Diocese
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( Latin diœcesis)
A Diocese is the territory or churches subject to the jurisdiction of a bishop.
I. ORIGIN OF TERM
Originally the term diocese (Gr. dioikesis ) signified management of a household, thence administration or government in general. This term was soon used in Roman law to designate the territory dependent for its administration upon a city ( civitas ). What in Latin was called ager , or territorium , namely a district subject to a city, was habitually known in the Roman East as a diœcesis . But as the Christian bishop generally resided in a civitas , the territory administered by him, being usually conterminous with the juridical territory of the city, came to be known ecclesiastically by its usual civil term, diocese . This name was also given to the administrative subdivision of some provinces ruled by legates ( legati ) under the authority of the governor of the province. Finally, Diocletian designated by this name the twelve great divisions which he established in the empire, and over each of which he placed a vicarius (Pauly-Wissowa, Real-Encyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft, Stuttgart, 1903, V, 1, 716 sqq.). The original term for local groups of the faithful subject to a bishop was ekklesia (church), and at a later date, paroikia , i.e. the neighbourhood (Lat. porœcia, parochia). The Apostolic Canons (xiv, xv), and the Council of Nicæa in 325 (can. xvi) applied this latter term to the territory subject to a bishop. This term was retained in the East, where the Council of Constantinople (381) reserved the word diocese for the territory subject to a patriarch (can. ii). In the West also parochia was long used to designate an episcopal see. About 850 Leo IV, and about 1095 Urban II, still employed parochia to denote the territory subject to the jurisdiction of a bishop. Alexander III (1159-1181) designated under the name of parochiani the subjects of a bishop (c. 4, C. X, qu. 1; c. 10, C. IX, qu. 2; c. 9, X, De testibus, II, 20). On the other hand, the present meaning of the word diocese is met with in Africa at the end of the fourth century (cc. 50, 51, C. XVI, qu. 1), and afterwards in Spain, where the term parochia , occurring in the ninth canon of the Council of Antioch, held in 341, was translated by "diocese" (c. 2, C. IX, qu. 3). See also the ninth canon of the Synod of Toledo, in 589 ( Hefele, ad h. an. and c. 6, C. X, qu. 3). This usage finally became general in the West, though diocese was sometimes used to indicate parishes in the present sense of the word (see PARISH). In Gaul, the words terminus , territorium , civitas , pagus , are also met with.
II. HISTORICAL ORIGIN
It is impossible to determine what rules were followed at the origin of the Church in limiting the territory over which each bishop exercised his authority. Universality of ecclesiastical jurisdiction was a personal prerogative of the Apostles ; their successors, the bishops, enjoyed only a jurisdiction limited to a certain territory: thus Ignatius was Bishop of Antioch, and Polycarp, of Smyrna. The first Christian communities, quite like the Jewish, were established in towns. The converts who lived in the neighbourhood naturally joined with the community of the town for the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries. Exact limitations of episcopal territory could not have engrossed much attention at the beginning of Christianity ; it would have been quite impracticable. As a matter of fact, the extent of the diocese was determined by the domain itself over which the bishop exercised his influence. It seems certain on the other hand, that, in the East at any rate, by the middle of the third century each Christian community of any importance had become the residence of a bishop and constituted a diocese. There were bishops in the country districts as well as in the towns. The chorepiscopi ( en chora episkopoi ), or rural bishops, were bishops, it is generally thought, as well as those of the towns; though from about the second half of the third century their powers were little by little curtailed, and they were made dependent on the bishops of the towns. To this rule Egypt was an exception; Alexandria was for a long time the only see in Egypt. The number of Egyptian dioceses, however, multiplied rapidly during the third century, so that in 320 there were about a hundred bishops present at the Council of Alexandria. The number of dioceses was also quite large in some parts of the Western Church, i.e. in Southern Italy and in Africa. In other regions of Europe, either Christianity had as yet a small number of adherents, or the bishops reserved to themselves supreme authority over extensive districts. Thus, in this early period but few dioceses existed in Northern Italy, Gaul, Germany, Britain, and Spain. In the last, however, their number increased rapidly during the third century. The increase of the faithful in small towns and country districts soon made it necessary to determine exactly the limits of the territory of each church. The cities of the empire, with their clearly defined suburban districts, offered limits that were easily acceptable. From the fourth century on it was generally admitted that every city ought to have its bishop, and that his territory was bounded by that of the neighbouring city. This rule was stringently applied in the East. Although Innocent I declared in 415 that the Church was not bound to conform itself to all the civil divisions which the imperial government chose to introduce, the Council of Chalcedon ordered (451) that if a civitas were dismembered by imperial authority, the ecclesiastical organization ought also to be modified (can. xvii). In the West, the Council of Sardica (344) forbade in its sixth canon the establishment of dioceses in towns not populous enough to render desirable their elevation to the dignity of episcopal residences. At the same time many Western sees included the territories of several civitates .
From the fourth century we have documentary evidence of the manner in which the dioceses were created. According to the Council of Sardica (can. vi), this belonged to the provincial synod ; the Council of Carthage, in 407, demanded moreover the consent of the primate and of the bishop of the diocese to be divided (canons iv and v). The consent of the pope or the emperor was not called for. In 446, however, Pope Leo I ruled that dioceses should not be established except in large towns and populous centres (c. 4, Dist. lxxx). In the same period the Apostolic See was active in the creation of dioceses in the Burgundian kingdom and in Italy. In the latter country many of the sees had no other metropolitan than the pope, and were thus more closely related to him. Even clearer is his rôle in the formation of the diocesan system in the northern countries newly converted to Christianity. After the first successes of St. Augustine in England, Gregory the Great provided for the establishment of two metropolitan sees , each of which included two dioceses. In Ireland, the diocesan system was introduced by St. Patrick, though the diocesan territory was usually coextensive with the tribal lands, and the system itself was soon peculiarly modified by the general extension of monasticism (see IRELAND). In Scotland, however, the diocesan organization dates only from the twelfth century. To the Apostolic See also was due the establishment of dioceses in that part of Germany which had been evangelized by St. Boniface. In the Frankish Empire the boundaries of the dioceses followed the earlier Gallo-Roman municipal system, though the Merovingian kings never hesitated to change them by royal authority and without pontifical intervention. In the creation of new dioceses no mention is made of papal authority. The Carlovingian kings and their successors, the Western emperors, notably the Ottos (936-1002), sought papal authority for the creation of new dioceses. Since the eleventh century it has been the rule that the establishment of new dioceses is peculiarly a right of the Apostolic See. St. Peter Damian proclaimed (1059-60) this as a general principle (c. 1, Dist. xxii), and the same is affirmed in the well-known "Dictatus" of Gregory VII (1073-1085). The papal decretals (see PAPAL DECRETALS ) consider the creation of a new diocese as one of the causœ majores , i.e. matters of special importance, reserved to the pope alone (c. 1, X, De translatione episcopi, I, 7; c. 1, X, De officio legati, I, 30) and of which he is the sole judge (c. 5, Extrav. communes, De præbendis et dignitatibus, III, 2). A word of mention is here due to the missionary or regionary bishops, episcopi gentium , episcopi ( archiepiscopi ) in gentibus , still found in the eleventh century. They had no fixed territory or diocese, but were sent into a country or district for the purpose of evangelizing it. Such were St. Boniface in Germany, St. Augustine in England, and St. Willibrord in the Netherlands. They were themselves the organizers of the diocese, after their apostolic labours had produced happy results. The bishops met with in some monasteries of Gaul in the earlier Middle Ages, probably in imitation of Irish conditions, had no administrative functions (see Bellesheim, Gesch. d. kath. Kirche in Irland, I, 226- 30, and Lôning, below).
III. CREATION AND MODIFICATION OF DIOCESES
We have noticed above that after the eleventh century the sovereign pontiff reserved to himself the creation of dioceses. In the actual discipline, as already stated, all that touches the diocese is a causa major , i.e. one of those important matters in which the bishop possesses no authority whatever and which the pope reserves exclusively to himself. Since the episcopate is of Divine institution, the pope is obliged to establish dioceses in the Catholic Church, but he remains sole judge of the time and manner, and alone determines what flock shall be entrusted to each bishop. Generally speaking, the diocese is a territorial circumscription, but sometimes the bishop possesses authority only over certain classes of persons residing in the territory; this is principally the case in districts where both the Western and the Eastern Rite are followed. Whatever, therefore, pertains to the creation or suppression of dioceses, changes in their boundaries, and the like is within the pope's exclusive province. As a general rule, the preparatory work is done by the Congregation of the Consistory, by Propaganda when the question relates to territories subject to this congregation, and by the Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs when the establishment of a diocese is governed by concordats, or when the civil power of the country has the right to intervene in their creation. We shall take up successively (1) the creation of new dioceses (2) the various modifications to which they are subject, included by canonists under the term Innovatio .
(1) Creation of DiocesesStrictly speaking, it is only in missionary countries that there can be question of the creation of a diocese, either because the country was never converted to Christianity or because its ancient hierarchy was suppressed, owing to conquest by infidels or the progress of heresy. Regularly, before becoming a diocese, the territory is successively a mission, a prefecture Apostolic, and finally a vicariate Apostolic. The Congregation of Propaganda makes a preliminary study of the question and passes judgment on the opportuneness of the creation of the diocese in question. It considers principally whether the number of Catholics, priests, and religious establishments, i.e. churches, chapels, schools, is sufficiently large to justify the establishment of the proposed diocese. These matters form the subject of a report to Propaganda, to which must be added the number of towns or settlements included in the territory. If there is a city suitable for the episcopal see, the fact is stated, also the financial resources at the disposal of the bishop for the works of religion. There is added, finally, a sketch, if possible accompanied by a map, indicating the territory of the future diocese. As a general rule, a diocese should not include districts whose inhabitants speak different languages or are subject to distinct civil powers (see Instructions of Propaganda, 1798, in Collectanea S. C. de P. F., Rome, 1907, no. 645). Moreover, the general conditions for, the creation of a diocese are the same as those required for dividing or "dismembering" a diocese. Of this we shall speak below.
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Under this head come the division ( dismembratio ) of dioceses, their union, suppression, and changes of their respective limits.
(a) Division or Dismemberment of a DioceseThis is reserved to the Holy See . Since the pope is the supreme power in the Church, he is not bound to act in conformity with the canonical enactments which regulate the dismemberment of ecclesiastical benefices. The following rules, however, are those which he generally observes, though he is free to deviate from them. 151; First, to divide a diocese, a sufficient reason must exist ( causa justa ). The necessity, or at least the utility, of the division must be demonstrated. There is sufficient reason for the subdivision of a diocese if it be too extensive, or the number of the faithful too great, or the means of communication too difficult, to permit the bishop to administer the diocese properly. The benefit which would result to religion ( incrementum cultus divini ) may also be brought forward as a reason for the change. In the main, these reasons are summed up in the one: the hope of forwarding the interests of Catholicism. Dissensions between inhabitants of the same diocese, or the fact that they belong to different nations, may also be considered a sufficient reason. Formerly, the mere fact that the endowment of a diocese was very large — a case somewhat rare at the present day — formed a legitimate reason for its division.
The second condition is suitability of place ( locucongruus ). There should exist in the diocese to be created a city or town suitable for the episcopal residence; the ancient discipline which rules that sees should be established only in important localities is still observed.
