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Me Zu Zah (« Stipite della porta »)(MĒ ZŪ ZĀH («STIPITE DELLA PORTA»))Vol. VIII, p. 552 MĒ ZŪ ZĀH (“doorpost”). - A small roll of parchment in a glass or metal case, affixed to the doorpost; it contains in Hebrew the passages Deut. 6:4-9;…
Meath, Diocese of(MEATH, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 331 MEATH, DIOCESE of. – A suffragan diocese of Armagh, territorially the largest in Ireland; it comprises most of the counties of Meath, Westmeath and Offaly, and…
Meaux, Diocese of(MEAUX, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 331 MEAUX, DIOCESE of. — City and diocese in the department of Seine-et-Marne (France). It has an area of 5,664 sq. km, with 407,137 inhabitants, of whom 350,000…
Mechanicism(MECCANICISMO)Vol. VIII, p. 341 MECCANICISM. — Philosophical theory, or more generally a school of thought, that interprets the world as a great machine and seeks to explain all sensible…
Mechanics(MECCANICA)Vol. VIII, p. 332 MECHANICS. - Mechanics aims to study the phenomena of material bodies that occur without altering either their physical or chemical nature. It will therefore…
Mechelen, Archdiocese of(MALINES, ARCIDIOCESI DI)Vol. VII, p. 1135 MALINES, ARCHDIOCESE OF — Palace of Justice, formerly the Palace of Margherita d’Austria, begun in 1507 — Malines. soon to become, for Islam, the primary…
Mechitar (called Gosh, "Imberbe") of Cantzag(MECHITAR (DETTO GOSH, «IMBERBE») DI CANTZAG)Vol. VIII, p. 343 MECHITAR (called GOSH, «beardless») of CANTZAG. — Armenian priest of the 12th century, d. in 1213; founder of the religious community of Ghedik (monastery). He…
Mechitar Kṇnetzi(MECHITAR KŇNETZI)Vol. VIII, p. 343 MECHITAR KŇNETZI. – Armenian Catholicos (1341–55), famous for the clarifications he offered in refutation of the celebrated Libellus of the Latinizing…
Mechitar Vartapet, Abbot(MECHITAR VARTAPET, ABATE)Vol. VIII, p. 343 MECHITAR VARTAPET, abbot. – Hieromonk, in the world Pietro Manuk, founder of the Armenian Monks of S. Antonio Abate, called Mechitarists, born at Sebaste…
Mechitarists(MECHITARISTI)Vol. VIII, p. 344 MECHITARISTS. – Armenian hieromonks, so called from the name of their founder Mechitar (v.). Although their original designation may have been “Armenian Monks…
Mechtilde (Mechtild) of Hackeborn(MATILDE (MECHTILD) DI HACKEBORN)Vol. VIII, p. 258 MATILDE (MECHTILD) di HACKEBORN. – Cistercian mystic, born in the ancestral castle of Helfta (Saxony) around 1241, died in the monastery of Helfta on 19…
Meda, Felice (Felix), Blessed(MEDA, FELICE (FELIX), BEATA)Vol. VIII, p. 345 MEDA, FELICE (Felix), blessed. — Poor Clare, born in Milan around 1378, died in Pesaro on 30 September 1444. She made rapid progress in piety and studies, also…
Meda, FilippoVol. VIII, p. 345 MEDA, FILIPPO. — Statesman and journalist, b. in Milan on 1 January 1869, d. there on 31 December 1939. While a secondary-school student, he began publishing…
Medal(MEDAGLIA)Vol. VIII, p. 345 MEDAGLIA. – The word m. derives from the Latin metalla and in the Middle Ages denoted the half-denarius, or obol. When this fell into disuse, the term remained…
Medan, Apostolic Vicariate of(MEDAN, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI)Vol. VIII, p. 347 MEDAN, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. – It comprises the entire western part of the island of Sumatra (Indonesia). On 30 June 1911, the said island of Sumatra,…
Medard, Saint(MEDARDO, SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 347 MEDARDO, saint. - Born in Vermandois in the second half of the 5th century. Piety, learning, and charity toward the poor were the distinguishing features of…
Medellín, Archdiocese of(MEDELLIN, ARCIDIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 348 MEDELLIN, ARCIDIOCESI of. — Archdiocese and capital city of the department of Antioquia in Colombia. It has an area of 15,000 sq. km., with a population of…
Media (Assyro Mât Ma-da-a-a)(MEDIA (ASSIRO MÂT MA-DA-A-A))Vol. VIII, p. 348 MEDIA (Assyrian mât Ma-da-a-a).—Northwestern part of the Iranian plateau, between the Aras, the Caspian, the central desert, the borders of Persis and Susiana…
Media Anata(MEDIA ANNATA)Vol. VIII, p. 349 MEDIA ANNATA: v. ANNATA.
Mediator DeiVol. VIII, p. 349 « MEDIATOR DEI ». — Words with which the encyclical of Pius XII, dated 20 Nov. 1947 (AAS, 39 [1947], pp. 521–95), on the sacred liturgy begins. It may be…
Medical Oath(GIURAMENTO MEDICO)Vol. VI, p. 477 GIURAMENTO MEDICO. — The medical profession possessed a sacred character in antiquity. Well-defined rules governed its quasi-priestly activity, and the oath…
Medici, Family(MEDICI, FAMIGLIA)Vol. VIII, p. 350 MEDICI, FAMIGLIA. — Enriched through commerce and banking, the M. acquired political supremacy in fifteenth-century Firenze, in the form of a veiled lordship.…
Medici, Lorenzo de', called Il Magnifico(MEDICI, LORENZO DE', DETTO IL MAGNIFICO)Vol. VIII, p. 354 MEDICI, LORENZO de', known as il MAGNIFICO. — Born in Florence on 1 January 1449, died at Careggi (Florence) on 8 April 1492. Still very young, he effectively…
Medici, Lorenzo de', detto LorenzinoVol. VIII, p. 356 MEDICI, LORENZO de', known as LORENZINO. — B. in Firenze on 23 March 1514, d. in Venezia on 26 Feb. 1548. He was the tyrannicide, the killer of his cousin…
Medicinal Penances(PENE MEDICINALI)Vol. IX, p. 675 MEDICINAL PENALTIES: v. CENSURA, III. C. Medicinal penal law.
