Glossary of Terms
Monastic
A person who devotes his or her life to religious vows and who lives in community (in or associated with a monastery) or as a solitary. Monastic communities lead a life devoted to God in a monastery, in relative isolation from the world. Although monastic vows differ from tradition to tradition, they normally include poverty, […]
Monica, or Monnica
(c. 331-387). Mother of Augustine of Hippo. She was probably born in Tagaste, North Africa. Monica married Patricius, who may have been a nominal Christian. She was the mother of three children: Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetus. Most of the information about her is in Augustine's Confessions (Book IX). She was deeply committed to Augustine's conversion […]
Monk
A member of a male monastic community. See Monastic.
Monk, William Henry
(Mar. 16, 1823-Mar. 1, 1889). British music educator, composer, and organist. He was born in London. Much of Monk's life was spent as an organist and choirmaster in London parishes. He served as musical editor for the important British hymnal, Hymns Ancient & Modern. It is said that the title of this hymnal came from […]
Monophysitism
A christological teaching that the person of Christ consisted of a single divine nature or a united divine and human nature in which the human was absorbed by the divine. The full humanity of Christ was not upheld. The term comes from the Greek monos, “one,” and physis, “nature.” The teaching is associated with Eutyches, […]
Monothelitism
From the Greek monos, “one,” and thelema, “will.” A seventh-century christological teaching advocated by Sergius of Constantinople, Cyrus of Alexandria, and others. It presented the Person of Christ as having one divine will under which his human will was subsumed. Monothelitism was consistent with the Chalcedonian Definition concerning the two natures of the Person of […]
Monstrance
A frame or vessel, typically made of gold or silver, used to display the consecrated bread of the eucharist for veneration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Also known as an ostensorium. The term is from the Latin “to show or display.” The monstrance has a round, flat window in which the consecrated bread is […]
Montana, Diocese of
On Oct. 15, 1880, the House of Bishops established the Missionary District of Montana. It has had its own bishop from that time to the present. It was preceded by two larger jurisdictions. On Oct. 19, 1865, the House of Bishops resolved “That all those portions of our country, North of a line running along […]
Montanism
A charismatic Christian sect which appeared in Phrygia in Asia Minor during the closing years of the second century. Montanism was founded by Montanus and his assistants, Priscilla and Maximilla, who considered themselves to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. Their “revelations” carried the adherents of the new sect to extreme and unorthodox claims. All […]
Montgomery, James
(Nov. 4, 1771-Apr. 30, 1854). British newspaper editor and hymn writer. Montgomery was born in Irvine, Ayrshire, England. He was the son of Moravian missionary parents who intended that he become a minister. However, he was dismissed from seminary in 1792 because of his preoccupation with writing poetry. He became assistant to the editor and […]
Moore, Clement Clarke
(July 15, 1779-July 10, 1863). Seminary professor and renowned poet. He was born in Chelsea in New York City. Moore graduated from Columbia College in 1798. He studied for the ordained ministry but was never ordained. In 1809 he published A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language: In Two Vols. It was a major publication […]
Moore, Richard Channing
(Aug. 21, 1762-Nov. 12, 1841). A leading evangelical bishop who was known for his prayer meetings and informal services. He was born in New York City. Moore studied medicine. After practicing medicine for a while, he studied for the ordained ministry under Bishop Samuel Provoost of New York. He was ordained deacon on July 15, […]
Moral Theology
Theology that focuses on development of moral principles and norms and their application to human actions in general and to particular situations. Moral theology provides a systematic framework for casuistry and has reflected the concerns of casuistry. Traditional moral theologies broadly assumed the theology of Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). Roman Catholic texts began with a consideration […]
More Hymns and Spiritual Songs
A 1971 hymnal supplement, prepared by the Joint Commission on Church Music of the Episcopal Church and published in a loose-leaf format. It has a wide variety of musical resources, including traditional hymns, folk songs, and ancient melodies. The first section of the collection, “Songs for Liturgy,” contained settings of music for the offices and […]
Moreau, Jules Laurence
(Dec. 9, 1917-June 12, 1971). Historian and editor. He was born in Irvington, New Jersey. Moreau received his B.A. from Lehigh University in 1940; his S.T.B. in 1947 and his S.T.M. in 1953 from the General Theological Seminary; and his M.A. in 1953 and his Ph.D. in 1960 from Northwestern University. He was ordained deacon […]
Morehouse, Clifford Phelps
(Apr. 18, 1904-Feb. 17, 1977). Editor, author, publisher, and ecumenist. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Morehouse received his B.A. in 1925 from Harvard University and his M.A. from Marquette University in 1937. He was secretary of the Morehouse-Barlow Publishing Company, 1925-1939, vice-president, 1932-1964, and president, 1964-1968. Morehouse was managing editor of The Living Church, […]
Morehouse, Frederic Cook
(Mar. 19, 1868-June 25, 1932). Editor, author, publisher, and ecumenist. He was born in Milwaukee, and educated privately. In 1885 he assisted his father, Linden Husted Morehouse, in establishing The Young Churchman Company, the name of which was changed in 1918 to Morehouse Publishing Company. From 1896 to 1900, Morehouse edited The Church Eclectic, and […]
Morgan, Emily Malbone
(Dec. 10, 1862-Feb. 27, 1937). Founder of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross. She was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the youngest child of a wealthy family. As early as 1889 she established a number of summer vacation homes for urban working women in rural Connecticut and Massachusetts. She financed these homes by […]
Morning Prayer
In many times and places, daybreak has been a time of prayer. Jews prayed in their synagogues at sunrise as well as at other times each day. This Jewish pattern of prayer formed the basis of the Christian monastic Daily Office, with its prayers or “hours” at seven times in each day. Thomas Cranmer’s revision […]
Moscow Agreed Statement
This statement was issued in Aug. 1976 by the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Commission. Subjects treated were: 1) the knowledge of God, 2) the inspiration and authority of Holy Scripture, 3) scripture and tradition, 4) the authority of councils, 5) the Filioque clause, 6) the church as the eucharistic community, and 7) the invocation of the […]
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.