Bible Encyclopedias
Perfecti

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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(Perfect) is the name assumed by the stricter Cathari (q.v.) of the 12th and 13th centuries. Rainerius, who had himself been a Catharist, and who speaks of a census of the sect taken by themselves, says that there were only 4000 of these, although the "Credentes," or general body of the Catharists, were innumerable. These "perfect" Catharists were analogous to the Manichbean "elect," professing to live an extremely strict life, in imitation of Christ and his apostles. From among them were taken their bishops, "Filius major," "Filius minor," and deacon, some of whom were brought up from their childhood on a rigid fish and vegetable diet. The Perfecti also called themselves Consolati and Boni Homines. See Reiner, Contr. Waldens. in Bibl. Max. 25:266, 269.