Aachen , in French, Aix-la-Chapelle, the name by which the city is generally known in Latin Aquæ Grani, later Aquisgranum, is the capital of a presid

 Aaron

 Abaddon

 Abandonment

 Pedro Abarca

 Abarim

 Abba

 Antoine d'Abbadie

 Abban

 Abbé

 Jean Baptiste Abbeloos

 Abbess

 Abbey

 Abbo Cernuus

 St. Abbon

 Abbot

 Henry Abbot

 Methods of Abbreviation

 Ecclesiastical Abbreviations

 Abbreviators

 Abdera

 Abdias

 Abdias of Babylon

 Abdication

 Sts. Abdon and Sennen

 Abduction

 Abecedaria

 Abecedarians

 Abel (1)

 Abel (2)

 Peter Abelard

 Louis Abelly

 Abenakis

 Abraham-ben-Méir Aben-Ezra

 Inscription of Abercius

 John Abercromby

 Robert Abercromby

 Diocese of Aberdeen

 University of Aberdeen

 Moritz von Aberle

 Legend of Abgar

 Abiathar

 Abila

 Abbey of Abingdon

 Thomas Abington

 Missions among the Abipones

 Abisai

 Abjuration

 Abo

 Abner

 Abomination of Desolation

 Abortion

 Physical Effects of Abortion

 Charles François d'Abra de Raconis

 Don Isaac Abrabanel

 Abraham

 Abraham (in Liturgy)

 Bosom of Abraham

 Abraham a Sancta Clara

 Abraham Ecchelensis

 Abrahamites

 Nicholas Abram

 Abrasax

 Absalom

 Absalon of Lund

 Absinthe

 Absolute

 Absolution

 Abstemii

 Abstinence

 Physical Effects of Abstinence

 Abstraction

 Abthain

 Theodore Abucara

 Abundius

 Abydus

 Abyss

 Abyssinia

 Acacia

 Acacians

 Acacius, Bishop of Beroea

 Acacius, Bishop of Caesarea

 Acacius, Patriarch of Constantinople

 St. Acacius

 Roman Academies

 French Academy

 Acadia

 Acanthus (see)

 Acanthus (plant)

 Acathistus

 St. Acca

 Accaron

 Accentus Ecclesiasticus

 Acceptance

 Acceptants

 Accession

 Diocese of Arras

 Councils of Arras

 Pablo José Arriaga

 Juan Arricivita

 Nicola Arrighetti

 Nicolò Arrighetti

 Arsacidæ

 Arsenius Autorianos

 St. Arsenius

 Arsinoe

 Accessus

 Artemon

 James Arthur

 Thomas Arthur

 Articles of Faith

 Organic Articles

 Artoklasia

 Bachelor of Arts

 Faculty of Arts

 Master of Arts

 Seven Liberal Arts

 Acciajuoli

 Artvin

 Thomas Arundel

 Thomas Arundell

 St. Asaph

 Ascalon

 Ascelin

 Ascendente Domino

 Ascension

 Feast of the Ascension

 Asceticism

 Accident

 Joseph, Ritter von Aschbach

 Diocese of Ascoli-Piceno

 Diocese of Ascoli, Satriano, and Cirignola

 Aseity

 Aseneth

 Aser

 Asgaard

 Ash Wednesday

 George Ashby

 Thomas Ashby

 Acclamation

 Ashes

 Ven. Ralph Ashley

 John Ashton

 Ven. Roger Ashton

 Asia

 Asia Minor

 Asiongaber

 Robert Aske

 Asmodeus

 Aspendus

 Acclamation (in Papal Elections)

 Asperges

 Martin Aspilcueta

 The Ass (in Caricature of Christian Beliefs and Practices)

 Prefecture Apostolic of Assam

 Assemani

 Assemblies of the French Clergy

 John Asser

 Feast of Asses

 Assessor of the Holy Office

 Assessors

 Biblical Accommodation

 St. Assicus

 Assideans

 Physiological Assimilation

 Psychological Assimilation

 Diocese of Assisi

 Assistant at the Pontifical Throne

 Assize of Clarendon

 Volume 1

 Volume 3

 Assizes of Jerusalem

 Accomplice

 Ignaz Assmayer

 Right of Voluntary Association

 Association of Ideas

 Association of Priestly Perseverance

 Pious Associations

 Assuerus

 Little Sisters of the Assumption

 Sisters of the Assumption

 Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Assur (1)

 Francesco Accursius

 Assur (2)

