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Religion and Spirituality - An open forum for the discussion of religion and spirituality. This forum is not intended solely for one religion nor is is intended to bash on any religion. It is for the discussion of any and all religions and forms of spirituality.
Gabbatha - The Aramaic appellation of a place in Jerusalem, designated also under the Greek name of Lithostrotos.
Gaboon - Formerly called the Vicariate Apostolic of the Two Guineas.
Gabriel, Brothers of Saint - Originally founded by St. Louis Grignon de Montfort in 1705, but it did not spread much till it was amalgamated with one founded in 1835 by Monsignor Deshayes. Vicar-General of Rennes.
Gabriel Sionita - A learned Maronite, famous for his share in the publication of the Parisian polyglot of the Bible; b. 1577, at Edden on the Lebanon; d. 1648.
Gaeta - Archdiocese in the province of Caserta in Campania (Southern Italy).
Gagarin, Ivan Sergejewitch - Of the Russian family which traces its origin to the ancient rulers of Starodub; born at Moscow, 1 August, 1814; died at Paris, 19 July, 1882.
Gagliardi, Achille - Ascetic writer and spiritual director; born at Padua, Italy, in 1537; died at Modena, 6 July, 1607.
Gahan, William - A priest and author; born 5 June, 1732, in the parish of St. Nicholas, Dublin; died there, 6 December, 1804.
Gaillard, Claude Ferdinand - French engraver and painter; b. at Paris, 7 Jan., 1834; d. there, 27 Jan., 1887.
Gal, Saint - The sixteenth and twenty-third bishops of Clermont-Ferrand (Auvergne) were both named Gal, and both are saints. The first St. Gal was bishop from 527 to 551, and the second, from 640-650.
Galatians, Epistle to the - Background on Galatia, purpose and date, a summary of its contents, its importance and a discussion of some difficulties.
Galatino, Pietro Colonna - Friar Minor, philosopher, theologian, Orientalist; b. at Galatia (now Cajazzo) in Apulia; d. at Rome, soon after 1539.
Galerius, Valerius Maximianus - Galerius, a native of Illyria, was made Caesar 1 March, 293, by Diocletian, whose daughter Valeria he married and who in turn adopted her husband.
Galien, Joseph - Dominican, professor of philosophy and theology at the University of Avignon, meteorologist, physicist, and writer on aeronautics; b. 1699.
Galilee - The native land of Jesus Christ, where He began His ministry and performed many of His works, and whence He drew His Apostles.
Galilei, Alessandro - An eminent Florentine architect; born 1691; died 1737.
Galilei, Galileo - Although in the popular mind Galileo is remembered chiefly as an astronomer, it was not in this character that he made really substantial contributions to human knowledge, but rather in the field of mechanics, and especially of dynamics, which science may be said to owe its existence to him.
Galitzin, Elizabeth - Princess, religious of the Sacred Heart; born at St. Petersburg, 22 February, 1797; died in Louisiana, 8 December, 1843.
Gall, Abbey of Saint - In Switzerland, Canton St. Gall, 30 miles southeast of Constance; for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine abbeys in Europe; founded about 613, and named after Gallus, an Irishman, the disciple and companion of St. Columbanus in his exile from Luxeuil.
Gall, Saint - Late sixth- to early seventh-century Irish hermit.
Galla - Vicariate Apostolic embracing the territory of the Galla or Oromo tribes in Abyssinia.
Galla, Saint - A Roman widow of the sixth century; feast, 5 October.
Gallait, Louis - Flemish painter; born at Tournai, 10 May, 1810; died in Brussels, 20 November, 1887.
Galland, Antoine - French Orientalist and numismatist, b. at Rollot, near Montdidier, in Picardy, 1646, d. at Paris, 1715.
Gallandi, Andrea - Oratorian and patristic scholar, born at Venice, 7 December, 1709; died there 12 January, 1779, or 1780.
Galle - Diocese in Ceylon, created by Leo XIII 25 Aug., 1893.
Gallego, Juan Nicasio - Priest and poet; born at Zamora, Spain, 14 December, 1777; died at Madrid, 9 January, 1853.
Galletti, Pietro Luigi - Benedictine, historian and archaeologist; b. at Rome in 1724; d. there, 13 December, 1790.
Gallia Christiana - A documentary catalogue or list, with brief historical notices, of all the dioceses and abbeys of France from the earliest times, also of their occupants.
Gallican Rite, The - The rite which prevailed in Gaul until about the middle or end of the eighth century.
Gallicanism - This term is used to designate a certain group of religious opinions for some time peculiar to the Church of France, or Gallican Church, and the theological schools of that country.
Galluppi, Pasquale - Philosopher, b. at Tropea, in Calabria, 2 April, 1770; d. at Naples, 13 Dec., 1846, where from 1831 he was a professor in the university.
Galtelli-Nuoro - Diocese in the province of Sassari (Sardinia), suffragan of Caglari.
Galura, Bernhard - Prince-Bishop of Brixen; b. 21 August, 1764, at Herbolzheim, Bresigau; d. 17 May, 1856.
Galvani, Luigi - Physician, b. at Bologna, Italy, 9 September, 1737; d. there, 4 December, 1798.
Galveston - The Diocese of Galveston was established in 1847 and comprises that part of the State of Texas, U.S.A., between the Sabine River on the east, the Colorado River on the west, the Gulf of Mexico on the south, and the northern line of the counties of Lampasas, Coryell, McLennan, Limestone, Freestone, Anderson, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, and Shelby on the north.
Galway and Kilmacduagh - Diocese in Ireland; an amalgamation of two distinct ancient sees.
Gama, Vasco da - The discover of the sea route to East Indies; born at Sines, Province of Alemtejo, Portugal, about 1469; died at Cochin, India, 24 December, 1524.
Gardellini, Aloisio - Born at Rome, 4 Aug., 1759; died there, 8 Oct., 1829, famous chiefly for his collection of the decrees of the Congregation of Rites.
