are the following: a) in matters of ecclesiastical… -
Dismission Letters (LETTERE DIMISSIONALI)
LETTERE DIMISSIONALI: v. DIMISSORIE LETTERE. -
Disparity of Worship (DISPARITÀ DI CULTO)
It is the matrimonial impediment that exists, in the canon law in force in the Latin Church, between an unbaptized person (that is, one not baptized) and one… -
Dis Pater
A figure of Roman religion of very slight interest. Son of Saturn and Ops, he received as his lot the underground kingdom, when it was decided with his… -
Dispensation from Laws (DISPENSA DALLE LEGGI)
DISPENSA dalle LEGGI: v. LEGGI. -
Dispersion of the Jews (DISPERSIONE DEGLI EBREI)
DISPERSIONE DEGLI EBREI: v. DIASPORA. -
Disreputable Arts (ARTI INDECOROSE)
This is the name given, in the CIC (can. 138), to those professions or trades whose exercise is expressly forbidden to clerics because it is considered… -
Dissenters (DISSIDENTI (DISSENZIENTI))
This is the name given to those who are separated from the Catholic Church for disciplinary and doctrinal reasons. In particular, under this name are meant the… -
Dissimulation (DISSIMULAZIONE)
In canon law it means the attitude of a superior who, though aware of a transgression of the law, pretends not to know of it. It is an essentially negative…