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Of the three proposed derivations of the word "religion", that suggested by Lactantius and endorsed by St. Augustine seems perhaps to accord better with the idea than the others. He says it comes from religare , to bind. Thus it would mean the bond uniting man to God. The notion of it commonly accepted among theologians is that which is found in St. Thomas's "Summa Theologica", II-II, Q. lxxxi. According to him it is a virtue whose purpose is to render God the worship due to Him as the source of all being and the principle of all government of things. There can be no doubt that it is a distinct virtue, not merely a phase of another. It is differentiated from others by its object, which is to offer to Almighty God the homage demanded by His entirely singular excellence. In a loose construction it may be considered a general virtue in so far as it prescribes the acts of other virtues or requires them for the performance of its own functions. It is not a theological virtue, because its immediate object is not God, but rather the reverence to be paid to Him. Its practice is indeed often associated with the virtues of faith and charity. Still the concordant judgment of theologians puts it among the moral virtues, as a part of the cardinal virtue justice, since by it we give God what is due to Him. St. Thomas teaches that it ranks first among moral virtues. A religious attitude towards God is essentially the product of our recognition, not only of His sovereign majesty, but also of our absolute dependence on Him. Thus, as Father Rickaby says, He is not merely "the Great Stranger", our behaviour towards whom must be invested with awe and admiration; He is besides our Creator and Master and, in virtue of our supernatural filiation in the present order of things, our Father. Hence we are bound to cherish habitually towards Him sentiments of adoration, praise, thanksgiving, loyalty, and love. Such a demeanour of soul is inexorably required by the very law of our being. We must not, however, rest satisfied because perchance our interior bearing is fairly in conformity with this standard. We are not simply spirits. Our composite nature needs to express itself by outward acts in which the body as well as the soul shall have a part -- this not only to spur on our inner feelings, but also because God owns us body and soul, and it is right that both should show their fealty to Him. This is the justification of external religion. Of course God does not need our worship, whether interior or exterior, and it is puerile to impugn it on that score. We cannot by our homage add anything to His glory, unless it be the extrinsic increment of the theologians of which account need not be taken here. It is not because it is strictly speaking of use to Him that we render it, but because He is infinitely worthy of it, and because it is of tremendous value to ourselves. The chief acts of this virtue are adoration, prayer, sacrifice, oblation, vows ; the sins against it are neglect of prayer, blasphemy, tempting God, sacrilege, perjury, simony, idolatry, and superstition.
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Vá 1
Vá 1
Vácz, Diocese of
(VÄCZ or VACIENSIS). Located in Hungary ; suffragan of Gran ; probably founded by King ...Vé 2
Vé 2
Vénard, Théophane
(JEAN-THÉOPHANE V&Eaucte;NARD.) French missionary, born at St-Loup, Diocese of ...Véron, François
French controversialist, b. at Paris about 1575; d. at Charenton, 1625. After brilliant studies ...Vö 1
Vö 1
Völuspá
"The wisdom of the prophetess ", the most famous mythological poem of the "Elder Edda", relates ...Va 77
Va 77
Vaast, Abbey of Saint
Situated at Arras, the ancient capital of Artois, Department of Pas-de-Calais, France ; founded ...Vacancy
The state of being vacant, free, unoccupied: a term applied to an office or position devoid of an ...Vadstena, Abbey of
Motherhouse of the Brigittine Order, situated on Lake Wetter, in the Diocese of Linköping, ...Vaga
A titular see of Numidia, frequently mentioned by historians and ancient geographers. Before ...Vaillant de Gueslis, François
Jesuit missionary, born at Orlxans, 20 July, 1646; died at Moulins, 24 Sept., 1718. He entered ...Vaison, Ancient Diocese of
(VASIONENSIS.) This was suppressed by the Concordat of 1801 , and its territory is now ...Valdés, Alfonso de