Medicine(MEDICINA)Vol. VIII, p. 356 MEDICINE. — By m. is meant any expression of defense against evil, whether based on empirical knowledge or the product of interpretation and speculation…
Medina, BartolomeoVol. VIII, p. 363 MEDINA, BARTOLOMEO. — Dominican theologian, born in Medina Rioseco (province of Valladolid) in 1528, died in Salamanca on 30 December 1580. A religious in…
Medina, MiguelVol. VIII, p. 364 MEDINA, MIGUEL. – Franciscan theologian, born at Belalcazar (Cordova) in 1489, died at Toledo on 1 May 1578. He studied and subsequently taught Sacred…
Medingen (Mödingen)Vol. VIII, p. 364 MEDINGEN (MÖDINGEN). - Medieval convent of Dominican nuns, in the diocese of Augsburg; since 1843 it has belonged to the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen. A…
Meditation(MEDITAZIONE)Vol. VIII, p. 377 MEDITAZIONE. — A form of mental prayer (v.) in which the soul, through the attentive consideration of the truths of faith, moves the will toward goodness and…
MeditrinaliaVol. VIII, p. 379 MEDITRINALIA. – Festival of the Roman religion, fixed by the oldest calendar for 11 October. Although the tradition of the grammarians claims to know also a…
MediumVol. VIII, p. 379 MEDIUM. – Denotes the person capable, by virtue of his particular faculties, of serving as an intermediary between us and the dead. But since the spiritist…
Mediumistic Manifestations(MEDIANICHE MANIFESTAZIONI)Vol. VIII, p. 349 MEDIANICHE MANIFESTAZIONI: v. METAPSICHICA.
Medolago Albani, StanislaoVol. VIII, p. 379 MEDOLAGO ALBANI, STANISLAO. - A nobleman from Bergamo, born in Bergamo in 1852, died there on 3 July 1921. Together with Rezzara and Toniolo, he was among the…
Medvjedev, SilvestroVol. VIII, p. 379 MEDVJEDEV, SILVESTRO. — Born at Kurk on 27 January 1641, died on 11 February 1691. The son of civil servants, he too found a position in Moscow, where in 1665…
Meester, Placide deVol. VIII, p. 380 MEESTER, PLACIDE de. — Benedictine monk, in the world Rodolfo, born into a noble family in Antwerp on 9 February 1873, died in Rome on 28 November 1950. At the…
Meeûs, Anne deVol. VIII, p. 380 MEEÛS, ANNE de. - Foundress of the Religious of Perpetual Adoration and of the Work of Poor Churches, born in Bruxelles in 1823, died there on 15 June 1904. At…
Meignan, Guillaume-RenéVol. VIII, p. 380 MEIGNAN, GUILLAUME-RENÉ. - Cardinal, biblical exegete and apologist, b. at Chauvigné (Mayenne) on 12 Apr. 1817, d. at Tours on 19 Jan. 1896. He went to Munich…
Meinrado (Meginrado), Saint(MEINRADO (MEGINRADO), SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 380 MEINRADO (MEGINRADO), Saint. — He was born toward the end of the 8th century in Sülchgau (Germany) and died on 21 January 861 at Einsiedeln. Educated at the…
Meiosis(MEIOSI)Vol. VIII, p. 381 MEIOSIS. — M. (a term introduced by Farmer and Moore in 1905) is the mechanism by which the chromosomes (v. CROMOSOMA) are reduced from the diploid condition…
Meissen, Diocese of(MEISSEN, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 381 MEISSEN, DIOCESE OF. - City and diocese in Saxony. The diocese has an area of 17,460 sq. km with a population of 6,042,219 inhabitants, of whom 592,531 are…
Meister, AloisVol. VIII, p. 382 MEISTER, ALOIS. - German Catholic historian, b. 7 Dec. 1866 in Frankfurt am Main, d. 28 Jan. 1925 in Münster. He studied at the University of Strasbourg and…
Meistermann, BarnabéVol. VIII, p. 382 MEISTERMANN, BARNABÉ. – A Palestinologist, missionary, architect, and Franciscan, born on 27 March 1850 at Pfaffenheim (Alsace), died in Jerusalem on 29…
Mejer, Otto Georg AlexanderVol. VIII, p. 383 MEJER, OTTO GEORG ALEXANDER. - Protestant scholar of ecclesiastical law, b. 27 May 1818 at Zellerfeld (Harz), d. 24 Dec. 1893 at Hannover. In 1847 he began his…
Mekhiltha' (Aram. « Measure »)(MEKHILTHA' (ARAM. « MISURA »))Vol. VIII, p. 383 MEKHILTHA' (Aram. “measure”). — Midhrās (v.), a collection of interpretive and methodological material concerning the Pentateuch, of a preceptive-narrative…
Melanchthon, Philipp(MELANTONE, FILIPPO)Vol. VIII, p. 384 MELANTONE, FILIPPO. — Collaborator and friend of Luther, born at Bretton (Palatinate) on 16 February 1497, died at Wittenberg on 16 April 1560. Of a prosperous…