Third, a proper endowment ( dos congrua ) is requisite. The bishop should have at his disposal the resources necessary for his own maintenance and that of the ecclesiastics engaged in the general administration of the diocese, and for the establishment of a cathedral church, the expenses of Divine worship, and the general administration of the diocese. Formerly it was necessary that in part, at least, this endowment should consist in lands; at present this is not always possible. It suffices if there is a prospect that the new bishop will be able to meet the necessary expenses. In some cases, the civil government grants a subsidy to the bishop ; in other cases, he must depend on the liberality of the faithful and on a contribution from the parishes of the diocese, known as the cathedraticum.
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Fourth, generally for the division of a diocese the consent of the actual incumbent of the benefice is requisite; but the pope is not bound to observe this condition. John XXII ruled that the pope had the right to proceed to the division of a diocese in spite of the opposition of the bishop (c. 5, Extrav. common., De præbendis, III, 2). As a matter of fact, the pope asks the advice of the archbishop and of all the bishops of the ecclesiastical province in which the diocese to be divided is situated. Often, indeed, the division takes place at the request of the bishop himself.
Fifth, theoretically the consent of the civil power is not required; this would be contrary to the principles of the distinction and mutual independence of the ecclesiastical and civil authority. In many countries, however, the consent of the civil authority is indispensable, either because the Government has pledged itself to endow the occupants of the episcopal sees, or because concordats have regulated this matter, or because a suspicious government would not permit a bishop to administer the new diocese if it were created without civil intervention (see Nussi, Conventiones de rebus ecclesiasticis, Rome, 1869, pp. 19 sqq.). At present, the creation or division of a diocese is done by a pontifical Brief, forwarded by the Secretary of Briefs. As an example, we may mention the Brief of 11 March, 1904, which divided the Diocese of Providence and established the new Diocese of Fall River . The motive prompting this division was the incrementum reliqionis and the majus bonum animarum; the Bishop of Providence himself requested the division, and this request was approved by the Archbishop of Boston and by all the bishops of that ecclesiastical province. The examination of the question was submitted to Propaganda and to the Apostolic Delegate at Washington. The pope then created, motu proprio , the new diocese, indicated its official title in Latin and in English, and determined its boundaries, which correspond to political divisions, and, finally, fixed the revenues of the bishop. In the case before us these consist in a moderate cathedraticum to be determined by the bishop ( discreto arbitrio episcopi imponendum ). According to the practice of Propaganda, all the priests who at the time of the division exercised the ministry in the dismembered territory belong to the clergy of the new diocese (Rescript of 13 April, 1891, in Collectanea S. C. de P. F., new ed., no. 1751).
(b) Union of DiocesesAs in the case of the division of a diocese, the union of several dioceses ought to be justified by motives of public utility, e.g. the small number of the faithful, the loss of resources. As in the case of division, the pope is influenced by the advice of persons familiar with the situation; sometimes he asks the advice of the Government, etc. It is a generally recognized principle in the union of benefices, that such union takes effect only after the death of the actual occupant of the see which is to be united to another; at least when he has not given his consent to this union. Though the pope is not bound by this rule, in practice it must be taken into account. The union of dioceses takes place in several ways. There is, first, the unio œque principalis or œqualis when the two dioceses are entrusted for the purpose of administration to a single bishop, though they remain in all other respects distinct; each of them has its own cathedral chapter, revenues, rights, and privileges, but the bishop of one see becomes the bishop of the other by the mere fact of appointment to one of the two. He cannot resign one without ipso facto resigning the other. This situation differs from that in which a bishop administers for a time, or even perpetually, another diocese; in this case there is no union between the two sees. It is in reality a case of plurality of ecclesiastical benefices ; the bishop holds two distinct sees, and his nomination must take place according to the rules established for each of the two dioceses. On the contrary, in the case of two or more united dioceses, the election or designation of the candidate must take place by the agreement of those persons in both dioceses who possess the right of election or of designation. Moreover, in the case of united dioceses, the pope sometimes makes special rules for the residence of the bishop, e.g. that he shall reside in each diocese for a part of the year. If the pope makes no decision in this matter, the bishop may reside in the more important diocese, or in that which seems more convenient for the purposes of administration, or even in the diocese which he prefers as a residence. If the bishop resides in one of his dioceses he is considered as present in each of them for those juridical acts which demand his presence. He may also convoke at his discretion two separate diocesan synods for each of the two dioceses or only one for both of them. In other respects the administration of each diocese remains distinct. There are two classes of unequal unions of dioceses ( uniones inœquales ): the unio subjectiva or per accessorium , seldom put into practice, and the unio per confusionem . In the former case, the one diocese retains all its rights and the other loses its rights, obtains those of the principal diocese, and thus becomes a dependency. When a diocese is thus united to another there can be no question of right of election or designation, because such a dependent diocese is conferred by the very fact that the principal diocese possesses a titular. But the administration of the property of each diocese remains distinct and the titular of the principal diocese must assume all the obligations of the united diocese. The second kind of union ( per confusionem ) suppresses the two pre-existing dioceses in order to create a new one; the former dioceses simply cease to exist. To perpetuate the names of the former sees the new bishop sometimes assumes the titles of both, but in administration no account is taken of the fact that they were formerly separate sees. Such a union is equivalent to the suppression of the dioceses.
(c) Suppression of DiocesesSuppression of dioceses, properly so called, in a manner other than by union, takes place only in countries where the faithful and the clergy have been dispersed by persecution, the ancient dioceses becoming missions, prefectures, or vicariates Apostolic. This has occurred in the Orient, in England, the Netherlands, etc. Changes of this nature are not regulated by canon law.
(d) Change of BoundariesThis last mode of innovatio is made by the Holy See, generally at the request of the bishops of the two neighbouring dioceses. Among the sufficient reasons for this measure are the difficulty of communication, the existence of a high mountain or of a large river, disputes between the inhabitants of one part of the diocese, also the fact that they belong to different countries. Sometimes a resettlement of the boundaries of two dioceses is necessary because the limits of each are not clearly defined. Such a settlement is made by a Brief, sometimes also by a simple decretum or decision of the Congregation of the Consistory approved by the pope, without the formality of a Bull or Brief.
IV. DIFFERENT CLASSES OF DIOCESES
There are several kinds of dioceses. There are dioceses properly so called and archdioceses. The diocese is the territorial circumscription administered by a bishop ; the archdiocese is placed under the jurisdiction of an archbishop. Considered as a territorial circumscription, no difference exists between them; the power of their pastors alone is different. Generally, several dioceses are grouped in an ecclesiastical province and are subject to the authority of the metropolitan archbishop. Some, however, are said to be exempt, i.e. from any archiepiscopal jurisdiction, and are placed directly under the authority of the Holy See. Such are the dioceses of the ecclesiastical province of Rome, and several other dioceses or archdioceses, especially in Italy, also in other countries. The exempt archbishops are called titular archbishops, i.e. they possess only the title of archbishop, have no suffragan bishops, and administer a diocese. The term "titular archbishop", it is to be noted, is also applied to bishops who do not administer a diocese, but who have received with the episcopal consecration a titular archbishopric. For the better understanding of this it must be remembered that archdioceses and dioceses are divided into titular and residential. The bishop of a residential see administers his diocese personally and is bound to reside in it, whereas the titular bishops have only an episcopal title; they are not bound by any obligations to the faithful of the dioceses whose titles they bear. These were formerly called bishops or archbishops in partibus infidelium , i.e. of a diocese or archdiocese fallen into the power of infidels ; but since 1882 they are called titular bishops or archbishops. Such are the vicars Apostolic, auxiliary bishops, administrators Apostolic, nuncios, Apostolic delegates, etc. (see TITULAR BISHOP). Mention must also be made of the suburbicarian dioceses ( diœceses suburbicariœ ), i.e. the six dioceses situated in the immediate neighbourhood of Rome and each of which is administered by one of the six cardinal-bishops. These form a special class of dioceses, the titulars or occupants of which possess certain special rights and obligations (see SUBURBICARIAN DIOCESES).
V. NOMINATION, TRANSLATION, RENUNCIATION, AND DEPOSITION OF A BISHOP
The general rules relating to the nomination of a residential bishop will be found in the article BISHOP. They are applicable whatever may have been the cause of the vacancy of the diocese, except in the case of a contrary order of the Holy See. The Church admits the principle of the perpetuity of ecclesiastical benefices . Once invested with a see the bishop continues to hold it until his death. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. The bishop may be allowed by the pope to resign his see when actuated by motives which do not spring from personal convenience, but from concern for the public good. Some of these reasons are expressed in the canon law; for instance, if a bishop has been guilty of a grave crime ( conscientia criminis ), if he is in failing health ( debilitas corporis ), if he has not the requisite knowledge ( defectus scientiœ ),if be meets with serious opposition from the faithful ( malitia plebis ), if he has been a cause of public scandal ( scandalum populi ), if he is irregular ( irregularitas ) — c. 10, X, De renuntiatione, I, 9; c. 18, X, De regularibus, III, 32. The pope alone can accept this renunciation and judge of the sufficiency of the alleged reasons. Pontifical authorization is also necessary for an exchange of dioceses between two bishops, which is not allowed except for grave reasons. The same principles apply to the transfer ( translatio ) of a bishop from one diocese to another. Canonical legislation compares with the indissoluble marriage tie the bond which binds the bishop to his diocese. This comparison, however, must not be understood literally. The pope has the power to sever the mystical bond which unites the bishop to his church, in order to grant him another diocese or to promote him to an archiepiscopal see. A bishop may also be deposed from his functions for a grave crime. In such a case the pope generally invites the bishop to resign of his own accord, and deposes him only upon refusal. As the Holy See alone is competent to try the crime of a bishop, it follows that the pope alone, or the congregation to which he has committed the bishop's trial (Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, the Propaganda, sometimes the Inquisition ), can inflict this penalty or pronounce the declaratory sentence required when the law inflicts deposition as the sanction of a specified delinquency. Finally, the pope has always the right, strictly speaking, to deprive a bishop of his diocese, even if the latter is not guilty of crime; but for this act there must be grave cause. After the conclusion of the Concordat of 1801 with France, Pius VII removed from their dioceses all the bishops of France. It was, of course, a very extraordinary measure, but was justified by the gravity of the situation.
