Poet, born Florence, Italy, 1265; died Ravenna, Italy, 1321. Elected to the chief magistracy of the republic of Venice by the White or constitutional party, he was permanently exiled in 1302 when the Blacks were restored to power. He had already written his first book, the "Vita Nuova" or "New Life," a history of his spiritual love for Beatrice, wife of Simone de' Bardi. In 1309, in anticipation of the visit to Italy of Emperor Henry VII, he wrote his famous treatise on the monarchy "De Monarchia" and in 1317, having settled at Ravenna, completed hig masterpiece, the "Divina Commedia," an allegory of human life in the form of a vision of the world beyond the grave, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, written with the avowed object of converting a corrupt society. It is the last book of the Middle Ages, epitomizes the knowledge and attainments of the preceding centuries, and gives a picture of Catholicism in 13th-century Italy.
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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