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1,014 articles · English index · Indice italiano

Legitimate Defense (DIFESA LEGITTIMA) Vol. IV, p. 917
LEGITIMATE DEFENSE. — A person who, compelled by the necessity of defending a right of his own or of another, relating to personal safety or to a precious…
Legitimation for Legal Acts (LEGITTIMAZIONE AGLI ATTI GIURIDICI) Vol. VII, p. 652
LEGITTIMAZIONE AGLI ATTI GIURIDICI. — The l. to juridical acts or legal transactions (the terms juridical act and legal transaction are used interchangeably…
Legitimism (LEGITTIMISMO) Vol. VII, p. 653
LEGITIMISM. — This is the theory advanced at the time of the Restoration concerning the ethical and juridical obligation to restore the Bourbons to the throne…
Legrand, Émile (LEGRAND, EMILE) Vol. VII, p. 655
LEGRAND, EMILE. – Born at Fontenay-le Marmion on 30 December 1841, died in Paris on 28 November 1904; professor of Modern Greek, editor of school texts, and…
Lehmkuhl, August Vol. VII, p. 656
LEHMKUHL, AUGUST. — Jesuit, moral theologian, born at Hagen (Westphalia) on 23 September 1834, died at Valkenburg (Holland) on 23 June 1918. Professor of…
Lehodey, Vital Vol. VII, p. 656
LEHODEY, VITAL. - Trappist ascetical-mystical theologian, secular name Alcime, b. at Hamlye (France) on 17 Dec. 1857, d. at Bricquebec on 6 May 1948. Ordained…
Leib, Kilian Vol. VII, p. 656
LEIB, KILIAN. - Regular canon, polemicist, and annalist, b. at Ochsenfurt (Franconia) on 23 Feb. 1471, d. at Rebdorf on 16 July 1553. Having completed his…
Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm Vol. VII, p. 657
LEIBNIZ, GOTTFRIED WILHELM. — Born in Leipzig on 21 June 1646, died in Hanover on 14 November 1716: philosopher, mathematician, and scholar; one of the…
Leidrado (Leidradus, Laidradus) Vol. VII, p. 662
LEIDRADO (Leidradus, Laidradus). – Archbishop of Lyon, died on 28 December 817 (or 816). A native of Lower Franconia and deacon of the Church of Freising…
Leigh Woods, Diocese of (LEIGH WOODS, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 663
LEIGH WOODS, DIOCESI di: v. CLIFTON, DIOCESI di.
Leighlin, Diocese of (LEIGHLIN, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 663
LEIGHLIN, DIOCESI di: v. KILDARE, DIOCESI di.
Leiria, Diocese of (LEIRIA, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 663
LEIRIA, DIOCESE of. — City and diocese situated 147 km north of Lisbon (Portugal). It has an area of 1,700 sq. km. and a population of 174,000 inhabitants, of…
Leisentrit, Johann Vol. VII, p. 663
LEISENTRIT, JOHANN. - Theologian, apostolic protonotary, b. at Olmütz (Olomouc) in 1527, d. at Bautzen on 14 Nov. 1586. A canon at Bautzen in 1551, he was its…
Leitmeritz, Diocese of (LITOMÉRICE, LEITMERITZ, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 860
LITOMÉRICE, LEITMERITZ, DIOCESE of. - City and diocese in Czechoslovakia. It has an area of 12,000 sq. km., with 1,500,000 inhabitants. It has 955 churches…
Leitner, Martin Vol. VII, p. 663
LEITNER, MARTIN. – Canonist, born in Bodenwöhr (Oberpfalz) on 11 March 1862, died in Passau on 25 December 1929. Professor of canon law in Passau from 1904, he…
Lejeune, Jean Vol. VII, p. 663
LEJEUNE, JEAN. — French sacred orator, born at Dôle in 1592 and died at Limoges on 19 August 1672. A member of the Oratory of Jesus founded by Bérulle in 1611,…
Lelong, Jacques Vol. VII, p. 663
LELONG, JACQUES. – Oratorian, biblical scholar, and bibliographer, born in Paris on 19 April 1664 and died there on 13 August 1721. Librarian of the Oratory of…
Lemire, Jules Vol. VII, p. 665
LEMIRE, JULES. – French sociologist, born in Vieux Berquin on 23 April 1853, died in Hazebrouck on 7 March 1928. He became a priest in 1878 and taught at the…
Lemkivčysna, Apostolic Administration of (LEMKIVČYSNA, AMMINISTRAZIONE APOSTOLICA DI) Vol. VII, p. 665
LEMKIVČYSNA, APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATION of. — This is a region in the northern Carpathians, inhabited by the eastern branch of the Lemki. From the earliest times…
Lemmens, Leonhard Vol. VII, p. 665
LEMMENS, LEONHARD. - Franciscan, born at Bocket (Rhineland) on 19 Nov. 1864, died in Rome on 10 Feb. 1929. Called to Rome in 1899 to continue Wadding’s Annales…
Lemos, Tommaso de Vol. VII, p. 665
LEMOS, TOMMASO de. - Dominican theologian, born at Rivadavia (Galicia) around 1546, died in Rome on 23 August 1629. He entered the Order in his native city.…
Lemovicensis, Johannes (John of Limoges) (GIOVANNI DI LIMOGES (LEMOVICENSIS)) Vol. VI, p. 358
GIOVANNI of LIMOGES (Lemovicensis). — Cistercian theologian. Little information is available about his life. A G. of L. was prior of Clairvaux in 1206–1207;…
Lemuria (LEMURIE (LEMURIA)) Vol. VII, p. 665
LEMURIE (Lemuria). - On the 9th, 11th, and 13th days of May in the Roman calendar fell the festival of the Lemuria, that is, of the Lemures, the souls of the…
Lenau, Nikolaus (Nikolaus Franz Niembsch von Strehlenau) Vol. VII, p. 665
LENAU, NIKOLAUS (NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREHLENAU). — German-Hungarian poet, born on 13 August 1802 at Csatád near Temesvár, died on 22 August 1850 in…
Lenee Vol. VII, p. 666
LENEE. - A festival celebrated at Athens in the month of Gamelion (= Jan.–Feb.) in honour of Dioniso Lenaios (Ἀῆναις), and one of the four principal Attic…
Lenel, Otto Vol. VII, p. 666
LENEL, OTTO. - Jurist, b. at Mannheim on 13 Dec. 1849, d. at Freiburg im Br. on 7 Feb. 1935. He pursued his studies at the Universities of Heidelberg, Leipzig,…
Lenin Vol. VII, p. 666
LENIN. – Pseudonym of Vladimir Il'ič Uljànov, founder and leader of the Russian Communist (Bolshevik) Party and of the Russian Revolution, founder of the…
