Catholic Culture Overview
Catholic Culture Overview

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.

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ASCETERION or ASCETERY

A monastery for monks; also a house of retreat or a place of retirement for spiritual exercises, especially those of St. Ignatius (1491-1556). This name was given to the first of such houses erected by St. Charles Borromeo (1534-84) at Milan. (Etym. Latin asceteria, hermitage; from Greek asketes, one that exercises, hermit.)

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