S
1,671 articles · English index · Indice italiano-
Serry, Jacques-Hyacinthe
Dominican theologian and polemicist, b. at Toulon in 1658, d. at Padua on 12 March 1738. He entered the Order at Marseille (around 1673), where a Dominican… -
Sertillanges, Antonin-Gilbert
Dominican philosopher, theologian and sacred orator, b. at Clermont-Ferrand on 17 Nov. 1863, d. at Sallanches (Haute-Savoie) on 26 July 1948. Having entered… -
Servant of the Servants of God (Iulius of the Iulii of God) (SERVUS SERVORUM DEI (ἸΟΎΛΙΟΣ ΤΩ͂Ν ἸΟΎΛΩΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂))
Formula used constantly by the pontifical Chancery in the "superscriptio" or "intitulatio" of documents issued by the Pope from the 9th century to the present… -
Servant of Yahweh (SERVO DI JAHWEH)
A figure described in four songs of Isaiah: I) 42:1-7 (9); II) 49:1-7 (9); III) 50:4-9; IV) 52:13- 53:12. He is called "servant" by Yahweh; he is his beloved… -
Servants (SERVE)
A name common to many female religious Congregations, followed by other determining titles. > (from J. Braun, Tracht und Attribute der Heiligen in der… -
Servants of Charity (SERVI DELLA CARITÀ)
A religious congregation of priests and laymen founded by the servant of God Fr. Luigi Guanella (v.) with the purpose, in addition to works of apostolate also… -
Servasanto da Faenza
Franciscan theologian and preacher, b. at Oriolo (Faenza) in the first half of the 13th century, d. probably at Florence around 1300. He entered the Order at… -
Servatius, Saint (SERVAZIO, SANTO)
Bishop of Tongres in the 4th century, commemorated in the Hieronymian Martyrology on 13 May. Praised by St. Gregory of Tours as a man of piety wholly devoted… -
Servetus, Michael (Miguel Servet) (SERVETO, MICHELE (MIGUEL SERVET))
Anti-Trinitarian heretic, b. probably on 29 April 1511 at Villanueva de Sigena, in Aragon, d. at Geneva on 27 Oct. 1553. He studied at Saragossa, then at… -
Servites of Mary (SERVI DI MARIA)
From the Marian movement that spread almost everywhere from the early 13th century, sometimes also under the name of the S. di M., in the year 1233 seven… -
Servitude, Predial (SERVITÙ PREDIALE)
I. NOTION. - It is a burden, a limitation resting upon one parcel of land (servient) for the benefit of another parcel (dominant), belonging to a different… -
Sessa Aurunca, Diocese of (SESSA AURUNCA, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in the province of Caserta. It has an area of 358 sq km with a population of 60,000 inhabitants, all Catholics, distributed in 42 parishes… -
Sesto al Reghena, Abbey of (SESTO AL RÉGHENA, ABBAZIA DI)
S. al R. is a small town (3,500 inhabitants) in the province of Udine, in the diocese of Concordia, from which it is six miles distant, whence the original… -
Seth (SETH)
Son of Adam, after Cain and Abel, whose name is interpreted by assonance: "God gave me (Jāth "set") another son instead of Abel, killed by Cain" (Gen. 4:25).… -
Sethians (SETHIANI)
Name of a Gnostic sect which, identifying itself with the lineage of Seth (v.) or Sethites, placed the patriarch Seth at the center of its speculation. Origen… -
Sétif (SETIF)
It is Sitifis, a Roman colony of veterans founded by Nerva in Mauretania (Algeria), called "Colonia Nerviana Augusta Martiaris veteranorum Sitifensium." At the… -
Seton, Elizabeth Anna (SETON, ELISABETH ANNA)
An eminent figure among foundresses in the United States during the period of the establishment of the Catholic hierarchy, b. at Bayley, a prominent New York… -
Settecento
SETTECENTO: v. BAROCCA, ARTE; ROCOCÒ. -
Settele, Giuseppe
Archaeologist, canon of St. Peter's, b. in Rome in 1770, d. there in 1840. Against his father's wishes, he devoted himself to studies, especially of… -
Settembrini, Luigi
Writer, b. in Naples on 17 April 1813, d. there on 3 Nov. 1876: a protagonist of the insurrectionary events against the Bourbons of Naples, he was arrested… -
Settim
Two biblical localities, so named from the acacias (šittīm; Egyptian šist, later fonte; Assyrian samtu) planted there; not infrequently places were named after… -
Settimo, Ruggero (SETTIMO, RUGGIERO)
Politician, who played a notable part in the Italian Risorgimento, b. at Palermo on 19 May 1778, d. at Malta on 2 May 1863. In 1791 he entered the naval… -
Seven (SETTE)
SETTE: v. SOCIETÀ PROIBITE, SEGRETE. -
Seven Brothers, Saints, Martyrs (SETTE FRATELLI, SANTI, MARTIRI)
SETTE FRATELLI, santi, martiri: v. FELICITA, saint, martyr; SINFOROSA, saint. -
Seven Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary, Saints (SETTE FONDATORI DELL'ORDINE DEI SERVI DI MARIA, SANTI)
The precise date of their birth is not known. Their names, preserved in a list by the historian of the Order Paolo Attavanti (1468), are those of Bonusfilius… -
Seven Maccabee Brothers, Saints (SETTE FRATELLI MACCABEI, SANTI)
From the title of the book (II Maccabees), which narrates their martyrdom, seven brothers are thus called, who together with their mother faced death during… -
