A term which primarily indicates freedom from foreign substances. Accordingly, it became in the Bible an elemental notion, controlled by numerous laws which affected details of life, ranging from food and contacts to ceremonial requirements. The notion passed into the moral sphere, connoting absence from sin. It received its highest sense when applied to such a spiritual condition as "the clean of heart" (Matthew 5).
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
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