Garesché, Julius Peter - Soldier; born 26 April, 1821, near Havana, Cuba; killed at the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, U.S.A., 31 December, 1862.
Garet, Jean - Benedictine of the Congregation of Saint-Maur, born at Havre about 1627; died at Jumieges, 24 September, 1694.
Gargara - A titular see in the province of Asia, suffragan of Ephesus.
Garin, André - An Oblate missionary and parish priest. (1822-1895)
Garland - A wreath of flowers or evergreens formerly used in connection with baptismal, nuptial, and funeral rites, as well as in solemn processions.
Garland, John - English poet and grammarian, who lived in the middle of the thirteenth century.
Gaume, Jean-Joseph - French theologian and author, b. at Fuans (Franche-Comté) in 1802; d. in 1879.
Gavantus, Bartolommeo - Liturgist, a member of the Barnabite Order; b. at Monza, 1569; d. at Milan, 14 August, 1638.
Gaza - A titular see of Palaestina Prima, in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Gazzaniga, Pietro Maria - A theologian, b. at Bergamo, Italy, 3 March, 1722; d. at Vicenza, 11 Dec., 1799.
Gebhard (III) of Constance - Bishop of that city and strenuous defender of papal rights against imperial encroachments during the Investitures conflict; b. about 1040; d. 12 November, 1110.
Gebhart, Emile - French professor and writer, b. 19 July, 1839, at Nancy; d. 22 April, 1908.
Gedoyn, Nicolas - A French translator and literary critic; b. at Orleans, 17 June, 1667; d. 10 August, 1744.
Gegenbauer, Josef Anton - An accomplished German historical and portrait painter, b. 6 March, 1800, at Wangen, Würtemberg; d. 31 January, 1876, at Rome.
Geiler von Kayserberg, Johann - A celebrated German pulpit orator, b. at Schaffhausen, Switzerland, 16 March, 1445; d. at Strasburg, 10 March, 1510.
Geissel, Johannes von - Cardinal, Archbishop of Cologne, b. 5 February, 1796, at Gimmeldingen, in the Palatinate; d. 8 September, 1864, at Cologne.
Gelasius of Cyzicus - Ecclesiastical writer, son of a priest of Cyzicus, and wrote in Bithynia, about 475, to prove against the Eutychians, that the Nicene Fathers did not teach Monophysitism.
Gemblours - A suppressed Benedictine monastery on the river Orneau in Belgium, founded c. 945 by St. Guibert (Wibert) and dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle and the holy martyr Exuperius.
Genealogy (in the Bible) - The word genealogy occurs only twice in the New Testament: I Tim., i, 4, and Tit., iii, 9. In these passages commentators explain the word as referring to the Gentile theogonies, or to the Essene generation of angels, or to the emanation of spirits and aeons as conceived by the Gnostics, or to the genealogies of Jesus Christ, or finally to the genealogies of the Old Testament construed into a source of an occult doctrine.
Genealogy of Christ - Offers the genealogy according to Saint Matthew and Saint Luke.
Genebrard, Gilbert - Benedictine exegete and Orientalist, b. 12 December, 1535, at Riom, in the department of Puy-de-Dôme; d. 16 Feb., 1597.
General Chapter - The daily assembling of a community for purposes of discipline and administration of monastic affairs has always included the reading of a chapter of the rule, and thus the assembly itself came to be called the chapter and the place of meeting the chapter-house.
Generation - Definitions include: a definite period of time, with a special reference to the average length of man's life; an indefinite period of time, of time past; the men who lived in the same period of time who were contemporaries; a race or class of men; and a dwelling place or habitation.
Genesareth - This is the name given to the Lake of Tiberias in Luke 5:1.
Genesius - Five people with this name including: Genesius of Rome; Genesius of Arles; Genesius, Bishop of Clermont; Genesius Count of Clermont; and Genesius of Lyons.
Genezareth, Land of - By this name is designated in Mark, vi, 53, a district of Palestine bordering on the Sea of Galilee, and which in the parallel passage of Matthew (xiv, 34) is called "the country of Genesar".
Genga, Girolamo - A painter, born at Urbino in 1476; died at the same place, 1551.
Genicot, Edward - Moral theologian, b. at Antwerp, Belgium, 18 June, 1856; d. at Louvain, 21 February, 1900.
Gennadius II - His original name was George Scholarius. Born about 1400, was first a teacher of philosophy and then judge in the civil courts under the Emperor John VIII.
Gennadius of Marseilles - A priest whose chief title to fame is his continuation of St. Jerome's catalogue "De Viris illustribus".
Gennings, Edmund and John - The first, a martyr for the Catholic Faith, and the second, the restorer of the English province of Franciscan friars, were brothers and converts to the Church.
Gentile da Fabriano - Italian painter; b. probably about 1378 in the District of the Marches; d. probably 1427.
Gentiles - In the English versions of both Testaments it collectively designates the nations distinct from the Jewish people.
Gentili, Aloysius - Proficient in poetry, displayed considerable musical aptitude, had a taste for mechanical and electrical science and was devoted to the cultivation of modern languages, applying himself more particularly to the study of English. (1801-1848)
Geography, Biblical - With the exception of the didactic literature, there is no book in the Bible which, to a greater or less extent, does not contain mention of, or allusions to, the geography and topography of the Holy Land.
George Gervase, Blessed - Account of the dramatic life of this Benedictine priest and martyr, who died in 1608.
George Hamartolus - A monk at Constantinople under Michael III (842-867) and the author of a chronicle of some importance.
George Haydock, Blessed - Biographical article on the English priest and martyr. Includes bibliography.
George Napper, Blessed - Or George Napier. Expelled from university for being Catholic, imprisoned for nearly 9 years for merely visiting the English College at Reims, finally martyred for being a priest. He died in 1610.
George Nichols, Blessed - Biography of the English priest and martyr. Also some information on the Bl. Richard Yaxley, a fellow priest. They were arrested together with laymen Humphrey Prichard and Thomas Belson. All four were martyred in 1589.