Seven Sleepers, Saints (SETTE DORMIENTI, SANTI)
According to the most widespread legend, a group of young Christians (the number varies from three to eight) during the persecution of Decius (249-51) took… -
Seven Sorrows of Mary (SETTE DOLORI DI MARIA)
SETTE DOLORI DI MARIA: v. ADDOLORATA, DEVOZIONE alla. -
Seven Years' War (GUERRA DEI SETTE ANNI)
After the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle the continental Powers aimed to prepare a coalition against Prussia, which Austria regarded as a dangerous rival in Germany… -
Severano, Giovanni
Priest of the Oratory, b. at S. Severino Marche (Macerata) in 1562, d. in Rome on 26 Feb. 1640; he entered the Congregation of the Oratory on 15 Oct. 1588. His… -
Severian (SEVERIANO)
Bishop of Gabala, d. after 408, was one of the principal enemies of John Chrysostom (Socrates, Hist. eccl., VI, 11; Sozomen, Hist. eccl., VIII, 10; Palladius… -
Severinus, Pope (SEVERINO, PAPA)
A Roman, son of Abienus, he succeeded Honorius (d. in Oct. 638), but could be consecrated only on 28 May 640. The delay was due to the fact that the emperor… -
Severinus, Saint (SEVERINO, SANTO)
Great apostle of Noricum Ripense for about 30 years. The place and time of his birth are uncertain. From the biography, written in 511 by his disciple… -
Severoli, Antonio Gabriele
Cardinal, b. 28 Feb. 1757 at Faenza, d. 8 Sept. 1824 at Rome. He studied at Rome, at the Accademia ecclesiastica, and having returned to Faenza in 1779, he was… -
Severus (SEVERO)
Gnostic whom Eusebius (Hist. eccl., IV, 29, 4 ff.) inserts into the history of Encratism. Shortly after Tatian the sect of the Severians would have appeared.… -
Severus of Antioch (SEVERO DI ANTIOCHIA)
Leader of the Monophysite movement of the 6th century, b. at Sozopolis in Pisidia around 465, d. at Xois (Egypt) in 538. After completing his studies at… -
Severus of Minorca (SEVERO DI MINORCA)
Bishop. Around 417 he wrote an encyclical letter "ad omnem ecclesiam": De virtutibus ad Iudaeorum conversionem in Minoricensi insula factis (PL 20, 731-46; 41… -
Severus, Saint (SEVERO, SANTO)
SEVERO, santo: v. ENDECHELIO SEVERUS, saint. -
Severus, Saint, Bishop of Naples (SEVERO, VESCOVO DI NAPOLI, SANTO)
Twelfth bishop of Naples, whose episcopate seems to have to be placed between February 363 and 24 April 409. St. Ambrose addressed a letter to him in April 393… -
Severus, Saint, Bishop of Ravenna (SEVERO, VESCOVO DI RAVENNA, SANTO)
He is the last of the 12 bishops of Ravenna called "colombini" because, according to legend, they were designated for election by a dove that settled on their… -
Sévigné, Marie de Rabutin Chantal, Marquise de (SÉVIGNÉ, MARIE DE RABUTIN CHANTAL, M.ME DE)
French writer, b. in Paris on 5 Feb. 1626, d. at Grignan on 17 Apr. 1696. Left an orphan in her early years, she was cared for by her maternal uncle, Philippe… -
Seville, Archdiocese of (SIVIGLIA, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
Archdiocese and capital of the province of the same name in Andalusia (Spain). The archdiocese comprises, within its territory of 27,716 sq. km., the civil… -
Sexagesima (In the Roman Missal: "Dominica in Sexagesima") (SESSAGESIMA (NEL MESSALE ROMANO «DOMINICA IN SEXAGESIMA»))
The eighth Sunday before Easter, in preparation for the feast of the Resurrection of Christ. In the East (where there was no fasting on Saturday, except Holy… -
Sex Education (SESSUALE, EDUCAZIONE)
An integral part of the functions of the organism, the sexual function too cannot be excluded from the educational plan that tends to re-establish the… -
Sext (SESTA)
Canonical hour to be recited at the sixth hour of the day (according to the Greco-Roman division), that is, at noon. The hymn recalls the weight of labor and… -
Sextus Empiricus (SESTO EMPIRICO)
Skeptical philosopher and physician, who lived in the second half of the 2nd century AD. He belonged to the school of "empiricist" physicians, whence his… -
Sextus Julius Africanus (SESTO GIULIO AFRICANO)
It is very uncertain whether this figure had the praenomen of Sextus, which is attributed to him on the basis of a text of Suidas that is, moreover, corrupt.… -
Sextus, Sentences of (SESTO, SENTENZE DI)
A collection of sentences that goes under the name of S. The author is mentioned for the first time by Origen (Contra Cels., VIII, 30, p. 345, 12, ed. P.… -
Seychelles (Port Victoria), Diocese of (SEYCHELLES (PORT VICTORIA), DIOCESI DI)
It comprises all the islands of the S. archipelago. They are located in the Indian Ocean to the northeast of Madagascar and opposite Mombasa, from which they… -
Seyssel, Claudio di
Archbishop of Turin, b. between 1450 and 1460, d. at Turin on 30 May 1520. He studied at the University of Pavia and then at that of Turin, where he took his… -
Sezze
SEZZE : v. TERRACINA. -
Sfondrati, Family (SFONDRATI, FAMIGLIA)
It appears at Cremona in the 13th-14th century. It became famous in the 16th century with FRANCESCO, b. at Cremona on 26 Oct. 1493, d. there on 31 July 1550.… -
