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Nabo - A town mentioned in several passages of the Old Testament
Nabor and Felix, Saints - Martyrs in the Diocletian persecution
Nabuchodonosor - Commentary on the two Babylonian kings of that name, especially the second, who is mentioned in Scripture
Nacchiante, Giacomo - Dominican theologian from Florence (d. 1569)
Nacolia - Titular metropolitan see in Phrygia Salutaris
Nagasaki - History of Catholicism in this Japanese city
Nagpur - Diocese in India, suffragan to Madras
Nahanes - American Indian tribe
Nahum - Essay on the Old Testament prophet and the book which bears his name
Nails, Holy - The question has long been debated whether Christ was crucified with three or with four nails. . .
Naim - The city where Christ raised to life the widow's son
Name of Jesus, Religious Communities of the - Includes Swedish knights, French sisters and a Portuguese confraternity
Name of Mary, Feast of the Holy - Feast commemorating all the privileges given to Mary by God and all the graces we have received through her intercession and mediation.
Names, Christian - Strictly speaking, this is not merely the first name of a person, but the name given to him at his baptism
Names, Hebrew - To the philosopher a name is an artificial sign consisting in a certain combination of articulate sounds, whereby a particular class of people are wont to designate one thing and distinguish it from all others. . .
Names of Jesus and Mary, Sisters of the Holy - Religious congregation founded 1844 in Quebec
Namur - Constituted by the Bull of 12 May, 1559, from territory previously belonging to the Diocese of Liege
Nancy - Diocese in France and heir to the celebrated See of Toul
Nantes - French diocese re-established by the Concordat of 1802
Nanteuil, Robert - French engraver and crayonist (1623-1678)
Naples - The capital of a province in Campania, southern Italy, and formerly capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Napoleon I (Bonaparte) - Emperor of the French (1769-1821)
Napoleon III - Emperor of the French (1808-1873)
Napper, Venerable George - 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
Nardi, Jacopo - Italian historian; born at Florence (1476-1563)
Nardò - Diocese in southern Italy
Narni and Terni - United dioceses located in central Italy
Narthex - In early Christian architecture a portion of the church separated from the nave and reserved for those who were not admitted amongst the congregation.
Nashville - Comprises the entire territory of the State of Tennessee.
Nasoræans - Pagan Gnostics who once flourished in Mesopotamia and Babylonia
Natal - Vicariate apostolic in South Africa
Natal Day - The anniversary of a person's death
Natalis, Alexander - A French historian and theologian, of the Order of St. Dominic (1639-1724)
Natchez - Diocese located in Mississippi
Natchitoches - Former title of the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana
Nathan - Identifies six men of that name mentioned in the Old Testament
Nathanael - One of the first disciples of Jesus, to Whom he was brought by his friend Philip
Nathinites - An inferior class of Temple servants
National Union, Catholic Young Men's - Its objects are the furtherance of practical unity, the spiritual, intellectual, moral, and physical advanced of Catholic youth, and the development of better citizens and Catholics.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast of the - The earliest document commemorating this feast comes from the sixth century. . .
Natural Law - In English this term is frequently employed as equivalent to the laws of nature, meaning the order which governs the activities of the material universe. Among the Roman jurists natural law designated those instincts and emotions common to man and the lower animals, such as the instinct of self-preservation and love of offspring
Naturalism - Philosophical tendency that consists essentially in looking upon nature as the one original and fundamental source of all that exists, and in attempting to explain everything in terms of nature.
Nature - Has reference to the production of things, and hence generally includes in its connotation the ideas of energy and activity.
Naturism - The term proposed by Reville to designate the worship of nature.
Nausea, Frederic - Bishop of Vienna (1480-1552)
Navajo Indians - The largest group of Indians belonging to the Athapaskan, or Dene stock
Navarre - Territory in the Pyrenees
Navarrete, Domingo Fernández - Dominican missionary and archbishop (1610-1689)
Navarrete, Juan Fernández - (catholic Encyclopedia)
Navarrete, Martín Fernández - Spanish navigator and writer (1765-1844)
Nave - Architecturally the central, open space of a church, west of the choir or chancel, and separated therefrom by a low wall or screen.