Melania the Elder(MELANIA SENIORE)Vol. VIII, p. 383 MELANIA SENIORE. - A noble Roman matron of Spanish origin, born in Rome in 349–50, died in Jerusalem on 8 June 410. While still very young, she married the…
Melania the Younger, Saint(MELANIA GIUNIORE, SANTA)Vol. VIII, p. 383 MELANIA GIUNIORE, saint. — Niece of the following, born in 383 to her son Publicola and Albina, of the gens Ceionia. Following the example of her grandmother…
Melbourne, Archdiocese of(MELBOURNE, ARCIDIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 385 MELBOURNE, ARCHDIOCESE of. – It is situated in the State of Victoria, Australia, and is its capital. The first Mass there was celebrated by the Rev. Patrizio…
Melchers, PaulusVol. VIII, p. 385 MELCHERS, PAULUS. — Cardinal, born on 6 January 1813 at Münster, died on 14 December 1895 in Rome. He had Döllinger as his teacher of theology. Ordained a…
Melchia (Heb. Malkijjah[ū] «My King is Yahweh»)(MELCHIA (EBR. MALKIJJAH[Ü] «MIO RE È JAHWEH»))Vol. VIII, p. 386 MELCHIA (Hebr. Malkijjah[ü] “my king is Yahweh”).—Name of several figures of the Old Testament. 1. Priest, a zealous collaborator of Nehemiah in the…
Melchizedek(MELCHISEDEC)Vol. VIII, p. 386 MELCHISEDEC. – King of Salem, probably Jerusalem (cf. Ps. 76 [75], 5), and priest of God (called ‘El-‘eljôn; cf. Num. 24, 16; Deut. 32, 8). The Hebrew…
Meletios the Younger(MELETIOS GIUNIORE)Vol. VIII, p. 387 MELETIOS GIUNIORE. – Pilgrim monk, born at Mutalasca in Cappadocia around 1035, died as abbot of Symbolon in 1105. Venerated as a “saint” on account of his…
Meletius (Melitius) of Antioch, Saint(MELEZIO (MELIZIO) DI ANTIOCHIA, SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 387 MELEZIO (MELIZIO) of ANTIOCHIA, saint. - Bishop of Antiochia, b. at Metilene, in second Armenia, at the beginning of the fourth century, d. at Costantinopoli…
Meletius (Melitius) of Lycopolis(MELEZIO (MELIZIO) DI LICOPOLI)Vol. VIII, p. 388 MELEZIO (MELIZIO) of LICOPOLI. — Bishop of Licopoli in the Thebaid (Egypt), d. ca. 325–26, founder of the schism known after him as Meletian, which probably…
Meletius, Bishop of Pontus, Saint(MELEZIO, VESCOVO DEL PONTO, SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 391 MELEZIO, bishop of PONTO, saint. - He had no cult in antiquity; he was introduced into the Martyrology of Usuard, whose entry passed into the Roman…
MelezianiVol. VIII, p. 387 MELEZIANI: v. MELEZIO di ANTIOCHIA; MELEZIO di LICOPOLI.
Melfi and Rapolla, Diocese of(MELFI E RAPOLLA, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 391 MELFI AND RAPOLLA, DIOCESE OF. — Cities and dioceses in the province of Potenza, immediately subject to the Holy See. The union of the two sees took place on…
Meli, GiovanniVol. VIII, p. 392 MELI, GIOVANNI. — Poet, born in Palermo on 6 March 1740, died there on 20 December 1815. A pupil of the Jesuits, he served as a municipal physician in Cinisi…
MelismaVol. VIII, p. 392 MELISMA. — A term generally reserved for ancient liturgical music, eastern (Byzantine, Syriac, etc.) or western (Gregorian, Ambrosian, Gallican, Visigothic);…
Melito of Sardis(MELITONE DI SARDI)Vol. VIII, p. 393 MELITO of SARDIS. — Polycrates of Ephesus, in a letter to Pope Victor, names M. among “the great luminaries” of the Church in Asia Minor; he calls him a…
MelkVol. VIII, p. 393 MELK. — One of the most famous Austrian Benedictine abbeys, in Lower Austria, in the diocese of St. Pölten. With its enormous bulk (lateral façade 240 m,…
Melkites(MELKITI)Vol. VIII, p. 394 MELKITI. — In scholarly usage, the name designates the faithful of the Byzantine rite, both Catholic and dissident, of the patriarchates of Antioch, Jerusalem,…
Melkonian, StefanoVol. VIII, p. 395 MELKONIAN, STEFANO. — Successor of the Ven. Mechitar, founder of the Mechitarists. Born in Constantinople on 23 February 1717, he entered the Order in 1730;…
Mellitus, Saint(MELLITO, SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 395 MELLITO, saint. - Born in the second half of the 6th century, died on 24 April 624. Of noble origin, he was a monk and abbot in Rome, probably of the monastery…
MelloVol. VIII, p. 395 MELLO. – A magnificent monumental work (Heb. Millò), which appears in the list of Solomon’s constructions (I Reg. 9:15–24) and occasioned the rebellion against…
Melo, Diocese of(MELO, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 395 MELO, DIOCESI di: v. FLORIDA Y MELO, DIOCESI di.