Sforza di Santa Fiora, Alessandro
Cardinal, b. in 1534, d. at Macerata on 16 May 1581, son of Costanza di Alessandro Farnese (Paul III). He studied at Perugia, was a canon at St. Peter's and… -
Sforza di Santa Fiora, Guido Ascanio
Cardinal, b. in Rome in 1518, d. 7 Oct. 1564, brother of Cardinal Alessandro (v.). Appointed cardinal in 1534, he administered the diocese of Anglona for a few… -
Sforza, Family (SFORZA, FAMIGLIA)
Originally from Cotignola (Ravenna), whose main branch attained the lordship of Milan. The surname of the family, well-to-do farmers, was Attendolo, but the… -
Sforza, Serafina (Sveva), Blessed (SFORZA, SERAFINA (SVEVA), BEATA)
Poor Clare, b. at Urbino ca. 1434 to Guido duke of Montefeltro, d. at Pesaro in 1478. Sister of Federico da Montefeltro, in 1448 she was married to Alessandro… -
Sfragistics (SFRAGISTICA)
From the Greek σφραγίς, or "sigillography" (Latin sigillum, diminutive of signum), it is the discipline that studies seals from the juridical, historical… -
Sgaduto, Francesco
Jurist, b. at Bagheria (Palermo) on 30 July 1858, d. at Favara (Agrigento) on 29 June 1942. A private lecturer in the History of Italian Law and in… -
Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper, Third Earl of (SHAFTESBURY, ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, TERZO LORD DI)
Philosopher, initiator of the moral philosophy of sentiment (v.), b. in London on 26 Feb. 1671, d. in Naples on 15 Feb. 1713. He was educated by his uncle… -
Shakers
A derogatory term (from shake = to tremble) given to a small sect whose official name is the "United Society of Believers." The origin of the sect goes back to… -
Shakespeare, William
Poet, b. at Stratford-on-Avon (England) in 1564 (he was baptized on April 26), d. there on April 23, 1616. His father John, a small country landowner, had… -
Shamanism (SCIAMANISMO)
From the Tungusic shaman, a word perhaps imported from the Pali "samana," shamanism is a magico-religious phenomenon, currently observable, in its classical… -
Shammai (ŠAMMAJ)
A distinguished Jewish doctor who taught between 20 B.C. and 25/30 A.D. He was a contemporary of Hillel (v.) and his rival. In contrast to Hillel, Š. was… -
Shanghai, Diocese of (SHANGHAI, DIOCESI DI)
In central-eastern China, on the coast of the civil province of Kiangsu: it takes its name from the famous city that lies at the mouth of the Blue River and is… -
Shaowu, Apostolic Prefecture of (SHAOWU, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI)
In the northwestern part of the province of Fukien, in southern China. It was erected as a mission sui iuris on 18 July 1929 with four civil subprefectures… -
Sharecropper (FITTO A COLTIVATORE DIRETTO)
This is a subspecies of the broader scheme of the leasing of agricultural lands, in which the lessee, as a small agricultural entrepreneur, directly undertakes… -
Sharon (SARON)
1. Biblical name of the stretch of the Palestinian plain that extends along the coast from Carmel as far as Jaffa, celebrated for its fertility (Is. 35:2), for… -
Shasi [Shashi], Apostolic Prefecture of (SHASI, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI)
In the southern part of the province of Hupeh, in central China. It was erected on 7 July 1936 with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Ichang… -
Shaw, George Bernard
Irish playwright, b. in Dublin on 26 July 1856, d. at Ayot Saint Lawrence (London), on 2 Nov. 1950. He began his career in London as a music and theater… -
Shaykh al-Islām (SHAJH AL-ISLAM)
One of the many Islamic appellations (alqāb) that appear around the middle of the 4th century A.H. (= 10th century A.D.) and that means, roughly, "prince of… -
Shekel (SICLO)
A weight and coin used in the ancient Mediterranean East. In the biblical texts referring to the pre-exilic period, the shekel always designates a weight (v.… -
Shekinah (ŠEKHĪNĀH)
"Dwelling," a Neo-Hebrew term (from the biblical verb šākhan, "to dwell") that indicates the presence and abode of God in Israel, especially in the ancient… -
Shelley, Percy Bysshe
English Romantic poet, b. in London on 4 Aug. 1792, d. drowned in the bay of Lerici on 8 July 1822. A radical revolutionary and anarchist already in his school… -
Shenute (Sinuthus) (ŠENUTE (SINUTHUS))
A native of Atripe, he is the best-known leader of Egyptian cenobitism after Pachomius; b. ca. 333, d. in 451. A monk from 370 and superior of the "White… -
Sheol (ŠĒ'ÖL)
A term (feminine) that in Israel (not among the other Semites) designated the subterranean region where the dead dwell. The etymology is uncertain: perhaps… -
Shephelah (SEPHELA)
Term (often translated by the Septuagint as ἡ πεδινὴ [τῆ] = Vulgate campestris [terra], or τὸ πεδίον = campus), which designates in the geography of Palestine… -
Sheptytskyj, Andrey (SZEPTYCKYJ, ANDREJ)