Nazarene - A name applied to Our Lord in the New Testament
Nazareth, Sisters of Charity of - Founded in 1812 by Father David
Nazareth - The town of Galilee where the Blessed Virgin dwelt when the Archangel announced to her the Incarnation of the Word, and where Christ lived until the age of thirty years
Nazarite - The name given by the Hebrews to a person set apart and especially consecrated to the Lord.
Nazarius, Saint - Fourteenth abbot of Lerins
Nazarius, John Paul - Dominican theologian (1556-1645)
Nazarius and Celsus, Saints - St. Ambrose discovered the bodies of these martyrs
Nazarius and Companions, Saint - Roman martyrs of the Diocletian persecution
Nazianzus - Titular metropolitan see of Cappadocia Tertia.
Neale, Leonard - Second Archbishop of Baltimore (1746-1817)
Nebo - A town mentioned in several passages of the Old Testament
Nebo, Mount - A mountain of the Abarim range east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, from which Moses surveyed the Promised Land
Nebraska - One of the United States of America, originally included in the Louisiana Purchase.
Necessity - A strict connection between different beings, or the different elements of a being, or between a being and its existence.
Neckam, Alexander of - English scholar (1157-1217)
Necrologies - The registers in which religious communities were accustomed to enter the names of the dead — notably their own deceased members, their associates, and their principal benefactors — with a view to the offering of prayers for their souls.
Necromancy - A special mode of divination by the summoning of the dead
Nectarius - Patriarch of Constantinople (381-397)
Negligence - The omission, whether habitual or not, of the care required for the performance of duties, or at any rate, for their full adequate discharge.
Nehemiah, Book of - Summary with some commentary
Neher, Stephan Jakob - Church historian (1829-1902)
Nélaton, Auguste - French surgeon (1807-1873)
Nemore, Jordanus (Jordanis) de - The name given in medieval manuscripts to a mathematician called Jordanus Nemorarius
Nemrod - An examination of this Old Testament figure, mentioned in Genesis as 'a mighty hunter before the Lord' and king of Babylon
Neocæsarea - Titular see, suffragan of Hierapolis in the Patriarchate of Antioch sometimes called Caesarea.
Neocæsarea - Titular see of Pontus Polemoniacus
Neophyte - A term used of those who, lately converted from heathenism, have by the sacrament of Baptism, been transplanted into the higher life of the Church.
Neo-Platonism - Article by William Turner covering this movement's principal figures and later influence
Neo-Pythagorean Philosophy - An ethico-religious society founded by Pythagoras, which flourished especially in Magna Graecia in the fifth century B.C.
Neo-Scholasticism - The development of the Scholasticism of the Middle Ages during the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Nephtali - A look at the son of Jacob and the tribe of Nephtali
Nepi and Sutri - United sees of the province of Rome in central Italy
Nepveu, Francis - Ascetical writer (1639-1654)
Nereus and Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancratius, Saints - Roman martyrs who shared a feast day on 12 May
Neri, Antonio - Florentine chemist (d. 1614)
Neri, Saint Philip Romolo - Biographical article on the Apostle of Rome, who died in 1595
Nerinckx, Charles - Missionary priest in Kentucky, founder of the Sisters of Loretto (1761-1824)
Nero - The last Roman emperor (reigned 54-68) of the Julian-Claudian line
Nerses I-IV - Armenian patriarchs.
Nerses of Lambron - Scholar (1153-1198)
Nestorius and Nestorianism - Biography of the Patriarch of Constantinople, and examination of the unacceptable implications of his doctrine
Netherlands, The - The Low Countries, as organized by Charles V, under whom the Burgundian era ended
Netter, Thomas - Theologian and controversialist (1375-1430)
Neugart, Trudpert - Benedictine historian (1742-1825)
Neum - A term in medieval music theory
Neumann, Johann Balthasar - German artist and architect (1687-1753)
Neumayr, Franz - Preacher, writer and dramatist (1697-1765)
Neusohl - Diocese founded in 1776 by Maria Theresa.
