V
470 articles · English index · Indice italiano-
Vabres, Diocese of (VABRES, DIOCESI DI)
VABRES, DIOCESI di: v. RODEZ, DIOCESE of. VACANDARD, ELPHÈCE FLORENT. - Church historian, b. 10 April 1849 at Melleville, d. 23 October 1927 at Rouen. Ordained… -
Vacancy of the Apostolic See (VACANZA DELLA SEDE APOSTOLICA)
VACANZA DELLA SEDE APOSTOLICA : v. CONCLAVE. -
Vacancy of the Ecclesiastical Office (VACANZA DELL'UFFICIO ECCLESIASTICO)
It occurs when an ecclesiastical office lacks a holder. It can be de iure, when no legitimate holder of the office exists, even if in fact someone has… -
Vacant, Alfred
Theologian, b. 23 Feb. 1852 at Morfontaine (Meurthe-Moselle), d. 2 Apr. 1901 at Nancy. A priest in 1876 and a doctor of theology in 1880, he taught at the… -
Vacaria (VACARÍA)
Nullius prelature, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). It has an area of 17,287 sq km and 145,015 inhabitants, of whom 140,390 are Catholics. It has 17… -
Vacarius (VACARIO)
Glossator of Roman-Justinian law, styled as magister Vacarius, b. in Lombardy ca. 1115-20, d. in England after 1198. He studied the new legal science at… -
Vacation of the Law (VACAZIONE DELLA LEGGE)
VACAZIONE DELLA LEGGE : v. LEGGE. -
Vacca Rossa
A particular rite ordained by God during the Israelites' journey from Sinai to Kadesh. A "red heifer, without blemish, without any defect, which had never… -
Vacherot, Étienne (VACHEROT, ETIENNE)
Philosopher, b. at Langres, 29 July 1809, d. at Paris 28 July 1897. He taught philosophy at the École Normale and at the Sorbonne; from 1868 he was a member of… -
Vác (Vácz), Diocese of (VACIA (VÁCZ), DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in Hungary, founded, according to tradition and the concordant opinion of most historians, by St. Stephen, first king of Hungary. Area 13,160… -
Vadstena (WADSTENA)
Double monastery of St. Savior in the ancient diocese of Linköping in Östergötland in Sweden, founded in 1346 by St. Bridget (v.) in the time of King Magnus… -
Vago
VAGO: v. PELLEGRINI (PERECRINI ET VAGI). -
Vaihinger, Hans
Philosopher, b. at Nehren (Württemberg) on 25 Sept. 1852, d. at Halle on 12 Dec. 1933. He taught philosophy at the University of Strasbourg (from 1884), then… -
Vailati, Giovanni
Mathematician and historian of the philosophy of science, b. at Crema on 24 Apr. 1863, d. at Rome on 14 May 1909. Endowed with a lively interest in… -
Vainglory (VANA GLORIA)
While desiring glory is willing the manifestation of one's own good or one's own excellence (a thing not in itself evil, as Jesus Christ himself affirmed in… -
Vaison
Ancient diocese and small town on the banks of the Ouvèze, today in the archdiocese of Avignon in France. It was the ancient capital of the country of the… -
Valadier, Giuseppe
Architect b. in Rome on 14 April 1762 and d. there on 1 February 1839. His father, an engraver and metal founder, was his first teacher; he then studied at the… -
Valamo
An archipelago composed of about 40 islands in the northern part of Lake Ladoga and, after Solovki (v.), the seat of the second great island monastery of… -
Valdés, Fernando de
Great Spanish inquisitor, b. at Salas (Asturias) in 1483, d. at Madrid on 9 December 1568. He studied at the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé in Salamanca, where… -
Valdés, Juan de
Spanish man of letters and writer, son of a Ferdinand and brother of Alfonso (d. 1532) who was imperial secretary and author of two dialogues, b. at Cuenca… -
Valdivia, Diocese of (VALDIVIA, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese of the province of V. and Osorno in Chile (South America). It has an area of 18,967 sq km and a population of 257,825 inhabitants, of whom… -
Valdivielso, José de
Spanish poet, b. in Toledo around 1560, d. in Madrid on June 19, 1638. A priest and chaplain, first to Cardinal Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas of Toledo and then… -
Valença do Brazil (Valença), Diocese of (VALENZA DEL BRASILE (VALENÇA), DIOCESI DI)
Diocese in the State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Episcopal residence in Marques de Valença. It has an area of 5,199 sq km, with a population of 178,852… -
Valence, Diocese of (VALENCE, DIOCESI DI)
Diocese and chief town of the prefecture of the department of Drôme in France, on the left bank of the Rhône, near the confluence of the Isère. > (phot.… -
Valencia, Archdiocese of (VALENZA (VALENCIA), ARCIDIOCESI DI)
City, capital of the province of the same name in Spain. The archdiocese has an area of 10,755 sq. km., with a Catholic population of 1,700,000 inhabitants… -
Valencia in Venezuela, Diocese of (VALENCIA NEL VENEZUELA, DIOCESI DI)
