Its mother-house is in Rome and is established in Spain, Italy, England, Ireland, Portugal, France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Yugoslavia, Malta, Palestine, Syria, Mount Lebanon, Mesopotamia, Persia, British India (in the Kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin), Egypt, the United States, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. Although the principal end of the Order is the contemplative life, it has an active side as well and undertakes missionary work with great success. Its houses, especially in many parts of America, are centers of apostolic life; and it has foreign, or Apostolic, missions in Uraba, Colombia, with one Prefect Apostolic, in Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, and especially in British India, comprising the Archdiocese of Verapoly, and the Diocese of Quilon, where it has under its care two preparatory seminaries, and the great central Apostolic Seminary of Puthempally for the indigenous clergy; and, in addition to these, several hospitals, and orphanages, as well as 308 grammar schools, 2 normal schools, 40 high schools, 27 middle schooIs. Among the many Saints of the Order, the most renowned are Saint Teresa of Jesus, considered as tbe world's greatest woman writer, Saint John of the Cross, mystical Doctor of the Churcb, and tbe most exquisite of all the great Spanish poets, and the world-renowned Saint Teresa of the Cbild Jesus, commonly known as the "Little Flower."
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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