VI. ADMINISTRATION OF THE DIOCESE
The bishop is the general ruler of the diocese, but in his administration he must conform to the general laws of the Church (see BISHOP). According to the Council of Trent he is bound to divide the territory of his diocese into parishes, with ordinary jurisdiction for their titulars (Sess. XXIV, c. xiii, De ref.), unless circumstances render impossible the creation of parishes or unless the Holy See has arranged the matter otherwise (Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, nos. 31-33). The bishop needs also some auxiliary service in the administration of a diocese. It is customary for each diocese to possess a chapter of canons in the cathedral church ; they are the counsellors of the bishop. The cathedral itself is the church where the bishop has his seat ( kathedra ). The pope reserves to himself the right of authorizing its establishment as well as that of a chapter of canons. In many dioceses, principally outside of Europe, the pope does not establish canons, but gives as auxiliaries to the bishop other officials known as consultores cleri diœcesani , i.e. the most distinguished members of the diocesan clergy, chosen by the bishop, often in concert with his clergy or some members of it. The bishop is bound to ask the advice of those counsellors, canons or consultors, in the most important matters. The canons possess, in some cases, the right to nullify episcopal action taken without their consent. The consultores cleri diœcesani , however, possess but a consultative voice (Third Plen. Council of Baltimore, nos. 17-22; Plen. Cone. Americæ Latinæ, no. 246. — See CONSULTORS, DIOCESAN). After the bishop, the principal authority in a diocese is the vicar-general ( vicarius generalis in spiritualibus ); he is the bishop's substitute in the administration of the diocese. The office dates from the thirteenth century. Originally the vicar-general was called the "official" ( officialis ); even yet officialis and vicarius generalis in spiritualibus are synonymous. Strictly speaking, there should be in each diocese only one vicar-general. In some countries, however, local custom has authorized the appointment of several vicars-general. The one specially charged with the canonical lawsuits ( jurisdictio contentiosa ), e.g. with criminal actions against ecclesiastics or with matrimonial cases, is still known as the "official" it must be noted that he is none the less free to exercise the functions of vicar-general in other departments of diocesan administration. A contrary custom prevails in certain dioceses of Germany, where the "official" possesses only the jurisdictio contentiosa , but this is a derogation from the common law. For the temporal administration of the church the bishop may appoint an œconomus , i.e. an administrator. As such functions do not require ecclesiastical jurisdiction , this administrator may be a layman. The choice of a layman fully acquainted with the civil law of the country may sometimes offer many advantages (Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, no. 75). In certain very extensive dioceses the pope appoints a vicarius generalis in pontificalibus , or auxiliary bishop, whose duty is to supply the place of the diocesan bishop in the exercise of those functions of the sacred ministry which demand episcopal order. In the appointment of this bishop the pope is not bound to observe the special rules for the appointment of a residential bishop. These titular bishops possess no jurisdiction by right of their office; the diocesan bishop, however, can grant them, e.g., the powers of a vicar-general.
The common ecclesiastical law contains no enactments relating to the rights and powers of the chancellor, an official met with in many dioceses (see DIOCESAN CHANCERY). The Second Plenary Council of Baltimore (no. 71) advises the establishment of a chancery in every diocese of the United States. The chancellor is specially charged with the affixing of the episcopal seal to all acts issued in the name of the bishop, in order to prove their authenticity. He appears also in the conduct of ecclesiastical lawsuits, e.g. in matrimonial cases, to prove the authenticity of the alleged documents, to vouch for the depositions of witnesses, etc. Because of the importance of his functions, the chancellor sometimes holds the office of vicar-general in spiritualibus . By episcopal chancery is sometimes understood the office where are written the documents issued in the name of the bishop and to which is addressed the correspondence relating to the administration of the diocese sometimes also the term signifies the persons employed in the exercise of these functions. The taxes or dues which the episcopal chancery may claim for the issuing of documents were fixed by the Council of Trent (Sess. XXI, c. i, De ref.); afterwards by Innocent XI (hence their name Taxa Innocentiana ), 8 Oct., 1678; finally by Leo XIII, 10 June, 1896. The fiscal of the bishop, also known as promotor or procurator fiscalis , is the ecclesiastic charged with attending to the interests of the diocese in all trials and especially with endeavouring to secure the punishment of all offences cognizable in the ecclesiastical tribunals. An assistant, who is called fiscal advocate ( advocatus fiscalis ), may be appointed to aid this officer.
Formerly the diocese was divided into a number of archdeaconries, each administered by an archdeacon, who possessed considerable authority in that part of the diocese placed under his jurisdiction. The Council of Trent restricted very much their authority, and since then the office of the archdeacon has gradually disappeared. It exists at the present day only as an honorary title, given to a canon of the cathedral chapter (see ARCHDEACON). On the other hand, the ancient office of vicarii foranei , decani rurales , or archipresbyteri still exists in the Church (see ARCHPRIEST; DEAN). The division of the diocese into deaneries is not obligatory, but in large dioceses the bishop usually entrusts to certain priests known as deans or vicars forane the oversight of the clergy of a portion of his diocese, and generally delegates to them special jurisdictional powers (Third Plen. Council of Baltimore, nos. 27-30). Finally, by means of the diocesan synod all the clergy participates in the general administration of the diocese. According to the common law, the bishop is bound to assemble a synod every year, to which he must convoke the vicar-general, the deans, the canons of the cathedral, and at least a certain number of parish priests. Here, however, custom and pontifical privileges have departed in some points from the general legislation. At this meeting, all questions relating to the moral and the ecclesiastical discipline of the diocese are publicly discussed and settled. In the synod the bishop is the sole legislator; the members may, at the request of the bishop, give their advice, but they have only a deliberative voice in the choice of the examinatores cleri diœcesani , i.e. the ecclesiastics charged with the examination of candidates for the parishes (Third Plen. Council of Baltimore, nos. 23-26). It is because the diocesan statutes are generally elaborated and promulgated in a synod that they are sometimes known as statuta synodalia . In addition to the general laws of the Church and the enactments of national or plenary and provincial synods, the bishop may regulate by statutes, that are often real ecclesiastical laws, the particular discipline of each diocese, or apply the general laws of the Church to the special needs of the diocese. Since the bishop alone possesses all the legislative power, and is not bound to propose in a synod these diocesan statutes, he may modify them or add to them on his own authority.
VII. VACANCY OF THE DIOCESE
We have already explained how a diocese becomes vacant (see V above); here it will suffice to add a few words touching the administration of the diocese during such vacancy. In dioceses where there is a coadjutor bishop with right of succession, the latter, by the fact of the decease of the diocesan bishop, becomes the residential bishop or ordinary (q.v.) of the diocese. Otherwise the government of the diocese during the vacancy belongs regularly to the chapter of the cathedral church. The chapter must choose within eight days a vicar capitular , whose powers, although less extensive, are in kind like those of a bishop. If the chapter does not fulfil this obligation, the archbishop appoints ex officio a vicar capitular. In dioceses where a chapter does not exist, an administrator is appointed, designated either by the bishop himself before his death, or, in case of his neglect, by the metropolitan or by the senior bishop of the province (see ADMINISTRATOR).
VIII. CONSPECTUS OF THE DIOCESAN SYSTEM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The accompanying table of the diocesan system of the Church shows that there are at present throughout the world: 9 patriarchates of the Latin, 6 of the Oriental Rites ; 6 suburbicarian dioceses; 163 (or 166 with the Patriarchates of Venice, Lisbon, and Goa, in reality archdioceses ) archdioceses of the Latin, and 20 of the Oriental Rites ; 675 dioceses of the Latin, and 52 of the Oriental Rites ; 137 vicariates Apostolic of the Latin, and 5 of the Oriental Rites ; 58 prefectures Apostolic of the Latin Rite ; 12 Apostolic delegations ; 21 abbeys or prelatures nullius diœcesis , i.e. exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop. There are also 89 titular archdioceses and 432 titular dioceses.
TABLE OF THE DIOCESAN SYSTEM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (1910) Patriarchates=AArchdioceses=B
Dioceses=C
Exempt Dioceses=D
Apostolic Delagations=E
Vicariates Apostolic =F
Prefectures Apostolic =G
Prelatures and Abbeys Nullius=H A B C D E F G H Latin Rite - EUROPE Austria-Hungary - 11 40 1 - - - 2 Belgium - 1 5 - - - - - Bosnia-Herzegovina - 1 3 - - - - - Bulgaria - - - 1 - 1 - - Denmark - - - - - 1 - - England - 1 15 - - - - - France - 17 67 - - - - - Germany - 5 14 6 - 3 2 - Greece - 2 6 1 1 - - - Ireland - 4 25 - - - - - Italy 2* 37 156† 75 - - - 11 Luxemburg - - - 1 - - - - Malta - - -
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Dá 1
Dá 1
Dávila Padilla
(AGUSTÍN) A native of the City of Mexico, b. 1562; d. 1604. At the age of sixteen he ...Dé 1
Dé 1
Dénés
( men or people , in most of their dialects) An aboriginal race of North America, also ...Dí 3
Dí 3
Díaz de Solís, Juan
Spanish navigator and explorer, b. about 1470 at Lebrija (Seville), or, according to some ...Díaz del Castillo, Bernal
(Corruption of Bernardo), Spanish historian, one of the chief chroniclers of the conquest of ...Díaz, Pedro
Missionary, b. at Lupedo, Diocese of Toledo, Spain, in 1546; d. in Mexico, 12 Jan., 1618. Though ...Dö 2
Dö 2
Döllinger, Johann Joseph Ignaz von
A historian and theologian, born at Bamberg, Bavaria, 28 February, 1799; died at Munich, 10 ...Döring, Matthias