Lenitatis Defectus Vol. VII, p. 669
LENITATIS DEFECTUS. — Although the Latin term l. d. may be understood to signify any pronounced lack of clemency, gentleness, meekness, sweetness, etc., in the…
Lenocinium (LENOCINIO) Vol. VII, p. 669
LENOCINIO. — It is an intermediary activity serving the lust of others with a view to personal profit. In legal doctrine, the notion of l. as a crime is…
Lenormant, Charles E François Vol. VII, p. 670
LENORMANT, CHARLES and FRANÇOIS. — I. CHARLES. — French archaeologist and historian, born in Paris on 1 January 1802, died in Athens on 24 November 1859. An…
Lensing, Lambert Vol. VII, p. 670
LENSING, LAMBERT. - Apostle of the good press and representative of the German Catholic Centre Party, b. at Emmerich on 14 June 1851, d. at Dortmund on 18 Dec.…
Lent (Quadragesima) (QUARESIMA (QUADRAGESIMA)) Vol. X, p. 230
QUARESIMA (Quadragesima). – A sacred period of 40 days in preparation for Easter, to be sanctified by more frequent prayer, works of charity, penance, and…
Lentini, Domenico Vol. VII, p. 670
LENTINI, DOMENICO. - Priest, b. at Lauria on 20 Nov. 1770, d. there on 24 Feb. 1828. At the age of 20 he entered the Seminary of Policastro, where he studied…
Lentulus, Letter of (LENTULO, LETTERA DI) Vol. VII, p. 671
LENTULO, LETTER of. - An apocryphon, so called after its alleged sender, which describes the physical beauty of Jesus Christ, who, according to Ps. 44,3, would…
Leo (LEONE) Vol. VII, p. 687
LEONE. – In ancient Christian monuments, the prophet Daniel is represented between two lions, both on sarcophagi and in cemetery paintings, or in the…
Leo Grammaticus (LEONE GRAMMATICO) Vol. VII, p. 688
LEO THE GRAMMARIAN. - Dubious author of a Byzantine chronography ending in 1013, which spans from Adam to the death of Emperor Romanus Lecapenus (d. 948),…
Leo Hebraeus (LEONE EBREO) Vol. VII, p. 688
LEONE EBREO: V. ABRABANEL.
Leo I, Pope, Called the Great (LEONE I, PAPA, DETTO MAGNO) Vol. VII, p. 692
LEONE I, pope, called the GREAT, saint. Fresco (8th cent.) - Rome, church of S. Maria Antiqua. (from the portfolio of Prof. E. Jani) LEONE III, pope, saint -…
Leo I, Pope, Called the Great, Saint (LEONE I, PAPA, DETTO MAGNO, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 690
LEONE I, POPE, called THE GREAT, saint. – He is the first Pope to whom posterity rightly attributed the title of Great: his was one of the longest and most…
Leo II, Pope, Saint (LEONE II, PAPA, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 692
LEONE II, POPE, saint. - In 680-81 the Sixth Ecumenical Council had been celebrated at Constantinople; it condemned Monothelitism and the imprudent adherence…
Leo III, Emperor of the East, detto L'Isaurico (LEONE III, IMPERATORE D'ORIENTE, DETTO L'ISAURICO) Vol. VII, p. 689
LEO III, EMPEROR OF THE EAST, called the ISAURIAN. — His accession to the throne took place on 25 March 717, on the eve of a great effort by the caliphate of…
Leo III, Pope (LEONE III, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 693
LEO III, pope, saint — The justification of L. III (depicted with the features of L. X). Fresco by G. Romano and P. Del Vaga (16th cent.) — Vatican, Stanza…
Leo III, Pope, Saint (LEONE III, PAPA, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 692
LEONE III, POPE, saint. — Elected on 26 December 795, died on 12 June 816. On the very day of Adriano I’s death, L. was elected; he held the high office of…
Leo IV, Pope, Saint (LEONE IV, PAPA, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 693
LEONE IV, POPE, saint. - He was ordained priest by Sergio II, who also raised him to the cardinalate, with the title of SS. Quattro Coronati; he was elected…
Leo IX, Pope, Saint (LEONE IX, PAPA, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 694
LEO IX, POPE, saint. — Bruno, bishop of Toul, was born on 21 June 1002 at Egisheim from the family of the counts of Dagsburg in Alsace, and died on 19 April…
Leo Marsicano, detto Leo Ostiense (LEONE MARSICANO, DETTO LEONE OSTIENNE) Vol. VII, p. 689
LEONE MARSICANO, called LEONE OSTIENSE. — Benedictine, cardinal-bishop of Ostia, born in the territory of the Marsi ca. 1060, died 22 March 1115. At the age of…
Leo of Acrida (LEONE DI ACRIDA) Vol. VII, p. 687
LEONE di ACRIDA. – Byzantine bishop and supporter of the Eastern Schism. Under the influence of the Greek patriarch Michele Cerulario (v.), L. sent a letter in…
Leo of Assisi (LEONE D'ASSISI) Vol. VII, p. 688
LEONE D'ASSISI, blessed — Autograph blessing of St Francis to Brother L. Assisi, S. Convento. BIBL.: E. Pätzig, Leo Grammaticus und seine Sippe, in…
Leo of Assisi, Blessed (LEONE D'ASSISI, BEATO) Vol. VII, p. 688
LEONE of Assisi, blessed. - B. in the last decades of the 13th century, d. in 1271. The intimate and faithful companion of s. Francesco, who called him “God’s…
Leo of Cava, Saint (LEONE DI CAVA, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 688
LEONE di CAVA, saint. - Second Benedictine abbot of Cava (Salerno), born in Lucca, died at Vietri on 12 July 1079. As a young man he entered the monastery of…
Leo of San Giovanni (LEONE DI SAN GIOVANNI) Vol. VII, p. 706
LEONE di SAN GIOVANNI. - Carmelite theologian and mystic, Giovanni Macé in secular life, b. at Rennes in 1600, d. at Paris in 1671. Having entered the Order in…
Leo the Deacon (LEONE DIACONO) Vol. VII, p. 688
LEONE DIACONO. - Byzantine chronicler, born at Kaloe near Tmolo in 950; Skylitzes, in the preface to his Storia, calls him L. the Asiatic, whereas Cedreno…
