Apologetics

Apologetica · 90 articles · Principal contributors · All subjects

Abortion (ABORTO) Vol. I, p. 89
ABORTION. - 1. MORAL THEOLOGY. - It is the expulsion of the ovum or of the embryo or of the immature fetus, that is, not viable; in other…
Accusations Against Christians (ACCUSE CONTRO I CRISTIANI) Vol. I, p. 149
ACCUSATIONS AGAINST CHRISTIANS. - These are the insults and calumnies hurled by the Jews and the pagans against the followers of the…
Alès, Adhémar D' Vol. I, p. 464
ALÈS, ADHÉMAR d'. - French Jesuit, theologian, historian and apologist, b. at Orléans on 2 Dec. 1861, d. at Paris on 24 Feb. 1938. First…
Allies, Thomas William Vol. I, p. 550
ALLIES, THOMAS WILLIAM. - English convert, b. Feb. 12, 1813, d. June 17, 1903 in London, son of a Protestant minister and himself a…
Anderdon, William Henry Vol. I, p. 723
ANDERDON, WILLIAM HENRY. - English Jesuit and writer, b. in London on 22 Dec. 1816, d. at Roehampton on 28 July 1890. Of a Protestant…
Anderson, Patrick Vol. I, p. 724
ANDERSON, PATRICK. - Scottish Jesuit, b. at Elgin or at Moray in 1575, d. in London on 24 Sept. 1624. Having entered the Order in Rome in…
Anderton, James Vol. I, p. 724
ANDERTON, JAMES. - English Catholic apologist, layman, b. at Lostock Hall (Lancashire) in 1557 and d. in 1618. He wrote various works…
Apologetics (APOLOGETICA) Vol. I, p. 981
APOLOGETICS. - Apologetics is the science that demonstrates the rational credibility of the Catholic faith. In this definition the word…
Apologetics, Literature (APOLOGETICA, LETTERATURA) Vol. I, p. 986
APOLOGETIC, LITERATURE. - If apologetics, considered as an autonomous science, is of recent date, the apologies that prepared the way for…
Apostolicity (APOSTOLICITÀ) Vol. I, p. 1003
APOSTOLICITY. - It is the last of the four marks of the Church proclaimed in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed (v. CHIESA). In saying…
Aristide, Marciano Vol. I, p. 1122
ARISTIDE, MARCIANO. - One of the first Christian apologists. According to Eusebius (Hist. eccl., IV, 3, 3, and Chron., ad a. 2140) he was…
Armania y Font, Francisco Vol. I, p. 1148
ARMANIA Y FONT, FRANCISCO. - Spanish Augustinian, b. June 3, 1718 at Villanueva y Geltrú (Barcelona), d. at Tarragona on May 4, 1803. He…
Art (ARTE) Vol. II, p. 45
ART. - I. HISTORY OF THE WORD. - The term has not, and never has had, strictly speaking, a univocal meaning; so much so that it can be…
Atheism (ATEISMO) Vol. II, p. 181
ATHEISM. - Theory that denies the existence of a personal God. SUMMARY: I. Notion, division and possibility. - II. History and…
Ballerini, Giuseppe Vol. II, p. 447
BALLERINI, GIUSEPPE. - Italian bishop and apologist, b. at Gualdrasco (Pavia) on 15 Sept. 1857, d. at Pavia on 12 June 1933. Having set out…
Beauzée, Nicolas Vol. II, p. 656
BEAUZÉE, NICOLAS. - French grammarian and apologist, b. at Verdun on 9 May 1717, d. at Paris on 25 Jan. 1789. Beauzée's fame is linked to…
Belsunce de Castelmoron, Henri-François-Xavier Vol. II, p. 704
BELSUNCE DE CASTELMORON, HENRI-FRANÇOIS-XAVIER. - Bishop of Marseilles, b. in the castle of La Force (Dordogne) on 8-9 Dec. 1670 to parents…
Bergier, Nicolas-Sylvestre Vol. II, p. 803
BERGIER, NICOLAS-SYLVESTRE. - French theologian and apologist, b. at Darney (Lorraine) on 31 Dec. 1718, d. at Versailles on 9 Apr. 1790.…