Capital city of the State of Carabobo and diocese in Venezuela (South America). Over an area of 20,650 sq km it counts 327,450 inhabitants, of whom 326,000 are… -
Valencia (Valentinus, Valentianus), Gregorio de
Jesuit, one of the most distinguished theologians of Germany in the early post-Tridentine era, b. at Medina del Campo (Castile) in March 1545, d. at Naples on… -
Valens, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (VALENTE (F. VALENS AUGUSTUS), IMPERATORE ROMANO D'ORIENTE)
Born in 328 at Cibalae in Pannonia to the military tribune Gratian, who from a humble condition rose to the high offices of the imperial hierarchy. He… -
Valenti Gonzaga, Luigi
VALENTI GONZAGA, LUIGI: v. GONZAGA VALENTI, LUIGI. -
Valentine (VALENTINO)
VALENTINO: V. CRONOGRAFO DELL'A. 354; FILOCALO. -
Valentine, Pope (VALENTINO, PAPA)
In the year 827, the bishops, the nobility and the people wished the archdeacon V., born in the region of Via Lata, d. in Sept. 827, to be elected pontiff.… -
Valentine, Saint, Martyr (VALENTINO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
The Hieronymian Martyrology under 14 February gives only «Interamnes via Flaminia miliario ab urbe LXIII natale Valentini». A basilica dedicated to St. V. at… -
Valentinian I, Western Roman Emperor (VALENTINIANO I, IMPERATORE ROMANO D'OCCIDENTE)
Born in Pannonia in 321, died there on 17 November 375. He entered the army, passed through all its ranks, and distinguished himself in the wars in Gaul and… -
Valentinian II, Western Roman Emperor (VALENTINIANO II, IMPERATORE ROMANO D'OCCIDENTE)
Son of the preceding and of Justina, b. in 371, d. in Gaul in 392. On the death of his father (375), through the intervention of his mother he was proclaimed… -
Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor (VALENTINIANO III, IMPERATORE ROMANO D'OCCIDENTE)
Son of Flavius Constantius and of Galla Placidia, sister of the emperor Honorius, b. in 419, d. at Rome on 16 March 545. On the death of his uncle Honorius… -
Valentin, Louis de Boullonne, called the (VALENTIN, LOUIS DE BOULLONNE, DETTO IL)
Painter, b. at Coulommiers (Brie) in 1592, d. in Rome in Aug. 1632. He worked extensively in Rome for Cardinal Francesco Barberini; there is a lack of… -
Valentinus Gnostic (VALENTINO GNOSTICO)
He came to Rome under Hyginus. He flourished under Pius and remained there until Anicetus (Irenaeus, III 4, 3; Greek text in Eusebius, Hist. eccl., IV, 11, 1)… -
Valera y Alcalá Galiano, Juan
Spanish writer and diplomat, b. at Cabra on 18 Oct. 1824, d. at Madrid on 18 Apr. 1905. He was the nephew of the Duque de Rivas and his companion at the… -
Valeriani, Giuseppe
Jesuit, painter and architect, b. at L'Aquila in 1542, d. at Naples on 15 July 1596. A disciple of Pompeo Cesura, known as l'Aquilano, he entered the Order as… -
Valeriano Bolzani, Giampietro (Pierius Valerianus)
Humanist, b. at Belluno in 1477, there > (photo Enc. Catt.) > VALERIANO BOLZANI, GIAMPIETRO - Portrait. Copper engraving, preface to the work Hieroglyphica… -
Valerian of Cimela (VALERIANO DI CEMELE)
Bishop of Cimiez, near Nice. He took part in the Councils of Riez (439) and of Vaison (452) and defended, against Pope Leo I, the primacy of Arles. He… -
Valerian (P. Licinius Valerianus Augustus), Roman Emperor (VALERIANO, IMPERATORE ROMANO)
B. c. 190, d. c. 260. The information, both about his private life and about his political career, is scanty and uncertain. Descended from a noble family, he… -
Valerian, Saint, Bishop (VALERIANO, VESCOVO, SANTO)
He succeeded Fortunatian as bishop of Aquileia before 371. He took part in the Council that Pope Damasus held in Rome around 371, when Auxentius, the Arian… -
Valerian, Saint, Martyr (VALERIANO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
VALERIANO, santo, martire: v. TIBURZIO, VALERIANO e MASSIMO, saints, martyrs. -
Valeria, Saint (VALERIA, SANTA)
VALERIA, santa: v. VITALE E VALERIA, saints. -
Valéry, Paul
French writer and poet, b. at Sète on 30 Oct. 1871, d. at Paris on 20 July 1945. Having lived almost always in Paris, in his youth he was a disciple and friend… -
Valfrè, Sebastiano, Blessed (VALFRÈ, SEBASTIANO, BEATO)
Oratorian, apostle of Turin, b. at Verduno (Alba) on 9 March 1629, d. at Turin on 30 Jan. 1710. Born into a humble family, he completed his studies… -
Valier (Valerio), Agostino
Cardinal, b. at Legnago on 7 April 1530, d. at Rome on 23 May 1606. From 1558 he was a lecturer in moral philosophy at Venice; in 1565 he was called to succeed… -
Valignano, Alessandro
Organizer and superior of the missions of the Middle and Far East, b. at Chieti in the first half of February 1539, d. at Macao on 20 January 1606. He is said… -
Valkyries (VALCHIRIE)
VALCHIRIE : v. GERMANI, RELIGIONE dei. -
