Watteau, Jean Antoine - Artist's biography with bibliography. Willaert, Adrian - Biography of the composer (1480-1562). White, Robert - English composer. (1530-1574) Windows in Church Architecture - A history of the use and form of windows in Christian houses of worship. William the Conqueror - King of England and Duke of Normandy. Woods, Julian Edmund Tenison - Priest and scientist. (1832-1889) Widukind - Saxon leader, and one of the heads of the Westphalian nobility. William of Champeaux - A concise summary of his life and thought, by William Turner. William of Auvergne - Short article on this thinker, by William Turner. William of Conches - Scholastic philosopher and theologian. (b. 1100) William of Ockham - Biographical article on the fourteenth-century Franciscan philosopher. William of Moerbeke - Short article by M. de Wulf on this learned man of the 13th century. Windischmann, Karl Joseph Hieronymus - Concise article on this philosopher's life and works, by Friedrich Lauchert. Wirt, Wigand - Theologian, born at Frankfort about 1460; died at Steyer, 30 June, 1519. Willibrord, Saint - Article on the Benedictine missionary and bishop, who died in 739. Wolfgang, Saint - Tenth-century Benedictine bishop of Ratisbon (Regensburg). Willehad, Saint - Short biography of the missionary and bishop, d. 789. Winwallus, Saint - Abbot, contemporary of St. Patrick. There are fifty-some forms of his name, including Bennoc and Winwalloc. Winnoc, Saint - Early eighth-century Benedictine prior. Winefride, Saint - Seventh-century Welsh niece of St. Beuno. According to legend, she was decapitated by a frustrated suitor and restored to life by her uncle. Wilfrid, Saint - Biographical article on this abbot and bishop, who died in 709. Willibald and Winnebald, Saints - Members of the Order of St. Benedict. Wulfram, Saint - Late seventh-century missionary and bishop. Wendelin of Trier, Saint - Patron of shepherds. Died c. 617. Werburgh, Saint - Benedictine abbess, died 699 or 700. Biographical article. Wigand, Saints - Three saints of this name are mentioned in the Roman Martyrology. William of Norwich, Saint - William's corpse was found showing signs of a violent death. He is the earliest example of a medieval blood libel saint, having died in 1144. His biographer relied on hearsay, and was "a man of unlimited credulity." Wigbert, Saint - English-born companion of St. Boniface. Wigbert was abbot of Hersfeld and, for a time, of Ohrdruf. He died in about 746. Walburga, Saint - Fairly lengthy biographical article on this abbess of a double monastery, and author, who died in 777. Wenceslaus, Saint - The patron saint of Bohemia, murdered by his brother c. 929. Wolstan, Saint - Eleventh-century Benedictine, Bishop of Worcester. Biography. Waldenses - An heretical sect which appeared in the second half of the twelfth century. William of Ebelholt, Saint - Also called William of Paris or William of the Paraclete. Twelfth-century canon. William of Paris, Saint - Abbot of Eskill in Denmark. William Exmew, Blessed - A learned Carthusian, martyred at Tyburn in 1535. William, Saint - Bishop of St-Brieuc, died about 1234. William Hartley, Blessed - Short biography of the English priest and martyr, who died in 1588. Also some information on his companions in martyrdom John Hewitt, Robert Sutton, and John Harrison. William Southerne, Blessed - Brief profile of the English martyr, who was arrested while saying Mass, and executed in 1618. William of Maleval, Saint - Also known as St. William the Great. Hermit, d. 1157. William of Vercelli, Saint - Founder of the Hermits of Monte Vergine, died 1142. William of Gellone, Saint - Late eighth century. The second count of Toulouse, founded a Benedictine monastery, then became a monk himself. Willigis, Saint - Archbishop of Mainz, d. 1011. William Howard, Blessed - Biography of the Viscount Stafford, who headed the list of Catholic lords pursued by Titus Oates in the so-called Popish Plot. Imprisoned in the Tower and tried before the House of Lords, Stafford was executed in 1680. William Spenser, Blessed - Short biography of the English priest and martyr, who was executed in 1589. William Way, Blessed - English priest and martyr, d. 1588. William Andleby, Blessed - An English convert to