Perfecti (Perfect) is the name assumed by the stricter Cathari (q.v.) of the 12th and 13th centuries. Rainerius, who had himself been a Catharist, and who speaks of a census of the sect taken by themselves, says that there were only 4000 of these, although the "Credentes," or general body of the Catharists, were innumerable. These "perfect" Catharists were analogous to the Manichbean "elect," professing to live an extremely strict life, in imitation of Christ and his apostles. From among them were taken their bishops, "Filius major," "Filius minor," and deacon, some of whom were brought up from their childhood on a rigid fish and vegetable diet. The Perfecti also called themselves Consolati and Boni Homines. See Reiner, Contr. Waldens. in Bibl. Max. 25:266, 269.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More