Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Spirit (Holy), Baptism Of The bestowment of the Divine Spirit upon faithful men which is simply God’s spiritual access to and abiding with his believing and obedient ones is a promise for all times and dispensations of the Church, of the fulfilment of which promise the Divine Word is the perpetual record. It was the … Continue reading “Spirit (Holy), Baptism Of”

SPIRIT A word employed in various senses in Scripture.1. For THE HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who inspired the prophets, animates good men, pours his unction into our hearts, imparts to us life and comfort; and in whose name we are baptized and blessed, as well as in that of … Continue reading “Spirit”

Spires, Diets Of Spires, Or Spire (Germ. Speyer; anc. Noviomagus, afterwards Nemetes), is a city of Bavaria, at the confluence of the Speyerbach with the Rhine, once the residence of the German emperors, but now greatly reduced, having been nearly destroyed by the French in 1689. It is noted in ecclesiastical history for the meetings … Continue reading “Spires, Diets Of Spires, Or Spire”

spire, rood Exterior spire over the intersection of the nave and transept, marking the position of the rood. Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary

Spire, Or Exupere, St first bishop of Bayeux, was born, according to some, in Rome, and came to Gaul about A.D. 68, with Denis, Saturnin, and other bishops, whom they pretend to have been sent by pope Clement. This opinion, followed in the diocese of Bayeux, is in contradiction with the chronology of its bishops; … Continue reading “Spire, Or Exupere, St”

Spire Cross In mediaeval times every church spire was crowned and surmounted by an ornamental cross. Its form was very varied, and frequently the representation of a cock was placed at the top, while at the foot of the cross was a globe, signifying the influence and power of the cross over the. world. The … Continue reading “Spire Cross”

spire (Anglo-Saxon: spir, a stalk) A tapering construction crowning a steeple or tower or surmounting a building. On the Continent the steeple and spire were merged into one, while in England a separate structure was preserved. It belongs to Pointed architecture, and has been fully developed in Gothic buildings. Renaissance spires are merely steeples terminating … Continue reading “Spire”

Spir, African (1837-1890) A native of Russia, whose philosophy was influenced by Spinoristic and Kantian traditions. The main thesis of his philosophy is that sensory experience and reasoning are basically contradictory, insofar as the former informs us of constant change, whereas the latter is characterized by the a priori principle of identity. — R.B.W. Main … Continue reading “Spir, African”

Spinster a term applied to an unmarried woman in legal documents, and in banns or proclamations of marriage. Spinster, with the old termination, is the female of spinner, as songster is of singer, seamster or seamster of seamer. King Alfred, in his will, calls the male side of his house the spear side, and the … Continue reading “Spinster”

Spinozism The philosophic doctrine of Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677). Described by Hegel as the philosophy of Substance. Spinoza denies the possibility of a plurality of substances, and reserves the term for absolute reality. Hence Spinozism is sometimes used as equivalent to Monism. It is also identified with Pantheism, although this is a highly misleading characterization. In … Continue reading “Spinozism”