Catholicism: Books

This supplement focuses on the Church in Modern History, particularly WWII and after. It includes about 200 entries on the men and women who have been beatified or canonized since 2003 (or in a few cases earlier). Most of the Beatified are new entries -- those not appearing in the 2nd edition, while most of the Saints are revised and updated entries from the 2nd edition.

The first edition of this reference work, called the Catholic Encyclopedia, was published around the turn of the 20th century, with the last revised edition appearing in 1967. This new edition includes the best of the previous entries - many completely revised and updated - as well as new entries, written by subject experts, covering the latest topics of interest. Many thousands of articles are biographical profiles of the people who make up the history of the Catholic Church.

Dividing this volume into five interrelated themes central to the practice and theory of Catholic Studies--"Sources and Contexts," "Traditions and Methods," "Pedagogy and Practice," "Ethnicity, Race, and Catholic Studies," and "The Catholic Imagination"--the editors provide readers with the opportunity to understand the great diversity within this area of study. Readers will find informative essays on the Catholic intellectual tradition and Catholic social teaching, as well as reflections on the arts and literature.