Papal order of knighthood conferred upon those who have rendered distinguished service in propagating the Catholic Faith, or who have contributed to the glory of the Church, either by feat of arms, writings, or other illustrious acts. It is one of the oldest papal orders, and its membership is restricted to one hundred throughout the world. In 1841 it was absorbed into the Order of Saint Sylvester but Pius X restored it to the status of a separate order and placed it under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin. The decoration consists of an eight-pointed, yellow, enamelled gold cross in whose center is a small white medal on one side of which is the word Maria, and on the other the year MDCCV and Pius X Restituit, and which is suspended from a white-bordered red ribbon. The badge, which is worn on the left breast, is the cross upon the rays of a silver star. The official uniform is a red tunic decorated with gilt buttons, black velvet collar and cuffs embroidered in gold, black trousers with gold side stripes, epaulettes, gold spurs, oblong two-peaked hat trimmed with gold and bearing the papal colors, and a sword.
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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