P
1,512 articles · English index · Indice italiano-
Peter of Rosenheim (PIETRO DI ROSENHEIM)
Benedictine monastic reformer, preacher and poet, b. ca. 1380 at Wiechs near Rosenheim (hence he is also called Petrus Vix), d. 7 January 1433 at Basel. Around… -
Peter of San Gemini (PIETRO DI SAN GEMINIANO)
PIETRO di SAN GEMINIANO : v. MAROCCO. -
Peter of Tarentaise, Blessed (PIETRO DI TARANTASIA, BEATO)
PIETRO di TARANTASIA, beato: v. INNOCENZO V, PAPA. -
Peter of the Marsh (Petrus a Palude) (PIETRO DELLA PALUDE (PETRUS A PALUDE))
Dominican theologian, b. at Varambon (Ain) ca. 1277, d. at Paris on 31 Jan. 1342. A religious in Lyons, he studied at Paris and became master in theology on 13… -
Peter of Thury (PIETRO DI THURY)
Cardinal, b. in Burgundy in the second half of the 14th century, d. probably around 9 Dec. 1410. Doctor in utroque. He was custodian of the church of Lyon and… -
Peter of Verona, Saint (PIETRO DA VERONA, SANTO)
Dominican martyr, b. in Verona at the beginning of the 13th century, d. in the woods of Farga (Seveso, Milan) on 6 April 1252. Born into a heretical family, in… -
Peter Orseolo, Saint (PIETRO ORSEOLO, SANTO)
Born around 928 into a noble Venetian family. He took part in the expedition of 978 against the Narentines who were infesting the shores of the Adriatic. After… -
Peter Regalato, Saint (PIETRO REGALATO, SANTO)
B. at Valladolid in 1390, of a distinguished family, d. in the convent of Aguilera on 13 May 1458. He entered the Franciscan Order at the age of 13. While the… -
Peter Sabinus (PIETRO SABINO)
Humanist, disciple and colleague of Pomponio Leto (1429-98), he was a teacher of Greek and Latin letters in the Archiginnasio Romano, as appears from the roll… -
Peter, Saint, Martyr (PIETRO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
PIETRO, santo, martire: v. MARCELLINUS and PETER, saints, martyrs. -
Peters, Gerlach
One of the most remarkable authors of the « Devotio moderna »; b. at Deventer in 1378, he entered as a regular canon of St. Augustine at Windesheim, where he… -
Peter Siculus (Siculo) (PIETRO SIKELIOTES (SICULO))
A history of the Manichaeans or Paulicians is attributed to him (PG 104, 1240-1349); he is a much-discussed figure; not even his existence is established… -
Peters, Norbert
Exegete, b. at Allendorf (Westphalia) on 5 Aug. 1863, d. at Paderborn on 20 Jan. 1938. A priest in 1887, following special studies in biblical science and in… -
Peter's Pence (Denaro di S. Pietro) (OBOLO DI SAN PIETRO (DENARO DI S. PIETRO))
In the Middle Ages, "St. Peter's money" meant the annual tribute paid to the Holy See by states and lordships that had placed themselves under its particular… -
Petersson, Lars (Petri Laurentius)
First Lutheran archbishop of Sweden, b. at Örebro in 1499, d. at Uppsala on 26 Oct. 1573. He studied with his elder brother Olaf at Wittenberg, at the school… -
Petersson, Olaf (Petri Olaus)
The principal founder of the Lutheran Reformation in Sweden, brother of the preceding, b. at Örebro in 1493, d. at Stockholm on 19 April 1552. He studied at… -
Peter the Deacon (PIETRO, DIACONO)
Librarian and archivist of the abbey of Montecassino, b. ca. 1107, d. in 1159. Under the guidance of the monk Guido, P. acquired a solid erudition in the… -
Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia (PIETRO IL GRANDE, ZAR DI RUSSIA)
B. May 30, 1672. His education was left to chance. From his earliest youth, passionate about military exercises, he organized, partly as a game, partly with… -
Peter the Hermit (PIETRO L'EREMITA)
Born around 1050 in the diocese of Amiens, died at Neufmoutier (diocese of Liège) on 8 July 1115. He is the best known among the popular preachers of the First… -
Peter the Iberian (PIETRO IBERO)
Monophysite bishop of Maiuma, b. in Georgia in 409, d. at Jamnia on 1 December 448. In 421-22 P. was already at the Byzantine court. According to the opinion… -
Peter the Painter (Petrus Pictor) (PIETRO PITTORE (PETRUS PICTOR))
Poet and theologian, of whom biographical details are lacking. He lived between the end of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century and was a… -
Peter the Venerable (PIETRO IL VENERABILE)
Abbot of Cluny and theologian, b. in Auvergne ca. 1094, d. at Cluny on 25 Dec. 1156. Monk at Sauxillanges (1109), "scholastic" and prior of the abbey of… -
Peter Thomas (Peter of Thomas), Saint (PIETRO TOMMASO (PIETRO DI THOMAS), SANTO)
Carmelite, b. at Le Breil (Périgord, France) ca. 1305, d. at Famagusta (Cyprus) on 6 Jan. 1366. Master of theology in Paris in 1349, then regent of the… -
Petilianus (PETILIANO)
Donatist bishop of Cirta (Constantine); he was a Catholic catechumen; but it is perhaps excessive to interpret the abreptum (from the Church) of St. Augustine… -