Melody(MELODIA)Vol. VIII, p. 395 MELODIA. – It is the essence of music, its living substance, which organizes itself into discourse and develops a musical thought within it. Since a horizontal…
Melotherapy(MELOTERAPIA)Vol. VIII, p. 395 MELOTHERAPY. — Therapy by means of music. The principle that gave rise to this therapeutic aid was the general one, improperly regarded as magical, of «…
Melozzo da ForlìVol. VIII, p. 396 MELOZZO DA FORLÌ. – Painter, b. at Forlì on 8 June 1438, to Giuliano di Melozzo degli Ambrogi, d. there on 8 November 1494. Around 1460 he is thought to have…
MelqartVol. VIII, p. 399 MELQART. — Phoenician divinity (Gr. Μελκάθρος). The Phoenician melqart, from melek-Qart, means, according to the view still most probable today, “the king of…
Melun, Armand deVol. VIII, p. 399 MELUN, ARMAND de. – Viscount, one of the greatest organizers in France of the charitable works of the last century, precursor of Christian social action, b. at…
Meluzzi, SalvatoreVol. VIII, p. 399 MELUZZI, SALVATORE. — Composer, born in Rome on 22 August 1813, died there on 17 April 1897. Trained in the traditional Roman school, he was director of the…
Melville, HermanVol. VIII, p. 399 MELVILLE, HERMAN. – American novelist and poet, born in New York City on 1 August 1819, died there on 28 September 1891. His exotic novels were the fruit of…
Melzi d'Eril, CamilloVol. VIII, p. 400 MELZI D'ERIL, CAMILLO. – Barnabite, meteorologist and seismologist, of the Milanese ducal family of the M. d'E., born in Pisa on 6 January 1851, died in…
Memling (Memlinc), Hans(MEMLINC (MEMLINC), HANS)Vol. VIII, p. 402 MEMLINC (MEMLINC), HANS. — Flemish painter, born in the vicinity of Mainz, probably at Mömlingen, around 1433, died at Bruges on 11 August 1494. He worked in…
Memmi, Lippo (Lippo da Siena)Vol. VIII, p. 402 MEMMI, LIPPO (LIPPO DA SIENA). – Sienese painter, son of Memmo di Filippuccio, also a painter, and brother-in-law of Simone Martini (v.), mentioned and…
Memorare, O Most Pious Virgin Mary(MEMORARE, O PIISSIMA VIRGO MARIA)Vol. VIII, p. 402 «MEMORARE, O PIISSIMA VIRGO MARIA». — Prayer to the Most Holy Virgin, an expression of filial trust in her, for she never closes her ear to the pleas of her…
Memoriale Rituum (Parvum Caeremoniale, Parvum Rituale)Vol. VIII, p. 405 MEMORIALE RITUUM (Parvum caeremoniale, Parvum rituale). - A modern book of the Roman rite, compiled for the use of the smaller parishes of Rome, containing the…
Memorie DomenicaneVol. VIII, p. 406 MEMORIE DOMENICANE. - It is the oldest Dominican periodical in Italy. Founded in 1884 at Ferrara, on the initiative of Fr Tommaso Granello, later archbishop…
Memory(MEMORIA)Vol. VIII, p. 403 MEMORIA. – In modern psychology, which seems to continue the conception of decadent scholasticism, m. generally signifies the function that preserves images…
Mena, Juan deVol. VIII, p. 406 MENA, JUAN de. - Spanish poet, born in Córdoba in 1411, died in Torrelaguna in 1456. He studied for some time in Rome, where he was introduced to humanistic…
Menander (Menandros)(MENANDRO (MENANDROS))Vol. VIII, p. 407 MENANDRO (Menandros). — One of the earliest Gnostics, a disciple of Simone Mago. Born at Kapparataia (St. Justin, Apol., I, 26) in the 1st century A.D., he…
Menas, Patriarch of Constantinople, Saint(MENA, PATRIARCA DI COSTANTINOPOLI, SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 406 MENA, patriarch of COSTANTINOPOLI, saint. - Born in Alexandria toward the end of the 5th century, died in Constantinople in August 552. He was director of the…
Menas, Saint, Martyr(MENA, SANTO, MARTIRE)Vol. VIII, p. 406 MENA, saint, martyr. — Very well known and venerated in antiquity, he is commemorated on 11 November in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, in the Greek…
Mende, Diocese of(MENDE, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 407 MENDE, DIOCESI of. — Diocese and capital city of the department of Lozère (France), on the left bank of the Lot. It has an area of 5,000 sq km, with a…
Mendel, GregorVol. VIII, p. 408 MENDEL, GREGOR. — An Augustinian Hermit, born at Heinzendorf near Odrau (Czechoslovakia Silesia) on 22 July 1822, died at Brno on 6 January 1884. In 1843 he…
Mendeleev (Mendeléeff), Dmitri Ivanovich(MENDELEEW (MENDELÉJEFF), DIMITRI IVANOVIĆ)Vol. VIII, p. 411 MENDELEEW (MENDELÉJEFF), DIMITRI IVANOVIĆ. – Chemist, born in Tobolsk (Russia) on 7 February 1834, died in St Petersburg on 2 February 1907. From 1856 he…
Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Jacob Ludwig FelixVol. VIII, p. 411 MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, JACOB LUDWIG FELIX. - Musician, born in Hamburg on 3 February 1809, died in Leipzig on 4 November 1847. From his mother he learned the…
Mendelssohn, MosesVol. VIII, p. 411 MENDELSSOHN, MOSES. — Philosopher, born in Dessau on 6 September 1729, died in Berlin on 4 January 1786. Having already begun studying the works of Maimonide…
Mendez de San Juan, JoséVol. VIII, p. 412 MENDEZ DE SAN JUAN, JOSÉ. - Minim, moral theologian, b. in Madrid in 1605, d. there on 17 July 1680. He was successively lecturer in dogmatic and moral…
Mendez, Apostolic Vicariate of(MENDEZ, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI)Vol. VIII, p. 411 MENDEZ, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. – Situated in the eastern region of the Republic of Ecuador. It also included the area of Gualaquiza; but this was detached…
Mendoza y Bobadilla, Francisco deVol. VIII, p. 413 MENDOZA y BOBADILLA, FRANCISCO de. - Theologian and cardinal, born in Cuenca on September 25, 1508, died in Arcos (Burgos) on November 26, 1566. Having…
Mendoza, Diocese of(MENDOZA, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 413 MENDOZA, DIOCESE of. — Diocese and principal city in the province of the same name in Argentina. It has an area of 247,917 sq. km. and a population of 676,149…
Menelaus(MENELAO)Vol. VIII, p. 414 MENELAO. - High priest of Jerusalem, who unlawfully succeeded Giasone, himself likewise an intruder in place of his brother Onia III, the last legitimate…
MeneonVol. VIII, p. 415 MENEON. – Liturgical book of the Greek rite, composed of 6 or 12 volumes, containing the proper chants and biblical lessons of the Office of the feasts of the…
Meneses, AlbjoVol. VIII, p. 415 MENESES, ALBJO. – Augustinian missionary and bishop, born in Lisbon on 25 January 1559, died in Madrid on 2 May 1617. He entered religious life in 1574 and,…
Menevia, Diocese of(MENEVIA, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 415 MENEVIA, DIOCESI of. — In the Province of Cardiff in England, with the exception of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. Of its 932,480 inhabitants (1931 census),…
Mengoli, PietroVol. VIII, p. 416 MENGOLI, PIETRO. - Mathematician, b. at Bologna in 1626, d. there on 7 June 1686. He was a pupil of B. Cavalieri. Appointed parish priest in the same city, he…
Mengoni, Theophilus (Theophilus da Soci)(MENGONI, TEOFILO (TEOFILO DA SOCI))Vol. VIII, p. 416 MENGONI, TEOFILO (TEOFILO DA SOCI). - Preacher and writer of the Order of Friars Minor, b. at Soci (Arezzo) on 12 July 1864, d. at Fiesole on 31 May 1949. He…
Mengs, Anton RaphaelVol. VIII, p. 416 MENGS, ANTON RAPHAEL. – Painter, born at Aussig in Bohemia on 22 March 1728, died in Rome on 29 June 1779. The son of Ismael, himself also a painter, he was…
MenhirVol. VIII, p. 416 MENHIR: V. PREISTORIA, RELIGIONE nella.
