Maassen, Friedrich Bernard Christian Professor of law (1823-1900)

Palma Vecchio - Italian artist (1480-1528)

Palmer, William - English convert (1811-1879)

Palmieri, Domenico - Italian theologian (1829-1909)

Palmieri, Luigi - Physicist and meteorologist (1807-1896)

Palm in Christian Symbolism - A Christian symbol of victory

Palm Sunday - The sixth and last Sunday of Lent and beginning of Holy Week

Palmyra - Titular metropolitan see in Phoenicia Secunda.

Palou, Francisco - Spanish Franciscan (1722-1789)

Paltus - Titular see and suffragan of Seleucia Pieria in Syria Prima.

Paludanus, Peter - French archbishop and theologian (1275-1342)

Pamelius - Belgian theologian (1536-1587)

Pamiers - Diocese near Toulouse in France

Pammachius, Saint - Roman senator, widower, friend of SS. Augustine and Jerome, d. 409

Pamphilus of Cæsarea, Saint - Born in Beirut and studied at the Catechetical School in Alexandria. Priest, scholar, martyr. Beheaded in 309

Pamplona - Diocese and city in Spain

Panama - Located in Central America

Pancratius and Domitilla, Nereus and Achilleus, Saints - Roman martyrs who shared a feast day on 12 May

Pandects - Name of part of Justinian's legal compilation

Pandulph - Papal legate and Bishop of Norwich (d. 1226)

Panemotichus - Titular see of Pamphylia Secunda, suffragan of Perge.

Pange Lingua Gloriosi - Article on the two hymns of this name. The second is by Thomas Aquinas. The first is 'generally credited' to Venantius Fortunatus, though some believe it is the work of Claudianus Mamertus

Panigarola, Francesco - Italian preacher and controversialist (1548-1594)

Pannartz, Arnold - Fifteenth-century printers who brought the printing press to Italy

Pano Indians - A former important mission tribe in Peru

Panopolis - Titular see, suffragan of Antinoe in Thebais Prima

Panpsychism - A philosophical theory which holds that everything in the universe, inorganic and organic, has some degree of consciousness

Pantænus - Head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria about 180, still alive in 193

Pantaleon, Saint - Martyr, died in about 309

Pantheism - The false theory according to which God and the world are one

Panvinio, Onofrio - Italian historian and archaeologist (1530-1568)

Panzani, Gregorio - Bishop of Mileto (d. 1662)

Paoli, Venerable Angelo - Carmelite priest, died in 1720

Papacy, The - The ecclesiastical system in which the pope governs the Catholic Church as its supreme head; also, the papal influence viewed as a political force in history.

Pápago Indians - An important tribe of Shoshonean linguistic stock

Papal Arbitration - An institution almost coeval with the papacy itself

Papal Elections - The method of electing the pope has varied considerably at different periods of the history of the Church. . .

Papal Mint - History of the coins

Papal Rescripts - Responses of the pope or a Sacred Congregation, in writing, to queries or petitions of individuals

Papal States - Consists of the civil territory which for over 1000 years (754-1870) acknowledged the pope as temporal ruler

Paphnutius - Name of several persons in the early Church

Paphos - Titular see, suffragan of Salamis in Cyprus.

Papias, Saint - Thorough essay on what is known of this bishop, called by St. Irenaeus 'a hearer of John.' Also an exposition of the writings of Papias, who died around 120

Papiensis, Bernardus - Italian canonist of the thirteenth century (d. 1213)

Papini, Nicholas - Florentine historian (1751-1834)

Parables - A comparison, or a parallel, by which one thing is used to illustrate another.

Parabolani - The members of a brotherhood who in the Early Church voluntarily undertook the care of the sick and the burial of the dead.

Paracelsus, Theophrastus - Extensive biographical entry on the physician and alchemist

Paraclete - Another name for the Holy Ghost.

Paradise, Terrestrial - The name popularly given in Christian tradition to the scriptural Garden of Eden

Para du Phanjas, François - French Jesuit writer (1724-1797)

Parætonium - Titular see of Lybia Secunda or Inferior (i.e. Marmarica), suffragan of Darnis.

Paraguay - One of the inland republics of South America

Paralipomenon, Books of - Two books of the Bible containing a summary of sacred history from Adam to the end of the Captivity.

Parahyba - Diocese in Brazil

Parallelism - The balance of verse with verse, an essential and characteristic feature in Hebrew poetry.