Neutra - Diocese in western Hungary, suffragan of Gran
Nevada - A western state of the United States
Neve - Titular see of Arabia, suffragan of Bostra.
Nève, Felix-Jean-Baptiste-Joseph - Orientalist and philologist (1816-1893)
Nevers - Diocese in France
Neville - Biographies of Edmund (1605-1647), Edmund (1563-1648), Edward (1663-1735) and various other Nevilles
New Abbey - Abbey situated near Dumfries, Scotland.
Newark - Diocese created in 1853 in New Jersey
Newbattle - Located near Edinburgh, the second of the six Cistercian monasteries established by St. David, King of Scotland
New Caledonia - Vicariate apostolic in Oceania
Newdigate, Blessed Sebastian - Martyred at Tyburn in 1535 for denying the royal supremacy
Newfoundland - Located in Canada
New Guinea - Large island country
New Hampshire - The most northerly of the thirteen original states of the United States
Newhouse, Abbey of - The first Premonstratensian abbey in England, founded in 1143
New Jersey - One of the original thirteen states of the American Union. . .
Newman, John Henry - Lengthy and admiring biography of Newman as a thinker, author, leader, and illustrious convert to Catholicism
New Mexico - A state of the United States
New Norcia - Benedictine abbey in Western Australia
New Orleans - Archdiocese in the southern United States
New Pomerania - The largest island of the Bismarck Archipelago
Newport (England) - Diocese in the County of Monmouth, England
New Testament - Jesus Christ uses the words 'new testament' as meaning the alliance established by Himself between God and the world, and this is called 'new' as opposed to that of which Moses was the mediator
New Testament, Canon of the - The idea of a complete and clear-cut canon of the New Testament existing from the beginning, that is from Apostolic times, has no foundation in history
Newton, John - Soldier and engineer (1823-1895)
New Year's Day - Since there was no necessary starting-point in the circle of the year, we find among different nations, and among the same at different epochs of their history, a great variety of dates with which the new year began. . .
New York (Archdiocese) - Large archdiocese erected 1808 in the northeastern United States
New York (State) - One of the thirteen colonies of Great Britain, which on 4 July, 1776, adopted the Declaration of Independence and became the United States of America.
New Zealand - Consists of three main islands (North Island, South Island, sometimes also called Middle island, and Stewart island) and several groups of smaller islands . . .
Niagara University - A Vincentian university located near Niagara Falls, New York
Nicaea - Titular see of Bithynia Secunda, situated on Lake Ascanius
Nicaea, First Council of - First ecumenical council, held in 325 to combat Arianism
Nicaea, Second Council of - Seventh Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church, held in 787.
Nicaragua - Republic and diocese in Central America
Nicastro - A city in Calabria, southern Italy
Niccola Pisano - Pisan architect and sculptor (1205-1278)
Nice - Diocese re-established in France by the Concordat of 1801
Nicene Creed - The profession of the Christian Faith common to the Catholic Church, to all the Eastern Churches separated from Rome, and to most of the Protestant denominations.
Nicephorus, Saint - Long article on the stormy career of the Patriarch of Constantinople, who died in 829
Nicéron, Jean-Pierre - French lexicographer (1685-1738)
Nicetas - Bishop of Remesiana in Serbia (335-414)
Nicetius, Saint - Sixth-century bishop of Trier
Niche - A recess for the reception of a statue, so designed as to give it emphasis, frame it effectively, and afford some measure of protection.