Petit, Adolphe
Jesuit, b. at Ghent on 22 May 1822, d. at Drongen (Tronchiennes) on 20 May 1914. Having entered the Society of Jesus (1842), in 1855 he received the office of… -
Petite-Église
The name designates the anti-Concordat schism of 1801, in France and in Belgium. On 18 Aug. 1801, Pope Pius VII, in execution of art. 3 of the Concordat… -
Petition (PETIZIONE)
The "right of petition" to the supreme authorities of the State (addressed to the king, as in the English "act" of rights, or to the Chambers, as in the… -
Petitio Principii (PETIZIONE DI PRINCIPIO)
A sophism (v.) consisting in assuming, explicitly or implicitly, as the basis of the proof, the very thing that is to be demonstrated, e.g.: everything given… -
Petit, Louis
Assumptionist, archbishop of Athens, b. 21 Feb. 1868 at Viuz-la-Chiésaz (Savoy), d. 5 Nov. 1927 at Menton. A priest in 1891, in 1895 he was superior of the… -
Petra
A city of Transjordan, characteristically built on sheer rocks, and therefore called Sela ("rock"), in Greek P. It was inhabited by the Edomites already in the… -
Petrarch, Francesco (PETRARCA, FRANCESCO)
I. LIFE. - He was born in Arezzo on July 20, 1304, to ser Petraccolo di ser Parenzo and Eletta Canigiani. His was an old Florentine family, with firm… -
Petreius (Peeters), Theodorus
Carthusian, b. at Kempen on 17 April 1560, d. at Cologne on 24 April 1640. He studied philosophy at Cologne, where he became a religious in 1587. Prior of the… -
Petriano, Museo
It was a special building where for some time the principal sacred and profane monuments were suitably arranged, saved after the demolition of the ancient… -
Petricca, Angelo
Controversialist, of the Conventual Franciscans, b. at Sonnino (Lazio), d. at Rome on 10 Dec. 1673. A doctor of theology (1631), he was sent by the Holy See on… -
Petrilli, Savina
Foundress of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Catherine of Siena, b. at Siena on 29 Aug. 1852, d. there on 18 Apr. 1923. A pupil with the Daughters of Charity… -
Petrolina, Diocese of (PETROLINA, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in the State of Pernambuco in Brazil. It has a population of 160,000 inhabitants, all Catholic, distributed in 13 parishes served by 11… -
Petronace of Montecassino (PETRONACE DI MONTECASSINO)
Died at Montecassino on 6 May 750. At the behest of Gregory II, he was abbot of that same monastery, to which he made a pilgrimage from his native Brescia and… -
Petrone, Icino
Philosopher and jurist, b. at Limosano (Campobasso) on 21 Sept. 1870, d. at S. Giorgio a Cremano on 26 July 1913. From 1897 he taught philosophy of law at the… -
Petronilla, Saint, Martyr (PETRONILLA, SANTA, MARTIRE)
Commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on May 31. Certainly an authentic martyr and Roman, yet nothing is known of her biography or under which persecution she… -
Petroni, Riccardo (Richardus de Senis)
Cardinal, jurist, b. in Siena in 1250 of an illustrious and noble family, d. in Genoa on 10 (or 26) February 1314. After completing his studies in law at… -
Petronius Maximus, Emperor of the West (PETRONIO MASSIMO (PETRONIUS MAXIMUS), IMPERATORE D'OCCIDENTE)
Emperor for a few months, b. in 396 of a noble family; he quickly rose to the high ranks of the civil hierarchy: prefect of Rome in 420 and consul in 433, in… -
Petronius, Saint (PETRONIO, SANTO)
The information concerning him is uncertain and obscure. In the Roman Martyrology he is commemorated on October 4. > (phot. Alinari) > PETRONIUS, saint - St.… -
Petrópolis, Diocese of (PETROPOLIS, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It has an area of 3,551 sq km. with a population of 270,000 inhabitants, of whom 250,000 are… -
Petrucci, Alfonso
Cardinal, b. in Siena in 1492. He was appointed by Julius II bishop of Soana, then of Massa Marittima (1511) and created cardinal deacon of St. Theodore on 10… -
Petrucci, Pier Matteo
Cardinal, b. at Jesi on 20 May 1636, d. there on 5 July 1701. Having entered the Filippini on 2 Feb. 1661, in 1678 he was provost of the Congregation. On 20… -
Pettrich, Ferdinand
Sculptor, b. in Dresden on 3 Dec. 1798, d. in Rome on 14 Feb. 1872. He entered the good graces of Prince Anthony of Saxony, who took him along to Rome (1819)… -
Peutinger, Konrad
One of the best-known humanists of Germany at the time of the "Reformation". Born in Augsburg on 16 Oct. 1465, died there on 28 Dec. 1547, he attended the… -
Pew in Church (BANCO IN CHIESA)
It seems that in the early days of Christianity the faithful, at least in the West, listened to the sermon standing, a custom that later disappeared in the… -