Leo V, Emperor of the East, detto L'Armeno (LEONE V, IMPERATORE D'ORIENTE, DETTO L'ARMENO) Vol. VII, p. 689
LEO V, EMPEROR OF THE EAST, called the ARMENIAN. — Greek emperor (813–820). He initiated the second phase of iconoclasm (the Synod of 815), finding strong…
Leo V, Pope (LEONE V, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 694
LEONE V, POPE. — He governed for one month, from the end of July 903, succeeding Benedetto IV, until September of the same year. The reasons why he, a simple…
Leo VI, Emperor of the East, detto Il Sapiens (LEONE VI, IMPERATORE D'ORIENTE, DETTO IL SAPIENTE) Vol. VII, p. 689
LEONE VI, EMPEROR OF THE EAST, called the SAPIENT. — Greek emperor (886–916). He deposed the patriarch Fazio in 886, and, on the occasion of the question of…
Leo VI, Pope (LEONE VI, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 694
LEONE VI, POPE. – He reigned from May to December 928. Son of the primicerius Cristoforo, he succeeded Giovanni X, who had died in prison in Castel S. Angelo,…
Leo VII, Pope (LEONE VII, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 694
LEONE VII, POPE. — He was pope from January 936 to July 939, but nothing is known about his person, and little is known about his activities. The chronicler…
Leo VIII, Pope (LEONE VIII, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 694
LEONE VIII, POPE. — He was the protoscriniarius of the Roman Church, chosen as pope by the Council convened by the emperor Ottone I of Saxony and presided over…
Leo X, Pope (LEONE X, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 697
LEONE X, PAPA. – Born in Florence on 11 December 1475, died in Rome on 1 December 1521. I. BEFORE THE PONTIFICATE. — Giovanni de' Medici, second son of the…
Leo XI, Pope (LEONE XI, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 702
LEONE XI, POPE. — B. in Florence on 2 June 1535, d. in Rome on 27 April 1605. Alessandro, born to Ottaviano de’ Medici, of a collateral branch of the…
Leo XII, Pope (LEONE XII, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 702
LEONE XII, POPE. — Annibale Sermattei della Genga, born at the Castello della Genga, near Spoleto, on 22 August 1760, died in Rome on 10 February 1829. He…
Leo XIII, Pope (LEONE XIII, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 703
LEONE XIII, POPE. – Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci, born at Carpineto (Frosinone) on 2 March 1810, died at Rome on 20 July 1903. The sixth of the seven children of…
Leo, Bishop of Vercelli (LEONE, VESCOVO DI VERCELLI) Vol. VII, p. 706
LEONE, bishop of VERCELLI. — He lived between the 10th and 11th centuries. He is first encountered at the court of the emperor Otto III. His birthplace and how…
Leo, Giuseppe (LEONE, GIUSEPPE) Vol. VII, p. 688
LEONE, GIUSEPPE. - Redemptorist, b. at Trinitapoli (Foggia) on 23 May 1829, d. at Angri (Salerno) on 7 Aug. 1902. Although almost always ill, he exercised a…
Leo, Leonardo Vol. VII, p. 671
LEO, LEONARDO. - Musician, b. at S. Vito degli Schiavi (dei Normanni) on 5 Aug. 1694, d. at Napoli on 31 Oct. 1744. He studied at the conservatory of the…
Leoba (Leoba, Leobgytha, Truthgeba), Saint (LIOBA (LEOBA, LEOBGYTHA, TRUTHGEBA), SANTA) Vol. VII, p. 838
LIOBA (LEOBA, LEOBGYTHA, TRUTHGEBA), saint. — Benedictine; the date and place of her birth are unknown. She died at Schörnsheim near Mainz on 28 September 782…
Leodegarius (Léger), Bishop of Autun, Saint (LEODEGARIO (LÉGER), VESCOVO DI AUTUN, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 671
LEODEGARIO (LÉGER), bishop of AUTUN, saint. — Of Frankish nobility, born around 616, died near Arras on 3 October 679. He was educated at the court of Clotario…
Leogesellschaft Vol. VII, p. 671
LEOGESELLSCHAFT. – Catholic scientific society of Austria, founded in Vienna on 28 January 1892 for the advancement of the sciences and arts on a Christian…
Leonardeschi Vol. VII, p. 673
LEONARDESCHI. — If by this term one were to understand all the artists who drew inspiration or motifs from the master’s great models, making use of them to the…
Leonardo da Porto Maurizio, Saint (LEONARDO DA PORTO MAURIZIO, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 675
LEONARDO da PORTO MAURIZIO, santo. - I. LIFE. — Paolo Girolamo Casanuova, later L. da P. M., born at Porto Maurizio (Imperia) on 20 December 1676, died in Rome…
Leonardo da Vinci Vol. VII, p. 681
LEONARDO DA VINCI – Self-portrait. Drawing – Turin, Palazzo Reale. Codice Atlantico: military engineering, the construction of weapons, architecture,…
Leonardo da Vinci Vol. VII, p. 687
G. Libri, Hist. des sciences mathématiques en Italie ecc., ivi 1838; E. Solmi, Studi sulla filosofia naturale di L., Modena 1896; id., Nuovi studi sulla fil.…
Leonardo di Chio Vol. VII, p. 675
LEONARDO di CHIO. - Dominican, born at Chio in 1395 or 1396, died in 1459, probably at Genoa. He studied in Italy, was lector at Genoa and Perugia (1426),…
Leonardo, Saint (LEONARDO, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 675
LEONARDO, saint. — Abbot of Noblac. He probably lived in the 6th century; but nothing precise can be established about his life, since the earliest information…
Leonarducci, Gaspare Vol. VII, p. 687
LEONARDUCCI, GASPARE. - Ascetical writer and poet, b. in Venice in 1685, d. at Cividale on 6 June 1752. While still very young, he professed the Somascan Rule…
Leoni, Leone Vol. VII, p. 707
LEONI, LEONE. - Sculptor, medallist, and architect, born at Menaggio (Como), of an Aretine father, in 1509, and died at Milan in 1590. He worked principally in…
Leoniano, Sacramentary (LEONIANO, SACRAMENTARIO) Vol. VII, p. 707
LEONIANO, SACRAMENTARIO: v. SACRAMENTARI.