Nicholas I, Saint, Pope - Biography of this pope, d. 867, who upheld the authority of the papacy and the inviolability of marriage
Nicholas II, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1058 to 1061
Nicholas III, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1277 to 1280
Nicholas IV, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1288 to 1292
Nicholas V, Pope - Pope who reigned from 1447 to 1455
Nicholas Garlick, Venerable - Short biography of the English priest and martyr. Also some information on fellow martyr Robert Ludlam. They died in 1588
Nicholas Justiniani - Benedictine monk, dispensed from his vows, never formally beatified
Nicholas of Cusa - Lengthy article on the life and writings of the fifteenth-century canon lawyer, diplomat, and philosopher
Nicholas of Flüe, Blessed - Soldier, husband and father, became a hermit and was known as Brother Klaus
Nicholas of Gorran - Medieval preacher and scriptural commentator (1232-1295)
Nicholas of Lyra - Exegete, author of postillae, insisted that the literal sense of Scripture is the foundation for any spiritual interpretation
Nicholas of Myra, Saint - Fourth-century bishop in Asia Minor. Also called St. Nicholas of Bari because his relics were translated there in the eleventh century
Nicholas of Osimo - Italian preacher and author (d. 1453)
Nicholas of Strasburg - Fourteenth-century French mystic
Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint - Augustinian hermit, d. 1306
Nicholas Owen, Saint - A Jesuit lay brother, skilled in building hiding places for priests. He died under torture in 1606
Nicholas Pieck, Saint - Franciscan, studied at Louvain, was ordained a priest. He was martyred in 1572
Nichols, Venerable George - 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
Nicholson, Francis - English controversial writer (1650-1731)
Nicodemus - A prominent Jew of the time of Christ, mentioned in the Gospel of John
Nicodemus, Gospel of - The Gospel of Nicodemus
Nicolaï, Jean - Dominican theologian and controversialist (1594-1673)
Nicolaites - A sect mentioned in the second chapter of Revelation
Nicolas, Armella - Saintly (though never canonized) French serving-maid (1606-1671)
Nicolas, Auguste - French apologist (1807-1888)
Nicolaus Germanus - Fifteenth-century cartographer
Nicole, Pierre - Theologian and controversialist (1625-1695)
Nicolet - Diocese in Quebec, Canada
Nicolò de' Tudeschi - Benedictine canonist from Sicily (1386-1445)
Nicomedes, Saint - Roman martyr venerated since at least the fifth century
Nicomedia - Titular see of Bithynia Prima, founded by King Zipoetes.
Nicopolis - Titular see, suffragan of Sebasteia, in Armenia Prima.
Nicopolis - Diocese in Bulgaria
Nicopolis - Titular see and metropolis in ancient Epirus.
Nicosia - A city of the Province of Catania, in Sicily
Nicosia - Titular archdiocese in the Province of Cyprus.
Nicotera and Tropea - Suffragan diocese of Reggio di Calabria
Nider, John - Dominican theologian (1380-1438)
Nieremberg y Otin, Juan Eusebio - Theologian and polygraphist (1595-1658)
Niessenberger, Hans - An architect of the latter part of the Middle Ages
Niger, Peter George - Dominican theologian, preacher and controversialist (1434-1481)
Nigeria - A colony of British East Africa
Nihilism - One who bows to no authority and accepts no doctrine, however widespread, that is not supported by proof.
Nihus, Barthold - Convert and controversialist (1590-1657)
Nikolaus von Dinkelsbühl - German theologian (1360-1433)
Nikon - Patriarch of Moscow (1652-1658; d. 1681)
Nilles, Nikolaus - Priest in Luxemburg (1828-1907)
Nilopolis - Titular see and a suffragan of Oxyrynchos, in Egypt.
Nilus, Saint - Fifth-century monk at Mount Sinai
Nilus the Younger - Calabrian monk, hermit, founder, d. 1005
Nimbus - In art and archaeology signifies a shining light implying great dignity.
Nîmes - Diocese; suffragan of Avignon in France
Nimrod - An examination of this Old Testament figure, mentioned in Genesis as 'a mighty hunter before the Lord' and king of Babylon
Ninian, Saint - British by birth, St. Ninian evangelized the southern Picts in Scotland
Nirschl, Joseph - Bavarian theologian and writer (1823-1904)
Nisibis - Titular Archdiocese of Mesopotamia, situated on the Mygdonius at the foot of Mt. Masius.