Catholicism, he became a priest. He was martyred in 1597. William Lacy, Blessed - English widower, became a priest. He was martyred at York in 1582. William Patenson, Blessed - English priest, martyred at Tyburn in 1592. During his imprisonment, he converted several of the inmates. William Dean, Blessed - Short article on the career of this English priest, martyred in 1588. William Harrington, Blessed - Short biography of the English priest and martyr, who died in 1594. William, Blessed - Biographical article on this Cluniac, abbot of Hirschau, monastic reformer, astronomer, musician, who died in 1091. William Ireland, Blessed - English Jesuit who was arrested by Titus Oates himself, and martyred along with layman John Grove in 1679. William Pike, Blessed - A Dorset layman, a joiner by trade. Converted to Catholicism. He was martyred in 1591. William, Saint - Biographical article on William Fitzherbert, also called William of Thwayt. Twelfth-century Archbishop of York. William Carter, Blessed - English printer, martyred in 1584. William Ward, Blessed - Ward, whose real name was William Webster, was over 40 when he began his studies for the priesthood. He labored for 30 years in England, 20 of which were spent in prison. He was martyred in 1641 at the age of about 80, for the crime of being a priest. William Filby, Blessed - English priest, martyred in 1582. Article also has details on Bl. Laurence Richardson and St. Luke Kirby, his companions in martyrdom. William Richardson, Blessed - Last martyr under Queen Elizabeth. (d. 1603) William Davies, Blessed - Biography of the Welsh priest concentrates especially on his imprisonment and martyrdom. Fr. Davies died in 1593. William Hart, Blessed - English priest, was betrayed by an apostate on Christmas Day of 1582, chained in an underground dungeon, and martyred at York in 1583. William of Perth, Saint - Honored as a martyr because he was on pilgrimage to Jerusalem when murdered by his adopted son. Way of the Cross - Historical background on this devotion. Wessel Goesport, John - A fifteenth-century Dutch theologian, born at Gröningen in 1420; died there on 4 Oct., 1489. William the Clerk (of Normandy) - French poet of the thirteenth century. Waagen, Wilhelm Heinrich - Geologist and palaeontologist. (1841-1900) Würzburg, University of - John I of Egloffstein (1400-1411), Bishop of Wurzburg, obtained from Pope Boniface IX a charter, dated 10 December, 1492, for the university. Würzburg, Diocese of - Located in Bavaria; suffragan of Bamberg. William the Walloon - Medieval abbot. (d. 1089) Waitzen, Diocese of - Located in Hungary; suffragan of Gran; probably founded by King St. Stephen. Worship, Christian - In its most general sense, homage paid to a person or a thing. Wimmer, Boniface - Bavarian archabbot. (1809-1887) Würzburg Abbeys - Abbey of the Holy Redeemer, St. Andrew's Abbey, St. Stephen's Abbey, and St. James's Abbey. Witzel, Georg - Hessian theologian. (1501-1573) Wright, William - A professor of philosophy at Gratz and Vienna and chaplain to the Gages at Hengrave Hall, Suffolk. (1562-1639) Wyclif, John - Lengthy biographical article. Includes bibliography. Wisconsin - Known as the "Badger State", admitted to the Union on 29 May, 1848, the seventeenth state admitted, after the original thirteen. Wyoming - Forty-fourth state, derives its name from the Delaware Indian word "Maughwauwama", signifying mountains with large plains between. Wipo - Eleventh-century priest and biographer. Weninger, Francis Xavier - Jesuit missionary and author. (1805-1888) Wladislaw, Diocese of - The historical origin of this diocese is not known precisely. Wouters, G. Henry - Historian. (1802-1872) Wadding, Luke - Historian and theologian, born at Waterford, Ireland. (1588-1657) Wakash Indians - A linguistic family inhabiting the western coast of British Columbia, and the west and northwest of Vancouver Island, as well as a small region around Cape Flattery, Washington. Wace, Robert - Poet, born at Jersey, about 1100; died at Bayeux, 1174. Walsh, Edward - Irish poet, born at Derry in 1805; died at Cork, 6 August, 1850. Walsh, Robert - Publicist, diplomat, born at Baltimore, MD., 1785; died at Paris, 7 Feb., 1859. Walsh, Patrick - Irish-American journalist and