 Assyria

 Asterisk

 Asterius

 Diocese of Asti

 Aston

 Diocese of Astorga

 Astrology

 Astronomy

 Astronomy in the Bible

 Paul-Thérèse-David d'Astros

 Acephali

 Jean Astruc

 Atahuallpa

 Juan Santos Atahualpa

 Atavism

 Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca

 Athanasian Creed

 St. Athanasius

 Atheism

 Abbey of Athelney

 Athenagoras

 Archdiocese of Acerenza

 Athenry

 Christian Athens

 Modern Diocese of Athens

 Joseph Athias

 Mount Athos

 Juan de Atienza

 James Atkinson

 Nicholas Atkinson

 Paul Atkinson of St. Francis

 Sarah Atkinson

 Achab

 Ven. Thomas Atkinson

 Atom

 Atomism

 Day of Atonement

 Doctrine of the Atonement

 Atrib

 Atrium

 Attainder

 St. Attala

 Attalia

 Achaia

 Michael Attaliates

 Atticus

 Councils of Attigny

 Attila

 Jean Denis Attiret

 Atto

 Atto of Pistoia

 Atto of Vercelli

 St. Attracta

 Divine Attributes

 Achaicus

 Attrition

 Attuda

 Jean-Michel-d'Astorg Aubarède

 Jean-Antoine d'Aubermont

 Joseph Aubery

 François Hédelin, Abbé d'Aubignac

 Pierre d'Aubusson

 Archdiocese of Auch

 Diocese of Auckland

 Auctorem Fidei

 Achaz

 Pontifical Audiences

 Giovanni Battista Audiffredi

 J. M. Vincent Audin

 Guglielmo Audisio

 Auditor

 Audran

 Leopold Auenbrugger

 Jobst Bernhard von Aufsees

 Edmond Auger

 Augilæ

 Lucas d'Achéry

 Diocese of Augsburg

 Synods of Augsburg

 Augusta

 Augustin von Alfeld

 Rule of Saint Augustine

 St. Augustine of Canterbury

 St. Augustine of Hippo

 Teaching of St. Augustine of Hippo

 Works of St. Augustine of Hippo

 Augustinians of the Assumption

 Antonius Augustinus

 Augustinus-Verein

 Achiacharus

 Augustopolis

 Augustus

 Aumbry

 St. Aunarius

 Aurea

 Aurelian

 Aureliopolis

 Aurelius

 Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

 Petrus Aureoli

 Achimaas

 Auriesville

 Giovanni Aurispa

 Aurora Lucis Rutilat

 Ausculta Fili

 Decimus Magnus Ausonius

 John Austin

 Australia

 St. Austrebertha

 St. Austremonius

 Austro-Hungarian Monarchy

 Achimelech

 Authentic

 Authenticity of the Bible

 Civil Authority

 Authorized Version

 Autocephali

 Autos Sacramentales

 Ambrose Autpert

 Joseph Autran

 Diocese of Autun

 Auxentius

 Achitopel

 Councils of Auxerre

 Auxiliary Bishop

 Auxilius of Naples

 Ava

 Nicola Avancini

 Avarice

 Avatār

 Pierre du Bois, Baron d'Avaugour

 Ave Maris Stella

 Ave Regina

 Diocese of Achonry

 Diocese of Avellino

 Avempace

 Fernando Avendano

 Averroes

 Diocese of Aversa

 Avesta

 Theological Aspects of Avesta

 Avicebron

 Avicenna

 Avignon

 Achor Valley

 University of Avignon

 Diocese of Avila

 Francisco de Avila

 Sancho de Avila

 St. Avitus

 Order of Aviz

 Council of Avranches

 Philippe Avril

 Axum

 Diocese of Ayacucho

 Achrida

 Fray Francisco de Ayeta

 Lucas Vásquez de Ayllón

 James Ambrose Dominic Aylward

 Aymará

 Aymeric of Piacenza

 Féliz de Azara

 Aristaces Azaria

 Brother Azarias

 Luiz de Azevedo

 Juan Azor

 Johann Heinrich Achterfeldt

 Azores

 Azotus

 Aztecs

 Azymes

 Azymites

 Theodore William Achtermann

 Valens Acidalius

 Diocese of Aci-Reale

 Leopold Ackermann

 Acmonia

 Acoemetae

 Acolouthia

 Acolyte

 Joaquín Acosta

 José de Acosta

 Diocese of Acquapendente

 Acquaviva

 Claudius Acquaviva

 Diocese of Acqui

 Acre

 Acrostic

 Acta Pilati

 Acta Sanctæ Sedis

 Acta Sanctorum Hiberniæ

 Acta Triadis Thaumaturgæ

 Act of Settlement (Irish)

 Charles Januarius Acton

 John Acton

 John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron Acton

 John Francis Edward Acton

 Canonical Acts

 Human Acts

 Indifferent Acts

 Acts of the Apostles

 Acts of Roman Congregations

 Actus et Potentia

 Actus primus

 Actus Purus

 Acuas

 St. Adalard

 Adalbert

 Adalbert I

 St. Adalbert (of Bohemia)

 St. Adalbert (of Germany)

 Ad Apostolicae Dignitatis Apicem

 Ad Limina Apostolorum

 Ad Sanctam Beati Petri Sedem

 Ad Universalis Ecclesiae

 Adam

 Adam in Early Christian Liturgy and Literature

 Books of Adam

 Adam of Bremen

 Adam of Fulda

 Adam of Murimuth

 Adam of Perseigne

 Adam of St. Victor

 Adam of Usk

 John Adam

 Nicholas Adam

 Adam Scotus

 Andrea Adami da Bolsena

 Adamites

 St. Adamnan

 James Adams

 Ven. John Adams

 Diocese of Adana

 Adar

 Ferdinando d'Adda

 Addas

 Liturgy of Addeus and Maris

 Ecclesiastical Addresses

 Archdiocese of Adelaide

 St. Adelaide, Abbess

 St. Adelaide (Adelheid)

 John Placid Adelham

 Adelmann

 Adelophagi

 Vicariate Apostolic of Aden

 Adeodatus

 Pope St. Adeodatus

 Adeste Fideles

 Adjuration

 Administrator

 Administrator (of Ecclesiastical Property)

 Canonical Admonitions

 Admont

 St. Ado of Vienne

 Adonai

 Adonias

 Adoption

 Canonical Adoption

 Supernatural Adoption

 Adoptionism

 Adoration

 Perpetual Adoration

 Francis Adorno

 Adoro Te Devote

 Diocese of Adria

 Pope Adrian I

 Pope Adrian II

 Pope St. Adrian III

 Pope Adrian IV

 Pope Adrian V

 Pope Adrian VI

 St. Adrian of Canterbury

 Adrian of Castello

 Adrianople

 Christian Kruik van Adrichem

 Adso

 Diego Francisco Aduarte

 Adullam

 Adulteration of Food

 Adultery

 Advent

 Adventists

 Book of Advertisements

 Advocates of Roman Congregations

 Advocates of St. Peter

 Advocatus Diaboli

 Advocatus Ecclesiæ

 Advowson

 Adytum

 St. Aedan of Ferns

 Aedh of Kildare

 Bl. Aegidius of Assisi

 Ægidius of Viterbo

 Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham

 Ælnoth

 St. Ælred

 Æneas of Gaza

 St. Aengus (the Culdee)