Valladolid, Archdiocese of (VALLADOLID, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
Capital city of the province of the same name in Spain. The archdiocese has an area of 2,400 sq km with a population of 220,000 inhabitants, almost all… -
Valla, Lorenzo (VALLA, LORENZO (LATINAMENTE DE VALLE O VALLENSIS))
Humanist of Piacenza origin, b. in Rome in 1405 (according to others, in 1407). He taught rhetoric at Pavia (1431-33), from where he had to depart because of a… -
Vallarsi, Domenico
Priest and scholar, b. in Verona on 13 Nov. 1702, d. there on 14 Aug. 1771. His principal work is the edition of the writings of St. Jerome (11 vols., Verona… -
Valledupar, Apostolic Vicariate of (VALLEDUPAR, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI)
By decree of 4 Dec. 1952 the apostolic vicariate of Goajira (v.) in Colombia was divided into the two vicariates of Riohacha and of V., entrusted to the… -
Vallepietra, Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity of (VALLEPIETRA, SANTUARIO DELLA SANTISSIMA TRINITÀ DI)
It lies in the valley of the Simbrivio, near the hill of the Tagliata which leans against the southern flank of Monte Autore (diocese of Anagni). Here, on a… -
Valleyfield, Diocese of (VALLEYFIELD, DIOCESI DI)
City in the Province of Québec (Canada). The diocese of V. covers an area of 2,221 square miles with a total population of 87,000 inhabitants, of whom 77,033… -
Valley of Siddim (SIDDIM, VALLE DI)
A valley full of bitumen pits (Gen. 14:10), where Chedorlaomer with his allies defeated the king of Sodom (v.) and the confederates (ibid. 14:8-10). The… -
Vallo di Lucania, Diocese of (VALLO DI LUCANIA, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in the province of Salerno. It has an area of 3000 sq km with a population of 152,000 inhabitants, all Catholics, distributed in 107 parishes… -
Vallombrosa
Abbey of S. Maria Assunta of V., of the Vallombrosan Benedictine monks (v.). It is situated at about 1000 m. above sea level in the commune of Reggello… -
Vallombrosan Benedictines (BENEDETTINI VALLOMBROSANI)
Monks of the Benedictine Order who took their name from the Abbey of Vallombrosa, founded around 1036 in Tuscany by St. John Gualbert (v.), who initiated the… -
Valmarana, Deianira (Dianira)
Foundress of the Congregation of the Dimesse or Modeste, girls or widows of the Venetian State, b. at Vicenza in 1549, d. there on 3 February 1603. After the… -
Valois, Family (VALOIS, FAMIGLIA)
Its progenitor is CHARLES, younger son of King Philip III of France, who obtained the Duchy of V. from his father. When the three sons of Philip IV died… -
Valparaíso, Diocese of (VALPARAISO, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in the Republic of Chile. It has an area of 4,600 sq km with 490,000 inhabitants, of whom 480,000 are Catholics, distributed in 37 parishes… -
Valperga di Caluso, Tommaso
Abbot, Piedmontese scholar, b. in Turin on 20 Dec. 1737, d. there on 1 April 1815. A priest, open to every horizon, philosopher, philologist, versifier… -
Valroger, Hyacinthe de
Oratorian, b. Jan. 6, 1814 at Caen, d. at Bayeux on Oct. 10, 1876. After studying medicine he was ordained a priest in 1837. Director of the minor Seminary of… -
Valsecchi, Antonino
Dominican apologist and orator, b. at Verona in 1708, d. at Padua on 5 March 1791. He first taught philosophy, then devoted himself to preaching, establishing… -
Values, Philosophy of (VALORI, FILOSOFIA DEI)
It indicates an orientation of contemporary philosophy which, in its many strands, affirms first of all: a) the opposition between being (understood as the… -
Valva and Sulmona, Diocese of (VALVA E SULMONA, DIOCESI DI)
United sees, distinct, in the province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo), immediately subject to the Holy See, with the appellate Ordinary at Chieti. The diocese of V. has… -
Valvassor (VALVASSORE)
Usually it means "vassal of a vassal," but the term has had a somewhat different value according to the times and ages. In Italy, etymologically, the vassi… -
Valverde, Vincenzo
Dominican bishop, b. at Oropesa (Toledo) at the beginning of the 16th century, d. on the island of Puna (Peru) in Nov. 1542. A Dominican in 1523, after his… -
Valvisciolo
Monastery situated at the foot of Monte Corvino, almost halfway between Norma and Sermoneta in the diocese of Terracina, province of Latina. It is dedicated to… -
Vancouver, Archdiocese of (VANCOUVER, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
City and archdiocese in the western part of continental Canadian Colombia (Canada). It has an area of 119,439 sq km with a population of 650,000 inhabitants… -
Vandals (VANDALI)
