In the Old Testament the idea of liberty was almost entirely absent, religion meant the "fear of the Lord" (Psalms 33), servant was the name of the good (Psalms 18; Hebrews 3). Christianity brought freedom ("ascending on high, he led captivity captive." Ephesians 4) from the ceremonial restrictions of the Mosaic law, "a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear" (Acts 15), and gave its disciples the liberty of freely drawing near to God (Hebrews 4). It assumes that man is free ("the truth shall make you free," John 8) by appealing to his sense of responsibility and holding him accountable for his actions. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3); "the liberty of the glory of the children of God" (Romans 8).
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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