Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Pontifical Decorations Honors conferred by the papal court on laymen who are of irreproachable character and who have promoted the welfare of society, the Church, and the Holy See. The titles, which the pope awards as temporal sovereign, embrace those of prince to baron inclusive. The ordinary title is that of count which is either … Continue reading “Pontifical Decorations”

Pontifical Colleges Those colleges which have explicitly received the honorary title Pontifical. The three institutions of this class are: The Pontifical Seminary of Kandy, Ceylon The Pontifical Seminary of Scutari The Pontifical College Josephinum at Columbus, Ohio Those which can be included only in a general way, because they are directly dependent upon a central … Continue reading “Pontifical Colleges”

Pontifical (i.e. belonging to a pontiff or bishop) is a book of rites and ceremonies appertaining to the office of a high-priest, pope, or prelate; therefore the name of a book used by a bishop at consecration of churches, etc. Thus the Roman Pontifical (Pontificale Romanum) is the book giving directions as to those acts … Continue reading “Pontifical”

Pontiffs, Confraternities of were in the 12th century guilds of associated masons for the building of churches. They appeared first at Chartres, in France, and spread thence throughout that country and England, Switzerland, and Germany. When their Christian character died out they became lodges of Freemasons. Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Pontiff, or High-Priest a person who has the superintendence and direction of divine worship, as the offering of sacrifices, and other religious solemnities. The Romans had a college of pontiffs, called by them pontifici. SEE PONTIFEX. Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

PONTIFF or HIGH PRIEST, a person who has the superintendence and direction of divine worship, as the offering of sacrifices and other religious solemnities. The Roman had a college of pontiffs, and over these a sovereign pontiff, instituted by Numa, whose function it was to prescribe the ceremonies each god was to be worshipped withal, … Continue reading “PONTIFF”

Pontifex Maximus A title of the pope . The Latin word pontifex is of obscure etymology; it may be derived from: pons (bridge) and facere (to make), a bridge-builder, or possibly one who offered sacrifice on the sacred Sublician bridge pompa (a solemn procession) and facere puntis (Oscan-Umbrian, propitiatory offering) and facere The term was … Continue reading “Pontifex Maximus”

Pontifex (1) a priest among the ancient Romans. The pontifices were formed into a college, and all matters of religion were placed under its exclusive superintendence. Their functions and duties were minutely detailed in the pontifical books, which were drawn up in the reign of Numa Pompilius, and contained the names of the gods and … Continue reading “Pontifex (1)”

Pontifes, Freres Name given to several societies formed in southern France in the 12th and 13th centuries to erect bridges. They resembled guilds, or possibly even Third Orders, but did not constitute religious congregations, as frequently supposed. Knights, clergy, and artisans made up the membership, and some women were admitted. Hospices were conducted by the … Continue reading “Pontifes, Freres”

Pontier, Gedeon a French theologian, was born near Alais (Languedoc), near the middle of the 17th century. Though brought up in the Protestant communion, he embraced Roman Catholicism, entered the ecclesiastical state, and obtained the title of apostolic prothonotary. He died at Paris in 1709, at an advanced age. He left, Le Cabinet, ou la … Continue reading “Pontier, Gedeon”