Bredenbach, Matthias Vol. III, p. 54
BREDENBACH, MATTHIAS. - German humanist and Catholic polemicist, b. at Kierspe (Duchy of Berg) in 1499, d. at Emmerich on 5 June 1559.…
Bullet, Jean-Baptiste Vol. III, p. 146
BULLET, JEAN-BAPTISTE. - French apologist and scholar, b. at Besançon in 1699, d. there on 6 September 1775. He was professor of theology…
Caramuel Lobkowitz, Juan de Vol. III, p. 451
CARAMUEL LOBKOWITZ, JUAN DE. - Spanish theologian and scholar, b. in Madrid on 23 May 1606, d. in Vigevano on 8 Sept. 1682. His first…
Catholicity (CATTOLICITÀ) Vol. III, p. 687
CATHOLICITY. - It is the third property of the Church, according to the Creed of Nicaea-Constantinople: "I believe in the catholic Church."…
Christianity (CRISTIANESIMO) Vol. IV, p. 529
CHRISTIANITY. - The religion founded by Jesus Christ. SUMMARY: I. Time and expansion. - II. Value and characteristics. - III. Vitality in…
Clausel De Montals, Claude-Hippolyte Vol. III, p. 1047
CLAUSEL de MONTALS, CLAUDE-HIPPOLYTE. - Bishop, b. at Coussergues (Aveyron) on 5 April 1769, d. on 1 April 1857. Having fled from…
Clement of Alexandria (CLEMENTE ALESSANDRINO) Vol. III, p. 1075
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. - Greek ecclesiastical writer. SUMMARY: I. Person. - II. Works. - III. Doctrine. I. PERSON. - 1. Life. - Titus…
Dechamps, Victor-Auguste-Isidore Vol. IV, p. 748
DECHAMPS, VICTOR-AUGUSTE-ISIDORE. - Cardinal, b. at Melle near Ghent on 6 Dec. 1810, d. at Malines on 28 Sept. 1883. In Oct. 1832 he…
Delfino, Cesare Pietro Michele Vol. IV, p. 795
DELFINO, CESARE PIETRO MICHELE. - Controversialist, b. at Parma on an uncertain date, d. at Rome in 1566. He devoted himself to medicine…
Divine Attributes (ATTRIBUTI DIVINI) Vol. II, p. 236
DIVINE ATTRIBUTES. - These are properties that the human mind is accustomed to attribute to God, according to our way of thinking. In…
Donnet, Ferdinand-François-Auguste Vol. IV, p. 1087
DONNET, FERDINAND-FRANÇOIS-AUGUSTE. - French bishop and cardinal, b. at Bourg-Argental (Loire) on 16 Nov. 1795, d. at Bordeaux on 24 Dec.…
Drey, Johann Sebastian Vol. IV, p. 1120
DREY, JOHANN SEBASTIAN. - Theologian and apologist, b. at Killingen on 16 Oct. 1777, d. at Tübingen on 16 Feb. 1853. Ordained priest in…
Duvoisin, Jean-Baptiste Vol. IV, p. 1170
DUVOISIN, JEAN-BAPTISTE. - Apologist, b. at Langres on 19 Oct. 1744, d. at Nantes on 9 July 1813. Professor at the Sorbonne, canon of…
Emanuele of Domodossola (EMANUELE DA DOMODOSSOLA) Vol. V, p. 186
EMANUELE OF DOMODOSSOLA. - Capuchin, apologetic writer, in the world Carlo Prinsecco, b. on an uncertain date, d. 20 April 1802. He…
Emery, Jacques-André Vol. V, p. 197
EMERY, JACQUES-ANDRÉ. - Superior general of the Sulpicians, b. at Gex on 26 Aug. 1732, d. at Paris 28 Apr. 1811. Having entered the…
Etourneau, Thomas Vol. V, p. 447
ETOURNEAU, THOMAS. - Preacher and lecturer, b. in Nantes on 19 July 1853, d. at La Chapelle-Basse-Mer on 30 July 1908. A Dominican from…
Eusebius of Caesarea (EUSEBIO DI CESAREA) Vol. V, p. 517
EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA. - Father of ecclesiastical history. SUMMARY: I. Life. - II. Historical works. - III. Apologetic works. - IV.…
Eymieu, Antonin Vol. V, p. 569
EYMIEU, ANTONIN. - Jesuit, lecturer and psychologist, b. at Chamaret (Drôme) on 21 Nov. 1861, d. at Marseille on 9 Oct. 1933. The best…