Spanish Humanist and chancellor of the Emperor Charles V, born at Cuenca in Castile about 1500; ...Valence, Diocese of
(VALENTINENSIS). See also UNIVERSITY OF VALENCE. Comprises the present Department of Drome. ...Valence, University of
See also DIOCESE OF VALENCE . Erected 26 July, 1452, by letters patent from the Dauphin Louis, ...Valencia
(VALENTINA). Archdiocese located in Spain ; comprises the civil Provinces of Valencia, ...Valencia, University of
At the request of Jaime I the Conqueror, Innocent IV in 1246, authorized by a Bull the ...Valens, Flavius
Emperor of the East, b. in Pannonia (now Hungary ) c. 328; d. near Adrianople, in Thrace, ...Valentine, Pope
Date of birth unknown; died about October, 827. Valentine was by birth was Roman, belonging to the ...Valentine, Saint
At least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in the early ...Valentinian I
(FLAVIUS VALENTINIANUS). Emperor of the West, 364-75. Born at Cibalis (probably Mikanovici), ...Valentinian II
(FLAVIUS VALENTINIANUS) Reigned 375-392; born in Gaul, about 371, murdered at Vienne, ...Valentinian III
Reigned 425-55, b. at Ravenna, 3 July, 419; d. at Rome, 16 March, 455; son of Constantius III ...Valentinus and Valentinians
Valentinus, the best known and most influential of the Gnostic heretics, was born according to ...Valerian
(Publius Aurelius Licinius Valerianus). Roman emperor (253-60). Member of a distinguished ...Validation of Marriage
Validation of marriage may be effected by a simple renewal of consent when its nullity arises ...Vallée-Poussin, Charles-Louis-Joseph-Xavier de la
Professor of geology and mineralogy at the Catholic University of Louvain (1863), doctor honoris ...Valla, Lorenzo
(DELLA VALLE). Humanist and philosopher, b. at Rome, 1405; d. there, 1 Aug., 1457. His ...Valladolid, Archdiocese of
(VALLISOLETANA). Bounded on the north by Palencia, east by Burgos and Segovia, south by ...Valladolid, University of
The name of the founder and the date of foundation of the University of Valladolid are not known ...Vallarsi, Dominic
An Italian priest, born at Verona, 13 November, 1702; died there, 14 August, 1771. He studied ...Valle, Pietro della
Italian traveller in the Orient, b. at Rome, 2 April, 1586; d. there, 21 April, 1652. He ...Valleyfield, Diocese of
(CAMPIVALLENSIS.) Valleyfield is a thriving city of about 10,000 inhabitants, situated at the ...Vallgornera, Thomas de
Dominican theologian and ascetical writer, renowned for his learning and piety, born in ...Valliscaulian Order
("Vallis Caulium", or "Val-des-Choux", the name of the first monastery of that order, in Burgundy ...Vallo and Capaccio
(CAPUTAQUENSIS ET VALLENSIS) Suffragan diocese of Salerno. Capaccio is a city in the ...Vallumbrosan Order
The name is derived from the motherhouse, Vallombrosa (Latin Vallis umbrosa, shady valley), ...Valois, Henri
(HENRICUS VALESIUS). Philologist, b. at Paris, 10 Sept., 1603; d. at Paris, 7 May, 1676. He ...Valona
Titular see, suffragan of Dyrrachium, in Epirus Nova. The ancient name was Aulon, mentioned for ...Valroger, Hyacinthe de
French Oratorian, born at Caen, 6 January, 1814; died 10 October, 1876. He first studied ...Valva and Sulmona, Dioceses of
(VALVEN. ET SULMONEN.) Located in Italy ; united aeque principaliter . Valva, a medieval ...Valverde, Vincent de
Born at Oropesa, Spain towards the close of the fifteenth century; d. at the Island of ...Van Beethoven, Ludwig
Born at Bonn, probably on 16 December, 1770; died at Vienna, 26 March, 1827. The date of his ...Van Beneden, Pierre-Joseph
Born at Mechlin, Belgium, 19 Dec., 1809; died at Louvain, 8 Jan., 1894. Educated for the ...Van Buren, William Home
Distinguished American surgeon, b. at Philadelphia, 5 April, 1819; d. at New York, 25 March, 1883. ...Van Cleef, Jan
A Flemish painter, b. in Guelderland in 1646, d. at Ghent, 18 December, 1716. He was a pupil of ...Van Cleef, Joost
(JOSSE VAN CLEVE). The "Madman", a Flemish painter born in Antwerp c. 1520, died c. 1556. ...Van Cleef, Martin
A Flemish painter, born at Antwerp in 1520; died in 1570; was the son of the painter William ...Van de Velde, Peter
(PEDRO CAMPAÑA). Painter, b. at Brussels, 1503; d. in that city in 1580. This artist ...Van De Vyver, Augustine
Sixth Bishop of Richmond, Virginia ; b. at Haesdonck, East Flanders, Belgium, 1 Dec., 1844; ...Van den Broek, Theodore J.