Nithard - Frankish historian and grandson of Charlemagne (d. 843)
Noah - A study of this Old Testament figure
Noah's Ark - The form, very likely foursquare, was not convenient for navigation, but, as has been proven by the experiments of Peter Jansen and M. Vogt, it made the Ark a very suitable device for shipping heavy cargoes and floating upon the waves without rolling or pitching
Noailles, Louis-Antoine de - Cardinal and bishop (1651-1729)
Nobili, Robert de' - Missionary to India (1577-1656)
Noble, Daniel - English physician (1810-1885)
Nocera - Diocese in Perugia, Umbria, Italy
Nocera dei Pagani - Diocese in Salermo, Italy
Nocturns - The convoluted history of this nighttime prayer
Nogaret, Guillaume de - Counsellor of Philip the Fair (d. 1314)
Nola - Diocese; suffragan of Naples
Nola, Giovanni Marliano da - Sculptor and architect (1488-1558)
Nolasco, Saint Peter - Biographical article on the founder of the Mercedarians
Nollet, Jean-Antoine - French physicist (1700-1770)
Nominalism, Realism, Conceptualism - The theories that have been proposed as solutions of the problem of universals
Nomination - The designation of a person for an ecclesiastical benefice or office made by the competent civil authority and conferring on the person named the right to be canonically instituted by the ecclesiastical superior.
Nomocanon - A collection of Church law, the elements of which are borrowed from secular and canon law
Nonantola - Former Benedictine monastery and prelature nullius, founded in 752
Nonconformists - Denotes those refusing to conform with the authorized formularies and rites of the Established Church of England.
None - Essay on the daytime canonical hour recited in mid-afternoon
Non Expedit - Words with which the Holy See enjoined upon Italian Catholics the policy of abstention from parliamentary elections
Non-Jurors - Anglican Churchmen who in 1689 refused to take the oath of allegiance to William and Mary
Nonnotte, Claude-Adrien - French controversialist (1711-1793)
Nonnus - Egyptian poet (c. 400)
Norbert, Saint - Biography of the founder of the Premonstratensians
Norbertines - Religious order founded in 1120 by St. Norbert
Norcia - Diocese and city in Perugia, Italy
Norfolk, Catholic Dukes of - Under this title are accounts of the prominent Catholic Dukes of Norfolk since the Reformation; includes a list of the dukes
Noris, Henry - Veronese cardinal (1631-1704)
Normandy - An ancient French province, from which five 'departments' were formed in 1790
Norris, Sylvester - Controversial writer and English missionary priest (1570-1630)
Norsemen - The Scandinavians who, in the ninth and tenth centuries, first ravaged the coasts of Western Europe and its islands and then turned from raiding into settlers.
Northampton - Diocese in England
North Carolina - One of the original thirteen states of the United States
Northcote, James Spencer - English convert (1821-1907)
North Dakota - One of the United States of America, originally included in the Louisiana Purchase.
Northern Territory - Territory in northern Australia
Northmen - The Scandinavians who, in the ninth and tenth centuries, first ravaged the coasts of Western Europe and its islands and then turned from raiding into settlers.
Norton, Christopher - English martyr (d. 1570)
Norway - Scandinavian country
Norwich, Ancient Diocese of - Centuries-old diocese in England
Notaries - Persons appointed by competent authority to draw up official or authentic documents
Notburga, Saint - Cook noted for generosity in feeding the poor
Notburga - Belgian statesman (1805-1881)
Nothomb, Jean-Baptiste - Belgian statesman (1805-1881)
Notitia Dignitatum - The official handbook of the civil and military officials in the later Roman Empire
Notitiae Episcopatuum - The name given to official documents that furnish for Eastern countries the list and hierarchical rank of the metropolitan and suffragan bishoprics of a Church.