Historian and theologian, b. between 1390 and 1400, at Kyritz, in Brandenburg ; d. there 24 ...Dü 1
Dü 1
Dürer, Albrecht
Celebrated painter and engraver, born at Nuremberg, Germany, 21 May, 1471; died there, 6 ...D' 1
D' 1
D'Avenant, Sir William
Poet and dramatist, b. Feb., 1605-6, at Oxford, England ; d. in London, 7 April, 1668. He was ...Da 72
Da 72
Da Ponte, Lorenzo
Poet, b. at Cenada, Italy, 1749; d. in New York, 17 Aug., 1838. He was the son of a Jew and was ...Dablon, Claude
Jesuit missionary, born at Dieppe, France, in February, 1618; died at Quebec, 3 May, 1697. At ...Dabrowski, Joseph
Founder of the Sts. Cyril and MethodiusSeminary, Detroit, Michigan, b. at Zoltance, Russian ...Dacca
DIOCESE OF DACCA (DACCHENSIS) Diocese in Bengal, India. By the Constitution "Æquam ...Dacier, André
A French philologist, born at Castres, 6 April, 1651; died 18 September, 1722. He was a Huguenot ...Dacier, Anne
( Née Lefèvre) The wife of André Dacier, born at Saumur in 1651; died ...Dagon
A Philistine deity. It is commonly admitted that the name Dagon is a diminutive form, hence ...Daguesseau, Henri-François
(Also rendered d'Aguesseau). Chancellor of France, born at Limoges, 27 November, 1668; died at ...Dahomey
The Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey, in West Africa, is territorially identical with the French ...Dalberg, Adolphus von
Prince-Abbot of Fulda and founder of the university in the same city, born 29 May, 1678; died ...Dalgairns, John Dobree
(In religion F ATHER B ERNARD ). Born in the island of Guernsey, 21 Oct., 1818; d. 6 April, ...Dalila
(Or Dalila ). Samson, sometime after his exploit at Gaza ( Judges 16:1-3 ), " loved a ...Dallas
DIOCESE OF DALLAS (DALLASCENSIS). The Diocese of Dallas, created 1890, comprises 108 counties ...Dalley, William Bede
Lawyer and statesman, born in Sydney, New South Wales, 1831; died there 28 October, 1888. He was ...Dalmatia
A part of the Kingdom of Croatia according to a convention entered into between Croatia and ...Dalmatic
PRESENT USAGE The dalmatic is the outer liturgical vestment of the deacon. It is worn at Mass ...Dalton, John
Irish author and translator from Spanish and German, born in 1814; died at Maddermarket, ...Damão
DIOCESE OF DAMÃO (DAMAU, DAMAUN) Suffragan to Goa, and situated in Portugese India ...Damaraland
The middle part of the German colony, German Southwest Africa, between 19° and 23° S. ...Damascus
Damascus, in Syria, is one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Flavius Josephus it ...Damasus I, Saint, Pope
Born about 304; died 11 December, 384. His father, Antonius, was probably a Spaniards ; the name ...Damasus II, Pope
(Previously called POPPO) A native of Bavaria and the third German to be elevated to the See ...Damberger, Joseph Ferdinand
Church historian, born 1 March, 1795, at Passau, Bavaria ; died 1 April, 1859, at ...Damian and Cosmas, Saints
Early Christian physicians and martyrs whose feast is celebrated on 27 September. They were ...Damien, Father (Joseph de Veuster)
Missionary priest, born at Tremeloo, Belgium, 3 January 1840; died at Molokai, Hawaii, 15 ...Damietta
(Greek Tamiathis , Arabic Doumiât ). An Egyptian titular see for the Latins and ...Dan
( Hebrew dn , Sept. Dán ),–(1) The fifth son of Jacob, being the elder of the two ...Danaba
A titular see of Phænicia Secunda. Danaba is mentioned by Ptolemy (V, xv, 24) as a town in ...Dance of Death
(French, Dance Macabre , German Todtentanz ) The "Dance of Death" was originally a ...Dancing
The origin of dancing is to be sought in the natural tendency to employ gesture either to ...Dandolo, Enrico
Doge of Venice from 1192 to 1205; died, aged about a hundred years, in 1205. He belonged to one ...Daniel
The hero and traditional author of the book which bears his name. This name ( Hebrew dnyal ...Daniel and Companions, Saint
Friars Minor and martyrs ; dates of birth unknown; died 10 October, 1227. The martyrdom of ...Daniel of Winchester
(Danihel), Bishop of the West Saxons, and ruler of the See of Winchester from 705 to 744; died ...Daniel, Anthony
Huron missionary, born at Dieppe, in Normandy, 27 May 1601, slain by the Iroquois at Teanaostae, ...Daniel, Book of
In the Hebrew Bible, and in most recent Protestant versions, the Book of Daniel is limited to ...Daniel, Charles
Born 31 December, 1818, at Beauvais, France ; died 1 January, 1893, at Paris. He joined the ...Daniel, Gabriel
Historian and controversialist, born at Rouen, France, 8 Feb., 1649; died at Paris, 23 June, ...Daniel, John
Born 1745; died in Paris, 3 October, 1823; son of Edward Daniel of Durton, Lancashire, and ...Dansara
A titular see in Osrhoene. Stephanus Byzantius mentions Dansara as a town near Edessa (Orfa). ...Dante Alighieri
Italian poet, born at Florence, 1265; died at Ravenna, Italy, 14 September, 1321. His own ...Danti, Ignazio
Mathematician and cosmographer, b. at Perugia, Italy, 1537; d. at Alatri, 19 Oct., 1586. As a ...Danti, Vincenzo
Sculptor, brother of Ignazio, b. at Perugia, 1530; d. 24 May, 1576. He also enjoyed some ...Dantine, Maurus
Benedictine of the Congregation of Saint-Maur, and chronologist, born at Gourieux near Namur, ...Darboy, Georges
Archbishop of Paris and ecclesiastical writer, b. at Fayl-Billot, near Langres, 1813; ...Dardanus
A titular see in the province of Hellespont, suffragan of Cyzicus. Four or five bishops are ...Dardel, Jean
Friar Minor of the French province of the order, chronicler of Armenia in the fourteenth century, ...Darerca, Saint
St. Darerca, of Ireland, a sister of St. Patrick. Much obscurity attaches to her history, and ...Dareste de la Chavanne, Antoine-Elisabeth
Historian and professor, b. in Paris, 25 October, 1820; d. at Lucenay-lès-Aix, 6 August, ...Darius and Chrysanthus, Saints
Roman martyrs, buried on the Via Salaria Nova, and whose tombs, according to the testimony of ...Darnis
A metropolitan titular see of Libya, in Egypt. Ptolemy (IV, 4, 2; 5; 6) and Ammian. Marcell., ...Darras, Joseph-Epiphane
Church historian, b. at Troyes, France, 1825; d. at Paris, Nov. 8, 1878. He completed his ...Darrell, William
Theologian, b. 1651, in Buckinghamshire, England ; d. 28 Feb., 1721, at St. Omer's, France. ...Dates and Dating
In classical Latin even before the time of Christ it was usual for correspondents to indicate ...Daubrée, Gabriel-Auguste
French geologist, b. at Metz, 25 June, 1814; d. at Paris, 29 May, 1896. He studied mining ...Daulia
A titular see of Greece. Daulis, later Daulia, Dauleion, often Diauleia, even Davalia, was a ...Daumer, Georg Friedrich
German poet and philosopher, b. at Nuremberg, 5 March, 1800; d. at Wurzburg, 14 December, 1875. ...Davenport
DIOCESE OF DAVENPORT (DAVENPORTENSIS) The Diocese of Davenport, erected 8 May, 1881, embraces ...Davenport, Christopher
Also known as FRANCISCUS À SANCTA CLARA and sometimes by the alias of FRANCIS HUNT and ...David of Augsburg
(DE AUGUSTA). Medieval German mystic, b. probably at Augsburg, Bavaria, early in the ...David of Dinant
A pantheistic philosopher who lived in the first decades of the thirteenth century. Very little ...David Scotus
A medieval Irish chronicler, date of birth unknown; d. 1139. Early in the twelfth century ...David, Armand
Missionary priest and zoologist, b. 1826; d. 1900. He entered the Congregation of the Mission ...David, Gheeraert
Son of John David, painter and illuminator, b. at Oudewater, South Holland, c. 1450, d. 13 ...David, King
In the Bible the name David is borne only by the second king of Israel, the great-grandson of ...David, Saint
(DEGUI, DEWI). Bishop and Confessor, patron of Wales. He is usually represented standing on ...Davies, Venerable William
Martyr, one of the most illustrious of the priests who suffered under Queen Elizabeth, b. in ...Dawson, Æneas McDonnell
Author, b. in Scotland, 30 July, 1810; d. in Ottawa, Canada, 29 Dec., 1894. He studied at the ...Dax, Diocese of
An ancient French diocese which was suppressed by the Concordat of 1801, its territory now ...Day of Atonement
( Hebrew Yom Hakkippurim . Vulgate, Dies Expiationum , and Dies Propitiationis — ...Day, George
Bishop of Chichester ; b. in Shropshire, England, c. 1501; d. 2 August, 1556. He was graduated ...Day, John Charles, Sir
Jurist, b. near Bath, England, 1826; d. 13 June, 1908, at Newbury. He was educated at Rome and ...De 133
De 133
De L'Orme, Philibert
Celebrated architect of the French Renaissance, born at Lyons, c. 1515 or a little later; died at ...De La Croix, Charles
Missionary, b. at Hoorbeke-St-Corneille, Belgium, 28 Oct., 1792; d. at Ghent, 20 Aug., 1869. He ...De Lisle, Ambrose Lisle March Phillipps
Born 17 March, 1809; died 5 March, 1878. He was the son of Charles March Phillipps of Garendon ...De Paul University
DePaul University, Chicago, is the outgrowth of St. Vincent's College, which opened in Sept., ...De Profundis
("Out of the depths"). First words of Psalm 129. The author of this Psalm is unknown; it was ...De Rossi, Giovanni Battista
A distinguished Christian archaeologist , best known for his work in connection with the Roman ...De Smet, Pierre-Jean
Missionary among the North American Indians , b. at Termonde (Dendermonde), Belgium, 30 Jan., ...De Soto, Hernando
Explorer and conqueror, born at Villanueva de la Serena, Badajoz, Spain, 1496 or 1500; died on the ...De Vere, Aubrey Thomas Hunt
Poet, critic, and essayist, b. at Curragh Chase, County Limerick, Ireland, 10 January, 1814; died ...Deaconesses
We cannot be sure that any formal recognition of deaconesses as an institution of consecrated ...Deacons
The name deacon ( diakonos ) means only minister or servant, and is employed in this sense ...Dead Sea
The name given to the lake that lies on the south-eastern border of Palestine. The Old Testament ...Dead, Prayers for the
This subject will be treated under the following three heads: I. General Statement and Proof of ...Deaf, Education of the
Education essentially includes the process of encouraging, strengthening, and guiding the ...Dean
(Gk. déka , ten; Latin decanus ). One of the principal administrative officials of ...Dean, William, Venerable
Born in Yorkshire, England, date uncertain, martyred 28 August, 1588. He studied at Reims and ...Dease, Thomas
Born in Ireland, 1568; died at Galway, 1651. He sprang from an ancient Irish family at one ...Death Penalty
The infliction by due legal process of the penalty of death as a punishment for crime. The ...Death, Dance of
(French, Dance Macabre , German Todtentanz ) The "Dance of Death" was originally a ...Death, Preparation for
The basic preparation for death When should a priest be called? Winding up our earthly affairs ...Debbora
Prophetess and judge: she was the wife of Lapidoth and was endowed by God with prophetic gifts ...Debt
( debitum ) That which is owed or due to another; in general, anything which one person is ...Decalogue
(Greek deka , ten and logos , word). The term employed to designate the collection of ...Decapolis
(From Greek Deka , ten, and polis , city) Decapolis is the name given in the Bible and ...Dechamps, Adolphe