Fassini, Vincenzo Maria Vol. V, p. 641
FASSINI, VINCENZO MARIA. - Dominican theologian and historian, b. at Racconigi on 19 Aug. 1738, d. on 15 July 1787 at Pisa, at whose…
Fassoni, Liberato Di San Giovanni Battista Vol. V, p. 641
FASSONI, LIBERATO OF SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA. - Theologian of the Piarists, b. in Liguria in 1720, d. in Rome on 4 May 1775. Professor at…
Feller, François-Xavier Vol. V, p. 691
FELLER, FRANÇOIS-XAVIER. - Jesuit, scholar and skilled apologist, b. in Brussels on 18 April 1736, d. in Regensburg on 23 May 1802. Having…
Fideism (FIDEISMO) Vol. V, p. 749
FIDEISM. - A theory that exaggerates the importance and the role of faith, diminishing or even rendering almost null the rights of reason,…
Franco, Secondo Vol. V, p. 1008
FRANCO, SECONDO. - Jesuit, preacher, b. in Turin on 22 Jan. 1817, d. there on 10 Nov. 1893. He preached the word of God assiduously in all…
Frayssinous, Denis-Luc-Antoine Vol. V, p. 1053
FRAYSSINOUS, DENIS-LUC-ANTOINE. - Bishop and apologist, b. at Vayssière on 9 May 1765, and d. there on 12 Dec. 1841. Having entered the…
Garasse, François Vol. V, p. 1151
GARASSE, FRANÇOIS. - Jesuit, polemicist, b. at Angoulême in 1584, d. at Poitiers on 14 June 1631. An effective and impetuous preacher, he…
Gentilini, Giovanni Battista Vol. VI, p. 50
GENTILINI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. - Jesuit, controversialist, b. at Vesio di Tremosine (Brescia) on 26 Nov. 1745, d. at Rome on 16 Dec. 1816…
God (DIO) Vol. IV, p. 934
GOD. - In the common acceptation, God is the supreme, infinite, eternal, absolute Being, the intelligent and free cause of all reality.…
Grandmaison, Léonce De Vol. VI, p. 608
GRANDMAISON, LÉONCE de. - Jesuit, theologian and apologist, b. at Le Mans on 31 Dec. 1868, d. at Paris on 15 June 1927. He entered the…
Hello, Ernest Vol. VI, p. 823
HELLO, ERNEST. - French writer, b. at Lorient on 4 Nov. 1828, d. there on 15 Apr. 1885. He practiced law for a short time, then devoted…
Hettinger, Franz Vol. VI, p. 838
HETTINGER, FRANZ. - Theologian and apologist, b. at Aschaffenburg on 13 Jan. 1813, d. at Würzburg on 25 Jan. 1890. He studied at…
Hoffmeister, Johann Vol. VI, p. 852
HOFFMEISTER, JOHANN. - Augustinian preacher and controversialist, b. ca. 1509 and d. 21 Aug. 1547. He embraced the religious life early,…
Immortality of the Human Soul (IMMORTALITÀ DELL'ANIMA UMANA) Vol. VI, p. 977
IMMORTALITY OF THE HUMAN SOUL. - It is the property of the human soul to survive the death of the body. SUMMARY: I. Immortality in the…
Indifferentism (INDIFFERENTISMO) Vol. VI, p. 1061
INDIFFERENTISM. - Etymologically it means making no account between a thing and its contrary, not determining oneself for either one side…
Infallibility (INFALLIBILITÀ) Vol. VI, p. 1108
INFALLIBILITY. - It is that supernatural prerogative by which the Church and the Pope cannot err in professing and defining revealed…
Inquisition (INQUISIZIONE) Vol. VII, p. 54
INQUISITION. - A special ecclesiastical tribunal for combating and suppressing heresy. SUMMARY: I. The medieval Inquisition. - II. The…
Ivo of Paris (IVO DA PARIGI) Vol. VII, p. 348
IVO OF PARIS. - Capuchin thinker and polemicist, b. in Paris ca. 1590, d. there in 1678. A lawyer of the Parisian bar, he entered the Order…