Leonicus Thomaeus, Nicolaus (LEONICO TOMEO, NICCOLÒ) Vol. VII, p. 707
LEONICO TOMEO, NICCOLÒ. - Humanist, son of a Greek from Epirus, b. in Venice on 1 Feb. 1456, d. there on 28 March 1531. He studied at Padua and Florence under…
Leonidas, Saint, Martyr (LEONIDA, SANTO, MARTIRE) Vol. VII, p. 707
LEONIDAS, saint, martyr. — He is commemorated on 22 April, but it is not established that this was the true dies natalis. The few details of his life are…
Leoninus Vol. VII, p. 707
LEONINUS. — Composer of the Ars antiqua, active in the 12th century (ca. 1160–80) in Paris, at the church of Beatae Mariae Virginis, later called Notre-Dame.…
Leonori, Aristide Vol. VII, p. 707
LEONORI, ARISTIDE. - Engineer and architect, b. in Roma on 28 July 1856, d. there on 30 July 1928. Having graduated from the University of Roma, he began an…
Leonrod, Franz Leopold von Vol. VII, p. 708
LEONROD, FRANZ LEOPOLD von. - Bishop of Eichstätt, b. at Ansbach on 26 Aug. 1827, d. at Eichstätt on 5 Sept. 1905. He was a vigorous defender of the rights of…
Leont'ev, Konstantin Nikolaevič (LEONT'EV, KONSTANTIN NIKOLAEVIĆ) Vol. VII, p. 708
LEONT'EV, KONSTANTIN NIKOLAEVIĆ. - Russian writer and thinker, b. at Kudinovo on 25 Jan. 1831, d. at the Monastery of the Trinity at Černigov (Moscow) on 24…
Leontius (LEONZIO) Vol. VII, p. 708
LEONZIO. — An Armenian priest and historian who lived in the period 725–90, author of the History of the Appearance of Muhammad, written at the request of…
Leontius of Byzantium (LEONZIO DI BISANZIO) Vol. VII, p. 708
LEONZIO of BISANZIO. — An anti-Monophysite theologian of the sixth century. Almost nothing is known about his life. He is not the same as the Scythian monk…
Leontius of Naples (LEONZIO DI NEAPOLI) Vol. VII, p. 709
LEONZIO di NEAPOLI. - Bishop of Neapoli in Cyprus, d. about 650. Under the patriarch Giovanni l'Elemosiniere (d. 619), he moved from Cyprus to Alexandria. He…
Leontius Vanandetzi, Saint, Martyr (LEONZIO VANANDETZI, SANTO, MARTIRE) Vol. VII, p. 709
LEONZIO VANANDETZI, saint, martyr. - An Armenian priest, one of the foremost disciples of Saints Mesrob and Sahak, he was sent by them to Byzantium with other…
Leontopoli Vol. VII, p. 708
LEONTOPOLI. – The locality called L. by Flavius Josephus corresponds to present-day Tell el-Jehādijjeh, approximately 30 km from Cairo and 20 from ancient…
Leopardi, Alessandro Vol. VII, p. 709
LEOPARDI, ALESSANDRO. - Goldsmith, bronze-founder, and architect, b. in Venice about 1450 and d. there between June 1522 and March 1523. His earliest activity…
Leopardi, Giacomo Vol. VII, p. 709
LEOPARDI, GIACOMO. - Poet, born at Recanati on 29 June 1798 to Marchioness Adelaide Antici and Count Monaldo (q.v.), died at Naples on 14 June 1837. His tutors…
Leopardi, Monaldo Vol. VII, p. 712
LEOPARDI, MONALDO. — Writer, born at Recanati on 16 August 1776, died there on 30 April 1847. A man of weak will, he was dominated in the management of the…
Leopold I, Emperor (LEOPOLDO I, IMPERATORE) Vol. VII, p. 713
LEOPOLD I, EMPEROR. — Second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and Maria Anna of Spain, born in Vienna on 9 June 1640, died there on 5 May 1705. He was destined for…
Leopold II, Emperor (I as Grand Duke of Tuscany) (LEOPOLDO II, IMPERATORE (I COME GRANDUCA DI TOSCANA)) Vol. VII, p. 714
LEOPOLDO II, EMPEROR (formerly grand duke of Tuscany). — Born on 15 May 1747 in Vienna, died there on 2 March 1792. The third-born son of Francesco Stefano di…
Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany (LEOPOLDO II, GRANDUCA DI TOSCANA) Vol. VII, p. 714
LEOPOLDO II, grand duke of TOSCANA. — Born on 3 October 1797 in Firenze, died on 29 January 1870 in Roma. Son of Ferdinando III and Maria Luisa Amalia di…
Leopold III, Saint, Margrave of Austria (LEOPOLDO III, SANTO, MARGRAVIO DI AUSTRIA) Vol. VII, p. 712
LEOPOLD III, Saint, Margrave of AUSTRIA. — Born at Melk in 1073, of the House of Babenberg, died on 15 November 1136. Educated by St Altmann, Bishop of Passau,…
Leopold of Gaiche, Blessed (LEOPOLDO DA GAICHE, BEATO) Vol. VII, p. 713
LEOPOLDO da GAICHE, blessed. — Apostolic missionary of the Friars Minor, born at Gaiche (Perugia) on 30 October 1732, died at Monteluco (Spoleto) on 2 April…
Leopoldina, Diocese of (LEOPOLDINA, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 712
LEOPOLDINA, diocese of. – City and diocese in the State of Minas Geraes in Brazil. The diocese has an area of 8,197 sq km, with 450,000 inhabitants, of whom…
Leopoldinen-Stiftung (Leopoldinen-Missionsverein) Vol. VII, p. 712
LEOPOLDINEN-STIFTUNG (LEOPOLDINEN-MISSIONSVEREIN). – The Leopoldine Foundation, or Leopoldine Missionary Association, was founded in 1828 (approved in 1829) in…