Belgian statesman and publicist, brother of Cardinal Dechamps, born at Melle near Ghent, 17 ...Dechamps, Victor Augustin Isidore
Cardinal, Archbishop of Mechlin, and Primate of Belgium ; born at Melle near Ghent 6 Dec., ...Decius
(C AIUS M ESSIUS Q UINTUS T RAJANUS D ECIUS ). Roman Emperor 249-251. He was born, ...Decker, Hans
A German sculptor of the middle of the fifteenth century. Very little is recorded concerning ...Declaration, The Royal
This is the name most commonly given to the solemn repudiation of Catholicity which, in ...Decorations, Pontifical
Pontifical decorations are the titles of nobility, orders of Christian knighthood and other ...Decree
( Latin decretum , from decerno , I judge). In a general sense, an order or law made by a ...Decretals, Papal
I. DEFINITION AND EARLY HISTORY (1) In the wide sense of the term decretalis (i.e. epistola ...Dedication
A term which, though sometimes used of persons who are consecrated to God's service, is more ...Dedication, Feast of the
Also called the Feast of the Machabees and Feast of Lights ( Josephus and Talmudic ...Deduction
( Latin de ducere , to lead, draw out, derive from; especially, the function of deriving truth ...Deer, Abbey of
A once famous Scotch monastery. According to the Celtic legend St. Columcille, his disciple ...Defender of the Matrimonial Tie
( Defensor matrimonii ) The Defender of the Matrimonial Tie is an official whose duty is to ...Definitions, Theological
The Vatican Council (Sess. iv, cap. iv) solemnly taught the doctrine of papal infallibility ...Definitor (in Canon Law)
An official in secular deaneries and in certain religious orders. Among regulars, a definitor is ...Definitors (in Religious Orders)
Generally speaking, the governing council of an order. Bergier describes them as those chosen to ...Deger, Ernst
Historical painter, born in Bockenem, Hanover, 15 April, 1809; died in Düsseldorf, 27 ...Degradation
( Latin degradatio ). A canonical penalty by which an ecclesiastic is entirely and ...Deharbe, Joseph
Theologian, catechist, b. at Straburg, Alsace, 11 April, 1800; d. at Maria-Laach, 8 November, ...Dei gratia; Dei et Apostolicæ Sedis gratia
( By the grace of God; By the grace of God and the Apostolic See ) A formulæ added ...Deicolus, Saint
(DICHUIL) Elder brother of St. Gall, b. in Leinster, Ireland, c. 530; d. at Lure, France, 18 ...Deism
( Latin Deus , God ). The term used to denote certain doctrines apparent in a tendency ...Deity
( French déité ; Late Latin deitas ; Latin deue , divus , "the divine ...Delacroix, Ferdinand-Victor-Eugène
French painter, b. at Charenton-St-Maurice, near Paris, 26 April, 1798; d. 13 August, 1863. He was ...Delaroche, Hippolyte
(Known also as P AUL ) Painter, born at Paris, 17 July, 1797; died 4 November, 1856. A pupil ...Delatores
( Latin for DENOUNCERS) A term used by the Synod of Elvira (c. 306) to stigmatize those ...Delaware
Delaware, one of the original thirteen of the United States of America. It lies between ...Delaware Indians
An important tribal confederacy of Algonquian stock originally holding the basin of the Delaware ...Delcus
A titular see of Thrace, suffragan of Philippopolis. The Greek name of the place was Delkos or ...Delegation
( Latin delegare ) A delegation is the commission to another of jurisdiction, which is to be ...Delfau, François
Theologian, born 1637 at Montel in Auvergne, France ; died 13 Oct., 1676, at Landevenec in ...Delfino, Pietro
A theologian, born at Venice in 1444; died 16 Jan., 1525. He entered the Camaldolese ...Delilah
(Or Dalila ). Samson, sometime after his exploit at Gaza ( Judges 16:1-3 ), " loved a ...Delille, Jacques
French abbé and litterateur , born at Aigueperse, 22 June, 1738; died at Paris, 1 May, ...Delisle, Guillaume
Reformer of cartography, born 28 February, 1675, in Paris ; died there 25 January, 1726. His ...Delphine, Blessed
A member of the Third Order of St. Francis, born in Provence, France, in 1284; died 26 ...Delrio, Martin Anton
Scholar, statesman, Jesuit theologian, born at Antwerp, 17 May, 1551; died at Louvain, 19 ...Delta of the Nile, Prefecture Apostolic of the
The Prefecture Apostolic of the Delta of the Nile is situated in the north of Egypt and ...Deluge
Deluge is the name of a catastrophe fully described in Genesis 6:1 - 9:19 , and referred to in the ...Demers, Modeste
An apostle of the Pacific Coast of North America, and the first Catholic missionary among most ...Demetrius
The name of two Syrian kings mentioned in the Old Testament and two other persons in the ...Demetrius, Saint
Bishop of Alexandria from 188 to 231. Julius Africanus, who visited Alexandria in the time of ...Demiurge
The word means literally a public worker, demioergós, demiourgós, and was ...Democracy, Christian
In Christian Democracy , the name and the reality have two very different histories, and ...Demon
(Greek daimon and daimonion , Latin daemonium ). In Scripture and in Catholic ...Demoniacs
( See also DEMONOLOGY, EXORCISM, EXORCIST, POSSESSION.) (Greek daimonikos, daimonizomenos, ...Demonology
As the name sufficiently indicates, demonology is the science or doctrine concerning demons. ...Dempster, Thomas
Savant, professor, author; b., as he himself states at Cliftbog, Scotland, 23 August, 1579; d. at ...Denaut, Pierre
Tenth Bishop of Quebec, b. at Montreal, 20 July, 1743; d. at Longueuil in 1806. After studying ...Denifle, Heinrich Seuse
( Baptized JOSEPH.) Paleographer and historian, born at Imst in the Austrian Tyrol, 16 Jan., ...Denis, Johann Nepomuk Cosmas Michael
Bibliographer and poet, b. at Schärding, Bavaria, 27 September, 1729; d. at Vienna, 29 ...Denis, Joseph
( Baptized JACQUES). Born 6 November, 1657, at Three Rivers , Canada ; died 25 January, ...Denis, Saint
Bishop of Paris, and martyr. Born in Italy, nothing is definitely known of the time or place, ...Denman, William
Publisher, b. in Edinburgh, Scotland, 17 March, 1784; d. in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. 12 ...Denmark
( Latin Dania ). This kingdom had formerly a much larger extent than at present. It once ...Denonville, Seigneur and Marquis de
(JACQUES-RENE DE BRISAY, SEIGNEUR AND MARQUIS DE DENONVILLE) Born in 1638 at Denonville in the ...Dens, Peter
Theologian, b. at Boom, near Antwerp, Belgium, 12 September, 1690; d. at Mechlin, 15 February, ...Denunciation
Denunciation ( Latin denunciare) is making known the crime of another to one who is his ...Denver
(D ENVERIENSIS ). A suffragan of the Archdiocese of Santa Fé, erected in 1887 and ...Denys the Carthusian
(D ENYS VAN L EEUWEN, also L EUW or L IEUWE ). Born in 1402 in that part of the ...Denza, Francesco
Italian meteorologist and astronomer, b. at Naples, 7 June, 1834; d. at Rome, 14 December, 1894. ...Denzinger, Heinrich Joseph Dominicus
One of the leading theologians of the modern Catholic German school and author of the ...Deo Gratias
("Thanks be to God "). An old liturgical formula of the Latin Church to give thanks to God ...Deposition
A deposition is an ecclesiastical vindictive penalty by which a cleric is forever deprived of ...Deprés, Josquin
Diminutive of "Joseph"; latinized Josquinus Pratensis . Born probably c. 1450 at ...Derbe
A titular see of Lycaonia, Asia Minor. This city was the fortress of a famous leader of ...Dereser, Anton
(Known also as THADDAEUS A S. ADAMO). Born at Fahr in Franconia, 3 February, 1757; died at ...Derogation
(Latin derogatio ). The partial revocation of a law, as opposed to abrogation or the ...Derry
DIOCESE OF DERRY (DERRIENSIS). Includes nearly all the County Derry, part of Donegal, and a ...Derry, School of
This was the first foundation of St. Columba, the great Apostle of Scotland, and one of the three ...Desains, Paul-Quentin
Physicist, b. at St-Quentin, France, 12 July, 1817; d. at Paris, 3 May, 1885. He made his literary ...Desault, Pierre-Joseph
Surgeon and anatomist, b. at Magny-Vernois a small town of Franche-Comté, France, in ...Descartes, René
(Renatus Cartesius), philosopher and scientist, born at La Haye France, 31 March, 1596; died at ...Deschamps, Eustache
Also called M OREL , on account of his dark complexion; b. at Vertus in Champagne between 1338 ...Deschamps, Nicolas
Polemical writer, born at Villefranche (Rhône), France, 1797; died at Aix-en-Provence, ...Desclée, Henri and Jules
Henri (1830-); Jules (1828-1911). Natives of Belgium, founders of a monastery and a ...Desecration
Desecration is the loss of that peculiar quality of sacredness, which inheres in places and ...Desert
The Hebrew words translated in the Douay Version of the Bible by "desert" or "wilderness", and ...Desertion
The culpable abandonment of a state, of a stable situation, the obligations of which one had ...Deshon, George
Priest of the Congregation (or Institute) of St. Paul the Apostle , b. at New London, Conn., ...Desiderius
(DAUFERIUS or DAUFAR). Born in 1026 or 1027 of a non-regnant branch of the Lombard dukes of ...Desiderius of Cahors, Saint
Bishop, b. at Obrege (perhaps Antobroges, name of a Gaulish tribe), on the frontier of the ...Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin, Jean
A French dramatist and novelist, born in Paris, 1595, died there, 1676. Early in life he held ...Desolation, The Abomination of
The importance of this Scriptural expression is chiefly derived from the fact that in Matthew ...Despair
(Latin desperare , to be hopeless.) Despair, ethically regarded, is the voluntary and ...Despretz, César-Mansuète
Chemist and physicist, b. at Lessines, Belgium, 11 May, 1798; d. at Paris, 11 May, 1863. He ...Desservants
The name of a class of French parish priests. Under the old regime, a priest who performed the ...Desurmont, Achille
Ascetical writer, b. at Tourcoing, France, 23 Dec., 1828; d. 23 July, 1898. He attended first the ...Determinism
Determinism is a name employed by writers, especially since J. Stuart Mill, to denote the ...Detré, William
Missionary, b. in France in 1668, d. in South America, at an advanced age, date uncertain. ...Detraction
(From Latin detrahere , to take away). Detraction is the unjust damaging of another's good ...Detroit
(Detroitensis) Diocese established 8 March, 1838, comprises the counties of the lower ...Deus in Adjutorium Meum Intende
"Deus in adjutorium meum intende," with the response: "Domine ad adjuvandum me festina," first ...Deusdedit, Cardinal
Born at Todi, Italy ; died between 1097 and 1100. He was a friend of St. Gregory VII and ...Deusdedit, Pope Saint
(Adeodatus I). Date of birth unknown; consecrated pope, 19 October (13 November), 615; d. 8 ...Deusdedit, Saint
A native of Wessex, England, whose Saxon name was Frithona, and of whose early life nothing is ...Deuteronomy
This term occurs in Deuteronomy 17:18 and Joshua 8:32 , and is the title of one of the five ...Deutinger, Martin
Philosopher and religious writer, b. in Langenpreising, Bavaria, 24 March, 1815; d. at ...Devas, Charles Stanton
Political economist, b. at Woodside, Old Windsor, England, of Protestant parents, 26 August, ...Devereux, John C.
