as in ecclesiastical
of or relating to a church
the waning of ecclesial power in Europe as the number of lapsed Christians increases
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Recent Examples of ecclesial
During the latter half of the century, the Brazilian Catholic church shifted its approach from one that centered on elites and favored the status quo to one that promoted social justice and ecclesial and political action on behalf of the poor.
—
Chayenne Polimédio, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2019
In the case of the Synodal Path reform in Germany, some of the core of the beliefs of the Catholic Church, such as the Church’s divine constitution and ecclesial communion, the Sacraments, and the ministerial Priesthood, are being questioned once again.
—Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021
And yet, in the process of fleeing broken ecclesial institutions, didn’t the new contemplatives also constitute a body politic?
—Fred Bahnson, Harpers Magazine, 5 Jan. 2021
Others suggest that any sort of ecclesial peace that had reigned was over and that Francis is now more exposed to critics, deprived of the moderating influence Benedict played in keeping the conservative Catholic fringe at bay.
—Nicole Winfield, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Jan. 2023
His ecclesial service was without parallel in Australia.
—Raymond J. De Souza, WSJ, 12 Jan. 2023
Throughout the ages, philosophers, theologians, physicians, members of ecclesial law courts, psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, sexologists, physiologists, and urologists have shown interest in SREs.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2016
While increasingly common, the ecclesial apology is a relatively modern phenomenon, said Jeremy Bergen, a church apology expert and professor of religious and theological studies at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario.
—Peter Smith, BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2022
In addition to that, one of the goals the synodal reform is to change completely the ecclesial structures of the Church in Germany and elsewhere.
—Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021
Chayenne Polimédio, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2019
In the case of the Synodal Path reform in Germany, some of the core of the beliefs of the Catholic Church, such as the Church’s divine constitution and ecclesial communion, the Sacraments, and the ministerial Priesthood, are being questioned once again.
—Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021
And yet, in the process of fleeing broken ecclesial institutions, didn’t the new contemplatives also constitute a body politic?
—Fred Bahnson, Harpers Magazine, 5 Jan. 2021
Others suggest that any sort of ecclesial peace that had reigned was over and that Francis is now more exposed to critics, deprived of the moderating influence Benedict played in keeping the conservative Catholic fringe at bay.
—Nicole Winfield, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Jan. 2023
His ecclesial service was without parallel in Australia.
—Raymond J. De Souza, WSJ, 12 Jan. 2023
Throughout the ages, philosophers, theologians, physicians, members of ecclesial law courts, psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, sexologists, physiologists, and urologists have shown interest in SREs.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2016
While increasingly common, the ecclesial apology is a relatively modern phenomenon, said Jeremy Bergen, a church apology expert and professor of religious and theological studies at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario.
—Peter Smith, BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2022
In addition to that, one of the goals the synodal reform is to change completely the ecclesial structures of the Church in Germany and elsewhere.
—Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ecclesial
Adjective
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Joan is already an international star, and her style is modest, almost ecclesiastical.—
Ingrid Schmidt,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Feb. 2025
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In the early 1500s, an unknown wealthy patron is said to have commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to produce the Salvator Mundi, a striking ecclesiastical masterpiece in which Jesus is shown blessing humanity with his right hand while holding an orb representing the Earth in his left.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Forget Fleabag, Conclave, Nobody Wants This, or Ramy, there’s a new ecclesiastic bombshell on the block.—
Riann Phillip,
Vogue,
31 Jan. 2025
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But Thondup is also sharply critical of the Tibetan political and ecclesiastic elite for their gross mismanagement of their relations with China.—
Anne F. Thurston,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Feb. 2016
Adjective
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Accommodations for religious observances, like Ramadan, have been impacted as well.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN,
4 Mar. 2025
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Take time to renew your spiritual or religious beliefs.—
Georgia Nicols,
The Denver Post,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ecclesial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ecclesial. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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