Priest and missionary, b. at Amsterdam, Holland, 5 Nov., 1783; d. at Little Chute, Wisconsin, 5 ...Van der Bundere, Joannes
(VAN DEN BUNDERE). A Flemish theologian and controversialist, born of distinguished parents ...Van der Sandt, Maximilian
(SANDAUS). Born at Amsterdam, 17 April, 1578; d. at Cologne, 21 June, 1656. He entered the ...Van der Weyden, Rogier
Painter, b. at Tournai, 1399 or 1400; d. at Brussels, 1464. His original name was De la Pasture, ...Van Eyck, Hubert and Jan
Brothers, Flemish illuminators and painters, founders of the school of Bruges and ...Vancouver
(VANCOUVERIENSIS). Archdiocese ; includes that part of the mainland of the Province of British ...Vandal, Albert
French writer, b. at Paris, 7 July, 1853; d. there, 30 Aug., 1910. His father was director ...Vandals
A Germanic people belonging to the family of East Germans. According to Tacitus, they were ...Vane, Thomas
The place and time of his birth and death are not known; but he was educated at Christ's ...Vannes, Diocese of
(VENETENSIS). Comprises the Department of Morbihan, and was re-established by the Concordat ...Vanni, Andrea
Painter and statesman, b. at Siena, 1320; d. 1414. He entered politics after the democratic ...Vanni, Francesco
Painter, b. at Siena, 1565; d. there, 1609. Vanni was one of the better class of artists of the ...Varani, Blessed Baptista
(Varano). An ascetical writer, b. at Camerino, in the Camerino, belonged to an illustrious ...Vargas y Mexia, Francisco de
Spanish diplomat and ecclesiastical writer, b. at Madrid, date unknown; d. At the ...Vargas, Luis de
Painter, b. at Seville, in 1502; d. there in 1568. He has two claims upon our attention; he was ...Vasari, Giorgio
Painter, architect, and writer, b. at Arezzo, 1511; d. at Florence, 1574. Although an artist of ...Vase, Altar
Vase to hold flowers for the decoration of the altar. The Cæremoniale Episcoporum (I, xii, ...Vasquez, Gabriel
Theologian, b. at Villaescusa de Haro, near Belmonte, Cuenca, 1549 or 1551; d. at Alcalá, ...Vatable, François
(Or better WATEBLED, the name is also written GASTEBLED or OUATEBLE). French Hellenist and ...Vatican as a Scientific Institution, The
Regarded from the point of view of scientific productivity, the Vatican is the busiest ...Vatican Council
The Vatican Council, the twentieth and up to now [1912] the last ecumenical council, opened on 8 ...Vatican Observatory
The Vatican Observatory now bears the official title, "Specola Astronomica Vaticana". To ...Vatican, The
This subject will be treated under the following heads: I. Introduction; II. Architectural ...Vaticanus, Codex
(CODEX B), a Greek manuscript, the most important of all the manuscripts of Holy Scripture . ...Vaudreuil
Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil Governor of Canada, born in Languedoc, France, in the ...Vaughan, Herbert
Cardinal, and third Archbishop of Westminster ; b. at Gloucester, 15 April, 1832; d. at St. ...Vaughan, Roger William
(B EDE ). Second Archbishop of Sydney, b. at Courtfield, Herefordshire, 9 January, 1834; ...Vauquelin, Louis-Nicolas
Born at Saint-André d'Hebertot, Normandy, 16 May, 1763; died 14 Nov., 1829. In youth as ...Vaux, Laurence
(V OSE ). Canon regular, author of a catechism, martyr in prison, b. at Blackrod, ...Vaux-de-Cernay
A celebrated Cistercian abbey situated in the Diocese of Versailles, Seine-et-Oise, in what was ...Vavasour, Thomas
English Catholic physician, pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, b. about 1536-7; d. at ...Vavasseur, François
Humanist and controversialist, b. at Paray-le-Monial, 8 Dec., 1605; d. at Paris, 16 Dec., ...Vaz, Blessed Joseph
A Goanese priest, Apostle of Ceylon [ Sri Lanka ], b. at Goa, 21 April, 1651; d. at Kandy, 16 ...Ve 75
Ve 75
Vecchietta, Lorenzo di Pietro
Painter, sculptor, goldsmith, and architect, b. at Castiglione di Val d'Orcia, 1412; d. there, ...Vedas
The sacred books of ancient India. The Sanskrit word veda means "knowledge", more particularly ...Vega, Andreas de
Theologian and Franciscan Observantine, b. at Segovia in Old Castile, Spain, at unknown date ...Veghe, Johannes
German preacher and religious writer, b. at Münster in Westphalia about 1435; d. there, 21 ...Vegio, Maffeo
(MAPHEUS VEGIUS.) Churchman, humanist, poet, and educator, b. at Lodi, Italy, 1406; d. at ...Veglia, Diocese of
(VEGIENSIS ET ARBENSIS). In Austria, suffragan of Görz-Gradisca. Parallel to the Dinaric ...Vehe, Michael
Born at Bieberach near Wimpfen; died at Halle, April, 1559. He joined the Dominicans at Wimpfen, ...Veil, Humeral
This is the name given to a cloth of rectangular shape about 8 ft. long and 1 1/2 ft. wide. The ...Veil, Religious