Peyraut, Guillaume
Dominican moralist, b. ca. 1200 at Peyraud, department of Ardèche, d. after 3 Feb. 1261 at Lyon. He was famous under the name Peraldus or Péraud, falsely… -
Pez (Petz), Bernard
In the world Leopold, a Benedictine of the abbey of Melk (Lower Austria), b. 22 Feb. 1683 at Ybbs, d. at Melk on 27 March 1735. He entered Melk in 1699 and… -
Pez (Petz), Hieronymus
In the world Franz Philipp, younger brother of Bernhard and his assistant and continuator, b. 24 Feb. 1685 at Ybbs, entered Melk in 1703, where he d. 14 Oct.… -
Pezzani, Enrico Maria
Canonist, b. at Soncino (Cremona) on 24 Sept. 1856, d. at Rome on 25 Aug. 1918. He spent most of his life in Rome, where he was professor of Canon Law at the… -
Pfaff, Christoph Matthäus
Lutheran theologian, b. in Stuttgart on 24 Dec. 1686, d. in Giessen on 19 Nov. 1760. He promoted Pietism (v.) at the court of Württemberg, as ducal tutor, and… -
Pfanner, Franz
Born Wendelin in the world, b. 21 Sept. 1825 at Langen near Bregenz, d. at the Emmaus mission station on 24 May 1909. Ordained priest in 1850, he was parish… -
Pfeffinger, Johann
Lutheran theologian, b. at Wasserburg am Inn on 27 Dec. 1493, d. at Leipzig on 1 Oct. 1573. A priest in the care of souls in the Salzburg region and at Passau… -
Pfeiffer, Franz
Philologist, b. 27 Feb. 1815 at Bettlach near Solothurn, d. in Vienna on 29 May 1868. He studied in Munich, became a librarian in Stuttgart and then (1857)… -
Pfleiderer, Otto
Protestant theologian, b. at Stetten (Württemberg) on 1 Sept. 1839, d. at Berlin on 18 Aug. 1908. A parish priest, professor of practical theology at Jena… -
Pfyffer, Ludwig
Swiss soldier and statesman, b. in 1524 at Lucerne, d. there on 17 March 1594. He was at first in the service of the king of France. In 1567 with a regiment he… -
Phacee (PHACEE)
King of Israel (736-732 B.C.), 18th after the division of the Kingdom, insistently called "son of Remaliah" (II Kings 15:27, 30; Isa. 7:4, 5, 9; 8:6), a figure… -
Phaceia (PHACEIA)
King of Israel, 17th after the division of the Kingdom. He succeeded his father Menahem (v.), and reigned for about two years (737-736 B.C.). His religious and… -
Phalanstery (FALANSTERIO)
FALANSTERIO: V. FOURIER, CHARLES. -
Phaleg (PHALEG)
A descendant of Shem and son of Heber; brother of Joktan and father of Reu, one of the ancestors of Abraham. He was called P. "because in his time the world… -
Phanar (Φανάρεσιον) (FANAR (ΦΑΝΆΡΕΣΙΟΝ))
A quarter of Constantinople, on the Golden Horn. Here the Greek patriarch and many Greek families had their seat after the Turkish conquest (1453), some of… -
Phanuel (PHANUEL)
Name given to the place where Jacob wrestled with the angel (Gen. 32:30). P. was located, very probably, along the river Jabbok. Its name is explained by the… -
Pharan
Desert of Arabia Petraea, called today Badjet et-Tih. It is formed by a broad plain bordering to the east on the valley 'Arabah, which extends from the south… -
Pharaoh (FARAONE)
PHARAOH: V. MAR ROSSO, PASSAGGIO del. -
Pharaoh (FARAONE)
A term used to designate the house of the king in Egypt and, from the 18th dynasty onward, the person of the king; from 900 B.C. the term regularly precedes… -
Phares
One of the twins born to the Canaanite Tamar by her father-in-law Judah, son of Jacob. He was to have been the second-born, but he was the first. The birth of… -
Pharisees (FARISEI)
In Greek Φαρισαῖοι, from the Aramaic Ρέντζαϊδ, a plural adjective meaning "divided," "separated." It seems that by this name the Pharisees were designated by… -
Pharmacist (FARMACISTA)
The pharmacist, the natural collaborator of the physician (v.), shares with him, albeit in a subordinate role, the nobility and importance of the mission. The… -
Pharmacology (FARMACOLOGIA)
The word, introduced into the medical vocabulary in the 1600s, in its etymology means the study of drugs (medicaments and poisons) and at first was confused… -
Phasga (PHASGA)
Western spur of Mount Nebo (v.), today Sijâgâh (Aramaic: "monastery"), consecrated to the memory of Moses' vision. In the possession of the Custody of the Holy… -
Phat-Diem, Apostolic Vicariate of (PHAT-DIEM, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI)
On the southern coast of Tonkin, Vietnam. On July 24, 1678 the apostolic vicariate of Tonkin was divided into those of Eastern Tonkin (today Haiphong) and… -
Phebe (FEBE)
FEBE: v. PHOEBE. -
Phebe (Φώβη "Radiant") (PHOEBE (ΦΏΒΩΙ «RAGGIANTE»))
A woman commended by St. Paul to the Romans (Rom. 16:1-2) on three counts: 1) as "our sister," that is, as a Christian, converted from paganism; this seems to… -
Phenomenism (FENOMENISMO)