Joanna, Antipope (GIOVANNA, PAPESSA) Vol. VI, p. 311
JOANNA, ANTIPOPE. - A typical example of how a legend is born, develops and declines. SUMMARY: I. Sources and content. - II. Spread and…
Juridicism (GIURIDISMO) Vol. VI, p. 478
JURIDICISM. - A charge leveled by the Slavophiles against the Catholic Church, alleging that it has replaced the grace of mutual love and…
Kannemann, Johann Vol. VII, p. 405
KANNEMANN, JOHANN. - Preacher and polemicist, b. c. 1400 in Lower Saxony, d. after 1469. In 1440, already a lecturer, he entered the…
Laicism (LAICISMO) Vol. VII, p. 504
LAICISM. - A mentality of systematic opposition to any influence over men by a religious hierarchy, and particularly by the Catholic…
Latomus, Bartholomeus (LATOMUS, BARTOLOMEUS) Vol. VII, p. 578
LATOMUS, BARTHOLOMEUS. - Luxembourgish theologian and humanist, b. at Arlon between 1485 and 1490, d. at Koblenz on 3 Jan. 1570. He…
Llanas, Eduardo Vol. VII, p. 877
LLANAS, EDUARDO. - Piarist, b. at Binéfar (Spain) on 13 Oct. 1843, d. at Saragossa on 14 July 1904. He began his activity as an apologist…
Longhin, Andrea Giacinto Vol. VII, p. 913
LONGHIN, ANDREA GIACINTO. - Bishop, b. at Campodarsego on 22 Nov. 1853, d. at Treviso on 26 June 1936. Having entered the Capuchins in…
Méraul de Bizy, Athanase-René (MÉRAULT DE BIZY, ATHANASE-RENÉ) Vol. VIII, p. 429
MÉRAUL DE BIZY, ATHANASE-RENÉ. - Apologist, b. in Paris in 1744 and d. in Orléans on 13 June 1835. Superior of the Oratory in Paris, in…
Messiah and Messianism (MESSIA E MESSIANISMO) Vol. VIII, p. 508
MESSIAH AND MESSIANISM. - From the Hebrew māšīah = anointed, a leader sent by God to rule his people. In the Old Testament the term is…
Mille, Legend of the Year (MILLE, LEGGENDA DELL'ANNO) Vol. VIII, p. 606
MILLE, LEGEND OF THE YEAR. - According to this legend, as that year drew near, Christian society felt itself pervaded by terror of the end…
Minucius, Felix (MINUCIO, FELICE) Vol. VIII, p. 641
MINUCIUS, FELIX. - Apologist of the 2nd-3rd century. I. LIFE. - The scanty information about M. F. comes, besides from his only writing,…
Miracle (MIRACOLO) Vol. VIII, p. 646
MIRACLE. - I. NOTION AND DIVISION. - From the Latin mirari, it indicates a fact that surprises, that arouses wonder, astonishment. It is…
Mystery (MISTERO) Vol. VIII, p. 682
MYSTERY. - In current Catholic teaching, a mystery is a truth revealed by God, which the human intellect cannot discover by its own powers…
Naturalism (NATURALISMO) Vol. VIII, p. 996
NATURALISM. - The term takes on different meanings in the classification of philosophical systems, moral doctrines and religions. The…
Ozanam, Antoine-Frédéric Vol. IX, p. 312
OZANAM, ANTOINE-FRÉDÉRIC. - Historian and apologist, b. in Milan on 23 April 1813 to Giovanni Antonio, a physician, and Maria Nantas of…
Pellisson-Fontanier, Paul Vol. IX, p. 671
PELLISSON-FONTANIER, PAUL. - Historian and apologist, b. at Castres into a Protestant family on 30 Oct. 1624, d. in Paris on 7 Feb. 1693.…
Perraud, Adolphe-Louis Vol. IX, p. 727
PERRAUD, ADOLPHE-LOUIS. - Oratorian apologist and cardinal, b. 7 Feb. 1828, d. at Autun 10 Feb. 1906. A pupil of the École normale…
Peter Canisius (PIETRO CANISIO) Vol. IX, p. 880
PETER CANISIUS. - B. at Nijmegen (Holland) on 8 May 1521, d. at Fribourg on 21 Dec. 1597. Son of the burgomaster Jakob Kanis, P. was sent…
