Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Mechtilde, Saint Virgin, born near Eisleben, Saxony, c.1240; died in the monastery of Helfta, 1298. She was of a noble, influential Thuringian family, sister of Saint Gertrude, Abbess of Helfta. She entered the convent of Rodersdorf, later transferred to Helfta, and progressed rapidly in the religious life. She cared for the novitiate of Saint Gertrude … Continue reading “Mechtilde, Saint”

Mechtild of Magdeburg A celebrated medieval mystic, b. of a noble family in Saxony about 1210; d. at the Cistercian nunnery of Helfta near Eisleben, c. 1285. She experienced her first inspirations at the age of twelve, when, as she herself states, she was greeted by the Holy Ghost. From that time, the greeting was … Continue reading “Mechtild of Magdeburg”

Mechtel, Johann Chronicler; b. 1562 at Pfalzel near Trier (Germany); d. after 1631, perhaps as late as 1653 at Trier. He is often named Pfalzel after his native town where he first studied and then went to the university at Trier, conducted by the Jesuits, where the historian Christopher Brote acquired a lasting influence over … Continue reading “Mechtel, Johann”

Mechlin (Lat. MECHLINIA; Fr. MALINES; MECHLINIENSIS). Archdiocese comprising the two Belgian provinces of Antwerp and Brabant. This diocese derives its present configuration from the French Concordat of 1801. The ecclesiastical province of Mechlin is coextensive with the Belgian Kingdom (suffragan bishoprics: Tournai, Liège, Namur, Gand, Bruges); it extended to the Rhine under Napoleon I. The … Continue reading “Mechlin”

Mechitarists Armenian Benedictines, founded by Mechitar in 1712. In its inception the order was looked upon merely as an attempted reform of Eastern monachism. P. Filippo Bonanni, S.J., writes at Rome, in 1712 when the order received its approval, of the arrival of P. Elias Martyr and P. Joannes Simon, two Armenian monks sent by … Continue reading “Mechitarists”

Mechitar (MECHITHAR, MEKHITAR, MCHITAR or MOCHTOR, a word which means “Comforter”) Mechitar is the name taken by Peter Manuk, founder of the religious order of Mechitarists, when he became a monk. A native of Sebaste (Sivas) in Lesser Armenia, born 7 February, 1676, of parents reputed noble, he was left until the age of fifteen … Continue reading “Mechitar”

Mecherathite, The Mech’erathite, The. That is, the native or inhabitant of a place called Mecherah. 1Ch 11:36. In the parallel list of 2Sa 23:1, the name appears, with other variations, as “the Maachathite.” 2Sa 23:34. Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary

Mecherathite (Hebrews Mekerathi’, , gentile from , Mekerah’, a sword, as in. Gen 49:5; Sept. v. r. , Vulg. Mecherathites), an epithet applied to Hepher, one of David’s famous warriors, probably as being a native of MECHERAH, a place otherwise unknown (1Ch 11:36); but from the parallel passage (2Sa 23:34) it would appear to be … Continue reading “Mecherathite”

mechanism In general, a philsophical trend which denies or minimizes purpose in the universe, and seeks to explain all phenomena solely by efficient causality. It is based on the extreme simplification of all reality into matter and motion and is the apparent aim of physical science, following Descartes and Kant, a denial of quality in … Continue reading “Mechanism”

Mechanics The science of motion, affording theoretical description by means of specification of position of particles bound by relations to other particles, usually having no extension but possessing mass. This involves space and time and frames of reference (in a relative fashion). Particles are assumed to traverse continuous paths. Auxiliary kinematical concepts are displacement, velocity, … Continue reading “Mechanics”