Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

Random Term from the Dictionary:

DONKEY BEAD

a superstitious good luck stone in the East. Translated from "Khar Mohreh" (which means "The Mark of the Donkey"), it was placed around a donkey's neck to drive away evil spirits. Over the years it has served as ornaments in jewelry, for decoration and many other purposes. However, it is still considered to bring the owner "good luck" and "long life," and is now worn also by Christians. The Donkey Bead is made from quartz that is crushed, molded, and glazed with cobalt. The traditional color is blue, with very slight variation. The entire process is done by hand, which accounts for the individuality of each piece.