 Ænon

 Æons

 Aër

 Aërius of Pontus

 Æsthetics

 Æterni Patris (Pius IX)

 Æterni Patris (Leo XIII)

 Aëtius

 Affinity (in the Bible)

 Affinity (in Canon Law)

 Affirmation

 Afflighem

 Denis Auguste Affre

 St. Afra

 Africa

 Early African Church

 African Liturgy

 African Synods

 Agabus

 Agape

 Agapetae

 Agapetus

 Pope St. Agapetus I

 Pope Agapetus II

 William Seth Agar

 St. Agatha

 Agathangelus

 Agathias

 Pope St. Agatho

 Agaunum

 Agostini Agazzari

 Council of Agde

 Canonical Age

 Age of Reason

 Diocese of Agen

 Agents of Roman Congregations

 Aggeus (Haggai)

 Unjust Aggressor

 Raymond d'Agiles

 St. Agilulfus

 Agios O Theos

 Giuseppe Agnelli

 Fra Guglielmo Agnelli

 Bl. Agnellus of Pisa

 Andreas Agnellus of Ravenna

 St. Agnes of Assisi

 Bl. Agnes of Bohemia

 St. Agnes of Montepulciano

 St. Agnes of Rome

 Maria Gaetana Agnesi

 Agnetz

 Agnoetae

 Agnosticism

 Agnus Dei

 Agnus Dei (in Liturgy)

 Agonistici

 Agony of Christ

 Paolo Agostini

 Bl. Agostino Novello

 Charles Constance César Joseph Matthieu d'Agoult

 Archdiocese of Agra

 Agram

 Agrapha

 Agrarianism

 Maria de Agreda

 Agria

 St. Agricius

 Alexander Agricola

 George Agricola

 Rudolph Agricola

 Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim

 Agrippinus

 Diocese of Aguas Calientes

 Joseph Saenz de Aguirre

 Ahicam

 Ahriman and Ormuzd

 Johann Caspar Aiblinger

 Gregor Aichinger

 St. Aidan of Lindisfarne

 Duchess of Aiguillon

 Mary Aikenhead

 St. Ailbe

 St. Aileran

 Family of d'Ailleboust

 Pierre d'Ailly

 Mateo Aimerich

 Diocese of Aire

 Giacomo Maria Airoli

 Aisle

 Aistulph

 Archdiocese of Aix

 Councils of Aix-en-Provence

 Diocese of Ajaccio

 Akhmin

 Michael and Nicetas Akominatos

 Alabama

 Alabanda

 Alabaster

 Diocese of Alagoas

 Pietro Alagona

 Alain de l'Isle

 Alalis

 Lucas Alaman

 Niccolò Alamanni

 Alan of Tewkesbury

 Alan of Walsingham

 Alanus de Rupe

 Alaska

 Diocese of Alatri

 Alb

 Diocese of Alba Pompeia

 St. Alban

 Albanenses

 Albania

 Albani

 Albano

 Diocese of Albany

 Diocese of Albenga

 Niccolo Albergati

 Alberic of Monte Cassino

 Alberic of Ostia

 Albero de Montreuil

 Giulio Alberoni

 Albert

 Albert II

 Bl. Albert

 St. Albert

 Bl. Albert Berdini of Sarteano

 Albert of Aachen

 Albert of Brandenburg

 Albert of Castile

 Albert of Stade

 Leandro Alberti

 Leone Battista Alberti

 Nicolò Albertini

 John Baptist Albertrandi

 Bl. Albertus Magnus

 Archdiocese of Albi

 Council of Albi

 Juan de Albi

 Sigismund Albicus

 Albigenses

 Albinus

 Johann G. Albrechtsberger

 Albright Brethren

 Afonzo de Albuquerque

 University of Alcalá

 Military Order of Alcántara

 Antonio de Alcedo

 Alchemy

 St. Alcmund

 Andrea Alciati

 Alcimus

 John Alcock

 Alcoholism

 Alcuin

 St. Aldegundis

 Aldersbach

 Aldfrith

 St. Aldhelm

 St. Aldric

 Ulissi Aldrovandi

 Leonard Alea

 Phillipe Alegambe

 Francisco Xavier Alegre

 Joseph Sadoc Alemany

 Giulio Alenio

 Archdiocese of Aleppo

 Diocese of Ales and Terralba

 Diocese of Alessandria della Paglia

 Galeazzo Alessi

 Diocese of Alessio

 Alexander

 Alexander (Early Bishops)

 Pope St. Alexander I

 Pope Alexander II

 Pope Alexander III

 Pope Alexander IV

 Pope Alexander V

 Pope Alexander VI

 Pope Alexander VII

 Pope Alexander VIII

 St. Alexander

 St. Alexander (II)

 St. Alexander (of Alexandria)