Leopoldo da Castelnuovo (LEOPOLDO DA CASTELNOVO) Vol. VII, p. 713
LEOPOLDO da CASTELNOVO. – Capuchin, whose family name was Mandic, born at Castelnuovo di Cattaro on 12 May 1866, died at Padua on 30 July 1942. He entered the…
Leopoldville, Apostolic Vicariate of (LEOPOLDVILLE, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI) Vol. VII, p. 715
LEOPOLDVILLE, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. — In the western part of the Belgian Congo, it is entrusted to the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scheut…
Leovigild, King of the Visigoths (LEOVIGILDO, RE DEI VISIGOTI) Vol. VII, p. 717
LEOVIGILDO, king of the VISIGOTHS. — Brother of the kings Atanagildo and Liuva I, he was associated with the throne by the latter in 568, becoming sole ruler…
Lepanto Vol. VII, p. 717
LEPANTO. – L., in Greek Naúpaktos, is a city and port of Greece, on the northern coast of the strait separating the Gulf of Patras from that of Corinth; it has…
Lepidi, Alberto Vol. VII, p. 718
LEPIDI, ALBERTO. - Dominican philosopher and theologian, born at Popoli (Abruzzo) in 1838, died at Rome (phot. Gab. fot. nas.) LEPANTO - Central fresco on the…
Leporiano, Christian Cemetery of (LEPRIGNANO, CIMITERO CRISTIANO DI) Vol. VII, p. 719
LEPRIGNANO, CIMITERO CRISTIANO. — In December 1911, in the ancient Capenate territory (Rome), today called Capena, in the locality of Monte della Casetta,…
Leporio Vol. VII, p. 719
LEPORIO. – Monk and priest, born at Treviri; he had disseminated in Gaul the (Nestorian) theory that Jesus « pro merito laboris passionisque » (Giov. Cassiano,…
Leprosy and Leper Hospitals (LEBBRA E LEBBROSARI) Vol. VII, p. 613
LEBBRA and LEBBROSARI. — Leprosy properly so called (lepra tuberculare) is an infectious, transmissible disease with a chronic course, characterized by the…
Leptis Vol. VII, p. 719
LEPTIS. – A city in North Africa (Libya) which the Romans called Lepcis; to distinguish it from the homonymous city in Byzacena, it was called L. magna.…
Lerchundi, Giuseppe Vol. VII, p. 720
LERCHUNDI, GIUSEPPE. — Franciscan, born at Oria, near S. Sebastián (Spain), on 24 February 1836, died on 8 March 1896. Having arrived as a missionary in…
Leroquais, Victor-Martial Vol. VII, p. 722
LEROQUAIS, VICTOR-MARTIAL. — French priest and liturgist, born at St-Germain-de-Tallevende (diocese of Bayeux, department of Calvados) on 7 September 1875,…
Leroux, Pierre Vol. VII, p. 723
LEROUX, PIERRE. - Writer, b. in Parigi on 17 Apr. 1797, d. there on 12 Apr. 1871. He was one of the founders of Le globe (1824). Initially a Saint-Simonian, he…
Les Cayes, Diocese of (LES CAYES, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 723
LES CAYES, DIOCESI di. – City in the southwest of the Republic of Haiti (Antilles) and a suffragan diocese of Porto Principe. It has a population of 775,000,…
Les Gonaïves, Diocese of (LES GONAIVES, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 724
LES GONAIVES, DIOCESE OF. – City and diocese on the island of Haiti (Antilles), capital of the department of Artibonite. It has an area of 6,000 sq km and a…
Lesage Ten Broek, Joachim George Vol. VII, p. 723
LESAGE TEN BROEK, JOACHIM GEORGE. - Dutch Catholic publicist and controversialist, b. at Groningen on 27 Nov. 1775, d. at Grave on 11 July 1847. Of a…
Lescar, Diocese of (LESCAR, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 723
LESCAR, DIOCESI di: v. BAIONA, DIOCESI di.
Lesena Vol. VII, p. 723
LESENA. – A pilaster-like strip projecting slightly from the wall, which has no structural function but serves only to divide the surfaces. Apart from…
Lesione Vol. VII, p. 724
LESIONE: v. RESCISSIONE.
Lesley, Alexander Vol. VII, p. 725
LESLEY, ALEXANDER. - Jesuit, liturgist, born in the county of Aberdeen (Scotland) on 7 Nov. 1694, died in Rome on 27 March 1758. He taught successively at Sora…
Lesley, John Vol. VII, p. 725
LESLEY, JOHN. — Scottish bishop and historian, born on 29 September 1527, died in a convent near Brussels on 31 May 1596. A priest and doctor of law at the…
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim Vol. VII, p. 725
LESSING, GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM. — German thinker, critic, poet, and dramatist, born in Kamenz on 22 January 1729, died in Wolfenbüttel on 15 February 1781. A pupil…
Lessius (Lessius, Leys), Leonard (LESSIO (LESSIUS, LEYS), LEONARDO) Vol. VII, p. 726
LESSIO (Lessius, LEYS), LEONARDO. — Jesuit, theologian, spiritual writer. Born on 1 October 1554 at Brecht (Antwerp), and died at Louvain on 15 January 1623.…
Lestonnac, Jeanne de, Saint (LESTONNAC, GIOVANNA DI, SANTA) Vol. VII, p. 727
LESTONNAC, GIOVANNA di, saint: v. GIOVANNA LESTONNAC, santa.
