Systematic Theology

Research Resources

Fur further help in locating primary material in Church teaching, contact Jan Malcheski, Theology Reference Librarian at Ireland Library.

PRIMARY SOURCES

Papal, Conciliar, and Curial Statements

Documents published by the Holy See or by a church council are often referred to by a common title, derived from the first few words of the text. Usually this will be in Latin; e.g. the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, issued at Vatican II, is commonly called Gaudium et spes. When looking for a particular document it is helpful to know this common title, the date the document was issued, and who issued it (e.g. the pope, an ecumenical council, a congregation of the Roman Curia). To find an English translation of a current church document, use the Catholic Periodical and Literature Index (described below). It indexes the contents of many journals and magazines including those which reprint church documents:

• Catholic International.
• Origins.
• L'Osservatore Romano.
• The Pope Speaks [ceased 2006]

Older documents can often be found in one of the works listed below:

The Christian Faith in the Doctrinal Documents of the Catholic Church. Edited by J. Neuner and J. Dupuis. 7th ed. New York: Alba, 2001.
[IRL Ref BX 1747.5 .C4813 2001]

This work is the standard English-language translation of excerpts of papal and conciliar statements arranged by subject. It is the appropriate tool to use when looking for the major documents on a particular topic (e.g. grace). The original language text of each document (usually Greek or Latin) can be found in the Enchiridion symbolorum, first edited by Johannes Denzinger (St. Michael's Reference BX 1749 .D415 1999). An older but similar work, The Sources of Catholic Dogma (St. Michael's Reference BX 1749 .D413 1957), arranges excerpts of the most important papal and conciliar statements in chronological order.

Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. Edited by Norman J. Tanner. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1990. 2 volumes.
[IRL Ref  BX 825 .A1990]

This work includes the original text (either Greek or Latin) of the decrees of each of the 21 ecumenical councils of the Catholic Church as well as an English translation. There are numerous indexes which enable one to locate what has been taught about a particular topic.

The Documents of Vatican II. Edited by Walter M. Abbott. New York: Herder & Herder, 1966.
[St. Michael's 1st Floor Reference Area ? BX 830 1962 .A3 G3 1966]

Vatican Council II : The Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents. Edited by Austin Flannery. Boston: St. Paul Books and Media, 1992.
[IRL Ref BX 830 1962 .A3 F55 v.1]

Abbott and Flannery are the two most widely used English translations of the sixteen documents of Vatican II.

Dictionary of the Council. Edited by J. Derentz and A. Nocent. London: Chapman, 1968.
[IRL Ref BX 830 1962 A48 D43 1968b]

Paragraph-length excerpts from the documents of Vatican II arranged by subject under almost 500 headings with cross references and an index.

The Papal Encyclicals, 1740-1981. Edited by Claudia Carlen. Wilmington, North Carolina: McGrath, 1981. 5 volumes.
[IRL Ref BX 860 .C37 1981]

This work provides English translations of the 110 encyclicals issued by the popes from Benedict XIV to the first three years of the reign of John Paul II. An encyclical is a particular type of papal letter; today it is used for letters to the entire college of bishops on important topics. This work does not include other papal documents (e.g. apostolic letters, apostolic constitutions, bulls). There is a subject index and a bibliography of articles and books commenting on each encyclical. The text of many official papal statements (including most encyclicals) is available on the (Vatican website).

The Encyclicals of John Paul II. Edited by J. Michael Miller. Huntington, Ind.: Our Sunday Visitor, 1996.
[IRL Ref BX 1751.2 .C34613 1996]

English translations of the first twelve encyclicals issued by Pope John Paul II. Includes a useful subject index. The text of all of John Paul II's encyclicals is available on the Vatican website.

The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortations of John Paul II. Edited by J. Michael Miller. Huntington, Ind.: Our Sunday Visitor, 1998.
[IRL Ref BX 870 1978b Oct. P67 1998]

English translations of the apostolic exhortations issued by Pope John Paul II after the meetings of the ordinary general assemblies of the Synod of Bishops. Includes a useful subject index. The text of all of John Paul II's apostolic exhortations is available on the Vatican website.

