Novelist and soldier whose writings combine militaristic sentiments with a semimystical religious devotion. Born on September 27, 1883 in Paris, France; died on August 22, 1914 in Rossignol, Belgium. Grandson of the historian Ernest Renan. Son of a Greek philologist, Jean Psichari. Psichari grew up in an atmosphere of liberal intellectualism. After a period of acute emotional and mental stress, he started on the long journey toward an acceptance of religious faith, encouraged by the French Catholic intellectuals Maurice Barrès, Charles Péguy, and Jacques Maritain. As a artillery officer in the French Colonial army in Africa from 1906 to 1912 he first found the satisfaction of a rigid moral commitment. Converted to Roman Catholicism in 1913. In 1914 he resolved to join the Dominicans, but was killed in the opening days of World War I. His novels The Call to Arms, The Voyage of the Centurion and The Voice that Cries in the Desert are spiritual autobiographies.
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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