Notitia Provinciarum et Civitatum Africae - A list of the bishops and their sees in the Latin provinces of North Africa, arranged according to provinces
Notker - Various monks of St. Gall who bore this name
Noto - Diocese and city in Sicily, Italy
Notoriety, Notorious - Whatever is so fully or officially proved, that it may and ought to be held as certain without further investigation, is notorious
Notre Dame de Montreal, Congregation of - Founded in the seventeenth century by Marguerite Bourgeoys
Notre-Dame de Sion, Congregation of - French religious institute of women, founded 1843
Notre-Dame de Namur, Institute of - Founded in 1803 in France, by Julie Billiart
Notre Dame, School Sisters of - A religious community devoted to education.
Notre Dame, Sisters of (of Cleveland, Ohio) - A branch of the congregation founded by Blessed Julie Billiart.
Notre Dame, University of - University in northern Indiana in the United States
Nottingham - One of the original twelve English dioceses created at the time of the restoration of the hierarchy
Nourrisson, Jean-Felix - French philosopher (1825-1899)
Novara - Diocese and city in Piedmont, Italy
Nova Scotia - One of the maritime provinces of Canada
Novatianism - Roman priest, antipope, third-century schismatic, and founder of the sect of the Novatians
Novatus, Saint - Son of St. Pudens and brother of SS. Praxedes and Pudentia
Novello, Blessed Agostino - Counselor to the King of Sicily, joined the Augustinians, renowned for his knowledge of civil and ecclesiastical law, served as the pope's confessor, was General of his Order
Novena - Article on the different kinds of novenas and their place in the spiritual life of the Church
Novice - The canonical Latin name of those who, having been regularly admitted into a religious order and ordinarily already confirmed in their higher vocation by a certain period of probation as postulants, are prepared by a series of exercises and tests for the religious profession
Nubia - A detailed history of Nubia, with emphasis on the religious aspects (primarily Christian and Catholic) of its culture
Nueva Cáceres - Diocese created in 1595 in the Philippines
Nueva Pamplona - Diocese founded in 1549 in Colombia, South America
Nueva Segovia - Diocese in the Philippines
Nugent, Francis - Irish Capuchin priest (1569-1635)
Nugent, James - English philanthropist, temperance advocate and social reformer (1822-1905)
Numbers, Use of, in the Church - No attentive reader of the Old Testament can fail to notice that a certain sacredness seems to attach to particular numbers . . .
Numismatics - The science of coins and medals
Nun of Kent - Born probably in 1506; executed at Tyburn, 20 April, 1534; called the 'Nun of Kent'
Nunc Dimittis - The Canticle of Simeon found in Luke 2:29-32
Nuncio - An ordinary and permanent representative of the pope, vested with both political and ecclesiastical powers, accredited to the court of a sovereign or assigned to a definite territory with the duty of safeguarding the interests of the Holy See.
Nunez, Pedro - Mathematician and astronomer (1492-1577)
Nuns - Females consecrated to God by religious vows
Nuptial Mass - 'Missa pro sponso et sponsa', the last among the votive Masses in the Missal. It is composed of lessons and chants suitable to the Sacrament of Matrimony, contains prayers for persons just married and is interwoven with part of the marriage rite, of which in the complete form it is an element
Nuremberg - One of the largest cities in Bavaria
Nusco - Diocese near Salerno, Italy
Nussbaum, Johann Nepomuk von - German surgeon (1829-1890)
Nutter, Robert, Ven. - Information on this English priest and martyr, blood brother of John Nutter. Also details on Edward Thwing, a priest and professor from near York. Robert Nutter and Thwing were martyred together in 1600
Nuyens, Wilhelmus - Dutch historian (1823-1894)
Nyassa - Vicariate Apostolic in Central Africa
Nympha, Tryphon, and Respicius - Martyrs whose feast is observed in the Latin Church on 10 November
Nyssa - Vicariate Apostolic in Central Africa
Nyssa - Titular see in Cappadocia Prima, suffragan of Caesarea.