George of Trebizond - A Greek scholar of the early Italian Renaissance; b. in Crete (a Venetian possession from 1206-1669), 1395; d. in Rome, 1486.
George Pisides - A Byzantine poet who lived in the first half of the seventh century.
George, Saint - Long, scholarly article on St. George, martyr, patron saint of England.
George the Bearded - Duke of Saxony, b. at Dresden, 27 August, 1471; d. in the same city, 17 April, 1539.
Georgetown University - Founded immediately after the Revolutionary War, by the incorporated Catholic Clergy of Maryland, who selected from their Body Trustees, and invested them with full power to choose a President and appoint Professors. Since the year 1805, it has been under the direction of Society of Jesus".
Georgia - The largest of the original thirteen United States; bounded on the north by Tennessee and North Carolina, on the east by the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Florida, and on the west by Florida and Alabama.
Georgius Syncellus - The author of one of the more important medieval Byzantine chronicles, died after 810.
Gerace - Diocese in the province of Reggio in Calabria (Southern Italy).
Gerald, Saint - English monk, Bishop of Mayo, d. 731. Brief biography.
Geraldton - Diocese in Australia, established in 1898, suffragan of Adelaide.
Geramb, Baron Ferdinand de - In religion, Brother Mary Joseph; Abbot and procurator-general of La Trappe, came of a noble and ancient family in Hungary; b. in Lyons, 14 Jan., 1772; d. at Rome, 15 March, 1848.
Gerando, Joseph-Marie de - French statesman and writer, born at Lyons, 29 February, 1772; died at Paris, 10 November, 1842.
Gerard of Cremona - A twelfth-century student of Arabic science and translator from Arabic into Latin; born at Cremona, in 1114; died in 1187.
Gerard, Richard - Confessor; born about 1635; died 11 March, 1680.
Gerardus Odonis - Also Geraldus Othonis, or Ottonis, a medieval theologian and Minister General of the Franciscan Order; born probably at Châteauroux, in the present department of Indre, France, date unknown; died at Catania, Sicily, 1348.
Gerasa - A titular see in the province of Arabia and the Patriarchate of Antioch.
Gerberon, Gabriel - A Benedictine of the Maurist Congregation. (1628-1711)
Gerbet, Olympe-Phillipe - A French bishop and writer; b. at Poligny (Jura), 1798; d. at Perpignan (Pyrénées Orientales), 1864.
Gerbillon, Jean-François - French missionary; born at Verdun, 4 June, 1654; died at Peking, China, 27 March, 1707.
Gerdil, Hyacinthe Sigismond - Cardinal and theologian; b. at Samoëns in Savoy, 20 June, 1718; d. at Rome, 12 August 1802.
Gerhard of Zütphen - Born at Zütphen, 1367; died at Windesheim, 1398; a mystical writer and one of the first of the Brothers of the Common Life, founded by Gerhard Groote and Florentius Radewyn at Deventer, in the Netherlands.
Gerhoh of Reichersberg - Provost of that place and Austin canon, one of the most distinguished theologians of Germany in the twelfth century, b. at Polling, Bavaria, 1093; d. at Reichersberg, 27 June, 1169.
Germain, Saint - A married lawyer, rather worldly, became Bishop of Auxerre, d. 448 or 450. Biography.
Germaine Cousin, Saint - Sickly, pious shepherdess, cruelly treated by her stepmother. St. Germaine died in 1601, at the age of 22.
German Gardiner, Blessed - Layman, the last martyr under Henry VIII. Executed at Tyburn on 7 March, 1544, for refusing to grant that the King was the head of the English and Irish Church.
German Literature - History starting with the pre-Christian period to 800 A.D.
Germanicia - A titular see in the province of Euphratensis and the patriarchate of Antioch; incorrectly called Germaniciana and located in Byzacene, Africa.
Germanicopolis - A titular see in the province of Isauria, suffragan of Seleucia.
Germans in the United States - Includes all German-speaking people, whether originally from Germany proper, Austria, Switzerland, or Luxemburg.
Germanus I, Saint - Patriarch of Constantinople, defender of the veneration of ikons, d. 733 or 740.
Germany - History divided by time periods, beginning with before 1556.
Germany, Vicariate Apostolic of Northern - Its jurisdiction covers the Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Meeklenburg-Strelitz, the Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe, the free Hanse towns, Hamburg, Lübeck, and Bremen, the Principality of Lübeck (capital Eutin), belonging to the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, and the Island of Helgoland.
Germia - A titular see of Galatia Secunda, a suffragan of Pessinus; mentioned by Hierocles in the sixth century.
Gerona - The Diocese of Geronia in Catalonia, Spain, suffragan of Tarragona, is bounded on the north by the Pyrenees, on the south and east by the Mediterranean, and on the west by the dioceses of Barcelona and Vich.
Gerrha - A titular see in the province of Augustamnica Prima, suffragan of Pelusium in the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Gerson, Jean de Charlier de - Biographical article. Examines his view of conciliarism, and considers his mystical theology.
Géry, Saint - Bishop of Cambrai-Arras, d. between 623 and 626.
Gesellenvereine - German Catholic societies for the religious, moral, and professional improvement of young men.
Gesta Dei per Francos - Title adopted by Guibert de Nogent (died about 1124) for his history of the First Crusade.
Gesta Romanorum - A medieval collection of anecdotes, to which moral reflections are attached.
Gethsemane - The place in which Jesus Christ suffered the Agony and was taken prisoner by the Jews.
Gethsemane, Abbey of Our Lady of - An abbey of the Order of Reformed Cistercians, commonly called Trappists, established in 1848 in Nelson Co., Kentucky, in the Diocese of Louisville, being the first abbey on American soil.
Gezireh - Seat of two Catholic residential sees, one Chaldean, the other Syrian.
Gfrörer, August Friedrich - German historian; b. at Calw, Würtemberg, 5 March, 1803; d. at Karlsbad, 6 July, 1861.