In ancient Rome a red veil, or a veil with red stripes, distinguished newly-married women from ...Veit, Philipp
Painter, b. at Berlin, 13 Feb., 1793; d. at Mainz, 18 Dec., 1877. Veit was a grandson of the ...Veith, Johann Emanuel
Preacher, b. of Jewish parents at Kuttenplan, Bohemia, 1787; d. at Vienna, 6 Nov., 1876. In ...Velazquez, Diego Rodriguez de Silva y
Spanish painter, b. at Seville 5 June, 1599 (the certificate of baptism is dated 6 June); d. at ...Venezuela
A republic formed out of the provinces which, under Spanish rule, constituted the captaincy ...Veni Creator Spiritus
The "most famous of hymns " (Frere), is assigned in the Roman Breviary to Vespers (I and II) ...Veni Sancte Spiritus Et Emitte Coelitus
The sequence for Pentecost (the "Golden Sequence "). It is sung at Mass from Whitsunday until ...Veni Sancte Spiritus Reple
A prose invocation of the Holy Ghost . The Alleluia following the Epistle of Whitsunday ...Venice
Venice, the capital of a province in Northern Italy, is formed of a group of 117 small islands ...Venosa
(VENUSIN.) Diocese in Southern Italy. The city is situated on a high precipitous hill, one of ...Ventimiglia
(VENTIMILIENSIS) Located in the Province of Porto Maurizio, northern Italy. The city is ...Ventura di Raulica, Gioacchino
Italian pulpit orator, patriot, phyilosopher, b. at Palermo, 8 Dec., 1792; d. at Versailles, 2 ...Venturino of Bergamo
Preacher, b. at Bergamo, 9 April, 1304; d. at Smyrna, 28 March, 1346. He received the habit of ...Venusti, Raffaele
(VENOSTA.) Born at Tirano, Valtellina, northern Italy, about the end of the fifteenth ...Vera Cruz
(VERAE CRUCIS or JALAPENSIS). Diocese of the Mexican Republic, suffragan of the Archbishopric ...Verapoly, Archdiocese of
(VERAPOLITANA.) Located on the Malabar Coast, India, having the Diocese of Quilon as ...Verbiest, Ferdinand
Missionary and astronomer, b. at Pitthem near Coutrai, Also spelled "Kortrijk" Belgium, 9 ...Verbum Supernum Prodiens
The first line of two hymns celebrating respectively the Nativity of Christ and the Institution ...Vercelli
(VERCELLENSIS). Archdiocese in the Province of Novara, Piedmont, Italy. The city of Vercelli ...Vercellone, Carlo
Biblical scholar, born at Biella, Milan ; died at Rome, 19 January, 1869. He entered the Order ...Verdaguer, Jacinto
Poet, b. at Riudeperas, Province of Barcelona, Spain, 17 April, 1845; d. at Vallvidrera, ...Verdi, Giuseppe
Composer, b. at Le Roncole, Parma, Italy, 10 October, 1813; d. at S. Agata, near Busseto, 27 ...Verdun, Diocese of
(VIRODUNENSIS.) Comprises the Department of the Meuse. Suppressed by the Concordat of 1802, ...Verecundus
sentence --> Bishop of Junca, in the African Province of Byzacena, in the middle of the ...Vergani, Paolo
Italian political economist, b. in Piedmont, 1753; d. in Paris, about 1820. As a student, he ...Vergerio, Pier Paolo, the Elder
Humanist, statesman, and canonist, b. at Capodistria, 23 July, 1370; d. at Budapest, 8 July, 1444 ...Vergil, Polydore
Born at Ubino about 1470; died there probably in 1555. Having studied at Bologna and Padua, he ...Vergilius of Salzburg, Saint
Irish missionary and astronomer, of the eighth century. Vergilius (or Virgilius, in Irish ...Vering, Friedrich Heinrich
A German canonist, b. at Liesborn in Westphalia, 9 March, 1833; d. at Prague, 30 March, 1896. ...Vermont
One of the New England states, extends from the line of Massachusetts, on the south 42° 44' N. ...Verna, La
An isolated mountain hallowed by association with St. Francis of Assisi, situated in the centre ...Vernazza, Tommasina
Born at Genoa, 1497; died there, 1587. Her father, Ettore Vernazza, was a patrician, founder of ...Verne, Jules
Novelist, b. at Nantes, France, 1828; d. at Amiens, 1905. His first literary venture was a ...Vernier, Pierre
Inventor of the instrument which bears his name, b. at Ornans, Franche-Comte, c. 1580; d. there, ...Veroli, Diocese of
(VERULANA). Located in the Province of Rome. The city of Veroli (Verulae) is situated on the ...Verona
(VERONENSIS.) Diocese in Venetia (Northern Italy ). The city, situated on both branches of ...Veronica Giuliani, Saint
Born at Mercatello in the Duchy of Urbino, Italy, 1660; died at Citt` di Castello, 9 July, 1727. ...Veronica, Saint
In several regions of Christendom there is honored under this name a pious matron of ...Verot, Augustin
Third Bishop of Savannah, first of St. Augustine, b. at Le Puy, France, May, 1804; d. at St. ...Verrazano, Giovanni da
Navigator, b. about 1485, of good family, at Val di Greve, near Florence ; executed at Puerto ...Verreau, Hospice-Anthelme
A French-Canadian priest, educator, and historian, b. at l'Islet, P.Q., 6 Sept., 1828, of Germain ...Verri, Count Pietro