Meniates, EliaVol. VIII, p. 416 MENIATES, ELIA. – Greek bishop and controversialist, b. in 1669, d. in 1714. At the age of 10 he came from Cefalonia, his native land, to Venice, where he…
Menno, SimonsVol. VIII, p. 417 MENNO, SIMONS. — Founder of the Mennonites, b. at Witmarsum (Holland) ca. 1496, d. at Aldesloe (Holstein) in 1559. Ordained a priest in 1515 (or 1516), he was…
Mennon, Bishop of Ephesus(MENNONE, VESCOVO DI EFESO)Vol. VIII, p. 418 MENNON, bishop of EPHESUS. — He lived between the end of the 4th century and the first half of the 5th; he was already bishop of that Church in 431, when the…
Menocchio, Bartolomeo, Venerable(MENOCCHIO, BARTOLOMEO, VENERABILE)Vol. VIII, p. 418 MENOCCHIO, BARTOLOMEO, venerable. — Of the Hermits of s. Agostino, born in Carmagnola on 10 March 1741, died in Rome on 25 March 1823. A religious from 1760,…
Menocchio, Giacomo(MENOCHIO, GIACOMO)Vol. VIII, p. 418 MENOCHIO, GIACOMO. - Jurist, born in Pavia in 1532, died there in 1607. While still very young, he taught law at that University (1556–60). Having attained…
Menocchio, Giovanni Stefano(MENOCHIO, GIOVANNI STEFANO)Vol. VIII, p. 418 MENOCHIO, GIOVANNI STEFANO. — Jesuit theologian and exegete, b. at Pavia in December 1575, d. at Rome on 4 February 1655. He taught biblical exegesis and moral…
MenologionVol. VIII, p. 418 MENOLOGION — Miniatures and text of the first pages of the Menologion of Basilio II (976–1025) — Vatican Library, cod. Vat. grec. 1613, fols. 1 and 2. (photo:…
Menologion(MENOLOGI)Vol. VIII, p. 419 MENOLOGIA. - A Byzantine liturgical book containing in full the lives of the saints, arranged according to days and months, beginning with 1 September, the…
MensaVol. VIII, p. 419 MENSA. — The term is sometimes used as a synonym for the altar (v.) erected over the tomb of a martyr. Thus St Augustine, speaking of the altar erected at the…
Menshevism(MENSCEVISMO)Vol. VIII, p. 420 MENSCEVISMO. – By m. Soviet theory sometimes means the Second International, revisionist and reformist, but in the strict sense it means the faction of the…
Mensing (Mensinck), JohannVol. VIII, p. 421 MENSING (MENSINCK), JOHANN. - Dominican theologian, probably born at Magdeburgo, died at Halbertstadt in 1540. He entered religious life in 1495; between 1515…
Mensuralism(MENSURALISMO)Vol. VIII, p. 422 MENSURALISM. — A set of theories that favor a measured rhythm for Gregorian melodies, in opposition to theories advocating free rhythm. Their point of…
Mensurio, Bishop of Carthage(MENSURIO, VESCOVO DI CARTAGINE)Vol. VIII, p. 422 MENSURIO, bishop of CARTAGINE. — He governed his Church during the difficult years from the Diocletian persecution (303) to the disastrous rule of Maxentius in…
Mental Alienation(ALIENAZIONE MENTALE)Vol. I, p. 538 ALIENAZIONE MENTALE: v. INFERMITÀ MENTALE.
Mental Confusion(CONFUSIONE MENTALE)Vol. IV, p. 175 MENTAL CONFUSION. – A characteristic state proper to amentia (v.), occurring as a consequence of acute and chronic intoxications or of the severe ideational…
Mental Illness(MENTALI, MALATTIE)Vol. VIII, p. 422 MENTALI, MALATTIE. – Morbid conditions also called frenopathies, psychopathies, psychoses, which manifest themselves in acute or chronic form through…
Mental Reservation(RESTRIZIONE MENTALE)Vol. X, p. 481 RESTRIZIONE MENTALE: v. RISERVA MENTALE.
