Catholic Pocket Dictionary/N

NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

NAVE

NECROLOGY

NEOPHYTE

NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Nothing is known about the place, date, or circumstances of the Blessed Virgin's birth. Joachim and Anne are known to have been her parents, and this knowledge comes from the earliest authority, which is the "Protevangelium Jacobi," an apocryphal Gospel of early date. It is recognized by St. John of Damascus and James, bishop of Edessa, while the "Liber Pontificalis," mentions in the life of Pope Leo III that he had the history of St. Joachim and St. Anne painted in the Basilica of St. Paul. The feast of St. Anne on July 26, which is mentioned in the Roman and other Martyrologies, was sanctioned for the whole Church by Gregory XIII, in 1584. Leo XIII raised both feasts (St. Joachim and St. Anne) to be doubles of the second class.

NAVE

That portion of the church reserved for the laity.

NECROLOGY

A book containing the names of the dead, especially of bishops who had built the church to which the necrology belonged, of benefactors, friends, &c., that they might be prayed for.

NEOPHYTE

The term was applied in the primitive Church to converts newly baptized.

NOVENA

A devotion covering a period of nine day before the Feasts of our Lord, the B.V.M., and Patron Saints.

NOVICE

The name of "novice" is given to those persons, whether men or women, and whatever their age may be, who have entered some religions house and desire to embrace its rule.

NUN

A nun is a maid or widow who has consecrated herself to God by the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and bound herself to live in a convent under a certain rule.

NUNCIO

A permanent official representative at some foreign court. The diplomatic agents of the Pope are of three classes : nuncios, inter-nuncios, and apostolic delegates.