A people of Germanic stock, according to the earliest mentions (Pliny, Nat. hist., IV, 99; Tacitus, Germania, 2 and 43) settled on the shores of the Baltic… -
Vandelbert of Prüm (VANDELBERTO DI PRÜM)
Monk of Prüm and deacon, b. around 813 and d. after 870. He is owed one of the oldest known martyrologies, composed around 848 in Latin hexameters, written at… -
Van der Goes, Hugo
VAN DER GOES, HUGO: v. GOËS, UGO VAN DER. -
Van der Weyden, Roger
Painter, b. at Tournai around 1400 and d. at Brussels on 16 June 1464. He had various names, from "Rogelet de la Pasture" in his native city to "Ruggieri da… -
Van de Vyver, Agostino
Bishop, b. at Haesdonck (Belgium) on 1 Dec. 1844, d. at Richmond (Virginia, U.S.A.) on 16 Oct. 1911. After completing his studies at the American College of… -
Vandregisilus (Wandril), Saint (VANDREGISILO (WANDRILLE), SANTO)
Benedictine, son of Duke Walchise and a relative of Pepin of Landen, born ca. 600 in the territory of Verdun and died in the monastery that bears his name on… -
Van Dyck, Anton
Painter, b. at Antwerp on 22 March 1599, d. at London on 9 Dec. 1641. He frequented Rubens's workshop at Antwerp, but already in 1616 he opened a studio of his… -
Van Eyck, Hubert and Jan (EYCK, HUBERT E JAN VAN)
H., died in 1436, still mentioned in 1425; J., the younger brother, died in 1441. A late (?) inscription on the frame of the Ghent altarpiece is the principal… -
Van Eyck, Hubert and Jan (VAN EYCK, HUBERT E JAN)
VAN EYCK, HUBERT e JAN: v. EYCK, HUBERT and JAN van. -
Van Gogh, Vincent
Dutch painter, b. at Groot-Zundert on 30 March 1853, d. by suicide at Auvers-sur-Oise on 29 July 1890. His painting sums up the different aspects of half a… -
Vanini, Giulio Cesare (also Lucilio) (VANINI, GIULIO CESARE (TALORA LUCILIO))
A muddled and restless figure of an Aristotelian pseudo-philosopher, b. at Taurisano di Lecce in 1585, d. at Toulouse on 9 February 1619. He graduated in… -
Vannes, Diocese of (VANNES, DIOCESI DI)
Diocese and city, capital of a prefecture in the department of Morbihan in France. Its name in Breton is Gwened. It has an area of 6,798 sq km with a… -
Vannicelli Casoni, Luigi
Cardinal, b. at Amelia on 16 April 1801, d. at Rome on 21 April 1877. A Vatican canon in 1829, he became in 1835 vice-commissar of the four Legations with… -
Vannini, Caterina, Venerable (VANNINI, CATERINA, VENERABILE)
Nun, convert, known as the Thaïs of Siena, b. in Siena on 30 May 1562, d. on 30 July 1606. She soon yielded to the allurements of vanity and pleasure and in a… -
Vannini, Giuseppina
Foundress of the Daughters of St. Camillus, b. in Rome on 7 July 1859, d. there on 23 Feb. 1911. Orphaned at a very tender age, she was taken in at the age of… -
Van Noort, Gerard Cornelis
Theologian, b. 10 May 1861 at Stompwijk in Holland, d. at Amsterdam on 15 Sept. 1946. Ordained a priest on 15 Aug. 1884, he exercised the ministry for some… -
Vannucci, Pietro
VANNUCCI, PIETRO: v. PERUGINO. -
Vannutelli, Serafino
Cardinal, b. at Genazzano (diocese of Palestrina) on 26 Nov. 1834, d. at Rome on 19 Aug. 1915. Ordained a priest in 1860, he was professor of canon and civil… -
Vannutelli, Vincenzo
Cardinal, b. at Genazzano (diocese of Palestrina) on 5 Dec. 1836, d. at Rome on 9 July 1930. Brother of Serafino. Ordained priest in 1860, he was professor of… -
Van Observance (VANA OSSERVANZA)
It is one of the forms of non-cultic superstition, whereby practices unsuited to the purpose one wishes to achieve are carried out with a superstitious intent.… -
Van Rossum, Willem
Cardinal, b. at Zwolle (Holland) on 3 Sept. 1874, d. at Maastricht (Holland) on 30 Aug. 1932. Having entered the Redemptorists at Ruremonde in 1873 and been… -
Vanvitelli, Luigi
Architect, b. in Naples on 26 May 1700, d. at Caserta on 1 March 1773. Son of the Dutch view painter Gaspare Van Vittel, he was set by him to the study of… -
Varano, Alfonso
Writer, b. in Ferrara on 13 Dec. 1705, d. there on 18 June 1788. A pupil of Abbot Tagliazucchi at the Modenese College of Nobles, he devoted himself to… -
Varano, Battista da, Blessed (VARANO, BATTISTA DA, BEATA)
Mystic of the Order of St. Clare, born Camilla, in Camerino on 9 April 1458 to Giulio Cesare, lord of that city, died there on 31 May 1524 or 1527. Having… -
Varchi, Benedetto
Historian, b. in Florence on 19 March 1503, d. there on 18 Dec. 1565. In Pisa he completed his studies in jurisprudence and, after returning to Florence… -
Vardapet
Also written "vartapet" or "vartaped," it is an ecclesiastical title of the Armenian Church, entailing an office and also a certain dignity, initially reserved… -
Vargas, Alfonso (Toletanus)
Augustinian philosopher and theologian, b. at Toledo, around 1300, d. at Seville on 26 Dec. 1366. At Paris he lectured on the Sentences between 1343-45. In… -
