A modern dictionary of Catholic terms, both common and obscure. Find accurate definitions of words and phrases.
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 religius. The two may coalesce in one person, but they are really distinct. (Etym. Latin superus, situated above, upper; from super, above, over.)
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.