Born at his father's farm, The Leap, near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Ireland, 5 Aug., 1774; died ...Devereux, Nicholas
Born near Enniscorthy, Ireland, 7 June, 1791; died at Utica, New York, 29 Dec., 1855, was the ...Devil
(Greek diabolos ; Latin diabolus ). The name commonly given to the fallen angels, who are ...Devil Worship
The meaning of this compound term is sufficiently obvious, for all must be familiar with the ...Devil's Advocate
("Advocate of the Devil" or "Devil's Advocate"). A popular title given to one of the most ...Devolution
( Latin devolutio from devolvere ) Devolution is the right of an ecclesiastical ...Devoti, Giovani
Canonist, born at Rome, 11 July, 1744; died there 18 Sept., 1820. At the age of twenty he ...Devotions, Popular
Devotion, in the language of ascetical writers, denotes a certain ardour of affection in the ...Deymann, Clementine
Born at Klein-Stavern, Oldenburg, Germany, 24 June, 1844; died at Phoenix, Arizona, U. S. A., 4 ...Deza, Diego
Theologian, archbishop, patron of Christopher Columbus, b. at Toro, 1444; d. 1523. Entering the ...Dh 1
Dh 1
Dhuoda
Wife of Bernard, Duke of Septimania. The only source of information on her life is her "Liber ...Di 100
Di 100
Diaconicum
(Greek diakonikon ) The Diaconicum in the Greek Church is the liturgical book specifying ...Diakovár
(Croatian, Djakovo ). See of the Bishop of the united Dioceses of Bosnia or ...Dialectic
[Greek dialektike ( techne or methodos ), the dialectic art or method, from dialegomai ...Diamantina
DIOCESE OF DIAMANTINA (ADAMANTINA). Located in the north of the State of Minas Geraes, Brazil, ...Diana, Antonino
Moral theologian, born of a noble family at Palermo, Sicily, in 1586; died at Rome, 20 July, ...Diano
(D IANENSIS ) Diocese and small city in the province of Salermo, Italy ; the ancient ...Diario Romano
( Italian for "Roman Daybook") A booklet published annually at Rome, with papal ...Diarmaid, Saint
Born in Ireland, date unknown; d. in 851 or 852. He was made Archbishop of Armagh in 834, but ...Dias, Bartolomeu
A famous Portuguese navigator of the fifteenth century, discoverer of the Cape of Good Hope; ...Diaspora
(Or DISPERSION). Diaspora was the name given to the countries (outside of Palestine) through ...Dibon
A titular see in Palæstina Tertia. Dîbîn (Septuagint, Daibon or Debon ) ...Dicastillo, Juan de
Theologian, b. of Spanish parents at Naples, 28 December, 1584; d. at Ingolstadt 6 March, 1653. ...Dicconson, Edward
Titular Bishop of Malla, or Mallus, Vicar Apostolic of the English Northern District; b. 30 ...Diceto, Ralph de
Dean of St. Paul's, London, and chronicler. The name "Dicetum" cannot be correctly connected with ...Dichu, Saint
The son of an Ulster chieftain, was the first convert of St. Patrick in Ireland. Born in the ...Dicuil
Irish monk and geographer, b. in the second half of the eighth century; date of death ...Didache
(D OCTRINE OF THE T WELVE A POSTLES ) A short treatise which was accounted by some of the ...Didacus, Saint
[Spanish = San Diego .] Lay brother of the Order of Friars Minor, date of birth uncertain; ...Didascalia Apostolorum
A treatise which pretends to have been written by the Apostles at the time of the Council of ...Didon, Henri
Preacher, writer, and educator, b. 17 March, 1840, at Touvet (Isère), France ; d. 13 ...Didot
Name of a family of French printers and publishers. François Didot Son of Denis Didot, ...Didron, Adolphe-Napoleon
Also called Didron aîné ; archaeologist; together with Viollet-le-Duc and Caumont, ...Didymus the Blind
Didymus the Blind, of Alexandria, b. about 310 or 313; d. about 395 or 398, at the age of ...Diego y Moreno, Francisco Garcia
First bishop of California, b. 17 Sept., 1785, at Lagos in the state of Jalisco, Mexico; d. 30 ...Diekamp, Wilhelm
Historian, b. at Geldern, 13 May, 1854; d. at Rome, 25 Dec., 1885. Soon after his birth the ...Diemoth
Diemoth, an old German word for the present "Demuth", the English " humility ", was the name of ...Diepenbeeck, Abraham van
An erudite and accomplished painter of the Flemish School, b. at Bois-le-Duc in the ...Diepenbrock, Melchior, Baron von
Cardinal and Prince-Bishop of Breslau, b. 6 January, 1798, at Boeholt in Westphalia ; d. at the ...Dieringer, Franz Xaver
Catholic theologian, b. 22 August, 1811, at Rangeningen (Hohenzollern-Hechingen); d. 8 September, ...Dies Irae
This name by which the sequence in requiem Masses is commonly known. They are the opening words of ...Dietenberger, Johann
Theologian, b. about 1475 at Frankfort-on-the-Main, d. 4 Sept., 1537, at Mainz. He was educated ...Diether of Isenburg
Archbishop and Elector of Mainz, b. about 1412; d. 7 May, 1482, at Aschaffenburg. He studied at ...Dietrich von Nieheim
(N IEM ). Born in the Diocese of Paderborn , between 1338 and 1340; d. at Maastricht, 22 ...Digby, George
Second Earl of Bristol, b. at Madrid, Spain, where his father, the first earl, was ambassador, ...Digby, Kenelm Henry
Miscellaneous writer, b. in Ireland, 1800; d. at Kensington, Middlesex, England, 22 March, 1880. ...Digby, Sir Everard
Born 16 May, 1578, died 30 Jan., 1606. Everard Digby, whose father bore the same Christian name ...Digby, Sir Kenelm
Physicist, naval commander and diplomatist, b. at Gayhurst (Goathurst), Buckinghamshire, England, ...Digne
(D INIA ; D INIENSIS ) Diocese comprising the entire department of the Basses Alpes; ...Dignitary, Ecclesiastical
An Ecclesiastical Dignitary is a member of a chapter, cathedral or collegiate, possessed not only ...Dijon
The Diocese of Dijon comprises the entire department of Côte-d'Or and is a suffragan of ...Dillingen, University of
Located in Swabia, a district of Bavaria. Its founder was Cardinal Otto Truchsess von Waldburg, ...Dillon, Arthur-Richard
A French prelate, b. at St-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, 1721; d. in London, 1806. The fifth son ...Dimissorial Letters
( Latin litteræ dimissoriales , from dimittere ), letters given by an ecclesiastical ...Dingley, Ven. Sir Thomas
Martyr, prior of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, found guilty of high treason 28 April, ...Dinooth, Saint
(DINOTHUS, DUNAWD, DUNOD). Founder and first Abbot of Bangor Iscoed (Flintshire); flourished ...Diocaesarea
(SEPPHORIS) (1) A titular see in Palestina Secunda. Diocaesarea is a later name of the town ...Diocesan Chancery
That branch of administration which handles all written documents used in the official government ...Diocese
( Latin diœcesis) A Diocese is the territory or churches subject to the jurisdiction of ...Diocese (Supplemental List)
Pope Pius X, recognizing how necessary it is for the Church to develop in proportion to the ...Dioclea
A titular see of Phrygia in Asia Minor . Diocleia is mentioned by Ptolemy (V, ii, 23), where ...Diocletian
(V ALERIUS D IOCLETIANUS ). Roman Emperor and persecutor of the Church, born of parents ...Diocletianopolis
A titular see of Palaestina Prima. This city is mentioned by Hierocles (Synecdemus, 719, 2), ...Diodorus of Tarsus
Date of birth uncertain; d. about A.D. 392. He was of noble family, probably of Antioch. St. Basil ...Diognetus, Epistle to
(EPISTOLA AD DIOGNETUM). This beautiful little apology for Christianity is cited by no ...Dionysias
A titular see in Arabia. This city, which figures in the "Synecdemos" of Hierocles (723, 3) and ...Dionysius Exiguus
The surname E XIGUUS , or "The Little", adopted probably in self-deprecation and not because he ...Dionysius of Alexandria
(Bishop from 247-8 to 264-5.) Called "the Great" by Eusebius, St. Basil, and others, was ...Dionysius the Pseudo-Areopagite
By "Dionysius the Areopagite" is usually understood the judge of the Areopagus who, as related in ...Dionysius, Pope Saint
Date of birth unknown; d. 26 or 27 December, 268. During the pontificate of Pope Stephen ...Dionysius, Saint
Bishop of Corinth about 170. The date is fixed by the fact that he wrote to Pope Soter (c. ...Dioscorus
Antipope, b. at Alexandria, date unknown; d. 14 October, 530. Originally a deacon of the ...Dioscorus
(Also written Dioscorus; Dioscurus from the analogy of Dioscuri ). Bishop of Alexandria ...Diplomatics, Papal
The word diplomatics , following a Continental usage which long ago found recognition in ...Diptych
(Or diptychon , Greek diptychon from dis , twice and ptyssein , to fold). A ...Direction, Spiritual
In the technical sense of the term, spiritual direction is that function of the sacred ministry by ...Directories, Catholic
The ecclesiastical sense of the word directory , as will be shown later, has become curiously ...Discalced
( Latin dis , without, and calceus , shoe). A term applied to those religious congregations ...Discernment of Spirits
All moral conduct may be summed up in the rule: avoid evil and do good. In the language of ...Disciple
This term is commonly applied to one who is learning any art or science from one distinguished by ...Disciples of Christ
A sect founded in the United States of America by Alexander Campbell. Although the largest ...Discipline of the Secret
(Latin Disciplina Arcani ; German Arcandisciplin ). A theological term used to express ...Discipline, Ecclesiastical
Etymologically the word discipline signifies the formation of one who places himself at school ...Discussions, Religious
(CONFERENCES, DISPUTATIONS, DEBATES) Religious discussions, as contradistinguished from ...Disibod, Saint
Irish bishop and patron of Disenberg (Disibodenberg), born c. 619; died 8 July, 700. His life was ...Disparity of Cult
( Disparitas Cultus ) A diriment impediment introduced by the Church to safeguard the ...Disparity of Worship
( Disparitas Cultus ) A diriment impediment introduced by the Church to safeguard the ...Dispensation
( Latin dispensatio ) Dispensation is an act whereby in a particular case a lawful superior ...Dispersion of the Apostles
( Latin Divisio Apostolorum ), a feast in commemoration of the missionary work of the Twelve ...Dissen, Heinrich von
Born 18 Oct., 1415, at Osnabrück, in Westphalia ; died at Cologne, 26 Nov., 1484. After ...Dissentis, Abbey of
A Benedictine monastery in the Canton Grisons in eastern Switzerland, dedicated to Our Lady of ...Distraction
Distraction ( Latin distrahere , to draw away, hence to distract) is here considered in so far ...Distributions
Distributions (from Lat. distribuere ), canonically termed disturbtiones quotidianae , are ...Dithmar
(Thietmar). Bishop of Merseburg and medieval chronicler, b. 25 July, 975; d. 1 Dec., 1018.He ...Dives
(Latin for rich ). The word is not used in the Bible as a proper noun; but in the Middle ...Divination
The seeking after knowledge of future or hidden things by inadequate means. The means being ...Divine Attributes
In order to form a more systematic idea of God, and as far as possible, to unfold the ...Divine Charity, Daughters of
Founded at Vienna, 21 November, 1868, by Franziska Lechner (d. 1894) on the Rule of St. ...Divine Charity, Sisters of
Founded at Besançon, in 1799, by a Vincentian Sister, and modelled on the Sisters of ...Divine Charity, Society of
(SOCIETAS DIVINAE CHARITATIS). Founded at Maria-Martental near Kaisersesch, in 1903 by Josepth ...Divine Compassion, Institute of the
Founded in the City of New York, USA, by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Stanislaus Preston. On 8 September ...Divine Nature and Attributes, The
I. As Known Through Natural ReasonA. Infinity of GodB. Unity or Unicity of God C. Simplicity of ...Divine Office
("Liturgy of the Hours" I. THE EXPRESSION "DIVINE OFFICE" This expression signifies ...Divine Providence, Sisters of
I. SISTERS OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Founded at Molsheim, in Diocese of ...Divine Redeemer, Daughters of the
Motherhouse at Oedenburg, Hungary ; founded in 1863 from the Daughters of the Divine Saviour of ...Divine Savior, Society of the
Founded at Rome, 8 Dec., 1881, by Johann Baptist Jordan (b. 1848 at Gartweil im Breisgau), ...Divine Word, Society of the
(S OCIETAS V ERBI D IVINI ) The first German Catholic missionary society established. ...Divisch, Procopius