senator. (1840-1900) Walmesley, Charles - Bishop of Rama, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District, England. (1722-1797) Wachter, Eberhard - Painter, born at Stuttgart, (1762-1852) Walsingham Priory - It stood a few miles from the sea in the northern part of Norfolk, England. Walla-Walla Indians - A Shahaptian tribe dwelling on the Walla-Walla River and the Columbia in Washington and Oregon, from Snake River to the Umatilla. Wadding, Michael - Mystical theologian, born at Waterford, Ireland. (1591-1644) Walsingham, Thomas - Benedictine historian, died about 1422. Walter of Châtillon - Poet in the second half of the twelfth century, born at Lille; died of the plague in the beginning of the thirteenth century. Waldsassen, Abbey of - Cistercian monastery founded by Gerwich von Wolmundstein. Walsh, Thomas - Bishop of Cambysopolis, born in London in 1777. Wimborne Minster - Monastery in Dorsetshire, England. Worthington, Thomas, D.D. - Third President of Douai College. (1549-1627) Waltham Abbey - Formerly located near London. Walkenried - Cistercian abbey of Germany, situated in the Duchy of Brunswick between Lauterberg and Nordhausen. Founded in 1127 by Countess Adelheid of Klettenberg. Walter of Winterburn - An English Dominican, cardinal, orator, poet, philosopher, and theologian in the thirteenth century. Wyntoun, Andrew of - Scottish chronicler. Wandelbert - Benedictine monk and theological writer. (813-850) Walter of Mortagne - A twelfth-century Scholastic philosopher, and theologian. Ward, Mary - Founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Walsh, Peter - Irish Franciscan, born at Mooretown, County Kildare, about 1608; died in London, 15 March, 1688. Wangnereck, Heinrich - German theologian, preacher, and author. (1595-1664) Walther von der Vogelweide - Minnesinger and old poet, born about 1170; died in 1228. Wolsey, Thomas - Cardinal Archbishop of York. (1471-1530) Wallon Henri-Alexandre - Historian and statesman, born at Valenciennes. (1812-1904) Wulfen, Franz Xaver Freiherr von - Botanist. (1728-1805) Wallenstein, Albrecht von - Born at Hermanic, Bohemia. (1583-1634) Walter of Merton - Bishop of Rochester and founder of Merton College, Oxford. Ward, William George - English writer and convert. (1812-1882) Waire, Venerable - English friar and martyr, hanged, drawn, and quartered at St. Thomas Waterings in Camberwell, 8 July, 1539. William of Shoreham - An English religious writer of the Anglo-Norman period, born at Shoreham, near Sevenoaks, in Kent, in the latter half of the twelfth century. Wittenberg - City and University. Waldeck, Principality of - A former state of the German Empire. Waldseemüller, Martin - Learned humanist and celebrated cartographer. A canon of St-Dié in Lorraine. (1475-1522) Walter, Ferdinand - Jurist, born at Wetzlar. (1794-1879) Waterton, Charles - English naturalist and explorer. (1782-1865) Waterford and Lismore - Suffragan of Cashel. Wyart, Théophile-Louis-Henri - French Cistercian. (1839-1904) Ward, Thomas - English controversialist. (1652-1708) Walsh, William - Bishop of Meath, Ireland. Warham, William - Archbishop of Canterbury. (1450-1532) Waterworth, James - English priest. (1806-1876) Walton, Brian - English Biblical scholar. (1600-1661) Witchcraft - As commonly understood, involves the idea of a diabolical pact or at least an appeal to the intervention of the spirits of evil. Water, Liturgical Use of - Besides the holy water which is used in rites of blessing, and the water employed in the washing of feet and hands, and in the baptismal font, water has its recognized place in the ritual of every Mass. Wearmouth Abbey - Benedictine monastery in Durham, England. Wilmers, Wilhelm - Professor of philosophy and theology. (1817-1899) Wealth, Use of - The term "wealth" is not used here in the technical sense in which it occurs in treatises on economic subjects. Washington, D.C. - The capital of the United States. Waverley, Cistercian Abbey of - Founded by William Gifford, the first monastery of the Order of Citeaux in England. Ward, Hugh - Irish Hagiographer. (1590-1635) Ward, James Harman - The first Union naval officer to fall in the Civil War. Winchester, Ancient See of - This diocese came into existence in 635 when the great missionary Diocese of Dorchester, founded by St. Birinus in 634 for the Kingdom of Wessex, was subdivided into the Sees of Sherborne and Winchester. Webb, Benjamin Joseph - Kentucky editor and historian. (1814-1897) Würtemberg, Kingdom of - Situated between Bavaria and Baden. Weber, Friedrich Wilhelm - Physician, poet, statesman. (1813-1894) Weitenauer, Ignatius von - Littérateur, exegete, and Orientalist. (1709-1783) Worcester, Ancient Diocese of - Located in England, created in 680 when, at the Synod of Hatfield under St. Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, the great Mercian diocese was divided into five sees. Warde, Mary Francis Xavier - Irish-American nun. (1810-1884) Weis, Nicolaus von - Bishop in Lorraine. (1796-1869) Washington, State of - One of the Pacific coast states, popularly known as the "Evergreen State". Wörndle, Von, Family - Philip, Edmund, and August. Wellington, Archdiocese of - Located in New Zealand. Weber, Heinrich - German Church historian. (1834-1898) Weld, Frederick Aloysius - New Zealand colonist. (1823-1891) Week, Liturgical - The week was regarded as a sacred institution among the Jews owing to the law of the Sabbath rest and its association with the first chapter of Genesis. Woman - The position of woman in society has given rise to a discussion which, is known under the name of the "woman question". Winding Sheet of Christ, Feast of the Holy - In 1206 one of the (supposed) Winding Sheets used at the burial of Christ was brought to Besançon by Otto de La Roche, and the feast of its arrival (Susceptio) was ordered to be kept on 11 July. Welle, Prefecture Apostolic of - Located in the extreme north of Belgian Congo, Africa. Weingarten - Suppressed Benedictine abbey. Wenrich of Trier - Eleventh-century German ecclesiastico-political writer. Webbe, Samuel - English composer. (1742-1816) Walter of St-Victor - Mystic philosopher and theologian of the twelfth century. Washing of Feet and Hands - Owing to the general use of sandals in Eastern countries the washing of the feet was almost everywhere recognized from the earliest times as a duty of courtesy to be shown to guests. Weedall, Henry - English priest. (1788-1859) Weislinger, Johann Nikolaus - Polemical writer. (1691-1755) Weissenau, Monastery of - Suppressed Premonstratensian house in Würtemberg. Wolfram von Eschenbach - Middle-High-German epic poet. (d. 1216) Weathers, William - English bishop. (1814-1895) Weiss, Johann Baptist - Historian. (1820-1899) Welte, Benedict - Exegete, born at Ratzenried in Würtemberg. (1825-1885) Wessobrunn - Suppressed Benedictine abbey in Bavaria. Weber, Karl Maria Friedrich Ernst von - Composer. (1786-1826) Westminster, Matthew of - The name given to the supposed author of a well-known English chronicle, the "Flores Historiarum". Welser, Bartholomeus - German merchant prince. (1488-1561) Wheeling, Diocese of - Located in West Virginia. Whitby, Abbey of - Formerly called Streoneshalh. A Benedictine monastery in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England, founded about 657, as a double monastery, by Oswy, King of Northumberland. West Virginia - The state bounded by Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, and on Kentucky. Wetzer, Heinrich Joseph - Learned Orientalist, born at Anzefahr in Hesse-Cassel. (1801-1853) White, Andrew - Missionary. (1579-1656) White, Edward - Grandfather of Stephen Mallory White, born in County Limerick, Ireland, in the latter part of the eighteenth century; died December, 1863. William of St-Amour - Thirteenth-century theologian and controversialist. (d. 1273) Warsaw, Archdiocese of - Located in Poland. White, Thomas - Several of White's opinions were censured by the Inquisition. Weston, William - Jesuit missionary priest, born at Maidstone. Westphalia - Province of Prussia. White Fathers - Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa of Algeria. Welsh Church - The term Welsh Church covers "the British Church during the Roman period", "the British Church during the period of Saxon Conquest", and "the Church of Wales". White, Stephen - Irish antiquarian and polyhistor. (1574-1646) Werden - Suppressed Benedictine monastery. Westcott, Sebastian - English organist. (1524-1583) Whithorn Priory - Founded in Scotland in the twelfth