What is "spiritualities"

Spirituality \Spir`it*u*al"i*ty\, n.; pl. Spiritualities. [L. spiritualitas: cf. F. spiritualit['e].]

1. The quality or state of being spiritual; incorporeality; heavenly-mindedness.

   A pleasure made for the soul, suitable to its spirituality.
   --South.

   If this light be not spiritual, yet it approacheth nearest to spirituality.
   --Sir W. Raleigh.

   Much of our spirituality and comfort in public worship depends on the state of mind in which we come.
   --Bickersteth.

2. (Eccl.) That which belongs to the church, or to a person as an ecclesiastic, or to religion, as distinct from temporalities.

   During the vacancy of a see, the archbishop is guardian of the spiritualities thereof.
   --Blackstone.

3. An ecclesiastical body; the whole body of the clergy, as distinct from, or opposed to, the temporality. [Obs.]

   Five entire subsidies were granted to the king by the spirituality.
   --Fuller.

n. (plural of spirituality English)

Spiritualities is a term, often used in the Middle Ages, that refers to the income sources of a diocese or other ecclesiastical establishment that came from tithes. It also referred to income that came from other religious sources, such as offerings from church services or ecclesiastical fines.

Under canon law, spiritualities were only allowed to the clergy.

In the 19th century, the spiritualities or spirituals, were revenues connected with the spiritual duties and the cure of souls, and consisted almost entirely of tithes, glebe lands, and houses.