Metropolitan of Galicia, in the world Roman Alexander, third son of the counts de Szeptyci-Szeptyckyj, an ancient noble Ukrainian family, b. at Prylbyci on 29… -
Sherbrooke, Archdiocese of (SHERBROOKE, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
Archdiocese and city in the province of Québec (Canada). The diocese has a Catholic population of 214,823 inhabitants (184,613 French and 2,820 English) and a… -
's-Hertogenbosch, Diocese of Bois-le-Duc (S'HERTOGENBOSCH, BOIS-LE-DUC, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese of Holland. The city is the capital of North Brabant, a little south of the lower Meuse; the diocese embraces the eastern part of the province… -
Shestov, Leo (Lev Isaákievich Shvartsman) (ŠESTOV, LEONE (LEV ISAÁKIEVIČ ŠVARCMAN))
Russian religious writer, b. in Kiev in 1866, d. in Paris in 1938, where he had emigrated after the revolution. In the years of exile he wrote his best works… -
Shguanin, Cesario
Theologian of the Order of the Servants of Mary, b. at Schöntal on 11 June 1692, d. at Rome on 4 Feb. 1769. A religious in the convent of Frohnleiten in Styria… -
Shihnan [Enshi], Diocese of (SHIHNAN, DIOCESI DI)
In the southern part of the province of Hupeh, in central China. It was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 14 June 1938 with 5 civil subprefectures of the… -
Shihtsien [Shiqian], Apostolic Prefecture of (SHIHTSIEN, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI)
In the eastern part of the province of Kweichow, in central-southern China. It was erected as a mission sui iuris on 23 March 1932 with territory detached from… -
Shikoku, Apostolic Prefecture of (SHIKOKU, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI)
Situated on the island of the same name, it comprises four civil provinces, namely Kagawa, Tokushima, Kochi and Ehime, whose total area is 18,250 sq. km., with… -
Shillong, Diocese of (SHILLONG, DIOCESI DI)
Located in northeastern India, suffragan of Calcutta. In 1889 the apostolic prefecture of Assam was erected, its territory being detached from the archdiocese… -
Shiloh (SILO)
An ancient locality in Palestine in the tribe of Ephraim, corresponding, according to the biblical indications (Judg. 21:19), to present-day Hirbet Sejlūn, 5… -
Shintō
From Sino-Japanese shin = god and tō = way, whence our "Shintoism"; with this term the Japanese designated their indigenous religion after the introduction of… -
Shirē (SHIRÈ)
It is the region comprising the southern part of the British protectorate of Nyasaland. Until May 1952 the apostolic vicariate of S. embraced the entire region… -
Shishak (SESAC)
Pharaoh of Egypt (Šešonq I), founder of the XXII dynasty (934-913 B.C.), who moved its capital to Bubastis in the Delta, rather than to Tanis. He installed a… -
Shiuchow [Shaoguan], Diocese of (SHIUCHOW, DIOCESI DI)
In the north-western part of the province of Kwangtung, in southern China. It was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 9 April 1920 with territory detached… -
Shkodër (Scutari), Archdiocese of (SCUTARI (SHKODRA, SHKÖDER), ARCIDIOCESI DI)
Located in the northwestern part of Albania, of very ancient origin. The first bishop of S. whose name is given is a certain Bassus (387). At first S. was part… -
Shock Therapy (Electroshock) (SHOCKTERAPIA (ELETTROSHOCK))
It is among the most important methods for the organic treatment of mental disorders; its various procedures developed not logically but empirically, a fact… -
Shohchow [Shuozhou], Diocese of (SHOHCHOW, DIOCESI DI)
In the north-western part of the province of Shansi, in northern China. It was erected as an apostolic prefecture on 12 May 1926 with 15 civil sub-prefectures… -
Shorthouse, Joseph Henry
English writer, b. in Birmingham on 9 Sept. 1834, d. at Lansdowne on 4 March 1903. S., although he wrote others as well, is remembered for a single novel: John… -
Shrewsbury, Diocese of (SHREWSBURY, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in England. It has a population of 1,331,706 inhabitants (1931 census), of whom 106,000 are Catholics (1950 census), distributed in 81… -
Shroud (SINDONE)
A burial cloth that wrapped the Body of Jesus Christ. Several cloths, preserved in various places, have aspired to this honor (Compiègne, Besançon, Cadouin… -
Shulamite (SULAMITE)
Name given to the bride of the Song of Songs (6:12; 7:1), the shepherdess who loves a shepherd of her own age and village, by whom she is loved in return, and… -
Shunking [Nanchong], Diocese of (SHUNKING, DIOCESI DI)
In the central part of the province of Szechwan, in central-western China. It was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 2 Aug. 1929 with 7 civil sub-prefectures… -
Shunsen [Chuncheon], Apostolic Prefecture of (SHUNSEN, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI)
It is located in the central-eastern part of Korea and covers an area of 26,265 sq km, with a population of 1,200,000 inhabitants, of whom 8,618 are Catholics… -
Shunteh [Xingtai], Diocese of (SHUNTEH, DIOCESI DI)