century. Westminster Abbey - This most famous of all English abbeys is situated within the precincts of the Royal Palace of Westminster. Whitty, Robert - English Jesuit. (1817-1895) Wales - Located in the western portion of Great Britain. Walafrid - German poet and theologian of the ninth century. Wells in Scripture - It is difficult to realize the importance which a country like Palestine attaches to any source of fresh water. Westminster, Archdiocese of - Comprises the Counties of Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Essex, and London north of the Thames. Whitty, Ellen - Australian nun. (1819-1892) Widmer, Joseph - Swiss theologian. (1779-1844) William - Abbot of Saint-Bénigne on Dijon. (962-1031) Wibald - Medieval Belgian Abbot. (1098-1158) Wichmans, Francis - Belgian Augustinian. (1596-1661) Welsh Monastic Foundations - The British church was driven into Wales in the fifth century Westeraas, Ancient See of - Located in Sweden. Westminster Cathedral - A national expression of religious faith given by Roman Catholics to England. William, Abbot of Marmoutiers - For a time he was Archdeacon of Nantes, but renounced this dignity and became a monk at the Benedictine monastery of Marmoutiers. (d. 1124) Whitty, Rose - Irish nun. (1831-1911) Weber, Beda - Benedictine professor, author, statesman. (1798-1859) Whitby, Synod of - A conference at the monastery of St. Hilda at Whitby or Streanoeshalch. King Oswy with Bishops Colman and Chad represented the Celtic tradition; Alchfrid, son of Oswy, and Bishops Wilfrid and Agilbert that of Rome. Wessenberg, Ignaz Heinrich von - Vicar-General and Administrator of the Diocese of Constance. (1774-1860) Weld - Name of a prominent English Catholic family. Wegg-Prosser, Francis Richard - Prominent English convert. (1824-1911) Wilhelm of Herle - Painter, born at Herle in Dutch Limburg at an unknown date in the fourteenth century. Worsley, Edward - English Jesuit. (1605-1676) Wichita Indians - A confederacy of Caddoan stock, formerly dwelling between the Arkansas River, Kansas, and the Brazos River, Texas. Wichita, Diocese of - Erected in 1887, from the Diocese of Leavenworth. Widukind of Corvey - Historian who lived in the tenth century in the Benedictine Abbey of Corvey, Germany. Whipple, Amiel Weeks - American military engineer and soldier. (1818-1863) William of Auxerre - Thirteenth-century theologian. White, Charles Ignatius - American editor and historian. (1807-1878) War - In its juridical sense, a contention carried on by force of arms between sovereign states, or communities having in this regard the right of states. Wilcannia, Diocese of - Located in New South Wales, one of the six suffragan sees of Sydney. William of Jumièges - Benedictine historian. (d. 1090) Wigley, George J. - By profession he was an architect, but subsequently devoted himself to journalism in Paris. William of Newburgh - English historian. (1136-1198) William of Nangis - Medieval chronicler. (d. 1300) William of Poitiers - Norman historian, born of a noted family, at Préaux near Pont Audemer, Normandy, about 1020. Willems, Pierre - Philologist. (1840-1898) Wittman, Patrizius - Catholic journalist. (1818-1883) William of Malmesbury - Benedictine monk at Malmesbury Abbey. William of St-Thierry - Theologian and mystic. (1085-1148) William of Sens - A twelfth-century French architect, supposed to have been born at Sens. Winona, Diocese of - Established in 1889, suffragan of St. Paul, in southern Minnesota. William of Tyre - Archbishop of Tyre and historian. (1130-1190) William of Turbeville - Bishop of Norwich. (1095-1174) William of Ware - William de Warre, Guard, Guaro, Varro or Varron. William of Wayneflete - English bishop and chancellor. (d. 1486) Windthorst, Ludwig - German statesman. (1812-1891) Wilgefortis - The legend makes her a Christian daughter of a pagan King of Portugal. Werner, Friedrich Ludwig Zacharias - Prussian convert, poet, and pulpit orator. (1768-1823) White, Stephen Mallory - American statesman. (1853-1901) William Perault - Thirteenth-century French writer and preacher. Wild, Johann - Scriptural commentator and preacher. (1495-1554) Wisdom, Book of - One of the deutero-canonical writings of the Old Testament, placed in the Vulgate between the Canticle of