Parallelism, Psycho-Physical - A doctrine which states that the relation between mental processes, on the one hand, and physical, physiological, or cerebral processes on the other, is one merely of invariable concomitance

Paralus - Titular see, suffragan of Cabasa in Aegyptus Secunda.

Paraná - Diocese near Buenos Aires in Argentina

Parasceve - Among Hellenistic Jews, the name for Friday

Paray-le-Monial - A town in France

Pardies, Ignace-Gaston - French scientist (1636-1673)

Pardons of Brittany - Signifies in Brittany the feast of the patron saint of a church or chapel, at which an indulgence is granted.

Paré, Ambroise - French surgeon (1517-1590)

Paredes, Blessed Mary Anne de - Of Quito, Ecuador, lived as a solitary in her own home and had many extraordinary spiritual gifts. She died in 1645

Pareja, Francisco - Spanish missionary (1628-1593)

Parents - Considers the duties of parents toward their children, and vice versa

Parenzo-Pola - Diocese in Italy

Parini, Giuseppe - Italian poet (1729-1799)

Paris - Archdiocese and city in France

Paris, University of - Famous and ancient university in France

Paris, Alexis-Paulin - French philologist (1800-1881)

Paris, Gaston-Bruno-Paulin - French philologist (1839-1903)

Paris, Matthew - Benedictine monk and chronicler (1200-1259)

Paris Commune, Martyrs of the - Article on the priests who were killed in Paris in May 1871

Parish - A portion of a diocese under the authority of a priest legitimately appointed to secure the helps of religion for the faithful dwelling therein

Parium - Titular see, suffragan of Cyzicus in the Hellespontus.

Park, Abbey of the - Located half a mile south of Louvain, Belgium, founded in 1129 by Duke Godfrey

Parkinson, Anthony - English historian (1667-1728)

Parlais - Titular see of Pisidia, suffragan of Antioch.

Parlatore, Filippo - Italian botanist (1816-1877)

Parma - Diocese located in central Italy.

Parmentier, Antoine-Augustin - French agriculturist (1737-1813)

Parmigiano, Il - Italian painter (1504-1540)

Parnassus - Titular see in Cappadocia Secunda, suffragan of Mocessus.

Parochial Mass - A Mass celebrated for parishioners on all Sundays and holidays of obligation

Parœcopolis - Titular see of Macedonia, suffragan of Thessalonica.

Parochial Missions, Catholic - This term is used to designate certain special exertions of the Church's pastoral agencies, made, for the most part, among Catholics, to instruct them more fully in the truths of their religion, to convert sinners, rouse the torpid and indifferent, and lift the good to a still higher plane of spiritual effort

Parrenin, Dominique - Jesuit missionary to China (1665-1741)

Parsis - Small Zoroastrian community in India

Particular Judgment - The Catholic doctrine of the particular judgment is this: that immediately after death the eternal destiny of each separated soul is decided by the just judgment of God

Partnership - An unincorporated association of two or more persons, known as partners, having for its object the carrying on in common by the partners of some predetermined occupation for shared profit

Paruta, Paolo - Venetian historian and statesman (1540-1598)

Pascal, Blaise - French scientist and philosopher (1623-1662)

Pascal Baylon, Saint - Aragonese Franciscan lay brother, d. 1592

Pasch - Great Jewish holiday

Paschal I, Pope - Pope who reigned from 817 to 824

Paschal II, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1099-1118

Paschal III (Antipope) - Second antipope in the time of Pope Alexander III (d. 1168)

Paschal Candle - A large wax candle, usually fixed in a great candlestick and featured in the service on Holy Saturday

Paschal Lamb - A lamb which the Israelites were commanded to eat with peculiar rites as a part of the Passover celebration

Paschal Tide - The fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost

Paschasius, Saint - A Roman deacon, and a faithful supporter of the antipope Laurentius. Paschasius died sometime between 511 and 514

Paschasius Radbertus, Saint - Biographical article on the deacon, Benedictine abbot, and theologian, who died in 860

Passaglia, Carlo - Italian Jesuit (1812-1887)

Passau - Diocese and city in Bavaria

Passerat, Joseph, Venerable - A Frenchman, he joined the Redemptorists in Poland. As vicar-general, he founded many houses in Europe and the United States. Died in 1858

Passignano, Domenico - Venetian painter (1558-1638)

Passionei, Domenico - Cardinal and theologian (1682-1761)

Passionists - Full title: 'The Congregation of Discalced Clerks of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ'.