In its most rigorous expression, it is the philosophical system that denies the reality of being or the thing in itself beyond the pure phenomenon (v.), and… -
Phenomenology (FENOMENOLOGIA)
A term used, it seems, for the first time by J. H. Lambert (1764) and then by Kant, to indicate that particular philosophical science whose task would be to… -
Phenomenon (FENOMENO)
From the Greek φαίνομαι, "to show, to bring to light" (root φα, "to shine," "light"), it means appearance, presentation: everything that appears and shows… -
Philadelphia (FILADELFIA)
Città della Lidia in Asia Minore, a nord-ovest del monte Tmolo (oggi Bosdağ) nella valle del Cogamia. Fondata da Attalo II Filadelfo, re di Pergamo (159-138 a.… -
Philadelphia, Archdiocese of (FILADELFIA, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
A city of the State of Pennsylvania and seat of a metropolitan archdiocese having as suffragans the dioceses of Altoona, Erie, Harrisburg, Pittsburg and… -
Philadelphia (City of the Decapolis) (FILADELFIA (CITTÀ DELLA DECAPOLI))
FILADELFIA (città della Decapoli): v. RABHA, RABBATH AMMON. -
Philanthropism (FILANTROPISMO)
FILANTROPISMO: v. BASEDOW, JOHANN BERNHARD. -
Philemon, Epistle to (FILEMONE, EPISTOLA N)
Letter written by St. Paul to the disciple and friend Ph., on behalf of the fugitive slave Onesimus. This writing, often called a "note," presents all the… -
Philemon of Theraide, Saint (FILEMONE DI TERAIDE, SANTO)
Martyr, died under Diocletian. According to his legendary Passio, P. was a stage actor. Having converted to Christianity, he suffered martyrdom at Antinoe… -
Philip, Apostle, Saint (FILIPPO, APOSTOLO, SANTO)
One of the "twelve," from Bethsaida (v.), the fifth in the lists (Mt. 10:3; Mk. 3:18; Lk. 6:14; Acts 1:13). In the Gospels, only John gives biographical… -
Philip Benizi, Saint (FILIPPO BENIZI, SANTO)
Born in Florence on 15 Aug. 1233, he did his higher studies at the Universities of Paris and Padua, where he took his degree in medicine. Having entered the… -
Philip, Bishop of Bracla, Saint (FILIPPO, VESCOVO DI BRACLEA, SANTO)
Martyr, died under Diocletian in 304. His authentic Latin Passio, which goes back to a Greek original, narrates with interesting details the torments suffered… -
Philip, Bishop of Gortyna (FILIPPO, VESCOVO DI GORTINA)
Little is known of him; the only source on which the surviving information depends is Eusebius of Caesarea. He was bishop between 160 and 170; Dionysius of… -
Philip Herod (FILIPPO ERODE)
Tetrarch, son of Herod the Great and of Cleopatra of Jerusalem. He was designated tetrarch in his father's will. The regions of his tetrarchy were: 1) Iturea… -
Philip Herod (FILIPPO ERODE)
Son of Herod the Great and of Mariamne II, husband of Herodias. He is called only F. in Mk. 6:17, whereas Flavius Josephus (Antiq. Iud., XVIII, 5, 1, 4; Bell.… -
Philip II Augustus, King of France (FILIPPO II, AUGUSTO, RE DI FRANCIA)
Having succeeded his father, Louis VII, in 1180, at a very young age (he was born in Paris on 21 Aug. 1165), he spent his whole life in the defense of the… -
Philip III, King of Spain (FILIPPO III, RE DI SPAGNA)
B. in Madrid on 14 April 1578, d. on 31 March 1621. He married Margaret of Austria. He ascended the throne in 1598, and with him the predominance at the… -
Philip II, King of Spain (FILIPPO II, RE DI SPAGNA)
B. at Valladolid on 21 May 1527 to Charles V and Elizabeth of Portugal. Besides his own mother, he had as teachers d. Juan de Zuniga and d. Juan Martínez… -
Philip IV, King of Spain (FILIPPO IV, RE DI SPAGNA)
B. in Madrid on 8 April 1605, d. on 17 September 1665. He married Isabella of Bourbon and then Mariana of Austria. He ascended the throne in 1621. He was… -
Philip IV of France, the Fair (FILIPPO IV, RE DI FRANCIA, IL BELLO)
B. in 1268 at Fontainebleau, d. there on 29 Nov. 1314. Son of Philip III and Isabella of Aragon, he was instructed in the sciences by the cleric Guillaume… -
Philip Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan (FILIPPO MARIA VISCONTI, DUCA DI MILANO)
FILIPPO MARIA VISCONTI, duca di MILANO: v. VISCONTI, FAMILY. -
Philip Neri, Saint (FILIPPO NERI, SANTO)
Born in Florence on 21 July 1515 in the parish of S. Pier Gattolini, to ser Francesco and Lucrezia da Mosciano. FILIPPO NERI, saint - Wax mask of the face of… -
Philip of Bagnacavallo (FILIPPO DA BAGNACAVALLO)
FILIPPO da BAGNACAVALLO: V. PORCACCI, FILIPPO. -
Philip of Campello (FILIPPO DI CAMPELLO)
Franciscan of the 13th century, born at Campello sul Clitunno, near Spoleto. A tradition founded on a brief of Innocent IV dated 10 July 1253, addressed to F.… -
Philip of Harveng (of Bonne-Espérance) (FILIPPO DI HARVENG (DI BONNE-ESPÉRANCE))
