Death Comes for the Archbishop Terms

A bishop is a high-ranking member of the Catholic clergy. A bishop is placed in charge of a diocese, or a series of geographically proximate churches and parishes. The primary difference between a bishop… read analysis of Bishop/Archbishop

A cardinal is one of the most prominent members of the Catholic church hierarchy, second only to the pope. Most cardinals started as bishops or archbishops before being personally selected by the pope for work… read analysis of Cardinal

A cassock is an ankle-length garment that was worn by Catholic priests until the mid-20th century. Each Catholic sect had their own variations on this traditional dress; French Jesuits like Latour and Vaillant would have… read analysis of Cassock

A diocese is a collection of various parishes, each with their own church and priests. Dioceses are overseen by bishops; in the novel, for example, Latour is placed in charge of the diocese of… read analysis of Diocese/Vicariate

The Provincial Councils of Baltimore, which took place over several decades in the 1800s, helped Catholic priests across America unite on guiding principles and ground rules for the nation’s new churches. The seventh Provincial Council… read analysis of Provincial Council of Baltimore

Sacraments are sacred rituals in Catholicism, in which a priest or deacon helps bestow Jesus Christ’s grace upon parishioners. There are seven sacraments in total: the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist), the… read analysis of Sacrament

Catholic vicars are priests who worked directly under bishops or archbishops. As Latour’s vicar, Vaillant is his substitute, holding down the fort when Latour goes away or carrying out duties in distant towns on… read analysis of Vicar