In the south-western part of the province of Hupeh, in northern China. It was erected as an apostolic prefecture on 2 March 1933 with 6 civil sub-prefectures… -
Shuwayr (ŠUWAJR)
A Lebanese village near which stands the monastery of St. John, cradle and still mother house of the Order of the Melkite Basilians (v.) of Šuwajr. It was… -
Siagrius, Saint (SIAGRIO, SANTO)
The time and place of his birth and his life before he was elected bishop of Autun in 561 are unknown. He died around 599. Enterprising and a zealous champion… -
Siam
SIAM: v. THAILANDIA. -
Siangtan [Xiangtan], Apostolic Prefecture of (SIANGTAN, PREFETTURA APOSTOLICA DI)
In the central-eastern part of the province of Hunan, in central China. It was erected on 1 July 1937 with 6 civil sub-prefectures detached from the apostolic… -
Siangyang [Xiangyang], Diocese of (SIANGYANG, DIOCESI DI)
In the northern part of the province of Hupeh, in central China. It was erected as an apostolic prefecture on 25 May 1936 with 4 civil sub-prefectures of the… -
Sian [Xi'an], Archdiocese of (SIAN, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
In the center of the province of Shensi, in northern China. It may be said to have been erected, under the name of apostolic vicariate of Shansi and Shensi, on… -
Siba "Branch" (SIBA «RAMOSCELLO)
A foreigner (note the Aramaic form of the name) imported into Israel by King Saul (v.), a slave or servant in the King's household. Having become free, perhaps… -
Šibenik (Sebenico), Diocese of (SEBENICO (ŠIBENIK), DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in northern Dalmatia, in Croatia (Yugoslavia). The diocese has an area of 3,625 sq km with a population of 176,570 inhabitants, of whom… -
Sibert of Beek (Beek) (SIBERT DI BEKA (BEEK))
Carmelite theologian, b. in Beek (near Geldern, Rhineland) around 1260, d. in Cologne on 26 Dec. 1332, where, around 1280, he had taken the Carmelite habit.… -
Sibour, Dominique-Auguste-Marie
Archbishop of Paris, b. 4 April 1792 at St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux (Drôme), d. 3 Jan. 1857 in Paris. Ordained priest in 1818, he taught at the Seminary of St.… -
Sibundoy, Apostolic Vicariate of (SIBUNDOY, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI)
By decree of 8 February 1951, from the apostolic vicariate of Caquetá (v.) in Colombia the region called "Intendencia de Caquetá" was detached to form the… -
Sibyl (SIBILLA)
The S. (etymology unknown) is in classical tradition a virgin, young, but sometimes also thought of as decrepit, who when inspired and almost possessed by… -
Sicardo, Bishop of Cremona (SICARDO, VESCOVO DI CREMONA)
From a Cremonese family (Casellanus or Casalenus, or rather de Casalaschitz [cf. A. Cavalcabò, La famiglia del vescovo S., in Boll. stor. cremonese, 1 (1931)… -
Siccardi, Giuseppe
Statesman, b. at Verzuolo (Cuneo) on 13 Oct. 1802, d. at Turin on 29 Oct. 1857. A jurist of clear fame and a university lecturer, he entered the magistracy in… -
Sicca Veneria
It is the Roman Colonia Iulia Veneria Cirta nova Sicca in proconsular Africa, today El-Kef in Tunisia. Known from the time of the First Punic War (Sallust… -
Siceleg (SICELEG)
A city assigned to the tribe of Judah in the division of the Promised Land (Josh. 15:31), then given to that of Simeon (ibid. 19:5). In the time of Saul (v.)… -
Sichar (SICHAR)
A small town in the center of Palestine, mentioned only once, in Jn 4:5, as the homeland of the Samaritan woman, converted by Jesus at the nearby well of… -
Sichem (SICHEM)
Ancient city of Palestine in the center of the tribe of Ephraim, between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim (Judg. 9:7) like the "neck" on two strong shoulders. Near the… -
Sichirollo, Giacomo
Neo-Thomist philosopher and sociologist, b. at Arquà Polesine (Rovigo) on 17 April 1839, d. at Rovigo on 18 May 1911. He studied at the Seminary of Rovigo… -
Sicilian Monarchy (MONARCHIA SICULA)
From the beginning of the 16th century the name m. s. was given to the right, claimed by the kings of Sicily, to exercise in their kingdom also the supreme… -
Sicilian Vespers (VESPRO SICILIANO)
This is the name given to the insurrectionary movement that broke out in Sicily in 1282 for complex causes and with results different from those anticipated.… -
Sicily (SICILIA)
By size (25,461 sq km), by number of inhabitants (4 million) and by economic importance, the principal island of the Mediterranean, in which it occupies a… -
Sickenberger, Joseph
Catholic exegete, b. at Kempten (Bavaria) on 19 March 1872, d. at Kitzbühel on 27 March 1945. He pursued theological studies at Munich (1891-96), where he had… -
Sidgwick, Henry
Philosopher, b. May 31, 1838 at Skipton (Yorkshire), d. Aug. 28, 1900 at Cambridge. He studied at Cambridge. A Fellow of Trinity College (1859), he was… -
Sidney, Philip, Sir
Writer, b. at Penshurst on 30 Nov. 1554, d. at Arnhem (Netherlands) on 17 Oct. 1586. He is regarded as the typical gentleman of Elizabethan England, with the… -