Canticles and Ecclesiasticus. William of Ramsey - A monk of Crowland Abbey. Wingham, Thomas - Pianist, organist, composer and teacher. (1846-1893) Wilton, Richard - English Trinitarian scholar. (d. 1239) Wilberforce, Henry William - Third son of William Wilberforce, and younger brother of Robert Wilberforce. Wiener-Neustadt, Diocese of - Suppressed see in Lower Austria. Wolowski, Louis-François-Michel-Reymond - Polish economist. (1810-1876) Wettingen-Mehrerau, Abbacy Nullius of - Cistercian abbey in Austria. Wartenberg, Franz Wilhelm, Count von - Bishop and cardinal. (1593-1661) Wilton Abbey - Benedictine convent near Salisbury, England. Wilhering, Cistercian Abbey of - Situated on the right bank of the Danube, in the Diocese of Linz, Austria. Wigbod - Theological writer of the eighth century. William of Wykeham - Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England. (1324-1404) Williamites - Name of two minor religious orders. Wimpina, Konrad - Theologian. (1465-1531) Wimpfeling, Jakob - Humanist and theologian. (1450-1528) Woodhead, Abraham - English writer. (1609-1678) William of Digulleville - Fourteenth-century French poet. Wolgemut, Michael - Painter and engraver. (1434-1519) Wiest, Stephan - Member of the Order of Cistercians. (1748-1797) Will - This article discusses will in its psychological aspect. Winzet, Ninian - Benedictine abbot and controversial writer. (1518-1592) Windischmann, Friedrich Heinrich Hugo - Orientalist and exegete. (1811-1861) Wilhelm V - Duke of Bavaria. (1548-1626) Wireker, Nigel - Twelfth-century satirist. Wood-Carving - Discusses the branch of wood-carving dealing with artistic objects, belonging either to plastic (as statues, crucifixes, and similar carvings), or to industrial art (as arabesques and rosettes), and which serve mainly for the ornamentation of cabinet work. Wilberforce, Robert Isaac - Second son of William Wilberforce, and a younger brother of Samuel Wilberforce. Windesheim - Augustinian monastery in Holland. Windsor - A town on the Thames, in Berkshire, England; rendered Ventus Morbidus in some medieval documents, the name being really from the Saxon Windels-or, "winding shore". Wisdom, Daughters of - Founded at Poitiers by Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort in 1703. Williram - Scripture scholar. (d. 1085) Winslow, Jakob Benignus - Physician and anatomist. (1669-1760) Winnebago Indians - A Siouan tribe closely related in speech to the Iowa, Missouri, and Oto, and more remotely to the Dakota and Ponca. Wood, Thomas - Priest and confessor. (1499-1588) Witt, Francis Xavier - Composer and reformer of church music. (1834-1888) Walenburch, Adrian and Peter von - Auxiliary bishops of Cologne and celebrated controversial theologians, born at Rotterdam at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Will and Testament of Clerics - Roman law allowed clerics to dispose of their property by will or otherwise. Window, Rose - A circular window, with mullions and traceries generally radiating from the centre, and filled with stained glasses. Wilmington, Diocese of - Located in Delaware, U.S.A. Witness - One who is present, bears testimony, furnishes evidence or proof. Widow - Canonical prescriptions concerning widows in the Old Testament refer mainly to the question of remarriage. Winckelmann, Johann Joachim - Archaeologist and historian of ancient art. (1717-1768) Wiseman, Nicholas Patrick - Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. (1802-1865) Wounds, The Five Sacred - The revival of religious life and the zealous activity of St. Bernard and St. Francis in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, together with the enthusiasm of the Crusaders returning from the Holy Land, increased devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ and particularly to practices in honour of the Wounds in His Sacred Hands, Feet, and Side. World, Antiquity of the - Various attempts have been made to establish the age of the world. Wittman, George Michael - Bishop-elect of Ratisbon. (1760-1833) Wolff, George Dering - American editor. (1822-1894) Words (in Canon Law) - Canonists give many rules for the exact acceptation of words, in order that decrees may be correctly understood and the extent of their obligation determined.