The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia

Book Summary

This authoritative encyclopedia combines a wealth of information with an attractive, easy-to-read format into a reference of value for professionals, parishes, and families alike. A generation has passed since Vatican Council II, and the enthusiasm and euphoria which exhilarated Catholic life in the years that followed the council are misted memories now. The council handed down to us new hopes, new dreams new challenges; but, above all, it gifted us with a fresh vision of the Church as a pilgrim people. This second edition of The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia gives a succinct and contemporary view to the beliefs, practices, and history of this people. The council invited us to a fresh appreciation of the gifts passed on to us over the centuries, and this new edition of The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia will help in this task. It is edited for readers in English-speaking countries, drawn together by a common language and by shared pastoral concerns and challenges. Consequently, men and women from America, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Britain have written this work for a multinational readership. It is a work of and for our time, and its topics and themes have been chosen to meet the inquiries and religious curiosity of people today. It is important to note that for the first time in history the vital center for scriptural and theological studies has shifted from continental Europe to America and the English-speaking world, and it has moved from seminary to the college campus. Furthermore, the sacred sciences are no longer exclusive clerical territory, today many of the most respected scholars are lay men and women. And never before has the study of Scripture become such an accepted andvital part of everyday Catholic life. This new edition contains many revisions and over 150 new entries. It is edited for quick and easy consultation. Over 1,300 cross-referenced entries cover topics from Abel to Armageddon, from feminism to The Zealots. The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia includes black-and-white maps, drawings, and photographs. Over 200 such illustrations provide valuable visual information and add to the attractiveness of this handsome volume.

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