Sidon (SIDONE)
1) Diocese of the Maronites, founded in 1635, then in 1838 united with Tyre and in 1900 separated again. Faithful 57,000, churches 108, secular priests 74… -
Sidon (SIDONE)
One of the oldest and most important maritime cities of Phoenicia, whose name, perpetuated in present-day Sajdā, 35 km north of Tyre, perhaps derived from the… -
Sidonius Apollinaris (SIDONIO APOLLINARE)
SIDONIO APOLLINARE: v. APOLLINARE SIDONIO. -
Sidotti, Giovanni Battista
Born in Palermo in 1668 to a noble family, died in Japan in Oct.-Nov. 1715. He was a priest and missionary. An auditor of the Rota, he set out for the Far East… -
Sidrach (SIDRACH, Settanta Σεδράγη)
Babylonian name imposed on Ananiah (v.), companion of Daniel (Dan. 1, 7; 3, 12 ff.). It is probably a graphic alteration of the name of the deity Marduk.… -
Siedliska, Maria Francesca de
In religion Maria of Jesus of the Good Shepherd, foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, b. at Roszkowa-Walla (diocese of Warsaw) on 12 Nov.… -
Siena, Archdiocese of (SIENA, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
City and archdiocese, provincial capital in Tuscany. It has an area of 800 sq km with a population of 85,000 inhabitants, of whom 84,000 are Catholics… -
Sienhsien [Xian County], Diocese of (SIENHSIEN, DIOCESI DI)
In the central part of the province of Hopeh, in northern China. It was erected, under the name of apostolic vicariate of South-Eastern Peking (and later also… -
Sienkiewicz, Henryk
Polish writer, b. at Wola Okrzejska on 6 May 1846, d. at Vévey on 15 Dec. 1916. Of a noble family, he lived on his father's country estates until the end of… -
Sierology (SIEROLOGIA)
SIEROLOGIA: v. MICROBIOLOGIA. -
Sierra Leone
British possession in Guinea, enclosed between Liberia and French Guinea. It consists of a small colony (702 sq km, 124,000 inhabitants) on the coast, and of a… -
Sierro, Candido (Agostino Giuseppe)
Born on March 18, 1840 at Hérémence (Valais, Switzerland) and died in Brazil in 1874. He entered the Capuchins in 1859, where he took the name Candido.… -
Sifilino, Giovanni VIII, Patriarch of Constantinople (SIFILINO, GIOVANNI VIII, PATRIARCA DI COSTANTINOPOLI)
Born between the years 1010 and 1012 at Trebizond, died 2 August 1075 at Constantinople. He was director of the legal section of the imperial Academy of… -
Sigebert of Gembloux (SIGEBERTO DI GEMBLOUX)
Benedictine, b. ca. 1030 near Gembloux, d. there on 5 October 1112. He taught for more than 20 years in the monastic school of St-Vincent of Metz, then… -
Siger of Brabant (SIGIERI DI BRABANTE)
Belgian philosopher, perhaps a disciple of Albert the Great, a contemporary of St. Thomas, whose adversary he was in the interpretation of Aristotle's thought.… -
Siger of Courtrai (SIGIERI DI COURTRAI)
Master in the Faculty of Arts at Paris in 1309; then doctor of theology in 1315 and procurator of the Sorbonne; d. May 30, 1341, leaving as a legacy to the… -
Sigismund III Vasa, King of Poland and of Sweden (SIGISMONDO III VASA, RE DI POLONIA E DI SVEZIA)
Son of John III, King of Sweden, and of Catherine Jagiellon, b. 20 June 1566 at Gripsholm (Sweden), d. 30 Apr. 1632 at Warsaw. He was elected King of Poland in… -
Sigismund II Jagellon, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (SIGISMONDO II JAGELLONE, RE DI POLONIA E GRANDUCA DI LITUANIA)
Son of King Sigismund I and of Bona Sforza, b. on 1 Aug. 1520 at Kraków, d. on 7 July 1572 at Knyszyn. > (phot. Armani and Moretti) > SIGNORELLI, LUCA - Angels… -
Sigismund I Jagiellon, Known as the Old, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (SIGISMONDO I JAGELLONE, DETTO IL VECCHIO, RE DI POLONIA E GRANDUCA DI LITUANIA)
Son of Casimir and of Elizabeth of Habsburg, b. at Kraków on 1 Jan. 1467, d. there on 1 Apr. 1548, he was elected to the throne of Lithuania on 20 Oct. and to… -
Sigismund, King of the Burgundians, Saint, Martyr (SIGISMONDO, RE DEI BURGUNDI, SANTO, MARTIRE)
He succeeded his father Gundobad in 516. Converted by St. Avitus, bishop of Vienne, he convened the Council of Epaone (Yenne, Savoy) in 517 to root out… -
Sigismund of Luxembourg, Emperor (SIGISMONDO DI LUSSEMBURGO, IMPERATORE)
Second son of Charles IV of Luxembourg, king of Bohemia and emperor, and of Mary of Valois, daughter of Philip VI, king of France, b. at Prague on 15 February… -
Sign (SEGNO)
In a broad sense a sign (Gr. σημεῖον) is anything (reality, image, object) that manifests another: «quodcumque notum in quo aliquid cognoscatur» (St. Thomas… -
Signorelli, Luca
Painter, b. at Cortona around the middle of the 15th century, d. there on 16 October 1523. Recorded as early as 1470, he trained under Piero della Francesca… -
Signoriello, Nunzio
Neo-Scholastic philosopher, b. in Naples in 1831, d. there on 11 Oct. 1889. A pupil of Sanseverino (v.), and like him a professor at the Archiepiscopal Lyceum… -
Signories and Principalities (SIGNORIE E PRINCIPATI)