Passion Music - Precisely when, in the development of the liturgy, the history of the Passion of Our Lord ceased, during Holy Week, to be merely read and became a solemn recitation, has not yet been ascertained. . . .

Passion of Christ, Commemoration of the - A feast kept on the Tuesday after Sexagesima.

Passion of Jesus Christ - Devotion to the sufferings of Our Lord, which culminated in His death upon the Cross

Passion of Jesus Christ in the Four Gospels - Four separate accounts of the Passion of Our Lord, each of which supplements the others

Passion Offices - Offices devoted to 'the instruments of the Passion'

Passion Plays - The modern drama does not originate in the ancient, but in the religious plays of the Middle Ages, themselves an outcome of the liturgy of the Church. . .

Passions - Motions of the sensitive appetite in man which tend towards the attainment of some real or apparent good, or the avoidance of some evil.

Passion Sunday - The fifth Sunday of Lent

Passiontide - The two weeks between Passion Sunday and Easter.

Passos - Certain pious exercises practiced annually during Lent at Goa and throughout India

Passover - Great Jewish holiday

Pasteur, Louis - Founder of physio-chemistry, father of bacteriology, inventor of bio-therapeutics (1822-1895)

Pasto, Diocese of - Diocese and town in Colombia, South America

Pastor - A priest who has the cure of souls, that is, who is bound in virtue of his office to promote the spiritual welfare of the faithful by preaching, administering the sacraments, and exercising certain powers of external government

Pastoral Epistles (Timothy and Titus) - Disciples of St. Paul

Pastoral Staff - The Pastoral Staff is an ecclesiastical ornament which is conferred on bishops at their consecration and on mitred abbots at their investiture, and which is used by these prelates in performing certain solemn functions

Pastoral Theology - The science of the care of souls

Pastoureaux, Crusade of the - One of the most curious of the popular movements inspired by a desire to deliver the Holy Land.

Patagonia - The southernmost extremity of South America.

Patara - Titular see of Lycia, suffragan of Myra, formerly a large cornmercial town, opposite Rhodes.

Paten - A small shallow plate or disc of precious metal upon which the element of bread is offered to God at the Offertory of the Mass, and upon which the consecrated Host is again placed after the Fraction.

Patenson, Venerable William - English priest, martyred at Tyburn in 1592. During his imprisonment, he converted several of the inmates

Pater Noster - Although the Latin term oratio dominica is of early date, the phrase 'Lord's Prayer' does not seem to have been generally familiar in England before the Reformation. During the Middle Ages the 'Our Father' was always said in Latin, even by the uneducated. Hence it was then most commonly known as the Pater noster

Pathology, Mental - Discusses the mental faculties and varities of insanity

Patmore, Coventry - One of the major poets of the nineteenth century

Patmos - A small volcanic island in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor

Patras - Metropolitan see in Achaia.

Patriarch - The word 'patriarch' as applied to Biblical personages comes from the Septuagint version . . .

Patriarch and Patriarchate - Names of the highest ecclesiastical dignitaries after the pope, and of the territory they rule.

Patrician Brothers - A brotherhood founded in Ireland by Bishop Daniel Delaney

Patrick, Saint - Lengthy biographical article on the Apostle of Ireland

Patrick's Purgatory, Saint - This celebrated sanctuary in Donegal dates from the days of St. Patrick . . .

Patrizi, Francis Xavier - Italian Jesuit exegete (1797-1881)

Patrology - The study of the writings of the Fathers of the Church

Patron and Patronage - A determinate sum of rights and obligations entailed upon a definite person, the patron, especially in connection with the assignment and administration of a benefice

Patron Saints - Statistics on popular titular patrons of churches in Rome, Belgium, and English-speaking countries. Short lists of some national patrons and patron saints of professional occupations

Patronage of Our Lady, Feast of the - First permitted by decree for all the provinces of Spain, in memory of the victories obtained over the Saracens, heretics, and other enemies from the sixth century to the reign of Philip IV

Patti, Diocese of - Diocese in Sicily

Paul, Saint - The great Apostle to the Gentiles

Paul I, Pope - Biographical article on this eighth-century pontiff

Paul II, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1464 to 1471

Paul III, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1468 to 1534

Paul IV, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1555 to 1559

Paul V, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1605 to 1621

Paul and John, Saints - Roman martyrs, c. 362

Pauli, Johannes - German Franciscan (1455-1530)

Paulicians - Dualistic heretical sect, derived originally from Manichaeism.