Peter the Venerable (PIETRO IL VENERABILE) Vol. IX, p. 879
PETER THE VENERABLE. - Abbot of Cluny and theologian, b. in Auvergne ca. 1094, d. at Cluny on 25 Dec. 1156. Monk at Sauxillanges (1109),…
Pie, Louis Vol. IX, p. 815
PIE, LOUIS. - Apologist and cardinal, b. at Pontgenin (diocese of Chartres), Sept. 26, 1815, d. at Poitiers, May 18, 1880. A student of St.…
Rational Credibility of the Catholic Faith (CREDIBILITÀ RAZIONALE DELLA FEDE CATTOLICA) Vol. IV, p. 489
RATIONAL CREDIBILITY OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH. - I. NOTION. - Credible means etymologically everything that can be the object of belief or…
Ricoldo da Montecroce Vol. X, p. 521
RICOLDO DA MONTECROCE. - Dominican traveler and apologist, b. in Florence ca. 1243, d. there on 31 Oct. 1320. A religious in his homeland…
School (SCUOLA) Vol. XI, p. 126
SCHOOL. - An institution born from the impossibility in which families find themselves of providing on their own that degree of instruction…
Schwalm, Benoît Vol. XI, p. 74
SCHWALM, BENOÎT. - Dominican theologian and philosopher, b. at Nancy on 15 Oct. 1860, d. at Pass-Prest (St. Paul du Var) on 17 Nov. 1908. A…
Semeria, Giovanni Vol. XI, p. 184
SEMERIA, GIOVANNI. - Barnabite orator and writer, b. at Coldirodi (Imperia) on 26 Sept. 1867, d. at Sparanise (Caserta) on 15 March 1931.…
Spalding, Martin John Vol. XI, p. 655
SPALDING, MARTIN JOHN. - Apologist and archbishop, b. at Bardstown (Kentucky, United States) on May 23, 1810, d. at Baltimore on Feb. 7,…
Storchenau, Sigmund Von Vol. XI, p. 834
STORCHENAU, Sigmund Von. - Jesuit, philosopher and apologist, b. at Hollenburg (Carinthia) on 17 Aug. 1731, d. at Klagenfurt on 13 Apr.…
Studach, Jakob Lorenz Vol. XI, p. 880
STUDACH, JAKOB LORENZ. - Born on 25 January 1796 at Altstätten (Canton St. Gallen, Switzerland), died on 9 May 1873 at Stockholm. Ordained…
Tapper, Ruard Vol. XI, p. 1055
TAPPER, RUARD. - Theologian, b. at Enkhuizen (Belgium) on 14 Feb. 1487, d. at Brussels on 2 March 1559. A disciple of Adriaan Florensz (the…
Tradition (TRADIZIONE) Vol. XII, p. 267
TRADITION. - Together with the Bible it is one of the two sources of divine Revelation, and it can be defined as: "The preaching or oral…
Valsecchi, Antonino Vol. XII, p. 623
VALSECCHI, ANTONINO. - Dominican apologist and orator, b. at Verona in 1708, d. at Padua on 5 March 1791. He first taught philosophy, then…
Vaughan, Herbert Vol. XII, p. 730
VAUGHAN, HERBERT. - Cardinal, b. at Gloucester on 15 April 1832, d. at Westminster on 19 June 1903. A descendant of an ancient family that…
Vinet, Alexandre Vol. XII, p. 918
VINET, ALEXANDRE. - Liberal Protestant apologist and writer, b. at Ouchy (Lausanne) on 17 June 1797, d. at Lausanne on 10 May 1847. He…
Weiss, Albert Maria Vol. XII, p. 1034
WEISS, ALBERT MARIA. - Dominican apologist, b. 22 April 1844 at Indersdorf (Bavaria), d. 15 Aug. 1925 at Fribourg in Switzerland. A priest…
Wiseman, Nicholas Patrick Vol. XII, p. 1054
WISEMAN, NICHOLAS PATRICK. - Cardinal and apologist, b. 2 Aug. 1802 at Seville, d. 15 Feb. 1865 at Westminster. Born of an English and…
Woman (DONNA) Vol. IV, p. 1084
WOMAN. - I. NATURE AND PERSONALITY. - Philosophy, as regards natural perfection and the dignity of the person, and divine Revelation, as…