FEBRONIAN Meaning and
Definition
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Febronian refers to a person or a supporter of the Febronianism movement, which emerged in the 18th century as a reaction against the authority and hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. The term comes from the Latin title "Febronius," used by Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim, a German theologian and canonist who authored the influential book "De statu ecclesiae et legitima potestate Romani Pontificis," published in 1763 under the pseudonym Justinus Febronius.
Febronianism is characterized by a rejection of papal supremacy and a desire for a more decentralized Church with greater authority given to local bishops and secular rulers. Febronians advocated for the diminution of Papal power and the strengthening of national churches by opposing the centralized authority of Rome. They believed in the primacy of General Councils, which would allow bishops from various regions to participate more actively in decision-making processes.
The Febronian movement had a significant impact on the politics and ecclesiastical landscape of its time. Its ideas were seen as a challenge to the authority of the Pope and raised debates about the balance of power between the Church and the state. Febronianism was particularly influential in areas such as Austria, Germany, and the Low Countries.
Although the movement waned over time due to opposition from the Vatican and conflicting views among Febronians themselves, the term "Febronian" remains a label to identify those who support a more decentralized and less centralized hierarchical structure within the Roman Catholic Church.
Common Misspellings for FEBRONIAN
- debronian
- cebronian
- vebronian
- gebronian
- tebronian
- rebronian
- fwbronian
- fsbronian
- fdbronian
- frbronian
- f4bronian
- f3bronian
- fevronian
- fenronian
- fehronian
- fegronian
- febeonian
- febdonian
- febfonian
- febtonian
Etymology of FEBRONIAN
The term "Febronian" originates from the name "Febronius", which was the pen name of Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim. Hontheim was a German Catholic bishop and theologian from the 18th century. In 1763, he published a controversial book called "De Statu Ecclesiae et Legitima Potestate Romani Pontificis" ("On the State of the Church and the Legitimate Power of the Roman Pontiff") under the pseudonym Justinus Febronius. The book criticized the centralization of power in the papacy and proposed a more decentralized structure, advocating for a greater role of local bishops and national churches. This view became known as Febronianism, and its supporters were referred to as Febronians. The term is derived from the Latinized version of the author's pseudonym, Febronius.
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