(c.490-c.583) Roman writer, statesman, and monk, born Scyllaceum, Bruttium; died there. He was quaestor, consul, and minister under Theodoric and praetorian prefect under Amalaswintha, at whose death he withdrew to his estate where he erected the monastery of Vivarium. His works dealing with political affairs include a chronicle, a history of the Goths, and letters. His ecclesiastical writings include a treatise on the soul, some scriptural commentaries, a hastily composed ecclesiastical history, and the "Institutiones divinarum et saecularium litterarum," the object of which was to furnish the monks with outlines of study as the means of interpreting Holy Writ. His work on the liberal arts includes a treatise on music, particularly valuable for the study of music.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
Read More