Paulist Fathers - A community of priests for giving missions and doing other Apostolic works, especially for making converts to the Catholic faith

Paul of Burgos - Spanish archbishop, lord chancellor and exegete (1351-1435)

Paul of Middelburg - Scientist and bishop (1446-1534)

Paul of Samosata - Bishop of Antioch (3rd century)

Paul of the Cross, Saint - Biographical essay on the Italian-born founder of the Passionists. He died in 1775

Paul the Deacon - Lombard historian (720-799)

Paul the Hermit, Saint - Fled into the Egyptian desert to escape the Decian persecution. Died at the age of 113

Paul the Simple, Saint - Monk, disciple of St. Antony, d. around 339

Paul-without-the-Walls, Saint - An abbey nullius. As early as 200 the burial place of the great Apostle in the Via Ostia was marked by a cella memoriæ, near which the Catacomb of Comodilla was established

Paula, Saint - Widowed at the age of 32, Paula embarked on the monastic life in Bethlehem, along with her daughter Eustochium. Paula died in 404

Paulinus, Saint - Biographical article on the Roman monk sent by St. Gregory the Great to Kent

Paulinus, Saint - Looked upon as a saint even in his own lifetime. He died in 431

Paulinus II, Saint - Patriarch of Aquileia, d. 802

Paulinus a S. Bartholomaeo - Missionary and orientalist (1748-1806)

Paulinus of Pella - Christian poet of the fifth century

Paulists - Various communities of religious that have adopted St. Paul as patron

Paulus Diaconus - Lombard historian (720-799)

Paulus Venetus - Brief article on this thinker, by Francis E. Tourscher

Pavia - Diocese in Lombardy, northern Italy

Pavia, University of - Pavia was, even in Roman times, a literary centre . . .

Pavillon, Nicolas - Bishop of Alet (1597-1677)

Pax - A tablet to be kissed

Pax in the Liturgy - A liturgical salutation ('Peace be with you')

Payeras, Mariano - Spanish Franciscan (1784-1793)

Pázmány, Peter - Famous Hungarian ecclesiastic (d. 1637)

Payne, Blessed John - English priest, tortured and martyred on completely fabricated charges of conspiracy to murder the queen. Executed in 1582

Peace Congresses - Meetings of representatives of different nations to obtain a peaceful settlement of differences

Peace of the Church - The condition of the Church after the publication at Milan in 313 by Emperor Constantine of an edict of toleration

Peasants, War of the (1524-25) - A revolt of the peasants of southern and central Germany

Peba Indians - The principal of a small group of South American Indian tribes

Pecham, John - Archbishop of Canterbury (1240-1292)

Pecock, Reginald - Welsh bishop of Chichester (1395-1460)

Pectoral - The breastplate worn by the high priest in the Old Testament

Pectorale - The cross worn by the pope, cardinals, bishops and other prelates

Pectorius of Autun - The name with which the important document frequently known as the Inscription of Autun concludes.

Pednelissus - Titular see in Pamphylia Secunda, suffragan of Perge

Pedro de Cordova - Spanish Dominican (1460-1525)

Pelagia - Discusses four saints of this name

Pelagius I, Pope - Pope (d. 561)

Pelagius II, Pope - Pope who succeeded Benedict I, when the Lombards were besieging Rome (d. 590)

Pelagius and Pelagianism - Fifth-century heresy which denied original sin as well as Christian grace.

Pelargus, Ambrose - German theologian (1488-1557)

Pelisson-Fontanier, Paul - French writer (1624-1693)

Pella - Titular see and suffragan of Scythopolis in Palaestina Secunda.

Pelletier, Pierre-Joseph - French scientist (1788-1842)

Pellico, Silvio - Italian author and patriot (1788-1854)

Pellissier, Guillaume - French bishop (1490-1568)

Pelotas - Diocese in Brazil

Pelouze, Théophile-Jules - French scientist (1807-1867)

Peltrie, Madeleine de la - French noblewoman and foundress (1603-1671)

Pelusium - Titular metropolitan see in Egypt, mentioned in Ezekiel 30:15

Pembroke - Diocese in Ottawa, in Canada

Peña, Francisco - Spanish canonist (1540-1612)

Penal Laws - Treats of the penal legislation affecting Catholics in English-speaking countries since the Reformation.