Mental Reservation(RISERVA MENTALE)Vol. X, p. 569 MENTAL RESERVATION. - I. NOTION AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT. - Mental reservation consists in the interior act of the mind by which the person replying changes…
Menti NostraeVol. VIII, p. 424 « MENTI NOSTRAE ». — Initial phrase of the exhortation addressed on 23 September 1950 by Pius XII to all the Catholic clergy, concerning priestly holiness…
Menzini, BenedettoVol. VIII, p. 424 MENZINI, BENEDETTO. - Priest, poet, born in Firenze on 29 March 1646, died in Roma on 7 Nov. 1704. Of lively intellect and solid classical learning, he was…
Menéndez y Pelayo, MarcelinoVol. VIII, p. 415 MENÉNDEZ y PELAYO, MARCELINO. - Spanish scholar and critic, b. at Santander on 3 Nov. 1856, d. there on 19 May 1912. A brilliant interpreter of Spanish…
Menéndez, JosefaVol. VIII, p. 414 MENÉNDEZ, JOSEFA. - Religious of the Society of the S. Cuore di Gesù, b. at Madrid on 4 Feb. 1890, d. at Poitiers on 29 Dec. 1923. Having consecrated herself…
Meo di Francesco del CaprinoVol. VIII, p. 429 MEO di FRANCESCO del CAPRINO. - Architect, born at Settignano in 1430, died at Roma in 1501. By 1467 he was already in Roma, working as a stonecutter in the…
MerariVol. VIII, p. 429 MERARI. - Third son of Levi (Heb. Méràri: Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16, 19). His descendants (I Par. 5:27; 6:1-4, 29-34 [Vulg. 6:1, 16-19]) constituted the least…
Merauke, Apostolic Vicariate of(MERAUKE, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI)Vol. VIII, p. 429 MERAUKE, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - Situated in the southern part of Dutch New Guinea; erected on 25 June 1950 by separation from the apostolic vicariate of…
Mercadante, Saverio RaffaeleVol. VIII, p. 429 MERCADANTE, SAVERIO RAFFAELE. - Musician, b. at Altamura in Sept. 1795, d. at Naples on 12 Dec. 1870, where he was a pupil of Zingarelli. In 1819 his first…
Mercalli, GiuseppeVol. VIII, p. 430 MERCALLI, GIUSEPPE. — Seismologist and volcanologist, born in Milan on 21 May 1850, died in Naples on 19 March 1914. Ordained a priest in 1871 and graduated in…
Mercantilism(MERCANTILISMO)Vol. VIII, p. 430 MERCANTILISMO. – M. is the theory that subjects all the economic activity of a nation to state intervention, so that through the active protection of the…
MercaturaVol. VIII, p. 431 MERCATURA. — I. CONCEPT. — M., in general, is any exchange of goods or values. Among the various forms of exchange, buying and selling predominates. Three…
Mercedarians(MERCEDARI)Vol. VIII, p. 432 MERCEDARI. — A religious order founded by St. Pietro Nolasco in 1218 with the aim of ransoming Christians enslaved by the Muslims. St. Pietro Nolasco, under…
Mercedes, Diocese of(MERCEDES, DIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 433 MERCEDES, DIOCESE of. — City and diocese in Argentina. It has an area of 145,142 sq. km., with a population of 1,100,000 inhabitants, of whom 950,000 are…
Merciedarie Missionarie di Bérriz(MERCEDARIE MISSIONARIE DI BÉRRIZ)Vol. VIII, p. 433 MERCEDARIAN MISSIONARIES OF BÉRRIZ. - The monastery of Bérriz, founded in 1550 as a community of devout Mercedarians, was transformed in 1741 into a monastery…
Mercier, DésiréVol. VIII, p. 433 MERCIER, DÉSIRÉ. – Philosopher, founder of the Institute of Philosophy of the University of Louvain, cardinal and primate of Belgium, born at Braine l’Alleud,…
MercimonioVol. VIII, p. 434 MERCIMONIO. – In general, this denotes any illicit traffic, whatever the source of its unlawfulness. In a narrower sense, m. denotes illicit traffic because it…
Mercurian, EberhardVol. VIII, p. 434 MERCURIAN, EBERHARD. — Fourth Superior General of the Society of Jesus, born at Marcour (Belgium) in 1514, died in Rome on 1 August 1580. He entered the…
Mercury(MERCURIO)Vol. VIII, p. 435 MERCURIO. — An ancient Roman deity, who appears in the earliest lists of the twelve gods. The name itself, Mercurius (from merx, mercari), clearly accounts for…
Mercy(MISERICORDIA)Vol. VIII, p. 653 MISERICORDIA. – A moral virtue, a potential part of justice, consisting in feeling compassion for the misfortune of others and being moved to relieve it. The…
Meredith, GeorgeVol. VIII, p. 435 MEREDITH, GEORGE. – English narrator and poet, b. at Portsmouth on 13 February 1828, d. on 19 May 1909 at Box Hill (Surrey). He married the daughter of the…
Merezhkovsky, Dmitry Sergeyevich(MEREZKOVSKIJ, DMĪTRIJ SERGĒEVIC)Vol. VIII, p. 435 MEREZKOVSKIJ, DMĪTRIJ SERGĒEVIC. – Russian poet, writer, and essayist, born in Petersburg on 14 August 1865, died in Paris on 15 December 1941. Of considerable…
Merinero, Juan deVol. VIII, p. 437 MERINERO, JUAN de. – Franciscan theologian, born in Madrid in 1600 and died in a reputation for holiness in 1663. He entered the Order at the age of 16; taught…
Merit of Jesus Christ(MERITO DI GESÙ CRISTO)Vol. VIII, p. 439 MERIT OF JESUS CHRIST. — Since all the conditions of supernatural merit were present in Jesus Christ (freedom, the state of a wayfarer, notwithstanding the…