Premonstratensian, b. at Senftenberg, Bohemia, 26 March, 1698; d. at Prenditz, Moravia, 21 ...Divorce (in Civil Jurisprudence)
Divorce is defined in jurisprudence as "the dissolution or partial suspension by the law of ...Divorce (in Moral Theology)
See also DIVORCE IN CIVIL JURISPRUDENCE . The term divorce ( divortium , from ...Dixon, Joseph
Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland, born at Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, in 1806; died at Armagh, 29 ...Dl 1
Dl 1
Dlugosz, Jan
( Latin LONGINUS). An eminent medieval Polish historian, b. at Brzeznica, 1415; d. 19 May, ...Do 85
Do 85
Dobmayer, Marian
A distinguished Benedictine theologian, born 24 October, 1753, at Schwandorf, Bavaria ; died 21 ...Dobrizhoffer, Martin
Missionary, b. in Graz, Styria, 7 Sept., 1717; d. in Vienna, 17 July 1791. He became a Jesuit ...Docetæ
(Greek Doketai .) A heretical sect dating back to Apostolic times. Their name is ...Docimium
A titular see of Phrygia in Asia Minor. This city, as appears from its coins where the ...Doctor
( Latin docere , to teach) The title of an authorized teacher. In this general sense the term ...Doctors of the Church
( Latin Doctores Ecclesiae ) -- Certain ecclesiastical writers have received this title on ...Doctors, Surnames of Famous
It was customary in the Middle Ages to designate the more celebrated among the doctors by ...Doctrine of Addai
( Latin Doctrina Addoei ). A Syriac document which relates the legend of the conversion ...Doctrine, Christian
Taken in the sense of "the act of teaching" and "the knowledge imparted by teaching", this term ...Dogma
I. DEFINITION The word dogma (Gr. dogma from dokein ) signifies, in the writings of the ...Dogmatic Fact
(1) Definition By a dogmatic fact , in wider sense, is meant any fact connected with a dogma ...Dogmatic Theology
Dogmatic theology is that part of theology which treats of the theoretical truths of faith ...Dogmatic Theology, History of
The imposing edifice of Catholic theology has been reared not by individual nations and men, ...Dolbeau, Jean
Recollect friar, born in the Province of Anjou, France, 12 March, 1586; died at ...Dolci, Carlo
Painter, born in Florence, Italy, 25 May, 1616; died 17 January, 1686. The grandson of a ...Doliche
A titular see of Commagene (Augusto-Euphratesia). It was a small city on the road from ...Dolman, Charles
Publisher and bookseller, b. at Monmouth, England, 20 Sept., 1807; d. in Paris, 31 December, ...Dolores Mission
(Or Mission San Francisco De Asis De Los Dolores) In point of time the sixth in the chain of ...Dolphin
( Latin delphinus ). The use of the dolphin as a Christian symbol is connected with the ...Dome
( Latin domus , a house). An architectural term often used synonymously with cupola. ...Domenech, Emmanuel-Henri-Dieudonne
Abbé, missionary and author, b. at Lyons, France, 4 November, 1826; d. in France, June, ...Domenechino
Properly DOMENICO ZAMPIERI. An Italian painter, born in Bologna, 21 Oct., 1581; died in ...Domesday Book
The name given to the record of the great survey of England made by order of William the ...Domicile
( Latin jus domicilii , right of habitation, residence). The canon law has no independent ...Dominic of Prussia
A Carthusian monk and ascetical writer, born in Poland, 1382; died at the monastery of St. ...Dominic of the Mother of God
(Called in secular life D OMENICO B ARBERI ) A member of the Passionist Congregation and ...Dominic, Saint
Founder of the Order of Preachers , commonly known as the Dominican Order ; born at Calaroga, ...Dominical Letter
A device adopted from the Romans by the old chronologers to aid them in finding the day of the ...Dominican Republic
(SAN DOMINGO, SANTO DOMINGO). The Dominican Republic is the eastern, and much larger ...Dominicans
As the Order of the Friars Preachers is the principal part of the entire Order of St. Dominic, we ...Dominici, Blessed Giovanni
(BANCHINI or BACCHINI was his family name). Cardinal, statesman and writer, born at ...Dominis, Marco Antonio de
Dalmatian ecclesiastic, apostate, and man of science, b. on the island of Arbe, off the coast ...Dominus Vobiscum
An ancient form of devout salutation, incorporated in the liturgy of the Church, where it is ...Domitian
(T ITUS F LAVIUS D OMITIANUS ). Roman emperor and persecutor of the Church, son of ...Domitilla and Pancratius, Nereus and Achilleus, Saints
The commemoration of these four Roman saints is made by the Church on 12 May, in common, and ...Domitiopolis
A titular see of Isauria in Asia Minor. The former name of this city is unknown; it was called ...Domnus Apostolicus
(DOMINUS APOSTOLICUS) A title applied to the pope, which was in most frequent use between the ...Don Bosco
( Or St. John Bosco; Don Bosco.) Founder of the Salesian Society. Born of poor parents in ...Donahoe, Patrick
Publisher, born at Munnery, County Cavan, Ireland, 17 March, 1811; died at Boston, U.S.A., 18 ...Donatello Di Betto Bardi
(DONATO DI NICOLÒ DI BETTO BARDI) One of the great Tuscan sculptors of the ...Donation (in Canon Law)
(IN CANON LAW) Donation , the gratuitous transfer to another of some right or thing. When it ...Donation (in Civil Law)
(IN CIVIL JURISPRUDENCE) Donation, the gratuitous transfer, or gift ( Latin donatio ), of ...Donation of Constantine
( Latin, Donatio Constantini ). By this name is understood, since the end of the Middle ...Donatists
The Donatist schism in Africa began in 311 and flourished just one hundred years, until the ...Donatus of Fiesole
Irish teacher and poet, Bishop of Fiesole, about 829-876. In an ancient collection of the ...Donders, Peter
Missionary among the lepers, b. at Tilburg in Holland, 27 Oct., 1807; d. 14 Jan., 1887. He ...Dongan, Thomas
Second Earl of Limerick, b. 1634, at Castletown Kildrought, now Celbridge, County Kildare, ...Donlevy, Andrew
Educator, b. in 1694, probably in Sligo, Ireland ; date and place of death uncertain. Little ...Donnan, Saint
There were apparently three or four saints of this name who flourished about the seventh century. ...Donner, Georg Raphael
Austrian sculptor, b. at Essling, Austria, 25 May, 1692; d. at Vienna, 15 February, 1741. It is ...Donnet, Ferdinand-François-Auguste
A French cardinal, b. at Bourg-Argental (Loire), 1795; d. at Bordeaux, 1882. He studied in the ...Donoso Cortés, Juan Francesco Maria de la Saludad
Marquess of Valdegamas, author and diplomat, born 6 May, 1809, at Valle de la Serena in the ...Donus, Pope
(Or D OMNUS ). Son of a Roman called Mauricius; he was consecrated Bishop of Rome 2 Nov., ...Doorkeeper
(Also called DOORKEEPER. From ostiarius , Latin ostium , a door.) Porter denoted among ...Doré, Pierre
(AURATUS) Controversialist, b. at Orléans about 1500; d. at Paris, 19 May, 1559. He ...Dora
A titular see of Palestina Prima. The name ( Dôr ) in Semitic languages means ...Dorchester, Abbey of
Founded in 1140 by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, for Canons of the Order of St. Augustine (or ...Doria, Andrea
Genoese admiral and statesman, b. at Oneglia, Italy, 1468; d. at Genoa, 1560. His family ...Dorman, Thomas
Theologian, b. at Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, England, date uncertain; d. at Tournai, 1572 or ...Dornin, Bernard
First publisher in the United States of distinctively Catholic books, b. in Ireland, 1761; d. ...Dorothea, Saint
(1) Virgin and martyr, suffered during the persecution of Diocletian, 6 February, 311, at ...Dorsey, Anne Hanson
Novelist, born at Georgetown, District of Columbia, U.S.A. 1815; died at Washington, 26 ...Dorylaeum
A titular see of Phrygia Salutaris, in Asia Minor. This city already existed under the kings ...Dositheans
Followers of Dositheus, a Samaritan who formed a Gnostic - Judaistic sect, previous to Simon ...Dosquet, Pierre-Herman
Fourth Bishop of Quebec, b. at Liège, Flanders, 1691; d. at Paris, 1777. He studied at ...Dossi, Giovanni
Actually named GIOVANNI DI NICOLO DI LUTERO, but also called Dosso Dossi. An Italian painter, ...Dotti, Blessed Andrea
Born 1256, in Borgo San Sepolero, Tuscany, Italy ; d. there 31 August, 1315. He was of noble ...Douai
(Town and University of Douai) (D OUAY, D OWAY ) The town of Douai, in the department of ...Douay Bible
The original Douay Version, which is the foundation on which nearly all English Catholic ...Double Altar
An altar having a double front constructed in such a manner that Mass may be celebrated on ...Double Monasteries
Religious houses comprising communities of both men and women, dwelling in contiguous ...Doubt
(Latin dubium, Greek aporí, French doute, German Zweifel ). A state in which the ...Douglas, Gavin
Scottish prelate and poet, born about 1474; died 1522; he was the third son of Archibald, Fifth ...Doutreleau, Stephen
Missionary, born in France, 11 October, 1693; date of death uncertain. He became a Jesuit ...Dove
(Latin columba ). In Christian antiquity the dove appears as a symbol and as a Eucharistic ...Dowdall, George
Archbishop of Armagh, b. at Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, in 1487; d. at London, 15 August, ...Dowdall, James
Martyr, date of birth unknown; executed for his faith at Exeter, England, 20 September, 1600. ...Dower
( Latin doarium ; French douaire ) A provision for support during life accorded by law ...Dower, Religious
( Latin dos religiosa ). Because of its analogy with the dower that a woman brings to ...Down and Connor
Diocese of Down and Connor (Dunensis et Connorensis) A line drawn from Whitehouse on Belfast ...Downside Abbey
Near Bath, Somersetshire, England, was founded at Douai, Flanders, under the patronage of ...Doxology
In general this word means a short verse praising God and beginning, as a rule, with the Greek ...Doyle, James Warren
Irish bishop ; b. near New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland, 1786; d. at Carlow, 1834. He belonged ...Doyle, John
Born in Dublin, Ireland, 1797; died in London, 2 January, 1868; English portrait-painter and ...Doyle, Richard
English artist and caricaturist, b. in London, September, 1824; d. there 11 December, 1883. The ...Dr 26
Dr 26
Drach, David Paul
Convert from Judaism, b. at Strasburg, 6 March, 1791; d. end of January, 1868, at Rome. ...Drachma
(Gr. drachmé ), a Greek silver coin. The Greeks derived the word from drássomai, ...Dracontius, Blossius Æmilius
A Christian poet of the fifth century. Dracontius belonged to a distinguished family of ...Drane, Augusta Theodosia
In religion MOTHER FRANCIS RAPHAEL, O.S.D.; b. at Bromley near London, in 1823; d. at Stone, ...Dreams, Interpretation of
There is in sleep something mysterious which seems, from the earliest times, to have impressed ...Drechsel, Jeremias
( Also Drexelius or Drexel.) Ascetic writer, b. at Augsburg, 15 August, 1581; entered the ...Dresden
The capital of the Kingdom of Saxony and the residence of the royal family, is situated on both ...Dreves, Lebrecht Blücher
Poet, b. at Hamburg, Germany, 12 September, 1816; d. at Feldkirch, 19 Dec., 1870. The famous ...Drevet Family, The
The Drevets were the leading portrait engravers of France for over a hundred years. Their fame ...Drexel, Francis Anthony
Banker, b. at Philadelphia, U.S.A. 20 June, 1824; d. there 15 Feb., 1885. He was the oldest son ...Drexel, Jeremias
( Also Drexelius or Drexel.) Ascetic writer, b. at Augsburg, 15 August, 1581; entered the ...Drey, Johann Sebastian von
A professor of theology at the University of Tübingen, born 16 Oct., 1777, at Killingen, in ...Dromore
(DROMORENSIS, and in ancient documents DRUMORENSIS) Dromore is one of the eight suffragans of ...Drostan, Saint
(DRUSTAN, DUSTAN, THROSTAN) A Scottish abbot who flourished about A.D. 600. All that is ...Droste-Vischering, Clemens August von
Archbishop of Cologne, born 21 Jan., 1773, at Münster, Germany ; died 19 Oct., 1845, in ...Druidism
The etymology of this word from the Greek drous , "oak", has been a favorite one since the ...Druillettes, Gabriel
(Or DREUILLETS) Missionary, b. in France, 29 September, 1610; d. at Quebec, 8 April, 1681. ...Drumgoole, John C.