Vargas y Mexía, Francisco (VARGAS Y MEXIA, FRANCISCO)
Jurist and diplomat, b. in Madrid or Toledo toward the end of the 15th century (1484?), d. in 1566 in the Hieronymite monastery of Cisla near Toledo. As fiscal… -
Varisco, Bernardino
Spiritualist philosopher, b. at Chiari (Brescia) on 20 April 1850 and d. there on 21 Oct. 1933. His fame began with the Lincei prize for philosophy (1900)… -
Varmondo (Veremondo, Warmundus), Blessed (VARMONDO (VEREMONDO, WARMUNDUS), BEATO)
Bishop of Ivrea from c. 969 to the first decades of the 11th century. Elected to the see of Ivrea by Emperor Otto I (cf. Allocutio, in Provana [v. bibl.], pp.… -
Varones Apostolicos (VARONES APOSTOLICI)
According to a legend that appeared for the first time toward the end of the 8th century, they are: Torquatus, Tisiphontes, Indaletius, Secundus, Euphrasius… -
Vartan (Vardan), Saint, called the Great (VARTAN (VARDAN), SANTO, DETTO IL GRANDE)
Mamikonian prince, d. in 451. He governed Armenia from 415 to 418 and then, having been defeated by the Persian emperor Bahram, obtained that Armenia be… -
Varuna
V. is the god of the starry sky, who presides over rta, the order both moral and cosmic. He placed the sun in the sky, the intellect in hearts, milk in cows… -
Vasari, Giorgio
Painter, architect and writer, b. 27 July 1511 in Arezzo, d. 27 June 1574 in Florence. Having shown an aptitude for drawing, he received, during his study of… -
Vashti (VASTHI)
Wife, among those of second rank, and for a short time a favorite, of the Persian king Ahasuerus (v.) or Xerxes I (486-65), who repudiated her for resisting… -
Vassal (VASSALLO)
A medieval legal term denoting a free man of low social condition who placed himself in the feudal service of a powerful man who became his dominus or senior… -
Vassalletto
VASSALLETTO: v. COSMATI. -
Vasto, Diocese of (VASTO, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in the province of Chieti. The diocese is under the perpetual administration of the archbishop of Chieti ([v.] there the relevant statistical… -
Vatatzes, John III Doukas (VATATZES GIOVANNI III DUKAS)
Emperor of Nicaea (1222-54). He prepared the fall of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, which was accomplished under his second successor Michael VIII… -
Vatican (VATICANO)
The State of Vatican City (S.C.V.) was created and defined on 11 February 1929 by the Lateran Treaty. Its name sums up its character and location. SUMMARY: I.… -
Vatican Archive (ARCHIVIO VATICANO)
VATICAN ARCHIVE: V. VATICANO, ARCHIVIO. -
Vatican City (CITTÀ DEL VATICANO)
CITTÀ DEL VATICANO : v. VATICANO, CITTÀ DEL. -
Vatican Council (VATICANO CONCILIO)
The twentieth and last ecumenical council, opened by Pius IX on 8 December 1869 in the Vatican Basilica and interrupted by the occupation of Rome (20 September… -
Vatican Fragments (FRAGMENTA VATICANA)
This was the name given to a collection of pre-Justinianic law discovered by Cardinal A. Mai in the Vatican palimpsest lat. 5766, and published by him with the… -
Vatican Illumination (ILLUSTRAZIONE VATICANA)
On Dec. 25, 1930, the first issue of this fortnightly periodical appeared, directed by G. Dalla Torre and by an editorial committee that included A. Mercati… -
Vaughan, Diana
VAUGHAN, DIANA: v. TAXIL, LEO. -
Vaughan, Herbert
Cardinal, b. at Gloucester on 15 April 1832, d. at Westminster on 19 June 1903. A descendant of an ancient family that had remained tenaciously faithful to the… -
Vault (VÒLTA)
A roof wall structure, shaped in view according to a curved surface, and exerting a thrusting action on its supports (piers); within it one distinguishes the… -
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Seigneur de (VAUVENARGUES, LUC DE CLAPIERS, SIGNORE DI)
French moralist, b. 6 Aug. 1715 at Aix-en- Provence, d. at Paris on 28 May 1747. He fought in the Italian, Bohemian (1741-42) and Rhine (1743) campaigns; he… -
Vázquez (err. Vásquez), Gabriel
Jesuit theologian among the foremost of the 16th century, alongside Suárez, b. at Villaescuela del Haro, near Belmonte del Tajo (whence the appellation… -
Vecchietta, Lorenzo di Pietro, called Il (VECCHIETTA, LORENZO DI PIETRO, DETTO IL)
Painter, sculptor and architect, b. at Castiglione di Val d'Orcia in 1412, d. at Siena on 6 June 1480. In 1441 he began working for the hospital of Siena (Sala… -
Veda and Vedism (VEDA E VEDISMO)
In treating of Brahmanism (v.), mention has been made of the V. and of the Vedic religion or Vedism. But we must dwell further on the gods of the Vedic… -
Vedānta
One of the six orthodox philosophical systems and perhaps the most important, because it still numbers millions of followers among the educated classes of… -