Merit of Man(MERITO DELL'UOMO)Vol. VIII, p. 437 MERIT OF MAN. — Merit, theologically, is the good work which, performed by man under certain conditions, is worthy of a supernatural reward. I. REALITY OF THE…
Merk, AugustinVol. VIII, p. 440 MERK, AUGUSTIN. — Exegete, born in Achern (Baden) on 11 September 1869, died in Rome on 3 April 1945. After completing his gymnasium and secondary-school…
Merkelbach, Benoît-HenriVol. VIII, p. 440 MERKELBACH, BENOÎT-HENRI. - Dominican moral theologian, b. at Tongres (Belgium) on 6 Jan. 1871, d. at Louvain on 25 July 1942. Ordained priest at Liège (1894),…
MerloVol. VIII, p. 442 MERLO - HORSTIUS, JACOBUS. - Ascetic writ- er, b. at Meerlo, near Horst (diocese of Ruremonde; the Netherlands), on 24 July He recognized the importance of the…
Mermillod, GaspardVol. VIII, p. 442 MERMILLOD, GASPARD. – Cardinal, born at Carouge (diocese of Geneva) on 22 September 1824, died in Rome on 23 February 1892. Ordained a priest in 1847, he was…
Merneptah (« The Beloved of Ptah »)(MERNEPTAH (« L'AMATO DA PTAH »))Vol. VIII, p. 442 MERNEPTAH (“beloved of Ptah”). — Pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty, also known as Meneptah or Mineptah, son and successor of Ramesses (Ramses) II, he reigned,…
Merob (Heb. Mērabh = « Multitude », « Increase »)(MEROB (EBR. MÉRABH = « MOLTITUDINE », « INCREMENTO »))Vol. VIII, p. 442 MEROB (Heb. Mérabh = “multitude,” “increase”). — Daughter of Saul (I Sam. 14:49), promised in marriage to the victor over Goliath (ibid. 17:25). After David’s…
Merode, Frédéric-François-Xavier deVol. VIII, p. 443 MERODE, FRÉDÉRIC-FRANÇOIS-XAVIER de. – Prelate and statesman, born in Brussels on 20 March 1820, died in Rome on 10 July 1874. Of a most noble family, after…
Merom (Hebrew Mērom)(MEROM (EBR. MĒRŌM))Vol. VIII, p. 444 MEROM (Heb. Mērōm). - A locality in northern Palestine. Near the waters of M. (= mē-Mērōm, Ios. 11, 5.7), Joshua defeated the hostile coalition of the kings of…
Merovingian Script and Illumination(MEROVINGICA SCRITTURA E MINIATURA)Vol. VIII, p. 447 MEROVINGICA SCRITTURA e MINIATURA. — The name m. was given by Mabillon to the script that developed in the Frankish Kingdom up to the age of Charlemagne, and…
Merovingians(MEROVINGI)Vol. VIII, p. 444 MEROVINGI. - I. HISTORY. - Dynasty that ruled the Franks from the 5th century to the 8th century. Belonging to the tribe of the Salian Franks, after long…
Merry del Val, RafaelVol. VIII, p. 448 MERRY DEL VAL, RAFAEL. — Cardinal of Spanish family, b. in London on 10 Oct. 1865, d. in Rome on 26 Feb. 1930. He completed his first studies in England and…
Mersch, Émile(MERSCH, EMILE)Vol. VIII, p. 449 MERSCH, EMILE. — Jesuit theologian, born on 30 July 1890 at Marche (Belgian Luxembourg), died on 23 May 1940 at Lens (France). In 1920 he became professor of…
Mersenne, MarinVol. VIII, p. 449 MERSENNE, MARIN. — French scientist and theologian, born at Oizé (Sarthe) on 8 September 1588, died in Paris on 1 September 1648. Having completed his studies…
Merswin, RulmanVol. VIII, p. 450 MERSWIN, RULMAN. — Banker who exercised an ascetic influence, born in Strasbourg in 1307, died there in 1382. The preaching of Tauler filled him with religious…
Mertel, TeodolfoVol. VIII, p. 450 MERTEL, TEODOLFO. — Cardinal, born at Allumiere (Lazio) on 6 February 1806, died there on 9 July 1899. Having graduated in law at Rome, he acquired such renown…
Meru, Apostolic Prefecture of(MERU, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI)Vol. VIII, p. 451 MERU, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - It is situated in the central part of Kenya, northeast of Mount Kenya, and is entrusted to the Istituto Missioni Consolata…
Merulo (Merlotti), ClaudioVol. VIII, p. 451 MERULO (MERLOTTI), CLAUDIO. - Musician, b. at Correggio on 8 April 1533, d. at Parma on 4 May 1604. On 2 July 1557 he was appointed second organist at S. Marco…
Merz, IvanVol. VIII, p. 451 MERZ, IVAN. — A distinguished promoter of Catholic Action in Croatia, born in Banjaluka (Bosnia) on 16 December 1896 and died in Zagreb on 10 May 1928; he…
Merz, Philipp PaulVol. VIII, p. 451 MERZ, PHILIPP PAUL. - Biblical homiletic-catechetical author, b. at Augusta. A Protestant, he was a Lutheran theologian and preacher at Strasbourg and Kehl. On…
Mesarites, Giovanni and Nicolaos(MESARITES, GIOVANNI E NICOLAO)Vol. VIII, p. 452 MESARITES, GIOVANNI and NICOLAO. — These two brothers distinguished themselves in the religious controversies during the time of the Latin Empire of…
Meschler, MoritzVol. VIII, p. 452 MESCHLER, MORITZ. - Jesuit, ascetical writer, b. at Briga (Switzerland) on 6 Sept. 1830, d. at Exaeten (Holland) on 2 Dec. 1912. For a long time he was master…
Mesha (Hebrew Mēša', 2 Kings 3; Stele: Meša')(MESA (EBR. MĚŠA', II REG. 3; STELE: MEŠA'))Vol. VIII, p. 451 MESA (Heb. Měša', II Reg. 3; stele: Meša'). — King of Moab, son of Kēmōš [bānāh?], a native of Dibon; enterprising and tenacious, he is famous for the stele in…
Meslier, JeanVol. VIII, p. 457 MESLIER, JEAN. — The precise year of either his birth or death is unknown, but he certainly lived between 1664 and 1733. Parish priest of Etrépigny in the…
Mesmerism(MESMERISMO)Vol. VIII, p. 457 MESMERISMO : v. IPNOTISMO.