Lestrange (Louis-Henri), Augustin de Vol. VII, p. 727
LESTRANGE (LOUIS-HENRI), AUGUSTIN de. — Trappist, born at Colombier-le-Vieux (Ardèche) on 19 February 1754, died at Lyons on 16 July 1827. Having abandoned his…
Lesueur, Pauline-Élisabeth (LESEUR, PAULINE-ELISABETH) Vol. VII, p. 723
LESEUR, PAULINE-ELISABETH. - Writer, born in Parigi on 16 Oct. 1866, died there on 3 May 1914. She received from her family a careful Christian education and a…
Lesueur, Thomas (LESEUR, THOMAS) Vol. VII, p. 724
LESEUR, THOMAS. – Theologian, philosopher, and mathematician of the Order of Minims, b. at Rethel (Champagne) in 1703, d. in Rome on 22 September 1770. After…
Lesêtre, Henri (LESÈTRE, HENRI) Vol. VII, p. 723
LESÈTRE, HENRI. — Biblical scholar, born in Bourges on 11 February 1848, died in Paris on 26 March 1914. He studied at the Seminary of St-Sulpice, then…
Lethargy (LETARGIA) Vol. VII, p. 727
LETARGIA. – A hypnoid state that may be observed in the course of organic diseases of the nervous system (epidemic encephalitis, sleeping sickness), in…
Lethargy (LETARGO) Vol. VII, p. 728
LETARGO. — This is a characteristic phenomenon of certain mammals (rodents, insectivores, chiropterans, carnivores, etc.), represented by the reduction, to a…
Leti, Gregorio Vol. VII, p. 728
LETI, GREGORIO. - Writer, b. in Milano on 29 May 1630, d. in Amsterdam on 9 June 1701. He is a curious figure of an adventurer, a “libertine,” an “émigré.”…
Leticia, Apostolic Prefecture of (LETICIA, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI) Vol. VII, p. 728
LETICIA, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. — In Colombia, it is one of the three autonomous missions erected on 7 February 1951 through the division of the apostolic…
Leto Vol. VII, p. 729
LETO. GIULIO POMPONIO. - Humanist, b. in 1428 at Teggiano in Cilento, d. at Rome in 1497. He is one of the most enigmatic (or indeterminate) figures of Italian…
Letourneux, Nicolas Vol. VII, p. 729
LETOURNEUX, NICOLAS. - Preacher and ascetical writer, b. at Rouen on 30 Apr. 1640, d. at Paris on 28 Nov. 1686. He soon distinguished himself at Rouen as a…
Letter of Appointment (BIGLIETTO DI NOMINA) Vol. II, p. 945
APPOINTMENT LETTER. — In Curial usage, this term denotes a brief letter, written in the Pope’s name, by which a given person is customarily informed of an…
Letter of Saint Peter (LITTERA SANCTI PETRI) Vol. VII, p. 861
LITTERA SANCTI PETRI: v. BOLLATICA, SCRITTURA.
Letter of the Apostles (LETTERA DEGLI APOSTOLI) Vol. VII, p. 729
LETTERA DEGLI APOSTOLI: V. APOSTOLI, LETTERA DEGLI.
Letter of the Churches of Lyon and Vienne (LETTERA DELLE CHIESE DI LIONE E VIENNA) Vol. VII, p. 729
LETTERA DELLE CHIESE DI LIONE E VIENNA: V. LIONE.
Letterkenny, Diocese of (LETTERKENNY, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 733
LETTERKENNY, DIOCESI di: v. RAPHOE, DIOCESI di.
Letters from Rome (LETTRES DE ROME) Vol. VII, p. 737
LETTRES DE ROME. — Periodical founded in Rome by the Jesuit Fr. J.-H. Ledit in 1935, with the aim of studying the movement and international penetration of…
Letters Patent (LETTERE PATENTI) Vol. VII, p. 732
LETTERS PATENT. – This name designates, in contrast to the “litterae clausse,” those public documents drawn up in a form different from and simpler than…
Lettisternio (Lectisternium) Vol. VII, p. 733
LETTISTERNIO (Lectisternium). — A ritual form of ancient Roman religion, consisting in preparing the couch (lectum sternere) and offering a banquet to the gods…
Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses Vol. VII, p. 737
LETTRES EDIFIANTES ET CURIEUSES. - Title of a collection of letters sent by Jesuit missionaries concerning events, traditions, journeys, monuments,…
Leu von Ebersol, Joseph Vol. VII, p. 738
LEU VON EBERSOL, JOSEPH. — Swiss politician, born at Ebersol on 1 June 1800, died there on 20 July 1845. A convinced Catholic, he did not approve the advent of…
Leusden, Johannes Vol. VII, p. 739
LEUSDEN, JOHANNES. - Dutch Orientalist, b. 26 Apr. 1624, d. 30 Sept. 1699 at Utrecht, where he was professor of Hebrew. He was neither an original mind nor a…
Level (LIVELLO) Vol. VII, p. 874
LIVELLO. — This was the name given to a special form of agrarian contract by which a grantor (livellante) conferred the usufruct of a holding upon a grantee…
Levellers Vol. VII, p. 739
LEVELLERS. — The L. constituted the extreme left wing of the English republicans during the Civil War of 1642–51. The term L. (“leveller” and, more properly,…
Levi (Heb. Lēvī) (LEVI (EBR. LÉVI)) Vol. VII, p. 739
LEVI (Heb. Lévi). - I. Third of the sons whom Jacob had by Leah. In Gen. 29, 34 the name is explained by the mother’s phrase: “Now at last my husband will…
Leviathan (Heb. Livjāthān) (LEVIATHAN (EBR. LIVOJĀTHĀN)) Vol. VII, p. 740
LEVIATHAN (Heb. livojāthān). - A fabulous aquatic monster, akin to the tannin, or tannim, to which it is paralleled synonymously in Is. 27:1 (cf. DRAGON),…
Levirate (LEVIRATO) Vol. VII, p. 740
LEVIRATO. — The duty of marrying the widow of one’s brother who has died childless. The practice is common among many primitive peoples, and its rationale lies…
Levita, Elia Vol. VII, p. 740
LEVITA, ELIA. - Jewish grammarian, born at Neustadt a. d. Aisch in 1469, died at Venezia on 28 January 1549. His Hebrew name was 'Ēljāhū ben 'Āšēr hal-Lēwī…
Levitation (LEVITAZIONE) Vol. VII, p. 741
LEVITATION. — Term designating phenomena involving the raising, displacement, and suspension in the air of heavy objects, and more often of the human body,…
Levites (Heb. Lēwī, pl. Lēwījīm; Gr. Lēwījī, pl. -ai) (LEVITI (EBR. LĒWĪ, PLUR. LĒWĪJĪM; GR. LĒWĪJĪ, PLUR. - AI)) Vol. VII, p. 741
LEVITI (Hebr. lēwī, plur. lēwījīm; Gr. lēwījī, plur. -ai). — A professional designation for those engaged in subordinate Jewish worship under the priests,…
Leviticus (LEVITICO) Vol. VII, p. 742
LEVITICO. — Third book of the Pentateuch (v.), called by the Palestinian Jews by its opening word voajiqra’; by the Alexandrian Jews Λεωτυκόν, whence the…
Levoča Vol. VII, p. 743
LEVOČA. - A city in Slovakia, founded in 1245 and the centre of a German colony. The ancient centre of the county of Scepusio (Spiš), it is today a city of…
Lex Dei Vol. VII, p. 744
LEX DEI : v. COLLATIO LEGUM MOSAICARUM ET ROMANARUM.