 Bl. Alexander Briant

 Alexander Natalis

 Alexander of Abonoteichos

 Alexander of Hales

 Alexander of Lycopolis

 Bl. Alexander Sauli

 Dom Jacques Alexandre

 Alexandria

 Councils of Alexandria

 Church of Alexandria

 Diocese of Alexandria

 Alexandrian Library

 Alexandrine Liturgy

 Alexian Nuns

 Alexians

 St. Alexis Falconieri

 St. Alexius

 Count Vittorio Alfieri

 Pietro Alfieri

 Alfonso de Zamora

 Alfonso of Burgos

 Michael Alford

 Alfred the Great

 St. Alfrida

 St. Alfwold

 Alger of Liége

 Diocese of Alghero

 Archdiocese of Algiers

 Algonquins

 Diocese of Alife

 Alimentation

 Alimony

 Aliturgical Days

 All Hallows College

 All Saints

 All Souls' Day

 Allah

 Diocese of Allahabad

 Paul Allard

 Leo Allatius

 Joseph Allegranza

 Antonio Allegri

 Gregorio Allegri

 Alleluia

 Jean Allemand

 Edward Patrick Allen

 Frances Allen

 George Allen

 John Allen (I)

 John Allen (II)

 William Allen

 August Allerstein

 Thomas William Allies

 Joseph Franz Allioli

 William Allison

 Allocution

 Allori

 William Allot

 Claude Allouez

 Alma

 Alma Redemptoris Mater

 Diego de Almagro

 John Almeida

 Diocese of Almeria

 Camillo Almici

 Ven. John Almond

 John Almond

 Oliver Almond

 Alms and Almsgiving

 St. Alnoth

 Alogi

 St. Aloysius Gonzaga

 A and Ω

 Alpha and Omega (in Jewish Theology)

 Christian Use of the Alphabet

 St. Alphonsus Liguori

 St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

 Prospero Alpini

 Alsace-Lorraine

 Diego Francisco Altamirano

 Altamura and Acquaviva

 Altar (in Liturgy)

 Altar (in the Greek Church)

 Altar (in Scripture)

 History of the Christian Altar

 Bl. Altmann

 St. Alto

 Diocese of Alton

 Diocese of Altoona

 Altruism

 Alumnus

 Niccolò Alunno

 Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva

 Pedro d'Alva y Astorga

 Alonzo de Alvarado

 Fray Francisco de Alvarado

 Pedro de Alvarado

 Balthazar Alvarez

 Diego Alvarez

 Manoel Alvarez

 Alvarez de Paz

 St. Alypius

 José Antonio Alzate

 Johann Baptist Alzog

 Ama

 Giovanni Antonio Amadeo

 Dioceses of Amadia and Akra

 Amalarius of Metz

 St. Amalberga (1)

 St. Amalberga (2)

 Amalec

 Archdiocese of Amalfi

 Amalricians

 Amalricus Augerii

 St. Amandus

 Amasia

 Amastris

 Thaddeus Amat

 Amathus

 Diocese of Amazones

 Peter Ambarach

 Ambition

 Ambo

 Ambo (in the Russian and Greek Church)

 George d'Amboise

 Our Lady of Ambronay

 August Wilhelm Ambros

 St. Ambrose

 St. Ambrose of Camaldoli

 Bl. Ambrose of Sienna

 Ambrosian Basilica

 Ambrosian Chant

 Ambrosian Hymnography

 Ambrosian Library

 Ambrosian Liturgy and Rite

 Ambrosians

 Ambrosiaster

 Ambulatory

 Diocese of Amelia

 Denis Amelote

 Amen

 Amende Honorable

 Veit Amerbach

 America

 Pre-Columbian Discovery of America

 American College in Rome

 American College at Louvain

 South American College

 American Protective Association

 Francis Kerril Amherst

 Ven. John Amias

 Amice

 Antonio Amico

 Francesco Amico

 Diocese of Amida

 Diocese of Amiens

 Joseph Maria Amiot

 Amisus

 Daniel Ammen

 St. Ammon

 Ammon

 Ammonian Sections

 Ammonites

 Amorbach

 Amorios

 Amorrhites

 Eusebius Amort

 Amos

 Amovibility

 Vicariate Apostolic of Amoy

 André Marie Ampère

 Amphilochius of Iconium

 Amphilochius of Sida

 Amphoræ

 Abbey of Ampleforth

 Ampullæ

 Diocese of Ampurias

 Amra

 Amrah

 Amraphel

 Amsterdam

 Amulet

 Use and Abuse of Amulets

 Amyclae

 Jacques Amyot

 Anabaptists

 Pope St. Anacletus

 Anacletus II

 Anæsthesia

 Diocese of Anagni

 Analogy

 Analysis

 Anaphora

 Anarchy

 St. Anastasia

 Anastasiopolis

 St. Anastasius (1)

 Pope St. Anastasius I

 Pope Anastasius II

 Pope Anastasius III

 Pope Anastasius IV

 St. Anastasius (2)

 St. Anastasius Sinaita

 Anathema

 Anathoth

 St. Anatolia

 St. Anatolius (1)

 St. Anatolius (2)

 Anatomy

 Anazarbus

 Pedro de Añazco

 Joseph Anchieta

 Anchor

 Anchorites

 Ancient of Days

 Ancilla Dei

 Ciriaco d'Ancona

 Diocese of Ancona and Umana

 Ancren Riwle

 Ancyra

 Councils of Ancyra

 Andalusia

 William Henry Anderdon

 Anthony Maria Anderledy

 Henry James Anderson

 Lionel Albert Anderson

 Patrick Anderson

 James Anderton

 Ven. Robert Anderton

 Roger Anderton

 Thomas Anderton

 Heinrich Bernhard, Freiherr von Andlaw

 Ven. William Andleby

 Alonso Andrada

 Antonio de Andrada

 Diego Andrada de Payva

 Bernard André

 Yves Marie André

 Giovanni d'Andrea

 Bl. Andrea Dotti

 Andrea Pisano

 Andreas of Ratisbon

 Felix de Andreis

 Juan Andres

 St. Andrew (1)

 St. Andrew (2)