Ghardaia - Prefecture Apostolic in the French Sahara, separated in 1901 from the Vicariate Apostolic of Sahara and the Soudan.
Ghent - Comprises the whole territory of East Flanders, one of the nine provinces of Belgium.
Ghibellines and Guelphs - Names adopted by the two factions that kept Italy divided and devastated by civil war during the greater part of the later Middle Ages.
Ghirlandajo - Florentine painter; b. 1449; d. 11 Jan., 1494.
Ghislain, Saint - Hermit in Belgium, confessor, died c. 680.
Ghost Dance - The principal ceremonial rite of an Indian religion which originated about 1887 with Wovoka, alias jack Wilson, an Indian of the Piute tribe in Nevada.
Giannone, Pietro - Italian historian, born 7 May, 1676, at Ischitella in the province of Capinata, Naples; died at Turin, 27 March, 1748.
Gibault, Pierre - Missionary, b. at Montreal, Canada, 1737; d. at New Madrid, about 1804.
Gibbons, John - Jesuit theologian and controversialist; b. 1544, at or near Wells, Somersetshire; died 16 Aug. or 3 Dec., 1589.
Gibbons, Richard - Brother of Father John Gibbons, born at Winchester, 1550 or 1549; died at Douai, 23 June, 1632.
Giberti, Gian Matteo - Cardinal, and Bishop of Verona, the natural son of Francesco Giberti, a Genoese naval captain, b. at Palermo in 1495; d. at Verona, 30 Dec., 1543.
Giberti, Jean-Pierre - Canonist; b. at Aix, Provence, in 1660; d. at Paris in 1736.
Gibraltar - A rugged promontory in the province of Andalusia, Spain, about 6 miles in circumference. Its almost perpendicular walls rise to a height of 1396 feet.
Gideon - One of the Greater Judges of Israel. He belonged to the tribe of Manasses, and to the family of Abiezer.
Giffard, Bonaventure - Bishop, born at Wolverhampton, England, 1642; died at Hammersmith, Middlesex, 12 March, 1734
Giffard, Godfrey - Bishop of Worcester, b. about 1235; d. 26 Jan., 1301.
Giffard, William - Second Norman Bishop of Winchester from 1100 to 1129.
Gifford, William - Archbishop of Reims; b. in Hampshire, 1554; d. at Reims, 11 April, 1629.
Gift, Supernatural - Something conferred on nature that is above all the powers (vires) of created nature.
Gil de Albornoz, Alvarez Carillo - A renowned cardinal, general, and statesman; b. about 1310 at Cuenca in New Castile; d. 23 Aug., 1367.
Gilbert, Sir John Thomas - Irish archivist and historian, b. in Dublin, 23 January, 1829; d. there, 23 May, 1898.
Gilbertines, Order of - Founded by St. Gilbert, about the year 1130, at Sempringham, Gilbert's native place, where he was then parish priest.
Gildas, Saint - Biographical entry for St. Gildas the Wise, also called "Badonicus," born to a British family in Scotland, educated in Wales, monk, priest, died in 570.
Giles, Saint - Also known as Aegidius. Hermit and then abbot in late seventh-century Gaul.
Gillespie, Eliza Maria - In religion Mother Mary of St. Angela. Born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, 21 February, 1824; died at St. Mary's convent, Notre Dame, Indiana, 4 March, 1887.
Gillespie, Neal Henry - Brother of the foregoing; b. in Washington county, Pa., 19 January 1831; d. at St. Mary's, Notre Dame, Indiana, 12 November, 1874.
Gillis, James - Scottish bishop; b. at Montreal, Canada, 7 April, 1802; d. at Edinburgh, 24 February 1864.
Gilmore, Patrick Sarsfield - A musician, born at Ballygar Galway, Ireland, 25 Dec., 1829; died at St. Louis, 24 Sept., 1892.
Gindarus - A titular see of Syria Prima, in the Patriarchate of Antioch.
Ginoulhiac, Jacques-Marie-Achille - A French bishop; b. at Montpellier (department of Herault) 3 Dec., 1806; d. there 17 Nov., 1875.
Gioberti, Vincenzo - An Italian statesman and philosopher; b. at Turin, 5 April, 1801; d. at Paris, 26 October, 1852.
Giocondo, Fra Giovanni - An Italian architect, antiquary, archaeologist, and classical scholar, b. in Verona, c. 1445; d. in Venice (?), c. 1525.
Giordani, Tommasso - A composer, b. at Naples in 1738; d. at Dublin, Ireland, February 1806.
Giordano, Luca - Neapolitan painter; b. at Naples, 1632; d. in the same place, 12 Jan., 1705.
Giorgione - Italian painter, b. at Castelfranco in or before 1477; d. in Venice in October or November, 1510.
Giotto di Bondone - A Florentine painter, and founder of the Italian school of painting, b. most probably, in the village of Vespignano near Florence; d. at Milan, 8 Jan., 1337.
Giovanelli, Ruggiero - Composer, b. at Velletri, near Rome, in 1560; d. at Rome, 7 January, 1625.
Gisbert, Blaise - French rhetorician and critic; born at Cahors, 21 February, 1657; died at Montpellier, 21 February, 1731.
Giulio Romano - A famous architect and painter, the best-known of Raphael's pupils, and the unique representative of the so-called "Roman School"; b. at Rome in 1492; d. at Mantua in 1546.
Giuseppe Giusti - A poet and patriot; b. 1809, at Monsumano near Pescia, Italy; d. 31 March, 1850.
Glagolitic - An ancient alphabet of the Slavic languages, also called in Russian bukvitsa.
Glaire, Jean-Baptiste - Priest, hebraist, and Biblical scholar; b. at Bordeaux, 1 April, 1798; d. at Issy, near Paris, 25 Feb., 1879.
Glanville, Ranulf de - Chief Justiciar of England; b. at Stratford, Suffolk, England, date unknown; d. before Acre, Palestine, 1190.
