In early times, the baptized, confirmed Christian communicants, as opposed to the catechumens; members of the Church, because of their faith in the Divine Mysteries and of their fidelity to the laws of the Church. In the Alexandrine, Basilian, and Byzantine liturgies the Mass of the Faithful was the part which followed the dismissal of the catechumens or beginners.
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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