 St. Andrew Avellino

 Bl. Andrew Bobola

 St. Andrew Corsini

 Andrew of Caesarea

 St. Andrew of Crete

 Andrew of Lonjumeau

 Andrew of Rhodes

 St. Andrew the Scot

 William Eusebius Andrews

 Diocese of Andria

 Anemurium

 Felice Anerio

 Giovanni Francesco Anerio

 Filippo Anfossi

 Ange de Saint Joseph

 Ange de Sainte Rosalie

 Angel

 St. Angela Merici

 Bl. Angela of Foligno

 Francesco degli Angeli

 Girolamo degli Angeli

 Angelicals

 Fra Angelico

 Bl. Angelo Carletti di Chivasso

 Angelo Clareno da Cingoli

 Early Christian Representations of Angels

 Angels of the Churches

 Angelus

 Angelus Bell

 Angelus Silesius

 Anger

 Diocese of Angers

 University of Angers

 Notre Dame des Anges

 St. Angilbert

 Francesco Angiolini

 Priory of Anglesea

 Anglican Orders

 Anglicanism

 Timothy Warren Anglin

 Anglo-Saxon Church

 Anglona-Tursi

 Angola and Congo

 Diocese of Angora

 Diocese of Angoulême

 Diocese of Angra

 Pedro Angulo

 Vicariate Apostolic of Anhalt

 Pope St. Anicetus

 College and Church of the Anima (in Rome)

 Anima Christi

 Animals in Christian Art

 Animals in the Bible

 Animism

 Giovanni Animuccia

 Anise

 Anna

 Anna Comnena

 Ecclesiastical Annals

 Annas

 François Annat

 Annates

 St. Anne

 Sainte Anne d'Auray

 Sainte Anne de Beaupré

 Diocese of Annecy

 Joseph Annegarn

 Annibale d'Annibaldi

 Giuseppe d'Annibale

 Annius of Viterbo

 St. Anno

 Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Orders of the Annunciation

 Louis-Pierre Anquetil

 Casto Innocenzio Ansaldi

 Giordano Ansaloni

 St. Anschar

 Councils of Anse

 Ansegisus

 St. Ansegisus

 St. Anselm (1)

 St. Anselm (2)

 Anselm of Laon

 Anselm of Liège

 St. Anselm of Lucca, the Younger

 Antoine Anselme

 Reyer Anslo

 Thomas Chisholm Anstey

 Antediluvians

 Pope St. Anterus

 Joseph Anthelmi

 Anthemius

 St. Anthony

 Orders of Saint Anthony

 St. Anthony of Padua

 Anthony of Sienna

 Anthony of the Mother of God

 Anthropomorphism

 Antichrist

 Antidicomarianites

 Antidoron

 Diocese of Antigonish

 Antimensium

 Antinoe

 Antinomianism

 Church of Antioch

 Antioch

 Antiochene Liturgy

 Antiochus of Palestine

 Antipater of Bostra

 Antipatris

 Antiphellos

 Antiphon

 Antiphon (in the Greek Church)

 Antiphon (in Greek Liturgy)

 Antiphonary

 Gregorian Antiphonary

 Antipodes

 Antipope

 Archdiocese of Antivari

 Vicariate Apostolic of Antofogaste

 Paul Gabriel Antoine

 Anton Ulrich

 Giacomo Antonelli

 Leonardo Antonelli

 Nicolò Maria Antonelli

 Giovanni Antoniano

 Silvio Antoniano

 Charles Antoniewicz

 St. Antoninus

 Antoninus Pius

 St. Antonio Maria Zaccaria

 Maria Antonio of Vicenza

 Antonius

 Franz Joseph Antony

 Antwerp

 Fray Domingo de la Anunciación

 Fray Juan de la Anunciación

 Diocese of Aosta

 Apaches

 Apameia

 Antonio Aparisi y Guijarro

 Apelles

 St. Aphian

 Aphraates

 Apiarius of Sicca

 Apocalypse

 Apocatastasis

 Apocrisiarius

 Apocrypha

 Apodosis

 Apollinarianism

 St. Apollinaris (1)

 St. Apollinaris (2)

 Apollinaris (the Elder)

 St. Apollinaris Claudius

 St. Apollonia

 Apollonius of Ephesus

 Apologetics

 Apolysis

 Apolytikion

 Apophthegmata Patrum

 Ferrante Aporti

 Apostasy

 Apostle (in Liturgy)

