An excavation in the earth for the burial of a corpse. It was called loculus in the times of the catacombs, and was dug or hewn into the tufa or porcelain earth outside the city walls. The Church admits single and ancestral graves and family plots for members of the same family. Where there is no Catholic cemetery, the Church requires that a separate space be granted for the burial of Catholics, and, if this is refused, the single graves must be blessed. No ownership can be claimed by individuals.
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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