Vedoiove (VEDIOVE)
God of the ancient Roman religion. The festival marked on May 21 in the archaic calendar with the single word Agonium proves (from later calendrical… -
Vedruna, Joaquína de, Blessed (VEDRUNA, JOAQUINA DE, BEATA)
Foundress of the Carmelites of Charity, b. in Barcelona on 16 April 1783, d. at Vich on 28 Aug. 1854. Married at the age of 16 to Teodoro de Mas, by whom she… -
Vega, Andrés de (VEGA, ANDRES DE)
Franciscan theologian, b. at Segovia in 1498, d. at Salamanca in Sept. 1549. He studied and taught at Salamanca; at the age of 40 he became a Franciscan… -
Vega Carpio, Lope Félix de (VEGA CARPÍO, LOPE FELIX DE)
Poet, b. in Madrid on 25 Nov. 1562, d. there on 27 Aug. 1635. Of modest family circumstances, a pupil at the Imperial College of the Jesuits, extremely… -
Vegetarianism (VEGETARISMO)
VEGETARISMO: v. ASTINENZA, IV. Medicina pastorale. -
Vegetative Life (VITA VEGETATIVA)
It constitutes, as opposed to the life of relation and animal life, the group of activities that tend to guarantee the organism an effective functionality of… -
Veghe, Joannes
A representative of the "devotio moderna," b. in Münster (Germany) in 1431 or 1432, d. at Niesink in 1504. He entered the Brothers of the Common Life at… -
Vegio, Maffeo
Humanist, b. at Lodi in 1407, d. at Rome before 29 June 1458; he was buried in the chapel of St. Monica in the church of St. Augustine. At Pavia, where he had… -
Vela, Vincenzo
Sculptor, b. at Ligornetto near Mendrisio in the Canton of Ticino on 3 May 1822, d. there on 4 Oct. 1891. The first sculpture that brought the V. fame in… -
Velázquez, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y (VELÁZQUEZ, DIEGO RODRIGUEZ DE SILVA Y)
Painter, b. in Seville on 6 June 1599 and d. in Madrid on 7 Aug. 1660. A pupil of the colourist and realist Francisco de Herrera the Elder and then of his… -
Velehrad, Sanctuary of (VELEHRAD, SANTUARIO DI)
In the diocese of Olomouc (v.) in Czechoslovakia, a place of pilgrimages and the seat of the international unionistic Congresses. In the 9th century, in the… -
Vélez, Rafael
Spanish Capuchin prelate and theologian, b. at Vélez (Malaga) on 15 Oct. 1777 and d. in the monastery of Herbón on 3 Aug. 1850. Reader of philosophy and… -
Veli
The veils that adorned the Christian basilicas certainly derive from the common use in patrician dwellings and in Roman public buildings. > (courtesy of Msgr.… -
Velletri, Diocese of (VELLETRI, DIOCESI DI)
It is one of the suburbicarian dioceses which, with the exception of the city and territory of V. included in the province of Rome, extends over the… -
Vellico, Antonio Maria
Theologian of the Order of Friars Minor, b. at Dignano d'Istria on 14 Dec. 1894, d. at Feltre (Belluno) on 26 Apr. 1942. He entered religious life at S.… -
Vellore, Diocese of (VELLORE, DIOCESI DI)
Located in south-eastern India and erected by decree of 13 Nov. 1952 with territory detached from the archdiocese of Madras. It comprises the civil district of… -
Venafro
Ancient diocese and city in the province of Campobasso, situated on the slopes of Monte Croce. It was inhabited in very ancient times by Oscan-Samnites; it… -
Venantius Fortunatus, Saint (VENANZIO FORTUNATO, SANTO)
B. c. 530 near Treviso, d. at Poitiers shortly after 600. He studied at Ravenna, made a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Martin (565) at Tours, where he remained… -
Venantius, Saint, Martyr (VENANZIO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
There are two better-known saints of this name: the first bishop of Salona (v.) and the martyr of Camerino (v.). The information concerning Venantius of Salona… -
Venard, Jean-Théophane, Blessed (VENARD, JEAN-THÉOPHANE, BEATO)
B. Nov. 21, 1829 at St-Loup-sur-Thouet (Deux-Sèvres, France) and d. Feb. 2, 1861. Already a subdeacon, he entered the Seminary of the Foreign Missions of Paris… -
Venasque
Ancient diocese in Provence in France, from which the Comtat Venaissin took its name in the Middle Ages; today it is a village in the arrondissement of… -
Vence, Bible of (VENCE, BIBBIA, DI)
French edition of the Bible with commentary, edited by Henri François V. (ca. 1675-1749), which appeared at Nancy (1738-43) in 22 vols. The name, however, came… -
Vendita
VENDITA: V. COMPRAVENDITA. -
Vendôme
The Benedictine abbey of the Most Holy Trinity of V., in the department of Loir-et-Cher in France, was founded in 1034 by Geoffrey, Count of Angers. V., today… -
Vendville, Jean
Bishop of Tournai, b. 24 June 1527 at Lille, d. at Tournai on 15 Oct. 1592. At the age of 15 he went to Paris to follow courses in civil law, obtained his… -
Venegono Inferiore, Seminary and Faculty of Theology of (VENEGONO INFERIORE, SEMINARIO E FACOLTÀ TEOLOGICA DI)