 Apostle Spoons

 Apostles

 Apostles' Creed

 Twelve Apostles of Erin

 Apostleship of Prayer

 Apostolic Camera

 Apostolic Churches

 Apostolic Church-Ordinance

 Apostolic Constitutions

 Apostolic Fathers

 Apostolic Letters

 Apostolic Majesty

 Apostolic See

 Apostolic Succession

 Apostolic Union of Secular Priests

 Apostolicae Curae

 Apostolicae Sedis Moderationi

 Apostolicæ Servitutis

 Apostolici

 Apostolici Ministerii

 Apostolici Regiminis

 Apostolicity

 Apostolicum Pascendi Munus

 Apotactics

 Apotheosis

 Apparitor

 Appeal as from an abuse

 Appeals

 Appetite

 Approbation

 Appropriation

 Apse

 Apse Chapel

 Apsidiole

 Council of Apt

 Aquarians

 Archdiocese of Aquila

 Aquila and Priscilla

 Aquileia

 Councils of Aquileia

 Diocese of Aquino, Sora, and Pontecorvo

 Arabia

 Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia

 Councils of Arabia

 Arabian School of Philosophy

 Arabici

 Arabissus

 Arad

 Monastic School of Aran

 Council of Aranda

 Philip Aranda

 Arason Jón

 Arator

 Prefecture Apostolic of Araucania

 Araucanians

 Antonio de Araujo

 Francisco de Araujo

 Arawaks

 Ignacio de Arbieto

 Arbitration

 St. Arbogast

 Abbey of Arbroath

 Missal of Arbuthnott

 Arca

 Our Lady of Arcachon

 Jacob Arcadelt

 Arcadiopolis

 Arcae

 Arcanum

 Arch

 Commission of Sacred Archæology

 Archange de Lyon

 Archbishop

 Archconfraternity

 Archdeacon

 Richard Archdeacon

 Archdiocese

 Archelais

 James Archer

 Court of Arches

 Archiereus

 Archimandrite

 Filippo Archinto

 Ecclesiastical Archives

 Archontics

 Archpriest

 Arcosolium

 Arculf

 Diocese of Ardagh

 Ardbraccan

 Priory of Ardchattan

 Edward Arden

 Notre Dame des Ardilliers

 Prince Charles d'Aremberg

 Areopagus

 Areopolis

 Diocese of Arequipa

 Arethas of Caesarea

 Arethusa

 Faustino Arévalo

 Rodríguez Sanchez de Arévalo

 Diocese of Arezzo

 Pierre de Voyer d'Argenson

 Argentine Republic

 Charles du Plessis d'Argentré

 Argos

 Luis Antonio Argüello

 Diocese of Argyll and the Isles

 John Argyropulos

 St. Arialdo

 Arianism

 Diocese of Ariano

 Francis Arias

 Pedro Arias de Avila

 Benedictus Arias Montanus

 Ariassus

 Aribo

 Arindela

 Ludovico Ariosto

 Aristeas

 Aristides

 Aristotle

 Arius

 Arizona

 Ark

 Arkansas

 Fray José Arlegui

 Synods of Arles

 Spanish Armada

 Archdiocese of Armagh

 Book of Armagh

 School of Armagh

 Georges d'Armagnac

 Mariano Armellino

 Armenia

 Armenierstadt

 Fray Nicolás Armentia

 Diocese of Armidale

 Arminianism

 Arnauld

 Thomas Augustine Arne

 Arni Thorlaksson

 Arnobius

 Arnold

 Arnold of Brescia

 Alberto Arnoldi

 Bartholomäus Arnoldi

 Arnolfo di Cambio

 Peter Joseph Arnoudt

 Veit Arnpeck

 Arnulf of Bavaria

 Arnulf of Lisieux

 St. Arnulf of Metz

Auxiliary Bishop


A bishop deputed to a diocesan who, capable of governing and administering his diocese, is unable to perform the pontifical functions; or whose diocese is so extensive that it requires the labors of more than one; or whose episcopal see has attached to it a royal or imperial office requiring protracted presence at court. According to the present ecclesiastical discipline no bishop can be consecrated without title to a certain and distinct diocese which he governs either actually or potentially. Actual government requires residence, potential does not. Hence, there are two principal classes of bishops, the residential, or diocesan or, local, or ordinary; and the non-residential, or titular. Diocesan bishops have and exercise (de jure) full power of order and jurisdiction, in and over the diocese committed to their exclusive care by the pope. Titulars, as such, have not, and do not exercise, power of order and jurisdiction, in and over their titular sees. All actual jurisdiction in titular sees the pope reserves to himself, and exercises through the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda. The jurisdiction of a diocesan is ordinary. Should a titular perform a jurisdictional function, he uses delegated jurisdiction.

Titular bishops are those who have been appointed by the Holy See to a see or diocese which, in former times, had been canonically established and possessed cathedral church, clergy, and laity, but at present, on account of pagan occupation and government, has neither clergy nor people. It is essential that the titular diocese did once exist, and did cease to exist through death or defection of clergy and faithful, or pagan settlement and government. No vestige of titulars, as defined, appears until the close of the thirteenth century. Evidently the host of wandering bishops without title or see -- missionary, regional, or exiled bishops -- of whom historians make mention, cannot be classed with our titulars, who did not come into existence until the greater part of the East had passed under pagan rule, and the destruction or defection of the Christian flock and the death of their shepherds ensued. The episcopal succession in those dioceses was maintained as long as a hope remained of their rehabilitation, and their bishops were hospitably received, and frequently used by the diocesans as auxiliaries or vicars, in pontificals in their respective dioceses. Ecclesiastical authority placed some of them in temporary charge of vacant Western dioceses, on condition of their immediate return to their own sees when possible. Others were given the spiritual care of dioceses by civil princes who, avaricious of the episcopal revenues, prevented the appointment of a diocesan bishop. In the fourteenth century, the great number of bishops without occupation, and their invasion of the rights and privileges of the diocesans brought about necessary legislation. Clement V (I, iii de elect. V, Clem.) prohibited the election and consecration of any cleric, without papal license, to any of those vacant sees (sine clero populoque). The first mention of titular bishops occurs in the Lateran decree (sess. 9 de Cardinalibus), wherein Leo X permits the creation of titulars whom the cardinal-bishops may use as suffragans, or auxiliaries, in their respective dioceses. Afterwards, the privilege was extended for various reasons, principal among which were


  • to preserve from oblivion the memory of those once venerable and important, but now desolate, sees;
  • that the pope might have at hand efficient and capable assistants (without care of dioceses) in the discharge of the numerous and important ecclesiastical duties of the Apostolic ministry in and outside of the Roman Curia;
  • that suffragans might be given to bishops impeded by reason of infirmity, partial or entire, or of the great extent of their dioceses, or legitimate and protracted absence from performing their episcopal duties.