Premonstratensian theologian, b. at Harveng (Belgium) ca. 1100 and d. at Bonne-Espérance on 11 April 1183. The son of poor parents, he probably studied in… -
Philip of Heinsberg (FILIPPO DI HEINSBERG)
Archbishop of Cologne. Having become, while still young, provost of the Chapter of Liège at Cologne, he administered the archdiocese of Cologne as… -
Philip of Side (FILIPPO DI SIDE)
Christian historian of the 5th century, born at Side, in Pamphylia. There he was a disciple of Rhodon, and later the successor of Didymus the Blind as head of… -
Philip of Swabia (FILIPPO DI SVEVIA)
Born on 26 July 1178, to Frederick Barbarossa and Beatrice of Burgundy, the fourth son of their union, he was created, at barely thirteen years of age, bishop… -
Philip of the Most Holy Trinity (FILIPPO DELLA S.MA TRINITÀ)
Philosopher, theologian and mystic of the Discalced Carmelites, in the world Julien Esprit, b. in Malaucène (Vaucluse), on 19 July 1603, d. in Naples on 21… -
Philippi (FILIPPI)
The first city of Macedonia evangelized during the second apostolic journey by Paul and Silas, to whom Timothy and Luke had joined themselves. The passage into… -
Philippines (FILIPPINE)
Archipelago of 7,083 islands, which closes the South China Sea to the south. It has an area of 396,285 sq km (slightly less than Italy) with 19.5 million… -
Philip the Arab (M. Julius Philippus) (FILIPPO L'ARABO (M. IULIUS PHILIPPUS))
Roman emperor, b. around 204 at Shahba in Trachonitis, d. at Verona in Oct. 249. Son of Julius Marinus, an Arab sheikh, he married Otacilia Severa, by whom he… -
Philip the Chancellor (FILIPPO IL CANCELLIERE)
Theologian, b. in Paris ca. 1160-85, d. there on 25 Dec. 1236. He is not to be identified, as was done for a long time, with the poet Philip de Grève. From ca.… -
Philip the Deacon (FILIPPO DIACONO)
Second of the 7 deacons ordained by the Apostles (Acts 6:9), also called Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8) to distinguish him from the apostle of the same… -
Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy (FILIPPO IL BUONO, DUCA DI BORGOGNA)
B. at Dijon on 30 June 1396, to John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria, d. at Bruges on 15 June 1467. Founder of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The murder… -
Philip the Magnanimous (FILIPPO IL MAGNANIMO)
Landgrave of Hesse, b. 13 Nov. 1504, d. 31 March 1567. He succeeded his father William II in 1509 and, after some years of regency, assumed power in 1518… -
Philip V, King of Spain (FILIPPO V, RE DI SPAGNA)
B. at Versailles on 19 Dec. 1683 to Louis, Dauphin of France, and Maria Anna of Bavaria, d. 9 July 1746. He was invested by the king of France with the duchy… -
Philistines (FILISTEI)
A people known almost exclusively from the books of the Old Testament. In the time of the Judges and the first kings, Saul and David, the P. settled in the… -
Phillips, George
Jurist, b. Jan. 6, 1804 in Königsberg, d. Sept. 6, 1872 at Aigen near Salzburg. Extraordinary professor of German law at the University of Berlin, he abjured… -
Philo (FILONE)
The greatest writer of the Jews of Alexandria, b. ca. 30 B.C., d. ca. A.D. 50. Of a distinguished family (Fl. Josephus, Antiq. Jud., XVIII, S. 1), he received… -
Philokalia (Φιλοκαλία) (FILOCALIA (ΦΙΛΟΚΑΛΊΑ))
1. Name designating a collection of fragments, largely scriptural, of Origen, gathered by St. Basil and by St. Gregory of Nazianzus around 358. The personality… -
Philology (FILOLOGIA)
Philology is a discipline that seeks to restore historically the spiritual unity of a people through the manifestations of its being — poetry, letters and art… -
Philomena, Saint (FILOMENA, SANTA)
In 1802 a body was extracted from the cemetery of Priscilla, whose tomb bore an inscription in red lead, on three tiles, of which the last had been moved to… -
Philo of Carpasia (FILONE DI CARPASIA)
From Carpasium, in Cyprus, or from Carpathos, an island between Crete and Rhodes, he lived in the first half of the 5th century. He was a bishop, author of a… -
Philo of Larissa (FILONE DI LARISSA)
FILONE di LARISSA: v. ACADEMIES (I. Greek Pa.). -
Philoponus, John (FILOPONO, GIOVANNI)
Monophysite philosopher and theologian of the 6th century, also called John the Grammarian, b. in Alexandria toward the end of the 5th century, d. after the… -
Philoromus, Saint, Martyr (FILOROMO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
FILOROMO, santo, martire: v. FILEA and FILOROMO, saints, martyrs. -
Philosophy (FILOSOFIA)
The term ph. ("love of wisdom"), which according to Plutarch is traced back to Pythagoras (H. Diels, Doxographi Graeci, 2nd ed., Berlin and Leipzig 1929, 280 b… -
Philosophy of Action (AZIONE, FILOSOFIA DELL')