Economist, b. at Milan, Dec., 1728; d. there, 29 June, 1797. After studying at Monza, Rome, and ...Verrocchio, Andrea del
Born at Florence, 1435; d. at Venice, 1488. He was called Andrea di Michele di Francesco de' ...Versailles
(VERSALIENSIS). Diocese ; includes the Department of Seine-et-Oise, France. Created in ...Versions of the Bible
Synopsis GREEK : Septuagint; Aquila; Theodotion; Symmachus; other versions. VERSIONS FROM THE ...Versions of the Bible, Coptic
DIALECTS The Coptic language is now recognized in four principal dialects, Bohairic (formerly ...Verstegan, Richard
( Alias ROWLANDS). Publisher and antiquarian, born at London, about 1548; died at Antwerp ...Vertin, John
Third Bishop of Marquette, U.S.A. b. at Doblice, Diocese of Laibach (Carniolia), Austria, 17 ...Vertot, Réné-Aubert, Sieur de
French historian, b. at Benetot, Normandy, 25 Nov., 1655; d. in Paris, 15 June, 1735. He was for ...Veruela
A celebrated Cistercian monastery and church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. It is situated ...Vesalius, Andreas
(WESALIUS.) The reorganizer of the study of anatomy ; b. at Brussels, 31 Dec., 1514; d. in a ...Vespasian
(TITUS FLAVIUS VESPASIANUS). Roman Emperor, b. at Reate (now Rieti ), the ancient capital of ...Vespasiano da Bisticci
( Or FIORENTINO.) Florentine humanist and librarian, b. in 1421; d. in 1498. He was ...Vespers
This subject will be treated under the following headings: I. Vespers in the sixth century; II. ...Vespers, Music of
The texts (e.g. antiphons, psalms, hymn ) sung in Vespers vary according to the feast or the ...Vespers, Sicilian
The traditional name given to the insurrection which broke out at Palermo on Easter Tuesday, 31 ...Vespucci, Amerigo
A famous Italian navigator, born at Florence, 9 March, 1451; died at Seville, 22 February, 1512. ...Vessels, Altar
The chalice is the cup in which the wine and water of the Eucharistic Sacrifice is contained. ...Vestibule (in Architecture)
A hall projecting in front of the façade of a church, found from the fifth century both ...Vestments
IN WESTERN EUROPE By liturgical vestments are meant the vestments that, according to the rules ...Veszprém
(VESPRIMIENSIS.) Diocese in Hungary, suffragan of Gran, one of the sees founded about 1009 by ...Veto, The Royal
(In the appointment of Bishops in Ireland and England.) Although the penal laws enacted ...Vetter, Conrad
Preacher and polemical writer, b. at Engen in the present Grand Duchy of Baden, 1547; d. at ...Veuillot, Louis
Journalist and writer, b. at Boynes, Loiret, 11 Oct., 1813; d. in Paris, 7 April, 1883. He was ...Vexiö, Ancient See of
(WEPIONENSIS.) The Ancient See of Vexiö, in Sweden, comprised the County of Kronoberg ...Vexilla Regis Prodeunt
This "world-famous hymn, one of the grandest in the treasury of the Latin Church " (Neale), and ...Vezzosi, Antonio Francesco
Member of the Theatine Congregation and biographical writer, born at Arezzo, Italy, 4 October, ...Vi 116
Vi 116
Via Crucis
(Also called Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa). These names are used to signify ...Via Dolorosa
(Also called Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa). These names are used to signify ...Viader, José
Born at Gallimes, Catalonia, 27 August, 1765. He received the habit of St. Francis at Barcelona ...Vianney, Saint Jean-Baptiste-Marie
Curé of Ars, born at Dardilly, near Lyons, France, on 8 May, 1786; died at Ars, 4 ...Viaticum
Name Among the ancient Greeks the custom prevailed of giving a supper to those setting out on a ...Viator, Clerics of Saint
St. Viator, lector of the cathedral at Lyons, France, lived in the fourth century and is the ...Viborg, Ancient See of
(VIBERGAE, VIBERGENSIS.) The ancient See of Viborg, in Denmark, comprised the Province of ...Vicar
( Latin vicarius , from vice , "instead of") In canon law, the representative of a person ...Vicar Apostolic
(1) In the early ages of the Church, the popes committed to some residentiary bishops the ...Vicar Capitular
The administrator of a vacant diocese, elected by a cathedral chapter. On the death of a ...Vicar of Christ
(Latin Vicarius Christi ). A title of the pope implying his supreme and universal ...Vicar-General
The highest official of a diocese after the ordinary. He is a cleric legitimately deputed to ...Vicari, Hermann von
Archbishop of Freiburg in Baden, b. at Aulendorf in Wurtemberg, 13 May, 1773; d. at Freiburg, ...Vicariate Apostolic (Updated List)
The following is an account of the newly-erected vicariates Apostolic and of those changed so ...Vice
( Latin vitium , any sort of defect) is here regarded as a habit inclining one to sin. It is ...Vicelinus, Saint