A modest municipality in the province of Varese, which rose to prominence in Italy and abroad when (1927) the Church of Milan built there, as a homage to Pius… -
Veneration of the Dead (DEFUNTI, VENERAZIONE DEI)
The complex of all the practices with which the dead are honored among different peoples and in different religions. SUMMARY: I. In non-Christian religions. -… -
Venerini, Rose, Blessed (VENERINI, ROSA, BEATA)
Foundress of the Maestre Pie, b. at Viterbo on 9 Feb. 1656, d. at Rome on 7 May 1728. Educated with Christian severity, after a slight wavering, with resolute… -
Veneto
It is the entire region comprised between the Alpine arc, Lake Garda, the Mincio, the Po and the Adriatic. It is divided into three distinct units… -
Venezuela
I. GEOGRAPHY. - The northernmost of the Atlantic states of South America, the only one whose territory lies entirely north of the Equator. Almost three times… -
Vengeance (VENDETTA)
VENDETTA: V. CARITÀ; ODIO. -
Venice, Patriarchate of (VENEZIA, PATRIARCATO DI)
Patriarchate and provincial capital city in the Veneto. The diocese has a population of 362,564 inhabitants, of whom 357,250 are Catholics, distributed in 94… -
Veni Creator Spiritus
Hymn of Vespers and of Terce in the Office of Pentecost. By an unknown author of the end of the 9th century, it is already found in codices of the end of the… -
Venier, Sebastiano
Doge of Venice, b. ca. 1496, d. March 3, 1578. After having held high offices in the Republic, among them those of savio grande, provveditore generale alle… -
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Sequence of the Mass of Pentecost, attributed to Stephen Langton (v. PENTECOSTE). A composition in stanzas of three non-prosaic but accented senarius verses… -
Venosa, County of (VENOSINO, CONTADO)
VENOSINO, CONTADO: V. AVIGNONE; VENASQUE. -
Venosa, Diocese of (VENOSA, DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in the province of Potenza; it has an area of 587 sq km with a population of 50,200 inhabitants, of whom 50,000 are Catholics, distributed in… -
Ventimiglia, Diocese of (VENTIMIGLIA, DIOCESI DI)
It has an area of 715.50 sq km., with 101,000 inhabitants, of whom 155 are non-Catholics. It has 82 parishes and an autonomous vicariate curata; 254 churches… -
Ventimiglia, Mariano
Carmelite, general and historiographer of the Order, b. at Vatolla (Salerno) on 18 Feb. 1703, d. at Naples on 28 Apr. 1790. A professed member of the Carmine… -
Ventura di Raulica, Gioacchino
Publicist, orator and Theatine philosopher, b. at Palermo on 8 Dec. 1792, d. at Versailles on 2 Aug. 1861. A pupil of the Jesuits, he entered the Theatines in… -
Ventura, Guglielmo
Born at Asti, ca. 1250, died after 1310. He wrote an interesting chronicle of the events of his native city, of Piedmont and of the surrounding countries. >… -
Venturi, Adolfo
Born in Modena on 4 September 1856, died at Santa Margherita Ligure on 10 June 1941. He is the greatest of the modern historians of Italian art. Self-taught… -
Venturi, Giovanni Battista
Priest, scientist and politician, b. at Bibbiano on 11 Sept. 1746, d. at Reggio Emilia on 10 Sept. 1822. Professor of physics and geometry at Reggio and at… -
Venturino da Bergamo
Famous Dominican preacher, b. in Bergamo on 19 April 1304, d. at Smyrna on 23 March 1346. A religious in his native city (1319), he was first master of novices… -
Venus (VENERE)
A goddess of undoubted Italic origins, yet foreign to the most ancient Roman pantheon, since according to some Roman historians she was not named in the… -
Venuta, Luigi
Priest, b. at Nicosia on 3 Jan. 1823, d. at New Jersey (U.S.A.) in 1872. Attached to the Palermo parish of S. Rocco, in Jan. 1848 he was among the first… -
Veraci, Croci Pissa (VERACI, CROCIPISSA)
Camaldolese mystic of the monastery of Pratovecchio (diocese of Fiesole), b. 18 Oct. 1749 in Florence, d. there 16 Feb. 1822. She took the veil at the age of… -
Veracruz (Residencia Jalapa), Archdiocese of (VERA CRUZ (RESIDENZA JALAPA), ARCIDIOCESI DI)
City and archdiocese of the State of V. C. in Mexico. It has an area of 21,000 sq km with a population of 1,400,000 inhabitants, of whom 1,250,000 are… -
Verallo, Girolamo
Cardinal, b. at Cori ca. 1497, d. at Rome on 10 Oct. 1555. Having entered the ecclesiastical career under the protection of Paul III, he was a referendary of… -
Veranzio, Antonio
Archbishop of Esztergom, diplomat, humanist, Hungarian historian, b. at Šibenik on 29 May 1504, d. on 16 June 1573 at Esztergom. His mother, Margherita… -
Verapaz (Residencia Cobán), Diocese of (VERA PAZ (RESIDENZA COBAN), DIOCESI DI)
City and diocese in Guatemala (Central America). It has an area of 14,000 sq km with a population of 394,580 inhabitants, of whom 378,050 are Catholics; it has… -