Papal Pronouncements : A Guide, 1740-1978. Edited by Claudia Carlen. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Pierian, 1990. 2 volumes.
[IRL Ref BX 850 .C37 1990]

This work gives brief summaries of major papal statements from Benedict XIV to John Paul I. Included are encyclicals, apostolic letters, and papal documents issued motu proprio, as well as many addresses and radio messages - but not documents published by the offices of the Roman Curia. Sources for the complete original text and for an English translation (if there is one) are listed. There is an extensive subject index. Use this work to verify the name and date of a document and to find out where an English translation is available.  

OTHER PRIMARY SOURCES

The Faith of the Early Fathers. Edited by William A. Jurgens. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1970-1979. 3 volumes.
[IRL Ref BR 63 J.F3 1970b]

This work is a chronologically-arranged collection of the most important patristic passages needed for theological study. It serves as an English-language version of Rouet de Journel's Enchiridion patristicum (St. Michael's BQ 5217 .R68 1962). Each volume has a detailed doctrinal index to locate patristic passages by subject.

Aquinas, Thomas. Summa theologiae. London: Blackfriars, 1964-1976. 61 volumes.
[IRL BX 1749 .T6 1964]

Saint Thomas' Summa theologiae is the principal doctrinal synthesis of Catholic theology. This edition includes the Latin text and an English translation. Each volume includes a subject index and a useful glossary of important theological words. For an abridged form of this work, use Summa theologiae : A Concise Translation (St. Michael's BX 1749 .T48 1989). The 1947 English-language translation of the Summa is available in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. 

ENCYCLOPEDIAS 

New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd edition. Washington, D.C.: Gale, 2002. 15 volumes.
[IRL Ref  BX 841 .N44 2002].

Also online: New Catholic Encyclopedia
This work is the major English-language encyclopedia on Catholic topics. It contains some 17,000 articles, each with a bibliography. Use this work to get an overview of a subject and to see how it can be divided into narrower topics for a paper.

Sacramentum mundi : An Encyclopedia of Theology. Edited by Karl Rahner et al. New York: Herder & Herder, 1968. 6 volumes.
[IRL Ref? BR 95 .S23 1969]

The articles in this encyclopedia are each several pages in length and make significant use of the documents of Vatican II. Each entry is supplemented by a bibliography emphasizing English-language material. There is also an abridged version of this work, Encyclopedia of Theology: The Concise Sacramentum mundi (St. Michael's Reference BR 95 .E48 1975), which includes a number of totally revised articles.

The Encyclopedia of Christianity.
Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1999 ? present. 4 volumes.
[IRL Ref BR 95 .E8913 1999]

When complete, this work will be the major English-language theological encyclopedia from a Protestant perspective. It emphasizes post-Reformation and particularly contemporary Christianity. The articles included are substantial but selective; there are many topics which are not addressed. Presently only complete to the letter O. Based on the German Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon (Robarts 4th Floor Reference Area ? BR 95 .E92 1986).

Dictionnaire de Th?ologie Catholique. Edited by A. Vacant and E. Magenot. Paris: Letouzey et An?, 1908-1949. 15 volumes.
[IRL Ref  BX 841 .D68]

Universally regarded as one of the most authoritative works in its field, this encylopedia covers all aspects of theology. It includes many very long articles with extensive bibliographies.

The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton, 1907-1913. 16 volumes + 3 supplements. Print version: [St. Michael's 1st Floor Reference Area ? BX 841 .C25 1907]
Electronic version: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/

For over fifty years this work was the chief source of information on the Catholic Church in English-speaking countries. Because of its length (it has almost twice as many words as the New Catholic Encyclopedia) and its emphasis on historical articles, it is still useful.

DICTIONARIES

Dictionary of Fundamental Theology. Edited by Reni Latourelle and Rino Fisichella. New York: Crossroad, 1994.
[IRL Ref BT 1102 .D5814 1994]

Over 200 articles, including 30 major ones (e.g. christology, Church, revelation) which serve as guides to the other articles in the dictionary.