Glarean, Henry - Swiss humanist, poet, philosopher, geographer, mathematician, and musician, born at Mollis, near Glarus, Switzerland, in June, 1488, and died at Freiburg-im-Breisgau, 27 March, 1563.
Glasgow - Archdiocese in the south-west of Scotland.
Glastonbury Abbey - Benedictine monastery, Somersetshire, England, pre-eminently the centre of early Christian tradition in England.
Glebe - Originally signified, in common law, any farm, estate, or parcel of land, and the word is so used in the Theodosian Code. But in ecclesiastical law it has become the technical term for land permanently assigned for the maintenance of the incumbent of a parish, and is the oldest form of parochial endowment.
Gloria in Excelsis Deo - The great doxology (hymnus angelicus) in the Mass is a version of a very old Greek form". It begins with the words sung by the angels at Christ's birth (Luke, ii, 14). To this verse others were added very early, forming a doxology.
Glory - In the English version of the Bible the word Glory, one of the commonest in the Scripture, is used to translate several Hebrew terms in the Old Testament, and the Greek doxa in the New Testament. Sometimes the Catholic versions employ brightness, where others use glory.
Glosses, Glossaries, Glossarists - To gloss is to interpret or explain a text by taking up its words one after another. A glossary is therefore a collection of words about which observations and notes have been gathered, and a glossarist is one who thus explains or illustrates given texts.
Glosses, Scriptural - The word gloss designates not only marginal notes, but also words or remarks inserted for various reasons in the very text of the Scriptures.
Gloves, Episcopal - Liturgical gloves are a liturgical adornment reserved for bishops and cardinals.
Gluttony - The excessive indulgence in food and drink.
Gnesen-Posen - Archdiocese in the Kingdom of Prussia.
Gnosticism - History of Gnosticism from its pre-Christian roots through its developed doctrines concerning cosmogony, the Sophia-myth, soteriology, and eschatology. Includes information on rites, schools, and literature.
Gobat, George - Moral theologian; born at Charmoilles, in the Diocese of Basil, now in the Department of the Doubs, France, 1 July, 1600; died 23 March, 1679.
Gobban Saer - Regarded in traditional lore as the greatest Irish architect of the seventh century, and popularly canonized as St. Gobban; b. at Turvey, near Malahide, Co. Dublin, about 560.
Gobelinus, Person - Westphalian known as an historian and an ardent reformer of monastic life in his native land. (1358-1421)
God, Existence of - The arguments for God's existence are variously classified and entitled by different writers, but all agree in recognizing the distinction between a priori, or deductive, and a posteriori, or inductive reasoning in this connection.
God, Relation of the Universe to - Sections include essential dependence of the universe on God, divine immanence and transcendence, and possibility of the supernatural.
Godard, Saint - Benedictine abbot, bishop of Hildesheim, d. 1038.
Godden, Thomas - True name Tylden. Born at Addington, Kent, 1624; died in London, 1 Dec., 1688.
Godeau, Antoine - Bishop, poet and exegete; b. at Dreux in the diocese of Chartres, 1605; d. at Vence, 21 April, 1672.
Godeberta, Saint - Born in about 640, superior of a convent at Noyon.
Godelina, Saint - Physically and psychologically abused by her husband Bertolf and mother-in-law, until finally she was murdered at Bertolf's orders in 1070.
Godet des Marais, Paul - Bishop of Chartres, France; b. at Talcy, near Blois, 1647; d. at Chartres, 1709.
Godfrey Goodman - Anglican Bishop of Gloucester. (1582-3-1656)
Godfrey of Bouillon - Duke of Lower Lorraine and first King of Jerusalem, son of Eustache II, Count of Boulogne, and of Ida, daughter of Godfrey the Bearded, Duke of Lower Lorraine; b. probably at Boulogne-sur-Mer, 1060; d. at Jerusalem, 18 July, 1100.
Godfrey of Fontaines - A scholastic philosopher and theologian; born near Liège within the first half of the thirteenth century.
Goetz, Marie Josephine - Second superior-general of the Society of the Sacred Heart, daughter of Joseph Goetz of Strasburg and Marie Anne Wagner; b. 7 March, 1817; d. 4 January, 1874.
Goffe, Stephen - Oratorian; b. 1605; d. at Paris, Christmas Day, 1681.
Goffine, Leonard - Priest and writer. Born at Cologne, or according to some, at Broich, 6 December, 1648; died 11 August, 1719.
Gog and Magog - Names, respectively, of a king and of his supposed kingdom, mentioned several times in chapters 38 and 39 of the Book of Ezechiel, and once in the Apocalypse (20:7).
Golden Calf - An object of worship among the Hebrews, mention of which occurs principally in Ex., xxxii, where the story of the molten calf of Aaron is narrated, and in III Kings, xii (cf. II Par., xi), in connection with the policy of Jeroboam after the schism of the ten tribes.
Golden Rose - A precious and sacred ornament made of pure gold by skilled artificers, which the popes have been accustomed for centuries to bless each year, and occasionally confer upon illustrious churches and sanctuaries as a token of special reverence and devotion, upon Catholic kings or queens, princes or princesses, renowned generals or other distinguished personages, upon governments or cities conspicuous for their Catholic spirit and loyalty to the Holy See, as a mark of esteem and paternal affection.
Goldoni, Carlo - Brief biography of the Italian dramatist.
Goldwell, Thomas - Bishop of St. Asaph, the last survivor of the ancient hierarchy of England; b. between 1501 and 1515; d. in Rome, 3 April, 1585.
Gómara, Francisco Lopez de - Chaplain to Cortés. Born 1510. Wrote a severely flawed history of the Spanish conquest of the New World, though he himself had never been there.
Gondulphus - The name of three saints, of whom one was Bishop of Tongres (Maestricht), the second Bishop of Metz, while the third is known as Gondulphus of Berry.
