The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism

By Richard P. McBrien

Book Overview

With 1 billion Catholics in the world -- and 57 million in the United States alone -- Catholicism is the world's most familiar religion. Yet many facets of this varied and dynamic tradition remain unknown or poorly understood. Now The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism offers a one-volume comprehensive and authoritative guide to the people, doctrines, history, worship, art, spirituality, literature, theological developments, and changes that have shaped the Church over nearly two millennia. Led by general editor Richard P. McBrien, bestselling author of Catholicism, an editorial team drawn almost entirely from the University of Notre Dame has collected more than 4,200 entries written by 280 leading experts from around the world and across the theological spectrum, including Benedict Ashley, Gerald O'Collins, Sandra B. Schneiders, Hans K ng, Walter H. Principe, Elizabeth Johnson, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Virgilio Elizondo, Catherine Mowry LaCugna, Robert F. Taft, Peter Hebblethwaite, Dermot A. Lane, Francis A. Sullivan, Robert F. Trisco, and John Strynkowski. A concise reference for understanding Catholic terms such as vigil light and maniple, The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism also offers superb feature-length entries on subjects ranging from the seven sacraments, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Peter, Paul, Augustine, and Aquinas to prayer and Christian spirituality, Catholicism in the United States, women in the Church, and Vatican II. Treating Catholicism as a unique tradition, community, and way of life, the encyclopedia defines and describes topics such as Eastern Catholicism, canon law, devotions, religious orders and lay organizations, and saints, angels, and archangels. Also included are tables of the liturgical calendar, ecumenical councils, and a list of all the popes, complete with a brief biography of each. A convenient and reliable source of information regarding every aspect of Catholicism, past and present, The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism covers the controversy and dissent within the Church as well as its teachings and beliefs, providing a balanced and unparalleled resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Catholic life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060653388
• ISBN13: 9780060653385
• Release Date: May 1995
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 1392 Pages
• Weight: 3.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.5" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

extraodinarily comprehensive and thorough

If you are a fundumentalist/ radical Mother Angelica type catholic you will be hard pressed to appreciate the truth presented in this book about the Roman Catholic Church. As a masters level student in Theology, I am familiar with Mcbriens other publications and I commend Mcbrien et.al. for their courage to continue publishing "truth" even at the risk of medieval magisterial papal suppression. This book is an excellent resource for parish catechists and all lay ecclesial ministers. If you can handle the truth, buy this book. Otherwise spend your money on beads and leaflets

A Comprehensive Reference for the Thinking Christian

This is a fine companion to McBrien's "Catholicism: New Study." McBrien has always been fearless in rising above elementary explanations for the relationship between man and God, and once again he takes us on a fantastic journey into both Catholic religion and Catholic theology. He takes you to the pillars of Chrisitianity, to its sensibleness as well as its spirituality. The piece on "hell" is only one example. Hell, the author of the piece writes, is not a place but a state of existence. "It is the the eternal loss of God.... While moral theologians have perhaps been careless over the centuries in designating certain actions as morally sinful, the church has never taught that anyone has, in fact, died in such a state..... It is not God who tortures the sinner, but the sinner who rejects God." There are countless more insightful treatments of Christian theology in this reference, and the inquiring mind will be forever flattered that McBrien and his writers never underestimate the reader.