Pius V, after the Council of Trent, decreed that suffragans were not to be given unless to cardinals, and to those bishops to whom it was customary to grant them, and who guaranteed a fixed salary to support the dignity of the auxiliary. He also decreed that such auxiliary should not, without papal permission, exercise the pontifical functions in any other diocese, save in that of the diocesan to whom he had been given. Gradually it was extended to other bishops who had solid reasons for assistance. The appointment of all titulars belongs exclusively to the Holy See (Clement, ut supra). Present usage requires an auxiliary, suffragan, and temporary coadjutor (used indiscriminately to mean almost the same office) to be also a titular bishop, yet the former antedate the latter by many centuries. They come down to us from Apostolic times; thus Linus and Cletus were vicars, or auxiliaries, to St. Peter at Rome; Ammianus, to St. Mark of Alexandria; Alexander, to Narcissus (aged 116 years) of Jerusalem; St. Gregory, the theologian, auxiliary in pontificals to St. Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzus; St. Augustine, coadjutor of Valerius of Hippo; so likewise those of the rural bishops (), who had received episcopal consecration (there were many in the Orient from the third to the seventh, and, in the West, from the eighth to the tenth, centuries), and many exiled bishops, then in the West were auxiliaries to diocesan bishops even up to the Clementine law. Though the terms auxiliary, suffragan, and coadjutor are used indiscriminately, yet there is a difference. Auxiliary bishop is as defined at the beginning of this article. Suffragan bishop is the name given to the auxiliaries of the Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia and Velletri and the Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina. Coadjutors are given to diocesans impeded from performance of their episcopal duties by old age, or bodily infirmity, or sickness, protracted and incurable, such as loss of speech, blindness, paralysis, and insanity. A coadjutor to an insane bishop has full jurisdiction and can exercise all episcopal duties, with the sole exception of disposing of ecclesiastical properties. There are coadjutors in temporals, or in spirituals, or in both temporals and spirituals. The first kind need not be a bishop; a cleric suffices. Coadjutors are also temporary and perpetual; the first has no succession, the latter has, and is called coadjutor with right of succession. Coadjutors with right of succession rarely are granted, and only when urgent necessity and an evident utility are superadded to the above reasons; and then they must be made known to, and approved as such, by the pope. It is not the practice to force a perpetual coadjutor upon an unwilling diocesan, although the pope can do so. Such perpetual coadjutor cannot mix in the ecclesiastical administration, nor do aught but as he is told or permitted by the diocesan. Some of the Fathers of the Vatican Council [I] proposed that, in the future, auxiliary bishops should be appointed instead of perpetual coadjutors. A coadjutor is granted to aid a diocesan in order and jurisdiction as far as is needed; the auxiliary is deputed to aid only in function of order. He may be made vicar-general, and then, by virtue of that office, he has power of jurisdiction. Since auxiliarship, or temporary coadjutorship, is neither a title nor prelature, but an office, it is temporary, and ceases at the death, or suspension, or resignation, of the diocesan. The Holy See, for valid reasons, in the fifteenth century established permanent auxiliarships in Prussia, Poland, Spain, and Portugal. Pius VII (16 July, 1821, Constit. De salute animar.) confirmed such offices in Germany, etc. In these countries the office of auxiliary does not die with the diocesan, but continues under his successors. The auxiliary, sede vacante, however, cannot perform functions strictly episcopal. Successors to such auxiliaries are not given the same, but an entirely different, titular see. Perpetual coadjutorship is irrevocable, and its holder succeeds immediately to the vacant see; no further collation or election is necessary. Office of auxiliary, etc. is revocable at will of pope and diocesan; that of the perpetual coadjutor cannot be taken away unless for canonical causes. Auxiliaries and temporary coadjutors are appointed by the Holy Father at the request of the bishop in need of assistance. The pope (on petition of the Sacred Congregation of the Council, or of Propaganda) as a rule appoints the clergyman named by orator. The election or nomination for perpetual coadjutors is governed by the law for election or nomination (sede vacante) of a new diocesan. The same disposition of mind and body is required for auxiliary, etc. as for diocesan bishops. They must be thirty years complete, and have spent six months in Sacred Orders prior to elevation to the episcopate, yet in the case of the auxiliaries, the most worthy has no rights over the merely worthy. For perpetual coadjutorship most worthy is demanded.

Rights and duties of auxiliaries must be considered from a twofold standpoint: i.e. titulars of a diocese, and auxiliaries of diocesan bishops. By right of consecration a titular auxiliary can validly, but not licitly, without permission of the residential, perform all the functions annexed to the episcopal order by Divine and ecclesiastical law. The Church could, but does not, require the diocesan's permission, for the validity of the latter functions. Having no actual jurisdiction, he cannot without express consent and permission of the ordinary perform pontifical functions in the city or diocese, nor can he do so, sede vacante, even with the permission of the chapter. Possessing only potential jurisdiction in his titular see, he cannot


  • hear, or grant faculties to hear, confession of a visiting subject from his titular see;
  • confirm or ordain him;
  • send a priest to preach, or to perform any priestly functions, in his titular see;
  • absolve, or grant faculty to a diocesan priest to absolve, a member of his own household;
  • assist at the marriage of a titular subject, a visitor where the Tridentine holds;
  • ordain his familiar of three years' standing, nor grant indulgences.