Gonet, Jean Baptiste - Theologian, b. about 1616 at Beziers, in the province of Languedoc; d. there 24 Jan., 1681.
Gonnelieu, Jérôme de - Theologian, ascetical writer, and preacher; born at Soissons, 8 Sept., 1640; died at Paris, 28 Feb., 1715.
Gonzaga, Ercole - Cardinal; b. at Mantua, 23 November, 1505; d. 2 March, 1563.
Gonzaga, Scipione - Cardinal; b. at Mantua, 11 November, 1542; d. at San Martino, 11 January, 1593.
González de Santalla, Thyrsus - Theologian and thirteenth general of the Society of Jesus, b. at Arganda, Spain, 18 January, 1624; died at Rome, 27 October, 1705.
González, Zeferino - Dominican, cardinal, theologian, and philosopher. (1831-1894)
Good - The moral good (bonum honestum) consists in the due ordering of free action or conduct according to the norm of reason, the highest faculty, to which it is to conform.
Good Faith - A phrase employed to designate the mental and moral state of honest, even if objectively unfounded, conviction as to the truth or falsehood of a proposition or body of opinion, or as to the rectitude or depravity of a line of conduct.
Good Friday - The Friday on which the Church keeps the anniversary of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Good, Highest, The - (1)Utilitarianism, when the highest good is identified with happiness; (2)Rational Deontologism, when the highest good is identified with virtue or duty; (3)Rational Eudæmonism, or tempered Deontologism, when both virtue and happiness are combined in the highest good.
Good Hope, Cape of (Western) - The Western vicariate and the Central prefecture, although different in name, are virtually one.
Good Samaritan, Sisters of the - A congregation of Tertiaries Regular of St. Benedict, established 2 February, 1857, at Sydney, Australia.
Good Shepherd, Our Lady of Charity of the - The aim of this institute is to provide a shelter for girls and women of dissolute habits, who wish to do penance for their iniquities and to lead a truly christian life.
Goodman, Ven. John - Priest and martyr; born in the Diocese of Bangor, Wales, 1590; died 1642.
Goossens, Pierre-Lambert - Cardinal, Archbishop of Michlin (Belgium), b. at Perck, near Vilvorde, 18 July, 1827; d. at Michlin, 25 January, 1906.
Gordian - There were three Roman emperors of this name, who reigned between A.D. 237-44, and all of whom met with violent deaths.
Gordianus and Epimachus, Saints - Roman martyrs under Julian the Apostate. Both died in 362. Although they did not die together, they are buried together, and the cemetery is named after them. Identifies two other martyrs named Gordianus, considers several named Epimachus.
Gordon Riots - This agitation, so called from the head and spirit of the movement, Lord George Gordon, convulsed the metropolis of England from 2 June till 9 June, 1780.
Gordos - A titular see in the province of Lydia, suffragan of Sardis.
Gorgonius, Saint - Identifies six martyrs of this name. Article concentrates on an imperial official who suffered in the Diocletian persecution and whose feast is 9 September. His cult was strong in France.
Gorkum, The Martyrs of - Their beatification took place on 14 Nov., 1675, and their canonization on 29 June, 1865.
Gorres, Guido - Historian, publicist, and poet; b. at Coblenz on 28 May, 1805; d. at Munich on 14 July, 1852.
Gortyna - A titular see, and in the Greek Church metropolitan see, of the Island of Crete.
Gorz - Capital of the Austrian crown-land Görz and Gradiska.
Goscelin - Benedictine biographical writer. (d. 1099)
Gospel and Gospels - The word Gospel usually designates a written record of Christ's words and deeds.
Gospel in the Liturgy - From the very earliest times the public reading of parts of the Bible was an important element in the Liturgy inherited from the service of the Synagogue.
Goyaz, Diocese of - Co-extensive with the state of the same name, one of the twenty states which, with the Federal District, comprise the Republic of Brazil.
Gozo, Diocese of - Comprises the island of Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea and the islet of Comino.
Gozzi, Carlo - Italian author, born at Venice, 1720; died 1806.
Gozzoli - Painter; b. at Florence, 1420; d. at Pisa 1497.
Grace, Actual - A supernatural gift of God to intellectual creatures (men, angels) for their eternal salvation.
Grace at Meals - One of the most ancient formulae of prayer at meals is found in a treatise of the fourth century, attributed without foundation to Saint Athanasius.
Grace, Controversies on - These are concerned chiefly with the relation between grace and free will.
Grace, Supernatural - Treatise on this fundamental building block of Christianity.
Grace, William Russell - Philanthropist and merchant, born at Cork, Ireland, 10 May, 1832; died at New York, 21 March, 1904.
Gradual - In English often called Grail, is the oldest and most important of the four chants that make up the choir's part of the Proper of the Mass.
Gradwell, Robert - Bishop; b. at Clifton-in-the-Fylde, Lancashire, 26 Jan., 1777; d. in London, 15 March, 1833.
Graffiti - The term in common usage among archaeologists to designate a class of rude inscriptions scratched on the walls of ancient monuments, generally sepulchral, as distinguised from the formal inscriptions engraved on the tombs of the deceased.
Graham, Patrick - First Archbishop of St. Andrews and Metropolitan of Scotland, date of birth uncertain; d. 1478.
Grail, The Holy - The name of a legendary sacred vessel, variously identified with the chalice of the Eucharist or the dish of the Pascal lamb, and the theme of a famous medieval cycle of romance.
Gramont, Eugénie de - Religious of the Society of the Sacred Heart; b. at Versailles, 17 September, 1788; d. at Paris, 19 November, 1846.
Granada - Archdiocese in Spain, founded by St. Cecilius about the year 64, was made an archiepiscopal see by Alexander VI, 23 Jan., 1493.
Granada, University of - The origin of this university is to be traced to the Arab school at Cordova, which, when the city was captured by St. Ferdinand in 1236, was removed to Granada and there continued.