MesopotamiaVol. VIII, p. 457 MESOPOTAMIA. — Region lying between the mountains (Kafiari) of Armenia to the north, the Zagros Mountains to the east, and the Syro-Arabian desert to the…
Mesrop (Mesrob, Mastotz), Saint(MESROP (MESROB, MASTOTZ), SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 459 MESROP (MESROB, MASTOTZ), saint. — Doctor of the Armenian Church, born in the village of Hatsekats (province of Taron) around the middle of the 4th century, a…
Messalians(MESSALIANI)Vol. VIII, p. 507 MESSALIANI. – An ascetic movement with heretical tendencies that arose in Syria. In Greek the m. are called cuchi; but Timotheus, presbyter of Constantinople,…
Messenger of the Sacred Heart(MESSAGGERO DEL SACRO CUORE)Vol. VIII, p. 497 MESSENGER OF THE SACRED HEART. - Monthly periodical for the spread of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Apostleship of Prayer, founded in Parma in…
Messiah and Messianism(MESSIA E MESSIANISMO)Vol. VIII, p. 508 MESSIA E MESSIANISMO. — From Hebr. māšīah = anointed, a leader sent by God to govern his people. In the Old Testament the term is applied to the priests (Ex.…
Messina, Archdiocese of(MESSINA, ARCIDIOCESI DI)Vol. VIII, p. 518 MESSINA, ARCHDIOCESE OF. - A city in north-eastern Sicily, on the Strait of Messina which links the Mediterranean to the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the seat of an…
Messina, GiuseppeVol. VIII, p. 523 MESSINA, GIUSEPPE. – Jesuit, Iranist, and historian of the religions of the ancient Near East, born in S. Cataldo (Caltanissetta) on 6 January 1893, died in…
Metabolism(METABOLISMO)Vol. VIII, p. 523 METABOLISM. – The term m. denotes the ensemble of chemical transformation processes that the materials introduced from the environment (ingesta) undergo in…
Metaphysics(METAFISICA)Vol. VIII, p. 524 METAFISICA. — It is the ultimate philosophical consideration of the meaning, principles, and structure of reality. Thus all the contrasts, controversies, and…
Metapsychics(METAPSICHICA)Vol. VIII, p. 527 METAPSICHICA. — From the Greek μετὰ (beyond) and ψυχή (soul); in Italian also: metapsychology, parapsychology, metagnomics, psychical research. M. may be…
Metastasio, PietroVol. VIII, p. 530 METASTASIO, PIETRO. — Poet, born in Rome on 3 January 1698, died in Vienna on 12 April 1784. His surname Trapassi was Hellenized into M. by his tutor Gian…
Metempsychosis(METEMPSICOSI)Vol. VIII, p. 531 METEMPSICOSI: V. REINCARNAZIONE.
Meteorological Organization(ORGANIZZAZIONE METEOROLOGICA)Vol. IX, p. 195 METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION. — Meteorology as a science owes its development to air navigation and radio, since it is becoming increasingly necessary for…
Meteorology(METEREOLOGIA)Vol. VIII, p. 531 METEREOLOGIA. – The etymology of the word indicates that originally it referred to the study, or at least the observation, of all superterrestrial phenomena…
Methodism(METODISMO)Vol. VIII, p. 533 METODISM. – One of the most important branches of Protestantism, originating in the preaching of the Wesley brothers: John, born at Epworth (Lincolnshire) on…
Methodius of Olympus, Saint(METODIO DI OLIMPO, SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 532 METODIUS of OLYMPUS, saint. — Of his person and life it can be said with certainty only that he lived in Lycia and died a bishop and martyr ad extremum…
Methodius, Saint(METODIO, SANTO)Vol. VIII, p. 532 METODIO, saint. — Byzantine patriarch, born in the second half of the eighth century at Siracusa, died at Costantinopoli on 14 June 847. Educated in his…
Methodology(METODOLOGIA)Vol. VIII, p. 536 METHODOLOGY. – The word method (μέθοδος, from μετὰ, through, and ὁδός, way), sometimes used by the ancients in the sense of “inquiry,” subsequently came to…
Methuselah (Hebrew Mēthāšēlāh or Mēthūšēlāh)(MATHUSALA (EBR. MĒTHĀŠELĀH O MĒTHĀŠELĀH))Vol. VIII, p. 256 MATHUSALA (Hebr. Mēthāšelāh or Mēthāšelāh). — Son of Henoch and father of Lamech; he is the eighth in the series of the antediluvian patriarchs of the line of…
Metochites, GiorgioVol. VIII, p. 532 METOCHITES, GIORGIO. - Byzantine writer, defender of the union of the Second Council of Lyons (1274), ambassador of his emperor Michele VIII Paleologo to Popes…
Metrophanes II(METROFANE II)Vol. VIII, p. 547 METROPHANES II. — Greek Uniate Patriarch (4 May 1440–1 August 1443), born around the beginning of the 15th century; he took part in the Council of Florence as…
Metrophanes of Smyrna(METROFANE DI SMIRNE)Vol. VIII, p. 547 METROFANE di SMIRNE. - He already occupied this see in 857, at the time of the deposition of the patriarch of Constantinople, s. Ignazio. M. resolutely placed…
Metrophanes, Critopoulos(METROFANE, CRITOPULOS)Vol. VIII, p. 547 METROFANE, CRITOPULOS. — A schismatic and Protestantizing theologian of the seventeenth century, b. in Berea of Macedonia in 1589. A monk of Mount Athos, he…
Metropolitan(METROPOLITA)Vol. VIII, p. 547 METROPOLITAN. – He is the bishop who presides over the ecclesiastical province and has under him other bishops, called “suffragans” (from the suffrage to which…
Metsys (Massys), QuentinVol. VIII, p. 548 METSYS (MASSYS), QUENTIN. — Painter, born at Louvain in 1466, died at Antwerp in 1530. He is found in Antwerp in 1491, where in 1493 he enrolled in the…
