Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Montenat, Benoit a French ecclesiastic, was born about the commencement of the 16th century; he was almoner to duke Charles of Bourbon, but he was so little known that his name cannot be found in the Bibliotheque Frangaise of La Croix du Maine. At the request of Anne of France, daughter of Louis XI, he … Continue reading “Montenat, Benoit”

Montemayor, Jorge De (MONTEMÔR) A writer, born at Montemôr, province of Coimbra, Portugal, about 1520; died at Turin, 26 February, 1561. Although of Portuguese birth, Montemayor occupies a prominent place in the history of Spanish letters. Little is known of his life. We are informed, however, that he was not a man of university training, … Continue reading “Montemayor, Jorge De”

Montefiore, Sir Moses a Jewish philanthropist, was born October 24, 1784. He was an opulent merchant of London, and was successively knighted and raised to a baronecy for his public labors; having served as sheriff of London in 1837, and also high-sheriff of Kent. He went in 1840 on a benevolent mission to the East, … Continue reading “Montefiore, Sir Moses”

Montefiascone (MONTIS FALISCI) Located in the province of Rome. The city is situated nearly 2000 feet above sea-level, on a tufa mass that overlooks the Lake of Bolsena; it is famous for its wine. The town is of Etruscan origin and was called Faliscodunum. Some believe that it is the ancient Fanum Voltumnæ. For the … Continue reading “Montefiascone”

Montefeltro (FERETRANA) Located in the province of Urbino, in the Marches, Central Italy. The earliest mention of it, as Mona Feretri, is in the diplomas by which Charlemagne confirmed the grants of Pepin the Short to the Holy See. Montefeltro was then the seat of counts, who became imperial vicars in 1135, and Counts of … Continue reading “Montefeltro”

Montefalco, Clare of, Saint (Latin: clarus, famous) Virgin, born Montefalco, Italy , c.1268; died there, 1308. She was probably a secular Franciscan tertiary in her youth and later a nun in the Third Order of Saint Augustine. She became Abbess of Santa Croce, 1295 . Her life was remarkable for her devotion to the Passion … Continue reading “Montefalco, Clare of, Saint”

Montecorvino, John of Archbishop of Peking and founder of the Catholic mission in China, born Montecorvino, Italy, 1246; died Peking, China, 1328. His early missionary work was in Persia, from which he went to India, and finally to China, 1294. In spite of the opposition of the Nestorians, he built a church at Peking and, … Continue reading “Montecorvino, John of”

Monte Vergine An abbey in the province of Naples, Italy, near the town of Avellino, commanding a magnificent view of the Mediterranean along the Bays of Naples, Salerno, and Gaeta, and inland as far as the Abruzzi Mountains. Monte Vergine was formerly known as Mons Sacer because of a temple sacred to Cybele that stood … Continue reading “Monte Vergine”

Monte Puloiano, Angiolo de’ Ambrosini da Also known as Angiolo de’ Ambrosini da Monte Puloiano. Born 1454; died 1494. Noted professor of Greek and Latin literature, but was rather a master and interpreter of the ancient spirit than a philologist. Among his translations are Plato’s Charmides, Plutarch’s Eroticus, five books of the Iliad, etc.; his … Continue reading “Monte Puloiano, Angiolo de’ Ambrosini da”

Monte, Pietro dal a celebrated Italian ecclesiastical canonist, was born at Venice in the latter part of the 15th century. After studying Greek and Italian under the direction of Guarino, he was made master of arts in Paris, and then obtained the rank of doctor in Padua. In 1433 he was made apostolic prothonotary, and … Continue reading “Monte, Pietro dal”