Under the name philosophy of action are sometimes included various currents and systems (pragmatism, certain forms of voluntarism). Here we refer to the… -
Philosophy of Law (FILOSOFIA DEL DIRITTO)
It is the discipline that investigates the concept of law in its logical universality, the idea of justice as the supreme principle and criterion of its value… -
Philosophy of the Spirit (FILOSOFIA DELLO SPIRITO)
An expression popularized and made current by B. Croce (b. 1866), so that in ordinary language it serves as a synonym for the Crocean system. But, naturally, a… -
Philostorgius (FILOSTORGIO)
Christian historian, b. ca. 386 at Borissos, in Cappadocia Secunda, to Arian parents. At the age of twenty he met Eunomius of Cyzicus, the leader of… -
Philostratus (Φιλόστρατος) (FILOSTRATO (ΦΙΛΆΣΤΑΣΤΟΣ))
Name of four sophists of the imperial age, natives of Lemnos. I. Son of Verus, Philostratus of LEMNOS is said to have taught rhetoric (mid-2nd century AD) in… -
Philotheos Kokkinos (FILOTEO KOKKINOS)
Theologian and Palamite of the 14th century, from Thessalonica. His fame depends on the fact that, being a simple monk on Athos, he was charged with drawing up… -
Philoxenian, Biblical Version (FILOSSENIANA, VERSIONE BIBLICA)
FILOSSENIANA, VERSIONE BIBLICA: V. SIRIACHE, VERSIONI, DELLA BIBBIA. -
Philoxenus of Mabbug (FILOSSENO DI MABBÙG)
Syriac Monophysite theologian of the 5th-6th centuries. A native of Persia, he studied at the school of the Persians, then at Edessa, where he adhered… -
Phinees
Son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, third high priest of Israel. His mother was a daughter of Phutiel, whom the Targum of Pseudo-Jonathan identifies with… -
Phira, Diocese of (PHIRA, DIOCESI DI)
PHIRA, DIOCESI DI: v. SANTORINO, DIOCESI di. -
Phithom
A city of northern Egypt (Hebr. Pitōm; Egyptian pr-jtm; Coptic πεθομί or πειθομί; Septuagint Πειθώ). According to Ex. 1:11, an Egyptian king, presumably Ramses… -
Phnom-Penh, Apostolic Vicariate of (PHNOM-PENH, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI)
It comprises the entire kingdom of Cambodia and some provinces of Cochinchina. On July 19, 1649, this territory was included in the apostolic vicariate of… -
Phobia (FOBIA)
From the Greek φόβος = fear, a particular form of idea that untimely, obstinately, in spite of the subject's will, becomes lodged in the course of thought… -
Phocas, Byzantine Emperor (FOCA, IMPERATORE BIZANTINO)
Having seized the throne in 602, killed in 610. St. Gregory the Great addressed benevolent expressions of homage to him and urged him to moderation toward his… -
Phoenicia and Phoenicians (FENICIA E FENICI)
Phoenicians (Φοίνιτζες) is the name given by the Greeks to the inhabitants of the coastal region west of Lebanon, who instead gave themselves the name… -
Phoenix (FENICE)
A symbolic bird originating from India, according to the Physiologus (J. Strzygowski, Der Bilderkreis des griechischen Physiologus, Leipzig 1890, p. 4), from… -
Phoenix Islands (FENICE, ISOLE DELLA)
FENICE, ISOLE della: v. GILBERT, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of the ISLANDS. -
Phogor (PHOGOR)
A mountain in Moab (Num. 23:28) north of Phasga (v.), which seems to be identifiable with the present-day range of el-Mušakkar located north of that of Nebo… -
Photinus (FOTINO)
Heretic of the 4th century. A compatriot, disciple and deacon of Marcellus, of Ancyra (the Eastern councils insist greatly on this dependence), P., who… -
Photinus, Saint, Martyr (FOTINO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
PHOTINUS, saint, martyr: v. FOTINO, santo, martire. -
Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople (FOZIO, PATRIARCA DI COSTANTINOPOLI)
Without repeating what is said about the schism of Photius under the entry Byzantium, a brief biography of Photius is given here, along with some notes to… -
Photomechanical Arts (FOTOMECCANICHE, ARTI)
This name designates those processes that allow images to be printed by means of a matrix which, instead of being worked by hand (v. ENGRAVING), is obtained by… -
Phrenology (FRENOLOGIA)
From φρήν = mind and λόγος = discourse. A theory due to F. J. Gall and his pupil and collaborator J. K. Spurzheim (1808-1809), which maintained that the… -
Phul
King of Assyria (II Kings 15:19 and I Chron. 5:26), to be identified "with absolute certainty" (O. Hellmann) with the great king Tiglath-Pileser (745-727), the… -
Phylacteries (FILATTERIE)
Strips of parchment on which passages of the Mosaic Law are written. This custom, attested among the Jews not only by the Gospel (Mt. 23:5) but also by Flavius… -
Phylogeny (FILOGENESI)
Within the framework of the theory of evolution, it denotes the historical order according to which the various groups of living beings would have gradually… -
