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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SUPERIOR
The person who has authority over others in the Catholic Church. There are two kinds of superior, corresponding to the two kinds of hierarchy that have authority, namely, ecclesiastical and religious. The two may coalesce in one person, but they are really distinct. (Etym. Latin superus, situated above, upper; from super, above, over.)