Dictionary of Theology. Edited by Louis Bouyer. New York: Descl?e, 1965.
[IRL Ref BR 95 .B6413 1965]

Precise definitions of theological terms and a concise synthesis of Catholic doctrine.

Dictionary of Theology. Edited by Karl Rahner and Herbert Vorgrimler. New York: Crossroad, 1985.
[IRL Ref  BR 95 .R313 1985]

"Brief explanations . . . of the most important concepts of modern Catholic dogmatic theology, for readers who are prepared to make an intellectual report" (Preface). Some editions of this work have the title Theological Dictionary.

The New Dictionary of Theology. Edited by Joseph A. Komonchak et al. Wilmington, Delaware: Glazier, 1987.
[IRL Ref  BR 95 .N38 1991]

This work includes over 200 multi-page articles, many on subjects which have only developed since Vatican II (e.g. liberation theology). The articles explain the official teaching of the Church, as well as theological opinions held by individual scholars. Each article includes a bibliography of writings in English.

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Edited by F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone. 3rd edition revised. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
[IRL Ref  BR 95 .O8 2005]

Each of the over 6,000 entries in this work includes a bibliography which emphasizes primary sources. This dictionary is particularly good for identifying individuals.

The library also owns numerous dictionaries and encyclopedias on specific theological subjects, including the following works which are useful for determining the teaching of a particular theologian on a specific topic (e.g. what Saint Ambrose wrote about the Holy Spirit).

Corpus Christi: An Encyclopedia of the Eucharist. Wilmington, Delaware: Glazier, 1988.
[IRL Ref  BX 2215.2 .O28 1988]

Ecclesia: A Theological Encyclopedia of the Church. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1996.
[IRL Ref  BX 841 .O36 1996]

Theotokos: A Theological Encyclopedia of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Wilmington, Delaware: Glazier, 1982.
[IRL Ref  BT 599 .O25 1983]

Trinitas: A Theological Encyclopedia of the Holy Trinity. Wilmington, Delaware: Glazier, 1987.
[IRL Ref  BT 111.2 .O24 1987]

Veni Creator Spiritus: A Theological Encyclopedia of the Holy Spirit. Wilmington, Delaware: Glazier, 1990.
[IRL Ref BT 121.2 .O335 1990]

Verbum caro: A Theological Encyclopedia of Jesus, the Christ. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1992.
[IRL Ref  BT 199 .O23 1992]

HANDBOOKS

The Catechism of the Catholic Church. [Revised translation]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1999.
Print version: [IRL Ref BX 1959.3 .E5 1999]
Electronic version: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc

"A statement of the Church's faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition, and the Church's Magisterium. ... A sure norm for teaching the faith." (John Paul II, Fidei depositum).

Ott, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. Rockford, Illinois: Tan, 1974.
[IRL Ref BX 1751.2 .O813 1974]

This book is a basic outline of the teachings of the Church which presents essential statements of doctrine and attempts to explain the foundations of that teaching in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. It is excellent for determining how official a particular teaching is (e.g. de fide or merely the more probable opinion held by most theologians).

UST DATABASES & INDEXES

Catholic Periodical and Literature Index.
Print version (1930 - 1994): [IRL Ref  INDEX]

Over 200,000 bibliographic citations to Catholic books, book reviews, and journal articles from more than 160 Catholic magazines.

ATLA Religion Database.

Over one million bibliographic citations to journal articles, essays in books, and book reviews in the field of religion.

Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses: Elenchus Bibliographicus.
[IRL Ref INDEX,1924 - present)]

Print only, the major European index to books and journal articles in the field of Catholic theology.

LITERATURE GUIDES

McCabe, James Patrick. Critical Guide to Catholic Reference Books. 3rd edition. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, 1989.
[IRL Ref BX 1950. 252 1989]

Out of date but still helpful, an annotated list of "over fifteen hundred of the most important reference books in English and foreign languages whose contents or point of view relate in some way to Catholicism."