Lex Romana Canonice Compta Vol. VII, p. 744
LEX ROMANA CANONICE COMPTA. - A collection of canonical and Roman texts, contained in cod. Paris. 12448, tenth century. It is composed of decretals, canons of…
Leyden, John of (LEIDA, GIOVANNI DI) Vol. VII, p. 662
LEIDA, GIOVANNI di: v. BOKELSZOON, JAN.
León, Diocese of (LEÓN, DIOCESI DI) Vol. VII, p. 672
LEÓN, DIOCESI di. – City and diocese of Spain, suffragan of Burgos; it has an area of 29,596 sq. km. and 170,987 inhabitants, distributed among 816 parishes…
León, Luís de Vol. VII, p. 673
LEÓN, Luís de. — Augustinian, poet, writer, theologian, and exegete, born at Belmonte (Cuenca) in 1527 and died at Madrigal on 23 August 1591. Professor at…
León, Ricardo Vol. VII, p. 673
LEÓN, RICARDO. - Spanish poet and novelist, b. at Malaga on 15 Oct. 1877, d. at Madrid on 6 Dec. 1943. A bank employee, he devoted himself assiduously to…
Libanius (LIBANIO) Vol. VII, p. 746
LIBANIO. – Pagan rhetorician, born at Antioch in Syria in A.D. 314, died there in 393. He studied in Athens under the African rhetorician Diophantus, having as…
Libellus (LIBELLO) Vol. VII, p. 752
LIBELLO. — This is the written pleading by a party whereby the subject matter of the dispute which it is intended to institute is submitted to the competent…
Liber Censuum of the Roman Church (LIBER CENSUUM ROMANAE ECCLESIAE) Vol. VII, p. 756
LIBER CENSUUM ROMANAE ECCLESIAE. — This is the register of the periodic censuses owed to the Roman Church, under various titles, by monasteries, churches,…
Liber Diurnus of the Roman Pontiffs (LIBER DIURNUS ROMANORUM PONTIFICUM) Vol. VII, p. 757
LIBER DIURNUS ROMANORUM PONTIFICUM. - This title (which is not original) designates a collection of formulas for ecclesiastical documents, largely pontifical,…
Liber Generationis Vol. VII, p. 760
LIBER GENERATIONIS. — Latin chronicle, with data taken from Holy Scripture; list of rulers, ending in the year 234. Mommsen established that the L. g. is…
Liber Maiolichinus Vol. VII, p. 764
LIBER MAIOLICHINUS. - An epic poem written in the 12th century, whose full title is: L. m. de gestis Pisanorum illustribus. It celebrates the victorious war…
Liber Pontificalis Vol. VII, p. 765
LIBER PONTIFICALIS. — This is the collection of the biographies of the bishops of Rome from s. Pietro to Pio II. Martino Polono was the first to attribute its…
Liber, Liberalia Vol. VII, p. 764
LIBER, LIBERALIA. – According to tradition, when in 495 B.C., following a famine, the Sibylline Books ordered the introduction into Rome of Greek divinities,…
Liberal Arts (ARTI LIBERALI) Vol. II, p. 65
ARTI LIBERALI. — The literary and scientific disciplines that, during the Middle Ages, constituted the propaedeutic instruction to philosophy and theology were…
Liberal Catholic Church (CHIESA CATTOLICA LIBERALE) Vol. III, p. 885
CATHOLIC LIBERAL CHURCH. — Two sects bore this name: one in Italy, the other in England. 1) In Italy, for some time, this name was given to a sort of little…
Liberal Protestantism (PROTESTANTESIMO LIBERALE) Vol. X, p. 124
LIBERAL PROTESTANTISM. — The liberal conception, which became established under this name not only in the political sphere but also in the…
Liberale da Verona Vol. VII, p. 752
LIBERALE da VERONA. — L. di Jacopo dalla Biava, or Biavo, illuminator and painter, b. in Verona around 1445 and d. there between 1526 and 1529. He is known to…
Liberalism (LIBERALISMO) Vol. VII, p. 753
LIBERALISM. - A movement inspired by the principle of freedom in every sphere, spiritual and political, which prevailed in Europe after the French Revolution…
Liberality (LIBERALITÀ) Vol. VII, p. 755
LIBERALITÀ. – The proper balance by which a person is disposed to spend or give away what he possesses, without going to excess through prodigality and without…
Liberata, Saint (LIBERATA, SANTA) Vol. VII, p. 756
LIBERATA, saint. — Unknown to the oldest hagiographic tradition, she was nevertheless greatly venerated in the Middle Ages; her existence is much debated and…
Liberatore, Matteo Vol. VII, p. 756
LIBERATORE, MATTEO. - Philosopher and theologian (Int. Enc. Cult.) LIBER CENSUUM ROMANAE ECCLESIAE - Incipit of the original manuscript of the L. c. by Cencio…
Liberatus, Deacon of Carthage (LIBERATO, DIACONO DI CARTAGINE) Vol. VII, p. 756
LIBERATO, deacon of CARTAGINE. - Famous for his Breviarium causae Nestorianorum Eutychianorum. In 535 he was a member of an African embassy which went to Pope…
Liberia Vol. VII, p. 760
LIBERIA. - I. GEOGRAPHY. - It is the smallest (from 95,000 to 120,000 sq. km.) of the three independent states of Africa. It was founded in 1822 by American…
Liberian Catalogue (CATALOGO LIBERIANO) Vol. III, p. 630
CATALOGO LIBERIANO: v. CRONOGRAFO DEL 354.