Bishop of Oldenburg, apostle of Holstein, b. at Hameln about 1086; d. 12 Dec., 1154. Orphaned ...Vicente, Gil
Portuguese dramatist, b. about 1470; he was living in 1536. He took up the study of law but ...Vicenza, Diocese of
(VICENTINA). The city is the capital of a province in Venetia (Northern Italy ). The ...Vich, Diocese of
(Vicensis, Ausonensis). Suffragan of Tarragona, bounded on the north by Gerona, on the east ...Vico, Francescoe de
Astronomer, b. at Macerata, States of the Church, 19 May, 1805; d. at London, England, 15 Nov., ...Victimae Paschali Laudes Immolent Christiani
The first stanza of the Easter sequence. Medieval missals placed it on various days within the ...Victor
Bishop of Tunnunum (Tonnenna, Tunnuna) in Northern Africa and zealous supporter of the Three ...Victor I, Pope Saint
(189-198 or 199), date of birth unknown. The "Liber Pontificalis" makes him a native of Africa ...Victor II, Pope
(GEBHARD, COUNT OF CALW, TOLLENSTEIN, AND HIRSCHBERG.) Born about 1018; died at Arezzo, 28 ...Victor III, Pope Blessed
(DAUFERIUS or DAUFAR). Born in 1026 or 1027 of a non-regnant branch of the Lombard dukes of ...Victor IV
Two antipopes of this name. I. Cardinal Gregory Conti, elected in opposition to Innocent II ...Victor of Capua
A sixth-century bishop about whose life nothing is known except what is found in his epitaph ...Victor Vitensis
An African bishop of the Province of Byzacena (called VITENSIS from his See of Vita), b. ...Victoria
(VICTORIEN. IN INS. VANCOUVER.) Diocese in southwestern British Columbia, of which province it ...Victoria Nyanza, Northern
The Mission of Victoria Nyanza, founded in 1878 by the White Fathers of Cardinal Lavigerie, was ...Victoria Nyanza, Southern
Vicariate apostolic erected from the mission of Nyanza, 13 June, 1894, lies north of the ...Victorinus, Caius Marius
(Called also VICTORINUS MARIUS, or MARIUS FABIUS VICTORINUS, and frequently referred to as ...Victorinus, Saint
An ecclesiastical writer who flourished about 270, and who suffered martyrdom probably in 303, ...Vida, Marco Girolamo
Italian Humanist, b. at Cremona about 1490; d. in 1566. He came to Rome under Julius II ; a ...Vieira, Antonio
Missionary, diplomat, orator, b. at Lisbon, 6 February, 1608; d. at Bahia, Brazil, 18 July, 1697. ...Viel, Nicholas
Died 1625, the first victim of apostolic zeal on the shores of the St. Lawrence. After ...Vienna
Vienna -- the capital of Austria-Hungary, the residence of the emperor, and the seat of a Latin ...Vienna, University of
Foundation of the University Next to the University of Prague that of Vienna is the oldest ...Vienne, Council of
Pope Clement V, by the Bull "Regnans in coelis" of 12 Aug., 1308, called a general council to ...Vierthaler, Franz Michael
A distinguished Austrian pedagogue, b. at Mauerkirchen, Upper Austria, 25 September, 1758; d. ...Vieta, François
(VIÈTE.) Father of modern algebra, b. at Fontenay-le-Comte (Poitou), 1540; d. in ...Viger, Denis-Benjamin
French-Canadian statesman and writer, b. at Montreal, 19 Aug., 1774; d. 1861. After studying ...Viger, Jacques
French-Canadian antiquarian and archaeologist, b. at Montreal, 7 May, 1787; d. 12 Dec., 1858. ...Vigevano
(VIGLEVANENSIS.) Diocese in Lombardy, Province of Pavia. The city is a great agricultural ...Vigilius
Bishop of Tapsus, in the African Province of Byzacena. Mentioned in the "Notitia" appended to ...Vigilius, Pope
Reigned 537-55, date of birth unknown; died at Syracuse, 7 June 555. He belonged to a ...Vigilius, Saint
Bishop of Trent, martyr, patron of Trent and of Tyrol, b. c. 353; d. 26 June, 405; feast 26 ...Vignola, Giacomo Barozzi da
A theoretical and practical architect of the Transition Period between the Renaissance and ...Vigor, Simon
French bishop and controversialist, b. at Evreux, Normandy, about 1515; d. at Carcassonne, 1 ...Vikings
The Scandinavians who, in the ninth and tenth centuries, first ravaged the coasts of Western ...Villalpandus, Juan Bautista
Born at Cordova, Spain, in 1552; entered the Society of Jesus in 1575; died on 22 May, 1608. His ...Villani, Giovanni
Florentine historian, b. about 1276; d. of the plague in 1348. Descended from a wealthy family ...Villanovanus, Arnaldus
(ARNALDUS OF VILLANUEVA, or VILLENEUVE, or BACHUONE). Celebrated in his day as a physician, ...Villefranche, Jacques-Melchior
Publicist, b. at Couzon-sur-Saone, 17 Dec., 1829; d. at Bourg, 10 May, 1904. After excellent ...Villehardouin, Geoffroi de
Maréchal de Champagne, warrior, and first historian in the French language, b. about 1150; ...Villeneuve-Barcement, Jean-Paul-Alban
Vicomte de, b. at Saint-Auban, Var, 8 Aug., 1784; d. at Paris, 8 June, 1850. After having taken ...Villermé, Louis-René
