Founded in 1857 by two American bishops, M. J. Spalding and P. Lefevre. Its purpose was to provide American born students an opportunity for superior ecclesiastical training, and to prepare young men of European birth for missionary work in America. Father P. Kindekins, the first rector, opened it in a vacant butcher-shop on the Montagne des Carmelites, in a house originally part of a Benedictine college founded 1629. It forms an integral part of the School of Sacred Sciences of the University of Louvain, its general plan being based upon that of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples at Rome. Authority is vested in a committee of three American bishops. The old buildings were replaced by a new college in 1905, accommodating 150 students, and a course of philosophy was added to the curriculum. The college averages an attendance of 60; it has educated over a score of American bishops, and provided almost 1000 priests for the American dioceses.
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