Liberism (LIBERISMO) Vol. VII, p. 763
LIBERISMO. — Liberism is an economic liberalism and at the same time designates both a doctrine and an economic policy: the economic doctrine which holds that…
Liberius, Pope (LIBERIO, PAPA) Vol. VII, p. 761
LIBERIUS, POPE. — Nothing certain is known about his life before the papacy: according to the Liber Pontificalis, he was Roman by origin; according to the…
Liberius, Saint (LIBORIO, SANTO) Vol. VII, p. 781
LIBORIO, saint. — Little is known of his life. He succeeded, apparently, Pavazio in the bishopric of Le Mans, which he governed for 49 years. He laboured…
Libermann, François Vol. VII, p. 765
LIBERMANN, PAUL, venerable. — Born at Saverne (France) on 12 April 1802 and died at Parigi on 2 February 1852. The fifth son of the city’s rabbi, he was…
Libertines (LIBERTINI) Vol. VII, p. 775
LIBERTINI. — The word l., with the passage of time, has taken on various meanings. Calvin defined as l. the supporters of pantheistic theories who lived in…
Liberty Vol. VII, p. 775
LIBERTY. — The artistic movement in Italy known by the name of L. or “floral style,” called in France and many other European countries Art nouveau, and in…
Libido Vol. VII, p. 781
LIBIDO: v. PSICANALISI.
Librarian of the Holy Roman Church (BIBLIOTECARIO DI SANTA ROMANA CHIESA) Vol. II, p. 935
BIBLIOTECARIO DI SANTA ROMANA CHIESA. — At present, this is the title of the Cardinal entrusted with the supreme direction of the Vatican Library; attached to…
Library (BIBLIOTECA) Vol. II, p. 920
LIBRARY. - From the Greek βιβλιοθήκη, a repository of books. It is a collection of books selected according to organic criteria of subject matter, arranged and…
Library Science (BIBLIOTECONOMIA) Vol. II, p. 935
BIBLIOTECONOMIA. — B. (or, as was also said with a term that did not catch on, bibliothecology) is the science (others say: the art or the service) of…
Libreville, Apostolic Vicariate of (LIBREVILLE, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI) Vol. VII, p. 781
LIBREVILLE, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. — It is located in French Equatorial Africa and originated from the Apostolic Vicariate of the Two Guineas (v. GUINEA).…
Libya (LIBIA) Vol. VII, p. 775
LIBIA. – Classical name originally attributed (5th century B.C.) to the entire African continent (although only a small part of it was known), and officially…
Licci(o), Giovanni, Blessed (LICCI(O), GIOVANNI, BEATO) Vol. VII, p. 798
LICCI(O), GIOVANNI, blessed. — Dominican preacher, born at Caccamo (Palermo) around 1426, died on 14 November 1511. At the age of fifteen he donned the…
License (LICENZA) Vol. VII, p. 799
LICENZA. — An academic degree granted by ecclesiastical universities and faculties to ecclesiastical or lay students who, having completed the studies required…
Lichetto (Lecheto), Francesco (LICHETO (LECHETO), FRANCESCO) Vol. VII, p. 799
LICHETO (LECHETO), FRANCESCO. - Scotist theologian and minister general of the Friars Minor, b. at Lovere (Bergamo), d. at Budapest on 15 Sept. 1520. He taught…
Lichow, Apostolic Prefecture of (LICHOW, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI) Vol. VII, p. 799
LICHOW, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. — In the civil province of Hunan, in central China. Erected on 6 May 1931 by division of the apostolic vicariate of Changteh…
Lichudes Brothers (FRATELLI LICHUDES) Vol. V, p. 1023
FRATELLI LICHUDES: V. LICHUDI, GIOANNICIO E SOPRONIO.
Lichudi, Gioannicio and Sofronio (LICHUDI, GIOANNICIO E SOFRONIO) Vol. VII, p. 800
LICHUDI, GIOANNICIO and SOFRONIO. — Byzantine monks, born in Cephalonia: Gioannicio in 1633, Sofronio in 1652. They studied in Venice and then at the…
Licia Vol. VII, p. 800
LICIA. - A peninsular region of south-western Asia Minor, consisting inland of a high plateau, rugged and sparsely populated, and at its periphery of mountain…
Liciniano of Cartagena (LICINIANO DI CARTAGENA) Vol. VII, p. 800
LICINIANO of CARTAGENA. — Flourished in the years 582–602. According to the scant information gathered from s. Isidoro and from the writings of L., he was…
Licinius (Valerius Licinianus Licinius), Roman Emperor (LICINIO (VALERIUS LICINIANUS LICINIUS), IMPERATORE ROMANO) Vol. VII, p. 800
Valerius Licinianus Licinius ROMAN EMPEROR. — Born ca. AD 250 in Dacia Ripensis, that is, in the region south of the Danube which Aurelian had chosen to call…
Licitation (LICITAZIONE) Vol. VII, p. 801
LICITAZIONE. — It is the offer of a price made by several persons who take part, competing with one another, in a sale by auction or public bidding. The term…
Licitness (LICEITÀ) Vol. VII, p. 798
LICEITÀ. — L. is synonymous with the conformity of conduct to a type expressed in a rule. I. LEGAL LAWFULNESS. — When one speaks of l. in juridical language,…