French economist, b. at Paris, 10 March, 1782; d. there, 16 Nov., 1863. He was devoted to ...Villers, Cistercian Abbey of
Situated on the confines of Villers and Tilly, Duchy of Brabant, present Diocese of Namur ...Vilna
(VILENSIS). Vilna, the capital of Lithuania, is situated at the junction of the Rivers ...Vincent de Paul, Saint
Born at Pouy, Gascony, France, in 1580, though some authorities have said 1576; died at Paris, ...Vincent de Paul, Sisters of Charity of Saint
A congregation of women with simple vows, founded in 1633 and devoted to corporal and ...Vincent de Paul, Sisters of Charity of Saint (New York)
(Motherhouse at Mt. St. Vincent-on Hudson, New York; not to be confused with the Sisters of ...Vincent de Paul, Society of Saint
An international association of Catholic laymen engaging systematically in personal service of ...Vincent Ferrer, Saint
Famous Dominican missionary, born at Valencia, 23 January, 1350; died at Vannes, Brittany, 5 ...Vincent Kadlubek, Blessed
(KADLUBO, KADLUBKO). Bishop of Cracow, chronicler, b. at Karnow, Duchy of Sandomir, Poland, ...Vincent of Beauvais
Priest and encyclopedist. Little is known of his personal history. The years of his birth and ...Vincent of Lérins, Saint
Feast on 24 May, an ecclesiastical writer in Southern Gaul in the fifth century. His work is ...Vincent, Saint
(MALDEGARIUS). Founder and abbot of the monasteries of Hautmont and Soignies, b. of a noble ...Vincent, Saint
Deacon of Saragossa, and martyr under Diocletian, 304; mentioned in the Roman Martyrology, 22 ...Vincentians
A congregation of secular priests with religious vows founded by St. Vincent de Paul. The ...Vincenzo de Vit
Latinist, b. at Mestrina, near Padua, 10 July, 1810; d. at Domo d'Ossola, 17 Aug., 1892. He made ...Vinci, Leonardo di Ser Piero da
(LEONARDO DI SER PIERO DA VINCI) Florentine painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, and ...Vindicianus, Saint
Bishop of Cambrai - Arras, b. if tradition is to be believed, perhaps at Beaulaincourt, near ...Vineam Domini
An Apostolic Constitution issued by Clement XI against the Jansenists on 16 July, 1705. It ...Violence
Violence ( Latin vis ), an impulse from without tending to force one without any concurrence on ...Viotti, Giovanni Battista
Founder of the modern school of violinist, b. at Fontanetto, Piedmont, 23 May, 173; d. 3 ...Viraggio, Jacopo di
( Also DI VIRAGGIO). Archbishop of Genoa and medieval hagiologist, born at Viraggio (now ...Virgilius, Saint
(VIRGILE). Archbishop of Arles, died c. 610. According to a life written in the eighth ...Virgin Birth of Christ
The dogma which teaches that the Blessed Mother of Jesus Christ was a virgin before, during, ...Virgin Mary, Devotion to the
Down to the Council of Nicaea Devotion to Our Blessed Lady in its ultimate analysis must be ...Virgin Mary, Name of
The Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, the mother of God. The Hebrew ...Virgin Mary, The
The Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, the mother of God. In general, the ...Virginia
Surnamed "The Old Dominion", "The Mother of States and of Statesmen", one of the thirteen original ...Virginity
Morally, virginity signifies the reverence for bodily integrity which is suggested by a virtuous ...Virtue
The subject will be treated under the following heads: I. Definitions; II. Subjects; III. ...Virtue, Heroic
The notion of heroicity is derived from hero, originally a warrior, a demigod; hence it connotes a ...Vischer, Peter
Sculptor and metal founder, b. at Nuremberg about 1460; d. in 1529. His father Hermann, who ...Visdelou, Claude de
Born at the Château de Bienassis, Pléneuf, Brittany, 122 Aug., 1656; died at ...Visigoths
One of the two principal branches of the Goths. Until 375 their history is combined with that of ...Visions
This article will deal not with natural but with supernatural visions, that is, visions due to ...Visit ad Limina
(Sc. Apostolorum ) The visit ad limina means, technically, the obligation incumbent on ...Visitation Convent, Georgetown
Located in the District of Columbia , United States of America . This convent was founded by ...Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I. THE EVENT Assuming that the Annunciation and the Incarnation took place about the vernal ...Visitation Order
The nuns of the Visitation of Mary, called also Filles de Sainte-Marie, Visitandines, and ...Visitation, Canonical
The act of an ecclesiastical superior who in the discharge of his office visits persons or ...Visitors Apostolic
Officials whom canonists commonly class with papal legates. Visitors differ from other Apostolic ...Visits to the Blessed Sacrament
By this devotional practice, which is of comparatively modern development, the presence of ...Vitalian, Pope Saint