Physical Indeterminism (INDETERMINISMO FISICO)
Physical i. depends on the uncertainty principle, the foundation of atomic mechanics, due to W. Heisenberg. In classical mechanics determinism holds, already… -
Physical Laws and Statistical Laws (LEGGI FISICHE E LEGGI STATISTICHE)
In the complex of natural phenomena that form the object of scientific research, two groups can be distinguished. One of them is constituted by all those… -
Physical Premotion (PREMOZIONE FISICA)
It is the prior and immediate concurrence or influence of God upon the activity of every creature and especially upon human action, even free action, according… -
Physical Theories (TEORIE FISICHE)
By physical theory is meant, in the most general sense, a rational explanation of a phenomenon or of a set of physical phenomena, where explanation means… -
Physician (MEDICO)
The profession of the physician occupies, by excellence and importance, the first place after that of the priest. Ancient deontological texts such as, for… -
Physics (FISICA)
From the Greek φύσις (nature). This is the name given to the science that studies the generic properties of matter and of the elementary particles that… -
Physiocrats, Physiocracy (FISIOCRATI, FISIOCRAZIA)
An economic doctrine set forth in France by François Quesnay, the founder of political economy as a systematic science and, at the same time, the founder of… -
Physiologus
Name of a Christian work that gives an allegorical interpretation of the facts (or supposed facts) of the life of animals and minerals. The interpretation… -
Physiology (FISIOLOGIA)
From the Greek φύσις = nature and λογέω = I investigate, physiology is the science of the functioning of the living organism. Being eminently experimental in… -
Phytolatry (FITOLATRIA)
FITOLATRIA: v. PIANTA, CULTO della. -
Piacentino
Jurist of the 12th century, born at Piacenza, one of the major exponents of the school of Bologna. There is no certain information about his date of birth. It… -
Piacenza
City and diocese, capital of the province of the same name. Out of a population of 350,000 inhabitants it counts 348,000 Catholics. The diocese is divided into… -
Pia Foundation (Pious Cause) (FONDAZIONE PIA (CAUSA PIA))
II. The so-called causae piae. - III. Benefices, chaplaincies and legacies for worship. - IV. Fulfillment of the acts of worship. - V. The f. p. in the proper… -
Piaggio, Antonio
Piarist, b. in Genoa on 18 February 1713, d. in Naples in 1797 or 1798. Of admirable ingenuity and patience in mechanical work, and of extensive knowledge in… -
Piana dei Greci (degli Albanesi), Diocese of (PIANA DEI GRECI (DEGLI ALBANESI), DIOCESI DI)
Since 1937 it has been the seat of the Greek eparchy or diocese, with jurisdiction over the territory of Piana, detached from Monreale, and over that of S.… -
Pianciani, Giambattista
Physicist and philosopher, b. at Spoleto on 17 Oct. 1784, d. at Rome on 23 March 1862. A Jesuit from 2 June 1805, from 1824 professor of physical chemistry at… -
Pianopsia (Πυανόψια) (PIANOPSIE (ΠΥΑΝΌΨΙΑ))
From πύανος "bean" and ἔψω "I eat." A festival celebrated in Athens on the seventh day of the month Pyanepsion (October 22) in honor of Apollo. This festival… -
Piauí, Diocese of (PIAUÍ, DIOCESI DI)
PIAUÍ, DIOCESI di: v. TERESINA, DIOCESI di. -
Piazza Armerina (Enna), Diocese of (PIAZZA ARMERINA (ENNA), DIOCESI DI)
In Sicily, with jurisdiction over 13 municipalities. It has an area of 2003 sq km with a population of 236,000 inhabitants, of whom 235,500 are Catholics; it… -
Piazza, Giuseppe
Priest, among the finest of nineteenth-century Rome, b. at Velletri on 18 March 1815, d. at Rome on 23 April 1893. Ordained in 1837, in 1839 parish priest of… -
Piazzetta, Giambattista
Painter, b. in Venice on 13 Feb. 1682, d. there on 28 Apr. 1754. Decisive for his formation was his long stay in Bologna (between 1703 and 1711), during which… -
Piazzi, Giuseppe
A religious of the Order of the Theatines, one of the most illustrious Italian astronomers of the early 19th century, b. at Ponte (Valtellina) on 16 July 1746… -
Piccio, Carnevali Giovanni detto Il
PICCIO, CARNEVALI GIOVANNI detto il: v. CARNEVALI, GIOVANNI, called il PICCIO. -
Piccolomini, Alessandro
Philologist and man of letters, b. at Siena on 13 June 1508, d. there on 12 March 1578, after having lived for a long time at Padua and Rome. At Siena, under… -
Piccolomini, Family (PICCOLOMINI, FAMIGLIA)
Originally from Siena. A MARTINO di Piccolomo is named in a document of 1090. The P. enriched themselves in the 13th century through trade, then invested their… -
Picenardi, Elisabetta, Blessed (PICENARDI, ELISABETTA, BEATA)
