Catholic Word of the Day: PRIE-DIEU, 05-01-10

CatholicReference.net ^ | 05-01-10 | Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary

[Salvation]

Featured Term (selected at random):

PRIE-DIEU

A kneeling bench used in many European churches and mainly intended for private devotions. Its present form dates from the seventeenth century. It resembles a wooden desk with a sloping shelf for resting the arms, often with compartment for books beneath.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

How many of you knew what this meant at first sight? (I didn't.)

[Dudoight]

I knew because I had a friend whose mother had one in her bedroom....however, I still don’t know how to pronounce it.

[Salvation]

Catholic Word of the Day – links will be provided later by another FReeper.

 

Contumely	Alienation	Ethics
Quam Singulari	Indissolubility	Celibacy
Comparative Religion	Founder	Edification
Noumenon	Stag	Ecclesia
Eternal City (Rome)	New Earth	Samuel
Benefice	Papal Regesta	Defender of the Faith
Sacrament House	James the Less	Devotion to St. Joseph
Vicar-General	Holy Doors	Te Deum Laudamus
Preconization	Determinants of Morality	Penitential Psalms
Hatred	Synoptics	Proclamation
Serra International	Purity of Intention	Abomination of Desolation
Matrimonial Contract	Conventual	Doubtful Conscience
Homosexuality	Promised Land	May Laws
Toulouse	Mystery Theology	Eucharistic Meal
Dilemma	Sacrifice of the Mass	Prie-dieu

Catholic Word of the Day Ping!

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[Dudoight]

Just went on google and got an audio pronunciation:

Pree Deyoo

At least I think that is what it sounds like. LOL!

[Dr. Sivana]

How many of you knew what this meant at first sight?

We just donated one to the Church Rummage Sale. It disappeared before the sale even began, so I think the priest has found a better use for it.

[Salvation]

Pree Dee you

Is that correct?

[Dudoight]

It has got to be close! Sounds like a french pronounciation rather than traditional Latin!

[Tax-chick]

I knew - historical novels! We have a couple in the Blessed Sacrament chapel at our parish.

[Mila]

“.....however, I still don’t know how to pronounce it.”

Several of my french relatives had/have prie-dieus in their homes, usually at the foot of their bed. One had a little chapel in her home and had a prie-dieu there. It means pray(prie) to God(Dieu in French)

Here is how it is pronounced

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=prie-dieu

[Salvation]

That pronunciation almost sounds as though it has a ‘r’ sound in it — second syllable.

[Bigg Red]

French pronunciation is hard to write for English speakers. The “Dieu” part is one syllable, but, to me it sounds like 1.5 syllables. It’s as if you are starting to say a word that begins with a “d” and then switch to one that starts with a “j”. Does that make sense.

And, no, I did not know the word, although, I have seen them, of course in churches. There was a spectacular prie-dieu in the church of my childhood. I thought it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever beheld. It was in front of a statue of the Infant of Prague, whose lovely garments also appealed to me. I suppose some woman in the parish made them.

[the invisib1e hand]

I’ll have the the Prie-dieu with a grande mal, please. It’s off the menu.

[Straight Vermonter]

Earlier Catholic Words of the Day

Contumely	Alienation	Ethics
Quam Singulari	Indissolubility	Celibacy
Comparative Religion	Founder	Edification
Noumenon	Stag	Ecclesia
Eternal City (Rome)	New Earth	Samuel
Benefice	Papal Regesta	Defender of the Faith
Sacrament House	James the Less	Devotion to St. Joseph
Vicar-General	Holy Doors	Te Deum Laudamus
Preconization	Determinants of Morality	Penitential Psalms
Hatred	Synoptics	Proclamation
Serra International	Purity of Intention	Abomination of Desolation
Matriomonial Contract	Conventual	Doubtful Conscience
Homosexuality	Promised Land	May Laws
Toulouse	Mystery Theology	Eucharistic Meal
Dilemma	Sacrifice of the Mass	Prie-Dieu

[Straight Vermonter]

Is it just the term that is peculiar or is the prie-Dieu itself not common all over? I live in a French-Canadian area and we always have these in the confessional, in front of the sacrament during adoration, and near the casket at a wake for example.