Grancolas, Jean - Doctor of the Sorbonne, theologian, liturgist; b. near Chateaudun, about 1660; d. at Paris, 1 August, 1732.
Grand Rapids - Diocese created 12 May, 1882 out of the diocese of Detroit.
Granderath, Theodor - Known for his monumental labours on the Vatican Council.
Grandidier, Philippe-André - Priest and historian, b. at Strasburg, Alsace, 9 Nov., 1752; d. at the Abbey of Luntzel (Lucelles), Sundgau, 11 Oct., 1787.
Grasse, François-Joseph-Paul - Count and Marquess de Grasse-Tilly, lieutenant-general of the naval forces; b. near Toulon, 1723; d. at Paris, 11 January, 1788.
Grassel, Lorenz - Coadjutor-elect of Baltimore; born at Ruemannsfelden, Bavaria, 18 August, 1753; died at Philadelphia, U.S.A., October, 1793.
Grassis, Paris de - Master of ceremonies to Julius II and Leo X; b. at Bologna, about 1470; d. at Rome, 10 June, 1528.
Gratian - Details on this Roman Emperor who was the son of Valentinian I. He was born at Sirmium, 359 and died at Lyons, 383.
Gratian, Jerome - Spiritual director of St. Teresa and first Provincial of the Discalced Carmelites; born at Valladolid, 6 June, 1545; died at Brussels, 21 September, 1614.
Gratian, Johannes - The little that is known concerning the author of the "Concordantia discordantium canonum", more generally called the "Decretum Gratiani", is furnished by that work itself, its earliest copies, and its twelfth-century "Summae" or abridgments.
Gratianopolis - A titular see in Caesarea Mauretania, Africa.
Gratius, Ortwin - Humanist; b. 1475 at Holtwick, near Coesfeld, Westphalia; d. at Cologne, 22 May, 1542.
Gratry, Auguste-Joseph-Alphonse - French priest and writer; b. at Lille, 30 March, 1805; d. at Montreux, Switzerland, 7 February, 1872.
Gratz, Peter Aloys - Schoolmaster and exegete, b. 17 Aug., 1769, at Mittelberg, Allgäu, Bavaria; d. at Darmstadt, 1 Nov., 1849.
Gravier, Jacques - Jesuit missionary; born 1651 at Moulins, where he studied classics and philosophy under the Jesuits; died in Louisiana in 1708.
Gravina and Montepeloso - Gravina is a town in the Province of Bari (Southern Italy), since the ninth century an episcopal see, suffragan of Acerenza and Matera. In 1818 it was united aeque principaliter with Montepeloso, which dates back to the twelfth century (some say the fifteenth) and was suffragan of Potenza.
Gravina, Dominic - Theologian; b. in Sicily, about 1573; d. in the Minerva, at Rome, 26 Aug., 1643.
Gravina, Giovanni Vincenzo - Italian jurist and littérateur of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; b. at Rogliano, Calabria, 21 January, 1664; d. at Rome, 6 January, 1718.
Graz, University of - Located in the capital of the Province of Steiermark, owes its establishment to the Counter-Reformation and the efforts of Archduke Karl von Steiermark, who, in 1584, requested Pope Gregory XIII to grant autonomous university privileges to the Jesuit college of Graz.
Great Falls - Created by Pope Pius X, 18 May, 1904; comprises the following counties in the State of Montana: Carbon, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Fergus, Park, Rosebud, Sweet Grass, Valley, and Yellowstone.
Greek Church - Details the history and various divisions of the church.
Greek Orthodox Church in America - The name Orthodox Church is generally used to distinguish those of the Greek Rite who are not in communion with the Holy See.
Greek Rites - People who speak of the Greek Rite generally mean that of Constantinople.
Green Bay - Diocese established 3 March, 1868, from the territory of the Diocese of Milwaukee.
Green, Thomas Louis - Priest and controversialist; b. at Stourbridge, Worcestershire, 1799; d. at Newport, Shropshire, 27 Feb., 1883.
Greenland - An island stretching from within the Arctic Circle south to about 59 degrees N. latitude, being between 20 degrees and 75 degrees W. longitude.
Gregorian Chant - Short description and history, with links to more information.
Gregory Bæticus - Bishop of Elvira, in the province of Baetica, Spain, from which he derived his surname; d. about 392.
Gregory VII, Pope Saint - Also known as Hildebrand: "one of the greatest of the Roman pontiffs and one of the most remarkable men of all times." He died in 1085. Biographical article.
Gregory VIII - Antipope placed upon the papal chair by Emperor Henry V, 8 March, 1118.
Greith, Karl Johann - Bishop and church historian, b. at Rapperswyl, Switzerland, 25 May, 1897; d. at St. Gall, 17 May, 1882.
Gremiale - A square or oblong cloth which the bishop should wear over his lap, when seated on the throne during the singing of the Kyrie, Gloria, and Credo by the choir, during the distribution of blessed candles, palms or ashes, and also during the anointments in connection with Holy orders.
Grenoble - Comprises the Department of Isère and the Canton of Villeurbanne (Rhône).
Gresemund, Dietrich - German humanist; b. in 1477, at Speyer; d. 1512, at Mainz.
Gretser, Jacob - A celebrated Jesuit writer; b. at Markdorf in the Diocese of Constance in 1562; d. at Ingolstadt in 1625.
Greuze, Jean-Baptiste - French painter, b. at Tournus in Ardeche, 21 August, 1725; d. at Paris, 21 March, 1805.
Grey Nuns - The Order of Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal, commonly called Grey Nuns because of the colour of their attire, was founded in 1738.
Grey Nuns of the Cross - A community founded in 1745 at Monteal by Madame d'Youville, known as the Grey Sisters, or Grey Nuns, from the colour of the costume.
Griffin, Gerald - A novelist, dramatist, lyricist; b. 12 December, 1803, at Limerick, Ireland; d. at Cork, 12 June, 1840.
Griffiths, Thomas - Born in London, 2 June, 1791; died 19 August, 1847; the first and only Vicar Apostolic of the London District educated wholly in England.