Priest and philanthropist, b. at Granard, Co. Longford, Ireland, 15 August, 1816; d. in New ...Drury, Robert
Martyr (1567-1607), was born of a good Buckinghamshire family and was received into the ...Drusilla
Drusilla, daughter of Herod Agrippa I , was six years of age at the time of her father's death ...Drusipara
A titular see in Thracia Prima. Nothing is known of the ancient history of this town, which, ...Druys, Jean
( Latin DRUSIUS) Thirtieth Abbot of Parc near Louvain, Belgium, b. at Cumptich, near ...Druzbicki, Gaspar
Ascetic writer, b. at Sierady in Poland, 1589; entered the Society of Jesus, 20 August 1609; d. ...Druzes
Small Mohammedan sect in Syria, notorious for their opposition to the Marionites, a Catholic ...Dryburgh Abbey
A monastery belonging to the canons of the Premonstratensian Order (Norbertine or White ...Dryden, John
Poet, dramatist, critic, and translator; b. 9 August, 1631, at Oldwinkle All Saints, ...Du 62
Du 62
Du Cange, Charles Dufresne
Historian and philologist, b. at Amiens, France, 18 Dec., 1610; d. at Paris, 1688. His father, ...Du Coudray, Philippe-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Tronson
Soldier, b. at Reims, France, 8 September, 1738; d. at Philadelphia, U.S.A. 11 September, ...Du Lhut Daniel Greysolon, Sieur
(DULUTH). Born at Saint-Germain-en-Laye about 1640; died at Montreal, 26 Feb., 1710. He first ...Dualism
(From Latin duo , two). Like most other philosophical terms, has been employed in different ...Dublin
(DUBLINIUM; DUBLINENSIS). Archdiocese ; occupies about sixty miles of the middle eastern coast ...Dubois, Guillaume
A French cardinal and statesman, born at Brive, in Limousin, 1656; died at Versailles, 1723. ...Dubois, Jean-Antoine
French missionary in India, b. in 1765 at St. Remèze (Ardèche); d. in Paris, 17 ...Dubois, John
Third Bishop of New York, educator and missionary, b. in Paris, 24 August, 1764; d. in New ...Dubourg, Louis-Guillaume-Valentin
Second Bishop of Louisiana and the Floridas, Bishop of Montauban, Archbishop of ...Dubric, Saint
(DYFRIG, DUBRICIUS) Bishop and confessor, one of the greatest of Welsh saints ; d. 612. He ...Dubuque
Archdiocese of Dubuque (Dubuquensis), established, 28 July, 1837, created an archbishopric, ...Duc, Fronton du
(Called in Latin Ducæus.) A French theologian and Jesuit, b. at Bordeaux in 1558; ...Duccio di Buoninsegna
Painter, and founder of the Sienese School, b. about 1255 or 1260, place not known; d. 3 August, ...Duchesne, Philippine-Rose
Founder in America of the first houses of the society of the Sacred Heart, born at Grenoble, ...Duckett, John, Venerable
A Martyr, probably a grandson of Venerable James Duckett , born at Underwinder, in the parish ...Duckett, Ven. James
Martyr, b. at Gilfortrigs in the parish of Skelsmergh in Westmoreland, England, date uncertain, ...Ducrue, Francis Bennon
Missionary in Mexico, b. at Munich, Bavaria. of French parents, 10 June 1721; d. there 30 March, ...Dudik, Beda Franciscus
Moravian historian, b. at Kojetein near Kremsier, Moravia, 29 January, 1815; d. as abbot and ...Duel
( Duellum , old form of bellum ). This word, as used both in the ecclesiastical and ...Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan
Politician and author, b. at Monaghan, Ireland, 12 April, 1816; d. at Nice, France, 9 Feb., ...Duhamel, Jean-Baptiste
A French scientist, philosopher, and theologian, b. at Vire, Normandy (now in the department of ...Dulia
(Greek doulia ; Latin servitus ), a theological term signifying the honour paid to the ...Duluth
DIOCESE OF DULUTH (DULUTHENSIS) Diocese, established 3 Oct., 1889, suffragan of the ...Dumas, Jean-Baptiste
Distinguished French chemist and senator, b. at Alais, department of Gard, 14 July, 1800; d. at ...Dumetz, Francisco
Date of birth unknown; died 14 Jan., 1811. He was a native of Mallorca (Majorca), Spain, where he ...Dumont, Hubert-André
Belgian geologist, b. at Liège, 15 Feb., 1809; d. in the same city, 28 Feb., 1857. When ...Dumoulin, Charles
(Or DUMOLIN; latinized MOLINAEUS). French jurist, b. at Paris in 1500; d. there 27 December, ...Dunbar, William
Scottish poet, sometimes styled the " Chaucer of Scotland ", born c. 1460; died c. 1520(?). He ...Dunchadh, Saint
(DUNICHAD, DUNCAD, DONATUS) Confessor, Abbot of Iona ; date of b. unknown, d. in 717. He ...Dundrennan, Abbey of
In Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland ; a Cistercian house founded in 1142 by King David I and ...Dunedin
(DUNEDINENSIS) Dunedin comprises the provincial district of Otago (including the Otago part, ...Dunfermline, Abbey of
In the south-west of Fife, Scotland. Founded by King Malcolm Canmore and his queen, Margaret, ...Dungal
Irish monk, teacher, astronomer, and poet who flourished about 820. He is mentioned in 811 as an ...Dunin, Martin von
Archbishop of Gnesen and Posen, born 11 Nov., 1774, in the village of Wat near the city of Rawa, ...Dunkeld
(DUNKELDENSIS) Located in Scotland, constituted, as far back as the middle of the ninth ...Dunkers
( German tunken , to dip) A Protestant sect thus named from its distinctive baptismal rite. ...Duns Scotus, Blessed John
Surnamed DOCTOR SUBTILIS, died 8 November, 1308; he was the founder and leader of the famous ...Dunstan, Saint
Archbishop and confessor, and one of the greatest saints of the Anglo-Saxon Church ; b. near ...Dupanloup, Félix-Antoine-Philibert
Bishop of Orléans, France, b. at Saint-Félix; Savoie, 2 June, 1802; d. at ...Duperron, Jacques-Davy
A theologian and diplomat, born 25 Nov., 1556, at St-Lô (Normandy), France ; died 5 ...Dupin, Louis Ellies
(also DU PIN) A theologian, born 17 June, 1657, of a noble family in Normandy ; died 6 ...Dupin, Pierre-Charles-François
Known as BARON CHARLES DUPIN. A French mathematician and economist, b. at Varzy, ...Duponceau, Peter Stephen
A jurist and linguist, b. at St-Martin de Ré, France 3 June, 1760; d. at Philadelphia, ...Dupré, Giovanni
Sculptor, b. of remote French ancestry at Siena, 1 Mar., 1817; d. at Florence, 10 Jan., 1882. ...Duprat, Antoine & Guillaume
(1) Antoine Duprat Chancellor of France and Cardinal, b. at Issoire in Auvergne, 17 January, ...Dupuytren, Baron Guillaume
French anatomist and surgeon, born 6 October, 1777, at Pierre-Buffière, a small town in ...Duquesnoy, François
(Called also FRANÇOIS FLAMAND, and in Italy IL FLAMINGO). Born at Brussels, Belgium, ...Duran, Narcisco
Born 16 December, 1776, at Castellon de Ampurias, Catalonia, Spain ; died 1 June, 1846. He ...Durand Ursin
A Benedictine of the Maurist Congregation, b. 20 May, 1682, at Tours ; d. 31 Aug., 1771, at ...Durandus of Saint-Pourçain
Philosopher and theologian, b. at Saint-Pourçain, Auvergne France ; d. 13 September, ...Durandus of Troarn
French Benedictine and ecclesiastical writer, b. about 1012, at Le Neubourg near Evreux ; d. ...Durandus, William
(Also: Duranti or Durantis). Canonist and one of the most important medieval liturgical writers; ...Durandus, William, the Younger
Died 1328, canonist, nephew of the famous ritualist and canonist of the same name (with whom he is ...Durango
(DURANGUM) Archdiocese located in north-western Mexico. The see was created 28 Sept., 1620, ...Durazzo
ARCHDIOCESE OF DURAZZO (DYRRACHIENSIS). The Archdiocese of Durazzo in Albania, situated on the ...Durbin, Elisha John
The "Patriarch-priest of Kentucky ", born 1 February, 1800, in Madison County, in that State, of ...Durham
Ancient Catholic Diocese of Durham (Dunelmensis). This diocese holds a unique position among ...Durham Rite
The earliest document giving an account of liturgical services in the Diocese of Durham is the ...Durrow, School of
( Irish Dairmagh , Plain of the Oaks) The Durrow is delightfully situated in the King's ...Duty
The definition of the term duty given by lexicographers is: "something that is due", ...Duvergier de Hauranne, Jean
(Or D U V ERGER ), J EAN ; also called S AINT -C YRAN from an abbey he held in ...Duvernay, Ludger
A French-Canadian journalist and patriot, born at Verchères, Quebec, 22 January, 1799; ...Dw 1
Dw 1
Dwight, Thomas
Anatomist, b. at Boston, 1843; d. at Nahant, 8 Sept., 1911. The son of Thomas Dwight and of Mary ...Dy 4
Dy 4
Dyck, Antoon (Anthonis) Van
Usually known as S IR A NTHONY V AN D YCK . Flemish portrait-painter, b. at Antwerp, ...Dymoke, Robert
Confessor of the Faith, date of birth uncertain; d. at Lincoln, England, 11 Sept., 1580. He ...Dymphna, Saint
(Also known as Dympna and Dimpna). Virgin and martyr. The earliest historical account of ...Latest
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