Should at any time clergy or Laity sufficiently numerous be found in his titular diocese, and no representative of the Holy See have supervision over it, he can immediately, without any other collation of the benefice, take possession of his titular church. He then ceases to be titular and becomes diocesan. He may, and according to some must, be invited to General Councils, and once there he has decisive vote. A few were present at the Council of Trent and quite a number at the Vatican Council [I]. Although he has not the right to take part in Provincial Councils, he may be invited to do so, but has no decisive vote, unless by unanimous consent and permission of the Provincial Fathers. He can wear everywhere the prelatial dress and ring (the sign of his spiritual union with his titular see), and use the pontifical vestments, ornaments, and insignia, when, by permission of the ordinary, he performs pontifical functions. In general councils and every meeting of bishops where the local prelate is not present, in Rome, and outside of Rome, the titular auxiliary, etc., takes precedence of all bishops (except assistant bishops at pontifical throne) of later consecration. In provincial councils, however, all suffragans outrank all titulars without regard to date of consecration. Titular auxiliaries, as well as diocesans, are obliged to receive episcopal consecration within three months from confirmation, unless this is morally impossible; to make profession of faith and take oath of loyalty and fidelity to the Roman Pontiff, and to go to his titular diocese, if ever it is rehabilitated. By reason of the spiritual union with his see, he cannot be elected, but only postulated, for another diocese. Only the Holy Father can dissolve the spiritual union with the titular see. An auxiliary never has the title of a titular archiepiscopal see: but a perpetual coadjutor often has. The titular archbishop-coadjutor is not bound to petition for the pallium or the use of it. Titular auxiliary is not bound


  • to make visit ad limina Apostolorum (some say he is);
  • to residence in his titular see, or in the cathedral city of the diocese in which he holds the office of auxiliary (the place of his residence is regulated by the diocesan);
  • to say Mass "for the people."

The criminal and important causes relating to auxiliary bishops are reserved to the Holy See, those of lesser moment to the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. By virtue of the office of auxiliary he has a perpetual right to a pension suitable to maintain the episcopal dignity. This is to be paid by the diocesan from the diocesan revenues. The amount of pension and source from which it is to be obtained is generally specified in the Apostolic Letters of appointment. He can hold any benefice he had before and acquire a new one after his consecration, as the office of auxiliary is not a benefice. He enjoys the same honorific privileges (with a few exceptions, viz. throne, cappa magna, mozzetta, and rochet worn without mantelletta, and crosier), pontifical ornaments, and titles, as does the diocesan. He can and must use the prelatial dress, as in the Roman Curia, to wit: rochet over the purple soutane with purple mantelletta, in his attendance in the cathedral, where he has precedence over all other canons and dignitaries, as to choir stall and functions. When he is celebrant in pontifical functions, the canons must assist, but in the usual canonical dress, except ministers in sacred vestments. Not all the canons are bound to meet him at the church door, as he enters to celebrate pontifical Mass. During the ceremony he is assisted by a canon as assistant priest, and deacon. and sub-deacon in sacred vestments. He has no right to the usual two canon-assistant deacons, nor to the seventh candlestick, nor to the usual reverences of the canons at Kyrie, etc., nor the use of the throne or crosier unless by special permission. He uses the faldistorium. He can use the crosier with the special permission of the diocesan, and when he officiates at ordinations, consecrations, and other pontifical functions, during which the rules of the Pontifical demand its use (Caeremon. Epis., I, xvii; Decret. Bracharen. Sept. 1607). It is proper, however, that he impart the episcopal last blessing. He cannot bless publicly the people as he wends his way through the city. It is forbidden him to make visitation of the cloister of nuns without express permission and command of the local prelate. Canons are bound to kiss the auxiliary's hand when he gives them Holy Communion on Holy Thursday, and assist him in consecrating Holy Oils, conferring Holy Orders, and in all sacred functions strictly episcopal, which he performs for his diocesan. If he be a canon, he is subject, as the other cathedral canons, to diocesan law and the penalties attached to its violation. If the diocesan and the auxiliary assist simultaneously at Mass, the sub-deacon must not give the latter the pax before the canon-assistants at the throne have received it from the bishop ordinary. When the diocesan assists at Mass, or Vespers, the auxiliary must leave his stall and join the other canons in making the prescribed reverences before the Kyrie, Gloria, etc. Should the celebrant be the diocesan, assisted by the chapter in sacred vestments, the auxiliary can wear a cope and a linen mitre (with consent of the local), which latter he must take off and put on by himself. It is expedient that he substitute another in his turn for the Missa Cantata, as he cannot use a faldistorium and pontifical vestments without consent of his diocesan.

ANDREICCI. Hierarachia Ecclesiastica, I, I, De Episcopo titulari; BENEDICT XIV, De Syn. Diaec. II, 7, 1; 13, 6, 5; XIII, 14, 15; XIII, 14, 11; XII, 6, 7; FERRARIS, Bibl. Prompt. Art. VII; WERNZ, Jus Decret. II, 994, no. 807 sqq (de Vicarius in Pontificatibus); BOUIX, De Episcopo (Paris, 1859), IV, 3, I-iii; ZITELLI, I, ii, c, ii; CRAISSON, Manua1e Tot. Jur. Can. (1894) I, 568 sqq.; ICARD, Praelectiones etc. (1893), I, 1, # 5; RIGANTI, Commentaria in Regulas, etc., I, in Reg. I # 5 nn. 79 et seq.; FAGANUS, Commentar. V, De Priv. C. Epicopalia, no. 34 sq.; LEURENIUS, De Vicarius Episcopi. qu. 14, 15, 19; BARBOSA, Jur.Eccls. Univ. (ed. 1677), I, xv, nos. 50, 51, 52 53; VECCHOTTI, Instit. Canon., I, vii, # 72, 73 74, 75, 76; FERRARI, Summa Instit. Canon. (1896) I, xvi; AICHNER, Compendium Jur. Eccles. (1895), 418 sqq.; AGUILAR, Scientiae Jur. Compendium. 227 De Epis. Auxiliaribus; OJETTI, Synop .Rer. Moral, etc. (1904), s.v. Coadjutor; SEBASTIANELLI, Prael. Jur. Canon. De Personis, Appendix de Epis. Titularibus; DE LUCA, Praelec. Jur. Can, I, xviii, art. II, De Epis. Tit.; Analecta Ecclesiastica. III, 400; IV, 217; VI, 476; TAUNTON, Law of the Church (1906) s.v.

P.M.J. ROCK