Grillparzer, Franz - An Austrian poet, b. at Vienna, 15 January, 1791, d. 21 January, 1872.
Grimaldi, Francesco Maria - Italian physicist, b. at Bologna, 2 April, 1618; d. in the same city, 28 Dec., 1663.
Grimaldi, Giovanni Francesco - An eclectic painter of the Bolognese school; b. at Bologna, 1606; d. at Rome, 1680.
Grueber, Johann - German Jesuit missionary in China and noted explorer of the seventeenth century.
Grün, Anastasius - Pseudonym for Anton Alexander (Maria), Count von Auersperg, a nineteenth-century Austrian poet.
Guadalajara - Archdiocese in Mexico, separated from the Diocese of Michoacan by Paul III, 31 July, 1548.
Guadalupe, Shrine of - Guadalupe is strictly the name of a picture, but was extended to the church containing the picture and to the town that grew up around.
Guadeloupe - Diocese in the West Indies, comprises the islands of Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the French portions of St. Martin and St Bartholomew.
Guadix, Diocese of - Diocese in Spain, comprises the greater part of the Province of Granada and a portion of the Province of Almeria.
Guaicuri Indians - A group of small tribes, speaking dialectic forms of a common language, probably of distinct stock, formerly occupying part of Lower California.
Guaraní Indians - A tribal group of South America, having the former home territory chiefly between the Uruguay and lower Paraguay Rivers, in what is now Paraguay and the Provinces of Corrientes and Entre Rios of Argentina.
Guarantees, Law of - A law passed by the senate and chamber of the Italian parliament, 13 May, 1871, concerning the prerogatives of the Holy See, and the relations between State and Church in the Kingdom of Italy.
Guardian Angels - The lowest orders of angels are sent to men.
Guardian Angels, Feast of - This feast, like many others, was local before it was placed in the Roman calendar.
Guardianship, in Civil Jurisprudence - A person intrusted by law with the interests of another whose youth, inexperience, mental weakness or feebleness of will, disqualifies him from acting for himself in the ordinary affairs of life, and who is known as the ward.
Guarini, Battista - An Italian poet, b. at Ferrara, 1538, d. at Venice, 7 Oct., 1612.
Guarino da Verona - A humanist, b. 1370, at Verona, Italy; d. 1460, at Ferrara.
Guastalla, Diocese of - Situated in the province of Reggio Emilia (Central Italy) on the left bank of the Po at its junction with the Crostolo.
Guastallines - Luigia Torelli, Countess of Guastalla (b. about 1500; d. 29 Oct., 1559 or 1569), widowed for the second time when she was twenty-five, resolved to devote her life to the service of God.
Guatemala, Santiago de - Archdiocese conterminous with the Republic of Guatemala, in Central America.
Guayaquil - The capital of the Ecuadorian province of Guayas.
Gubbio - Diocese of Eugubinensis, in the province of Perugia in Umbria (Central Italy).
Gudenus, Moritz - German convert to the Catholic faith from the Protestant ministry; b. 11 April, 1596, at Cassel; d. February, 1680.
Gudula, Saint - Born in Brabant, one of a family of saints. She died in the early eighth century.
Guéranger, Prosper Louis Pascal - Benedictine and polygraph; b. 4 April, 1805, at Sablé-sur-Sarthe; d. at Solesmes, 30 January, 1875.
Guérard, Robert - Writer, born at Rouen, 1641; died at the monastery of Saint-Ouen, 2 January, 1715.
Guérin - Eugénie de Guérin, a French writer; b. at the château of La Cayla, in Languedoc, 15 January, 1805; d. there 5 June, 1848. Georges-Maurice de Guérin, a French poet, brother of Eugénie; b. at the château of La Cayla, in Languedoc, 5 August, 1810; d. there, 19 July, 1839.
Guérin, Anne-Thérèse - In religion, Mother Theodore. Born at Etables (Côte du Nord), Brittany, France, 2 October, 1798; died 14 May, 1856.
Gugler, Joseph Heinrich Aloysius - Born at Udligerschwyl, near Lucerne, Switzerland, 25 August, 1782; died at Lucerne, 28 February, 1827.
Guilds - Voluntary associations for religious, social, and commercial purposes.
Guiney, Patrick Robert - Soldier, born at Parkstown, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, on 15 Jan., 1835; died at Boston, 21 March, 1877.
Guiscard, Robert - Duke of Apulia and Calabria, founder of the Norman state of the Two Sicilies; born about 1016; died 17 July, 1085.
Guise, House of - A branch of the ducal family of Lorraine who played an important part in the religious troubles of France during the seventeenth century.
Guitmund - A Bishop of Aversa, a Benedictine monk, theologian, and opponent of Berengarius; born at an unknown place in Normandy during the first quarter of the eleventh century; died between 1090-95, at Aversa, near Naples.
Gulf of St. Lawrence - Vicariate erected 12 September, 1905, and formed from the prefecture Apostolic of the same name organized 29 May, 1882.
Gunpowder Plot, The - Oath taken May, 1604, plot discovered November, 1605. Robert Catesby, the originator of the Powder Plot, owned estates at Lapworth and Ashby St. Legers.
Gunther, Anton - Philosopher; b. 17 Nov., 1783, at Lindenau, near Leitmeritz, Bohemia; d. at Vienna, 24 February, 1863.
Gunther, Blessed - Lay brother, penitent, hermit in Bohemia, d. 1045.
Gurk - A prince-bishopric of Carinthia, suffragan to Salzburg.
Gury, Jean-Pierre - Moral theologian; b. at Mailleroncourt, Haute-Saône, 23 January, 1801; d. at Merc ur, Haute Loire, 18 April, 1866.
Gusmão, Bartholomeu Lourenço de - Naturalist, and the first aeronaut; b. in 1685 at Santos in the province of São Paulo, Brazil; d. 18 November, 1724, in Toledo, Spain.
