I need a recommendation for a good Catholic dictionary May 5, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in Admin, catachesis, General Catholic, reading, Tradition.trackback
A friend and reader has made a request I am happy to share with you. I really don’t have a good answer, I guess I’ve never felt a need for a good Catholic dictionary, which might explain all the mistakes I make on this blog!
The reader is trying to find a good Catholic dictionary.
The reader thought the Catholic Dictionary by Fr. John Hardon, SJ, might make a good choice. But there are apparently several versions available, some of which seem to be abridged. I don’t really have any clue as to the merits of the various versions, but some seem to have more entries than others.
The requester is a traditional Catholic who is asking for a friend. I think she is looking for something that is traditional or at least solidly orthodox.
Any recommendations?
Deo Gratias!
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A Blog for Dallas Area Catholics 
I was recommended this Catholic dictionary at one point. I haven’t read through it yet but it’s pre-V2. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022226099;view=1up;seq=9 God bless~
The Fr. Hardon dictionary is an updated version and not abridged.
It depends which version you see on Amazon. One says it is abridged. I didn’t make that clear. Sorry!
I would HIGHLY recommend the Concise Catholic Dictionary which was published in 1943 and compiled by a Robert C. Broderick. I wrote a blurb about it on my blog here: http://trcthoughts.com/2014/01/catholic-gold-the-concise-catholic-dictionary-1943/ which has the link to the Amazon copies as well as an online version.
I use this on an almost daily basis and cite it regularly on my blog as well. It is pure gold.
God bless,
Jeff
Fr. Hardon’s dictionary is on line: http://www.therealpresence.org/dictionary/adict.htm (but don’t know if this is abridged – it says copyright 1999).
Parallel to this I call to your attention the intervention of Cardinal DePaolis in the communion for divorced and “remarried” matter. To date the whole thing is only in the original Italian and in the below link in Spanish, but hopefully soon someone will have translated it into English.
http://quenotelacuenten.verboencarnado.net/?p=650
Google and my own take at an excerpt of the last bit of it:
“7.5 New Evangelization
Since decades we are talking about the new evangelization. There is no denying the profuse effort in producing documents on catechesis and books; and multiple initiatives, particularly the Year of Faith, which have been carried out. The results are rather scarce. We can get an idea of the situation if we examine the reflections on marriage and family. The urgent question to ask is: what thing lacking in our efforts to evangelize and proclaim Christ? Which way to go? It seems that God and His Word continue to be absent!
7.6. The power and light of grace
Finally we mention the most important fact, which in particular today runs the risk of being forgotten or not being given necessary and indispensable importance. The Church is a supernatural community in its nature, its purpose and its means. She depends crucially on grace, according to the words of her Founder: “Without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15, 8). Everything is possible with God. The Church is aware of this. She is not a power that is upheld by human means. Plus she does not have wisdom that is the fruit of the intelligence of men; Hers is the wisdom of the cross, hidden in the secret of God and remains hidden from human wisdom. Her truth is not easy to access and be accepted by a culture that is merely the result of human intelligence.
This is so with statements that in a particular way clash with the illuminist scientific and positivist secularized culture of today’s world. In the laudable attempt to dialogue with modern culture, the Church risks bracketing precisely the realities that are proper and specific to Her, that is the divine truths, and ending up with adapting to the world. Certainly not denying her own truths, but avoiding proposing them or hesitating to raise ideals of life that are conceivable and practicable only in the light of faith and possible only with grace. The Church runs the risk of diluting its true and profound message because of the fear of being rejected by modern culture or to be accommodated by it. Certainly the Church needs always, but particularly in difficult times, to believe in that which is humanly impossible. So she brings to light her divine nature and conveys her message of salvation.
The Church, even if it must take into account the culture and the changing times, cannot fail to proclaim Christ, who is always the same, yesterday, today and forever! (Heb 13: 8). The reference to the culture cannot be the main reference, much less the only determinant for the Church, but its point of reference must be Christ and His truth. It cannot fail to be a cause for reflection that many Christians today tend to dilute the Christian message in order to be accepted by the culture of the time. Moreover, they often give the impression of trying to throw off the weight of the discipline of the Church and the commandments of God which govern it. In particular Jesus has come to bring man back to God’s plan. Regarding marriage has announced the joy of love in the indissoluble sacrament of marriage! How can it be that so many Christians feel it as a burden rather than a gift and undertake great efforts to redimension it or even more to abort it, instead of working to defend the truth and give witness to the joy of living it?
Card. Velasio De Paolis”
†JMJ† We own the “pocket” sized (abridged) of Fr. Hardon’s dictionary.
The ‘unabridged’ version is named:
The Modern Catholic Dictionary and can be purchased here: http://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Dictionary-Abridged-Updated-Edition/dp/0307886344/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399379116&sr=8-1&keywords=hardon+modern+catholic+dictionary
We also own Scott Hahn’s “Catholic Dictionary,” (it is $15 MORE than Hardon’s dictionary) that I highly recommend. http://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Bible-Dictionary-Scott-Hahn/dp/0385512295/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y Hahn being a biblical scholar, this is an invaluable resource.
Hope this helps!
Pax Christi!
THANK YOU @Jeff for the recommendation of Broderick’s dictionary! From reading the back, it seems this is a more simple dictionary, with small entries that don’t go in to very much detail.
Hardon’s is a more theologically based dictionary… used for catechical purposes, and Hahn’s is biblically based (which is a plus in and of itself), including more updated terms such as: stem cells, or recent encyclicals (like Humane Vitae), etc..
Choosing a dictionary really depends upon what the reader is looking for.
Pax Christi!
MY CATHOLIC FAITH by Louis LaRavoire Morrow
Angelus Press
The best Catholic dictionary is;” use words that the (dumb) laity
will never understand or even try to…” plus the catholics make up their own words. try “..Transubstantciation ” as just one.
How ’bout using your Christian Bible to find out what GOD is ( trying) to teach you?? Through the blessings in Scripture that were inspired by THE HOLY SPIRIT!