Peñalver y Cardenas, Luis Ignatius - Bishop of New Orleans and Archbishop of Guatemala (1749-1810)

Penance (as a Virtue) - Penance designates (1) a virtue; (2) a sacrament of the New Law; (3) a canonical punishment inflicted according to the earlier discipline of the Church; (4) a work of satisfaction enjoined upon the recipient of the sacrament.

Penance, Sacrament of - A sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same.

Pendleton, Henry - English controversialist (d. 1557)

Penelakut Indians - A small tribe of Salishan stock in British Columbia

Penitentes, Los Hermanos - A society of flagellants existing among the Spanish of New Mexico and Colorado.

Penitential Canons - Rules laid down by councils or bishops concerning the penances to be done for various sins.

Penitential Orders - A general name for religious congregations whose members are bound to perform extraordinary works of penance, or to provide others with the means of atoning for grave faults.

Penitents, Confraternities of - Various congregations with statutes prescribing various penitential works

Penne and Atri, Diocese of - Diocese and city near Abruzzi in central Italy

Pennsylvania - One of the thirteen original United States of America

Penobscot Indians - The principal tribe of the famous Abenaki confederacy of Maine

Pension, Ecclesiastical - The right to a certain sum of money to be paid yearly out of the revenues of a church or benefice to a cleric

Pentacomia - Titular see of Palestine, suffragan of Areopolis or Rabbah.

Pentapolis - The region where stood the five cities of Sodom, Gomorrha, Zoar, Adama and Seboim

Pentateuch - The name of the first five books of the Old Testament.

Pentecost - A feast which commemorates the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ

Pentecost (Jewish Feast) - The second in importance of the great Jewish feasts.

Peoria - Diocese in Illinois, United States

Peoria Indians - A principal tribe of the confederated Illinois Indians

Pepin the Short - King of the Franks (714-768)

Peppergrass, Paul - Novelist, lecturer, and priest, well known under the assumed name of 'Paul Peppergrass' (1810-1864)

Perboyre, Blessed Jean-Gabriel - Vincentian priest, missionary to China, where he was tortured and martyred in 1840

Percy, Blessed Thomas - Earl of Northumberland, martyr, born in 1528; died at York, 22 August, 1572

Percy, John - English Jesuit (1569-1641)

Peregrinus - Texts prefixed to the Pauline epistles in many manuscripts

Pereira, Benedict - Philosopher, theologian and exegete (1535-1610)

Perez, Juan - Confessor to Queen Isabella of Spain (d. before 1513)

Pérez de Hita, Ginés - Sixteenth-century Spanish writer

Perfection, Christian and Religious - A thing is perfect in which nothing is wanting of its nature, purpose, or end

Pergamus - Titular see, suffragan of Ephesus.

Perge - Titular metropolitan see in Pamphylia Secunda.

Pergolesi, Giovanni Battista - Notes his torn allegiances between sacred and secular music

Pericui Indians - Baja California Indian tribe

Périgueux - Diocese near Bordeaux in France

Periodi - The name under which the Pseudo-Clementine writings are quoted by Epiphanius, Jerome, and the 'Philocalia'.

Periodical Literature, Catholic - Publications appearing at intervals either regular or irregular.

Perjury - The crime and sin of taking a false oath

Permaneder, Franz Michael - Bavarian canonist (1794-1862)

Pernter, Joseph Maria - Jesuit scientist (1848-1908)

Perpetua and Felicitas, Saints - Martyred at Carthage in 203

Perpetual Adoration - A term broadly used to designate the practically uninterrupted adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Perpetual Adoration, Religious of - A Belgian congregation founded in 1857

Perpetual Adoration, Religious of the - Contemplative Benedictine congregation, founded in 1526 by Sister Elizabeth Zwirer in Switzerland

Perpetual Adoration, Sisters of the - An institute of nuns devoted to perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and to the education of orphan children

Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament - Founded in Paris in 1601

Perpetual Help, Our Lady of, Sisters of - Congregation founded in Canada in 1892

Perpetual Help, Our Lady of - A famous Byzantine-style picture painted on wood, with a background of gold

Perpetual Succour, Our Lady of - A famous Byzantine-style picture painted on wood, with a background of gold

Perpetuus, Saint - Eighth bishop of Tours, d. 490 or 491. St. Perpetuus was greatly devoted to his predecessor St. Martin of Tours

Perpignan, Diocese of - Diocese in France