A name given to the narratives of the martyrs' trials and deaths. They may be classified as follows:
Besides these divisions there are documents, whose historicity has little or no value, romances, with a possible foundation of truth, and real forgeries. There has been considerable critical studies of these Acta. The result of these investigations has been to substantiate such main facts as the causes of the persecutions, the number and heroism of the martyrs, the popularity of their cultus, and the historicity of the popular heroes.
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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