(Reigned 657-72). Date of birth unknown; d. 27 January, 672. Nothing is known of Vitalian's ...Vitalini, Bonifazio
(DE VITALINIS). Jurist, b. at Mantua, Italy, about 1320; d. at Avignon after 1388. After ...Vitalis and Agricola, Saints
Martyred at Bologna about 304 during Diocletian's persecution. Agricola, who was beloved for ...Vitalis of Savigny, Saint
Founder of the monastery and Congregation of Savigny (1112), b. at Tierceville near Bayeaux ...Vitalis, Saint
Martyr. His legend, which is of little historical value, relates that he was martyred by order ...Vitelleschi, Muzio
Born at Rome 2 Dec., 1563; died there 9 Feb., 1645. He belonged to a distinguished family but ...Vitellius, Lucius
Proclaimed Roman Emperor by the soldiers at Cologne during the civil war of A.D. 69; d. at Rome, ...Vitensis, Victor
An African bishop of the Province of Byzacena (called VITENSIS from his See of Vita), b. ...Viterbo and Toscanella
(VITERBIENSIS ET TUSCANENSIS). The city of Viterbo in the Province of Rome stands at the foot ...Vitoria
(VICTORIENSIS). Diocese ; suffragan of Burgos, in Spain, bounded on the north by the Bay of ...Vittorino da Feltre
(VITTORINO DE' RAMBALDONI). Humanist educator, b. at Feltre, 1397; d. at Mantua, 1446. He was ...Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia, Saints
According to the legend, martyrs under Diocletian ; feast, 15 June. The earliest testimony for ...Viva, Domenico
Writer, b. at Lecce, 19 Oct., 1648; d. 5 July, 1726. He entered the Society of Jesus 12 May, ...Vivarini
A family of Italian painters. Alvise Vivarini Born in 1446 or 1447; died in 1502. He was the ...Vives, Juan Luis
Spanish humanist and philosopher, b. at Valencia, 6 March, 1492; d. at Bruges, 6 May, 1540. ...Viviers
(VIVARIUM). Diocese ; includes the Department of Ardèche, France. It was suppressed ...Vivisection
Defined literally the word vivisection signifies the dissection of living creatures; ordinarily it ...Vizagapatam, Diocese of
Located in the east of India, suffragan to Madras. It is bounded on the north by the River ...Vizeu
(VISENSIS). Diocese in north central Portugal. The bishopric dates from the sixth century and ...Vl 1
Vl 1
Vladimir the Great, Saint
(VLADIMIR or VOLODOMIR). Grand Duke of Kieff and All Russia, grandson of St. Olga, and the ...Vo 18
Vo 18
Vocation, Ecclesiastical and Religious
An ecclesiastical or religious vocation is the special gift of those who, in the Church of God, ...Vogüé, Eugène-Melchior, Vicomte de
Critic, novelist, and historian, born at Nice, 25 February, 1848; died in Paris, 24 February, ...Vogler, George Joseph
Theorist, composer and organist, b. at Würzburg, 15 June 1749, d. at Darmstadt, 6 May, ...Volk, Wilhelm
(Pseudonym, LUDWIG CLARUS). Born at Halberstadt 25 Jan., 1804; died at Erfurt 17 March, 1869. ...Volksverein
(PEOPLE'S UNION) FOR CATHOLIC GERMANY. A large and important organization of German Catholics ...Volta, Alessandro
Physicist, b. at Como, 18 Feb., 1745; d. there, 5 March, 1827. As his parents were not in ...Volterra
(VOLTARRANENSIS). Diocese in Tuscany. The city stands on a rocky mountain 1770 feet above the ...Volterra, Daniele da
(RICCIARELLI). Italian painter, b. at Volterra, 1509; d. in Rome, 1566. Ricciarelli was called ...Voluntarism
Voluntarism ( Latin voluntas , will) in the modern metaphysical sense is a theory which ...Voluntary
Wilful, proceeding from the will. It is requisite that the thing be an effect of the will ...Voluntary Association, Right of
I. LEGAL RIGHT A voluntary association means any group of individuals freely united for the ...Von Gagern, Max, Freiherr
Born at Weilburg (in Nassau), Germany, 25 March, 1810; died at Vienna, 17 October, 1889. He was ...Vondel, Joost van Den
Netherland poet and convert, b. at Cologne, 17 Nov., 1587, of parents whose residence was ...Voragine, Jacopo de
( Also DI VIRAGGIO). Archbishop of Genoa and medieval hagiologist, born at Viraggio (now ...Votive Mass
( Missa votiva ) A Mass offered for a votum , a special intention. So we frequently find ...Votive Offerings
The general name given to those things vowed or dedicated to God, or a saint, and in ...Votive Offices
A votive office is one not entered in the general calendar, but adopted with a view to satisfying ...Vows
I. GENERAL VIEW A vow is defined as a promise made to God. The promise is binding, and so differs ...Vr 2
Vr 2
Vrau, Philibert
"The holy man of Lille ", organizer of numerous Catholic activities; b. at Lille, 19 Nov., ...Vrie, Theodoric
Historian of the Council of Constance . He describes himself as a brother of the Order of ...Vu 1
Vu 1
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