Verapoly, Archdiocese of (VERAPOLY, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
Located in southwestern India, State of Cochin-Travancore. It borders the dioceses of Calicut, Coimbatore, Vijayapuram and Cochin. After the erection of the… -
Verbiest, Ferdinand
Jesuit, missionary and astronomer at the Court of Peking, b. at Pitthem, near Courtrai (Belgium) on 29 Oct. 1623, d. at Peking on 28 Jan. 1688. Having entered… -
Verbőczi, Stephen (VERBÖCZI, STEFANO)
Hungarian jurist and humanist, b. 1458, d. 1541. Supreme judge, grand chancellor, palatine lieutenant of the king, he began his career in the royal chancery… -
Verbum Domini
Periodical of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, founded in 1921 "spargendia ubique sanis de re biblica doctrinis" (in situ proprio of Pius X Vinea electa, of… -
Vercelli, Archdiocese of (VERCELLI, ARCIDIOCESI DI)
It has an area of 1,658 sq km and a population of 198,500 inhabitants, divided among 139 parishes, of which 119 are in the province of Vercelli, 10 in that of… -
Vercellone, Carlo Giuseppe
Biblical scholar, b. at Sordevolo near Biella on 10 Jan. 1814, d. at Rome on 19 Jan. 1869. In 1829 he entered the Barnabites at Genoa. Ordained a priest in… -
Verdaguer i Santaló, Jacint (VERDAGUER I SANTALÒ, JACINT)
Catalan priest and poet, b. at Folgaroles on 17 May 1845, d. at Vallvidriera on 10 June 1902. From his many travels in Europe and Africa as chaplain of the… -
Verdiana, Saint (VERDIANA, SANTA)
Recluse virgin, b. at Castelfiorentino in Tuscany (in 1182? 1187?), to parents of modest circumstances. For some time she was in the service of a wealthy… -
Verdier, Jean
Cardinal, b. in La Croix-Barrez (diocese of Rodez) on 19 Feb. 1864, d. in Paris on 9 Apr. 1940. Having entered the Society of St. Sulpice in 1886, he came the… -
Verdi, Giuseppe
Musician b. at Le Roncole near Busseto (Parma) on 10 Oct. 1813, d. at Milan on 27 Jan. 1901. He received the first rudiments of music from the organist of his… -
Verdun, Diocese of (VERDUN, DIOCESI DI)
Diocese and capital city of the department of the Meuse in France. It has an area of 6,240 sq. km. with a population of 188,780 inhabitants, of whom 180,000… -
Verecondia
From the Latin vereor, from which the other Italian noun "vergogna" (shame) also derives; but between the two derivatives there is a notable difference in… -
Verecundus (VERECONDO)
Bishop of Junca in the African province of Byzacena, flourished in the 6th century, died at Chalcedon in the hospice of St. Euphemia in 552. A year earlier he… -
Verepaeus, Simon
Humanist and theologian, b. at Dommelen-Valkenswaard (Netherlands) in 1552, d. at Bois-le-Duc in 1598. "Magister artium" at the University of Louvain on 28… -
Verga, Giovanni
Writer, b. at Catania on 31 Aug. 1840, d. there on 27 Jan. 1922. While still very young he wrote historical novels of patriotic inspiration: I carbonari della… -
Vergani, Paolo
Prelate and economist, b. in Piedmont in 1753, d. in Paris ca. 1820. Biographical information on V. is scarce, even though he was one of the most prominent… -
Vergerio, Pier Paolo the Elder (VERGERIO, PIER PAOLO IL VECCHIO)
Scholar and diplomat, b. at Capodistria around 1370, d. at Budapest on 8 July 1444. He studied at Padua; in 1386 at Florence he became friends with Coluccio… -
Vergerio, Pier Paolo the Younger (VERGERIO, PIER PAOLO IL GIOVANE)
Apostate bishop, b. in 1497-98 at Capodistria to Girolamo, a nobleman of that place, d. at Tübingen on 4 Oct. 1565. He studied at Venice, perhaps at the school… -
Vergins of Jesus and Mary (VERGINI DI GESU E MARIA)
Founded in the diocese of St-Claude in France in 1844 by the parish priest Giuseppe Brun. The sisters, while living a contemplative life, carry out works of… -
Vering, Friedrich Heinrich
Canonist, b. at Liesborn in Westphalia on 3 March 1833, d. at Prague on 30 March 1896. He did his legal studies at Bonn and at Heidelberg, where in 1857 he… -
Verismo
If by v. in literature one means an icastic representation of characters or situations, one may say that such a form has never been absent from the various… -
Verità, Giovanni
Priest, b. at Modigliana on 18 Feb. 1807, d. there on 26 Nov. 1885. Bound to the liberal movement of the Romagna, he made his house in Modigliana the center of… -
Verjus, Enrico Battista Stanislao
Bishop, missionary, b. at Oleggio (diocese of Novara) on 26 March 1860, d. there on 13 Nov. 1892. Having moved early with his family to Savoy, he entered in… -
Verlaine, Paul
Poet and initiator of the French Symbolist movement, b. at Metz on 30 March 1844, d. at Paris on 8 Jan. 1896. In Paris, where the family had moved in 1851, V.…