The two words, and especially the first, indicate two things linked to one another but in reality quite distinct, namely the new monarchical form which the… -
Sigoli, Simone
Born in Florence in the early decades of the 14th century. His coat of arms displays, on an azure field, three "ségoli" with golden handles. In 1384, together… -
Sigonio, Carlo
Historian, b. at Modena in 1523 (?), d. at his villa at Ponte Basso near Modena on 28 Aug. 1584. He taught at Modena (1546-52), Venice (1552-60), at Padua… -
Sigüenza, Diocese of (SIGÜENZA, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese of Spain, suffragan of Toledo, situated in the civil province of Guadalajara and Soria and a small part in those of Saragossa and Segovia. It… -
Sigwart, Christoph Wilhelm
Philosopher, b. 27 March 1830 at Tübingen, d. there 4 Aug. 1904. He studied philosophy, mathematics and theology at Tübingen, where his father had also taught… -
Sikh
A community that was originally religious and later also military and political, of northern India. Nanak (1469-1538), its founder, born near Lahore, in the… -
Silas (SILA)
Companion of St. Paul and his beloved collaborator. While in the Acts of the Apostles he is always called by this name, in the Pauline letters and in 1 Pt. he… -
Silesia (SLESIA)
Historical region of Central Europe, formerly German and now divided between Poland, which includes almost all of it, and Czechoslovakia, which retains the… -
Siloe
Name designating a spring, today 'Ajn Siṭṭī Marjam, east of Jerusalem, as well as the channel beneath the hill of Ophel through which its course passes and the… -
Silos
Spanish Benedictine monastery in the diocese and province of Burgos, dedicated first to St. Sebastian and later to the abbot St. Dominic, probably founded in… -
Silvacane (Sauvecanne)
Ancient Cistercian abbey in the archdiocese of Aix in Provence. It was founded by Raymond de Baux in 1132-57; it was suppressed by Pope Eugene IV in 1443 and… -
Silvanus (SILVANO)
Homoian bishop of Tarsus, about whom relatively little is known. He took part in the Council of Sirmium of 351, and in 357 he hosted St. Cyril of Jerusalem… -
Silvanus (SILVANO)
God of the Roman religion. His name, although attempts have been made to explain it differently as well (Etruscan selvans), seems to be an adjective derived… -
Silva Porto [Kuito], Diocese of (SILVA PORTO, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in Angola, a Portuguese possession in West Africa. It has an area of 625,440 sq km with a population of 943,529 inhabitants, of whom 63,536… -
Silveira, Gonçales da, Venerable (SILVEIRA, GONÇALES DA, VENERABILE)
Jesuit, missionary and martyr, b. of a noble family at Almeirim (diocese of Lisbon) on 23 February 1526, d. at Monomotapa (Zambezi) on 15 March 1561. Having… -
Silverius, Pope, Saint (SILVERIO, PAPA, SANTO)
A native of Frosinone, son of Pope Hormisdas, he was elected pontiff in June 536, through the intervention of the Gothic king Theodahad, despite being a… -
Silvester Guzzolini, Saint (SILVESTRO GUZZOLINI, SANTO)
Born at Osimo around 1177 to the nobles Ghislero and Bianca dei Ghislieri, died in a little cell on Montefano on 26 November 1267. (by courtesy of Monsignor A.… -
Silvester II, Pope (SILVESTRO II, PAPA)
He reigned from April 2, 999 to May 12, 1003. Probably a native of Auvergne, Gerbert entered as a monk the Benedictine abbey of St-Géraud d'Aurillac (Cantal).… -
Silvester I, Pope, Saint (SILVESTRO I, PAPA, SANTO)
Despite his long pontificate (31 Jan. 314-31 Dec. 335), little is known of his life and activity, since it coincided with the prominence of Constantine (v.)… -
Silvester IV, Antipope (SILVESTRO IV, ANTIPAPA)
Maginulf, Roman archpriest. During the conflict over investitures with Henry IV, Paschal II had pronounced excommunication against him. The Emperor's partisans… -
Silvester, Lebedinskiy (SILVESTER, LEBEDINSKIJ)
Russian theologian and ecclesiastical writer of the 18th century. Born on an unknown date in southern Russia, died at Astrakhan on 5 November 1808. He studied… -
Silvester of Sulmona (of L'Aquila) (SILVESTRO DA SULMONA (DELL'AQUILA))
Sculptor, son of Giacomo, also called S. dell'Aquila from his place of birth, has very often been confused with his great-nephew, S. d'Arischia (born there in… -
Silvestri, Francesco, known as Il Ferrarese (Ferrariensis) (SILVESTRI, FRANCESCO, DETTO IL FERRARESE (FERRARIENSIS))
Dominican theologian and philosopher, b. at Ferrara in 1474, d. at Rennes on 19 Sept. 1528. At the age of 14 he entered religious life in his native city.… -
Silvestrine Benedictines (BENEDETTINI SILVESTRINI)
They were founded at Monte Fano near Fabriano in 1231 by St. Silvester (v.). Originally they were called the Order of St. Benedict of Monte Fano, then the… -
Silvia, Saint (SILVIA, SANTA)
Mother of St. Gregory the Great, she is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on November 3, inscribed there by order of Clement VIII. Of noble lineage, she… -
Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica (SIMEONE, ARCIVESCOVO DI TESSALONICA)
Byzantine theologian, polemicist and liturgist, d. at Thessalonica in March 1429. About his life it is known only that after having been a monk he succeeded… -
Simeon Bar Sabba, Saint (SIMEONE, BAR SABA, SANTO)
Archbishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (Persia), martyr killed by Shapur II at Karkha de Ledan on 17 April 344 (according to Peeters, 341). According to the acts… -
Simeon, Bishop of Jerusalem, Saint, Martyr (SIMEONE, VESCOVO DI GERUSALEMME, SANTO, MARTIRE)
Second bishop of that city (Eusebius, Hist. eccl., III, 11 and 32). Many identify him with the apostle Simon the Cananaean, whereas the historical… -
Simeon (SIMEONE)
Second son of Jacob (v.) and Leah (Gen. 29:33; 35:22; 48:5), from whom one of the tribes of Israel took its name. At his birth his mother linked his name to… -
Simeoni, Giovanni
Cardinal, b. at Paliano on 12 July 1816, d. at Rome on 14 Jan. 1892. The son of an employee of the Colonna princes, he completed his studies under the care of… -
Simeon Nemanja (SIMEONE NEMANJA)
Born around 1114 at Ribnica (today Podgorica in Montenegro), where his (Int. Vatican Library) SIMEONE STYLITE the ELDER, saint - The Saint in the act of… -
Simeon of Polirone, Saint (SIMEONE DI POLIRONE, SANTO)
Hermit at St. Benedict of Polirone (Mantua), b. in Armenia, d. at Polirone on 26 July 1016. He was canonized by Benedict VIII (v. CANONIZZAZIONE, III, col.… -
Simeon, Saint (SIMEONE, SANTO)
"A righteous and devout man, who was awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him" (Lk. 2:25). He had been promised that he would not… -
Simeon Stylites the Elder, Saint (SIMEONE STILITA IL VECCHIO, SANTO)
He is commemorated on January 5 in the Latin Church and on September 2 in the Eastern Church. Of him there is the contemporary testimony of Theodoret of… -
Simeon Stylites the Younger, Saint (SIMEONE STILITA IL GIOVANE, SANTO)
He is commemorated on May 24 among the Easterners and on Sept. 3 among the Latins. There exists a very lengthy Life of the Saint (BHG, 1689-91). The date of… -
Simla, Diocese of (SIMLA, DIOCESI DI)
SIMLA, DIOCESI di: v. DELHI E SIMLA, DIOCESI di. -
Simler, Josia
Swiss humanist, b. 6 Nov. 1530 at Cappel, d. 2 July 1576 at Zurich. He studied Protestant theology at Zurich, Basel and Strasbourg, was a collaborator of… -
Simmel, Georg
Philosopher, b. 1 March 1858 in Berlin, d. 26 Sept. 1918 in Strasbourg. He was a professor at the Universities of these two cities. In his most significant… -
Simon (SIMONE)
Two Gospel figures who invited Jesus to dine, wrongly identified with each other by some. 1. St. "the Pharisee" invited Jesus to dine (Lk. 7:36-50) when the… -
Simon, Apostle, Saint (SIMONE, APOSTOLO, SANTO)
Called "the Canaanite" (ὁ Καναναῖος, or ὁ Καναναῖος in codd. SΔWΘ 13 etc.) in Mt. 10:4 and Mk. 3:18; "the Zealot" (ὁ Ζηλωτής) in Lk. 6:15 and Acts 1:13. The… -
Simon, Brother of the Lord (SIMONE, FRATELLO DEL SIGNORE)
One of the four listed by the Nazarenes (with James, Joseph [Joses] and Jude) as "brothers of Jesus" (v.) in Mt. 13:55 and Mk. 6:3, in the Semitic sense of… -
Simon called Niger (Niger) (SIMONE DETTO NERO (NIGER))
A Christian named among the "prophets and teachers" of the Church of Antioch, together with Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:1). The surname "Niger" must have been… -
Simonetta, Giacomo
Cardinal, born in Milan in 1475, died in Rome on November 1, 1539. From 1505 he was a consistorial advocate and took part as an auditor of the Rota in the… -
Simonetta, Giovanni
Historian, b. at Caccuri (province of Catanzaro) between the first and second decade of the 15th century, d. probably at Milan, not later than 1491. He is… -
Simonetta, Ludovico
Cardinal, born of a noble family in Milan around 1500, died in Rome on April 30, 1568. He took a degree in law. A nephew of Cardinal Giacomo, he received the… -
Simoni, Giovanni Battista
Carthusian ascetical writer, b. at Rovigo on 8 Dec. 1887, d. at Florence on 14 Nov. 1942. Ordained a priest at Padua on 27 July 1911, shortly afterward he… -
Simon II (SIMONE II)
High priest contemporary with Jesus ben Sira, who describes him in his book (Sir. 50:1-24). He is called the son of Onias (Flavius Josephus, Antiq. Iud., XII… -
Simoni, Simone
Protestant theologian and physician, b. perhaps in Lucca in 1532, d. in Kraków ca. 1602. He shared in all the theological restlessness, the radical leanings… -
Simon Maccabeus (SIMONE MACCABEO)
SIMONE MACCABEO: v. MACCABEI. -
Simon Magus (SIMONE MAGO)
A Samaritan, contemporary of the Apostles (Acts 8:9-24). St. Justin (Apol., I: PG 6, 3-68) says he was a native of Gitton (Πττων); the deacon Philip, while… -
Simon of Bisignano (SIMONE DI BISIGNANO)
Jurist, a native of Bisignano (Cosenza), who lived in the 12th century. He was a follower of Gratian; between 5 March 1177 and March 1179 he finished composing…