Mystic, b. in Mantua in 1428, d. there on 19 February 1468. She was admitted as a young girl into the convent of the Sisters of the Third Order of the Servants… -
Pichler, Aloys
Church historian, b. 7 Nov. 1833 at Tüssling (diocese of Passau), d. 3 June 1874 at Siegsdorf. Ordained priest in 1859, he was promoted two years later to… -
Pico, Giovanni, Count of Mirandola and Concordia (PICO, GIOVANNI, CONTE DELLA MIRANDOLA E DI CONCORDIA)
Philosopher and man of vast erudition ("the phoenix of intellects" of his time), b. at Mirandola (Modena) on 23 Feb. 1463, d. at Florence on 17 Nov. 1494.… -
Pico, Giovanni Francesco, Lord of the Mirandola (PICO, GIOVANNI FRANCESCO, SIGNORE DELLA MIRANDOLA)
Nephew of Giovanni, born ca. 1469 and assassinated, amid family disputes, in 1533. An admirer of his great-uncle, he wrote his life and defended his De ente et… -
PIEDIMONTE D'ALIFE, DIOCESI di
PIEDIMONTE D'ALIFE, DIOCESI di: v. ALIFE, DIOCESI di. -
Piedmont (PIEMONTE)
I. GEOGRAPHY. - It is the westernmost historic region of Italy (and therefore also includes its westernmost point, the Rocca Chardonnet; 6° 32' 59'' E.… -
Piedmontese Easter Massacres (PASQUE PIEMONTESI)
PASQUE PIEMONTESI: v. VALDESI. -
Pie, Louis
Apologist and cardinal, b. at Pontgenin (diocese of Chartres), Sept. 26, 1815, d. at Poitiers, May 18, 1880. A student of St. Sulpice, a priest from 1839… -
Pienza, Diocese of (PIENZA, DIOCESI DI)
A diocese united with that of Chiusi, immediately subject, it belongs to the conciliar region of Etruria; it comprises 5 communes in the province of Siena. It… -
Pierantoni, Livia
In religion Sister Agostina, b. at Pozzaglia (Perugia) on 27 March 1864, d. at Rome on 13 Nov. 1894. Having entered the Sisters of Charity in 1886, she was… -
Pier delle Vigne (de Vineis)
Famous minister of Frederick, born, it seems, at Capua around 1190, if it is true that he was about sixty years old at the time of his political disgrace. From… -
Pierin del Vaga, Pietro Buonaccorsi, called (PIERIN DEL VAGA, PIETRO BUONACCORSI, DETTO)
Painter b. in Florence in 1501, d. in Rome on 19 Oct. 1547. He belongs to the Roman school of the followers of Raphael. A pupil, in Florence, of a certain… -
Pierius (PIERIO)
Presbyter in Alexandria, d. ca. 300. Head of the catechetical school. His place in the succession of teachers is not clear. It is certain that he was the… -
Pierleoni, Pietro
PIERLEONI, PIETRO: v. ANACLETO II, ANTIPAPA. -
Pierling, Paul
Jesuit, b. in St. Petersburg on June 1, 1840, d. in Brussels on Feb. 25, 1922. His family, of Bavarian origin and staunchly Catholic, had settled in Russia… -
Piero della Francesca
Born around 1416 at Borgo San Sepolcro, died there in 1492, this very great artist was in contact with the Sienese painting of the early fifteenth century… -
Piero di Cosimo
Painter, b. in Florence in 1462, d. perhaps in 1521. He is one of the most singular personalities of the late Tuscan Quattrocento, for the bizarre inspiration… -
Piero di Puccio
Umbrian painter about whom little information is available. A document records him as an assistant of Ugolino di Prete Ilario, in 1360 and in the following… -
Pietà (Art) (PIETÀ (ARTE))
It seems that the figurative model of the P., conceived as the mourning of the Madonna over the body of the dead Christ, crowned with thorns and laid upon her… -
Pietersburg [Polokwane], Abbey Nullius of (PIETERSBURG, ABBAZIA NULLIUS DI)
In the Union of South Africa; the territory was detached from the apostolic vicariate of the Transvaal and erected on 22 Dec. 1901 as the apostolic prefecture… -
Pietism (PIETISMO)
The name of P. was given in derision to a reform movement that arose, in the 17th century, within German Lutheranism, and was used for the first time, it… -
Pietrasanta, Jacopo da
Architect active in Rome from 1452 to 1490. He was at first, it seems, a simple stonecutter and contractor of works, that is, an executor of other artists'… -
Pietrasanta, Silvestro
Jesuit apologist and scholar, b. in Rome in 1590, d. there on 8 May 1647. He was successively professor of Letters at Fermo, theologian to Msgr. Luigi Carafa… -
Pietro de Monte
Canonist, b. in Venice in 1433, d. in Rome on 12 January 1457. He was a pupil in Paris at the Collège de Navarre and became magister artium; at the University… -
Piety (Theology) (PIETÀ (TEOLOGIA))
In biblical, theological and common language the term p. can have a broader sense, including one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (v.) and mercy (v.) toward the… -
Pieve
A name that is found attributed, in Italy, to a parish or even to villages or towns. Its origin must be sought in the word plebs, used, with the advent of…