As a single-volume dictionary, it offers short entries related to the wide range of theological ideas in the Catholic tradition. Appendices and a bibliography on matters Catholic have been updated to the date of publication…. This work is most useful to people who are unfamiliar with Catholicism or people who are needing a refresher on the basics of Catholic teaching. As such it is invaluable. The seemingly unending minutia related to the Catholic Tradition is daunting, even for life-long Catholics. For theology students and researchers, it offers a quick reference guide to most Catholic ideas[.]
The Journal of Social Encounters
It is one of the books all religion journalists and most scholars should have on their desk, not even on their shelves, but on their desk. If more people remember to consult a smart, thorough and thoughtful book like this, rather than relying on Wikipedia, the world would be a lot better informed.
National Catholic Reporter
That Roman Catholicism has gone through momentous changes in recent years is without dispute. It is no surprise, therefore, that Collinge has revised his Historical Dictionary of Catholicism twice since its original appearance. This new edition follows the format of its predecessors, with alphabetical entries on a broad range of cross-referenced topics from Abbot to Xavier, Francis St. All entries were evaluated and updated, and each is readable and authoritative. Controversial topics such as the sexual abuse crisis and the role of women in the Catholic Church are current as of 2020. As with the previous two editions, this edition includes more than 500 entries and five useful appendixes: "Popes," "Ecumenical Councils," "Documents of Vatican Council II," "Papal Encyclicals," and "Prayers and Creeds." The chronology, bibliography, and index have also been updated. Given the topic, a fourth edition of this valuable reference tool is likely to appear in the not-too-distant future. Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.
...an extremely ambitious undertaking, but one I believe he has accomplished in a brilliant way...a fine summary of the beliefs, rites, events, movements, memorable popes, saints, and other key persons in Catholic history. The summary of church history he provides in the introduction is a model of compression and delineates well the main lines of development...a lively, well written work...a very full bibliography...for anyone interested in the history of the Catholic Church, this is a most useful and up-to-date reference work..
Catholic Historical Review
An overview focusing on the early period leading to the development
of the present Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox divisions. Among
the entries are people, events, doctrines, movement, concepts,
holidays, offices, and groups both within and outside the body of
Roman Catholicism. The lack of entry- specific bibliographic
references makes it more useful as a quick reference than an initial
research tool. Well cross-referenced.
Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Given the scope of the material and the many controversial topics included, the author has done a fine job of showing the development of doctrine, devotions, and attitudes within the church.For someone new or unfamiliar with Catholicism, the entries give enough information to find one’s way.It is easy to find subjects and entries, and there is enough information to give a sample of what the discussion about that topic is.
Theological Librarianship
This work is a revision of the 1st edition published in 1997 (see ARBA 98, entry 1384). The preface specifies that this volume is not a dictionary of Catholic history but covers the practical, experiential, narrative, doctrinal, ethical, social, and material dimensions of Catholicism. The preface is followed by lists of acronyms and abbreviations, and a chronology of Catholicism beginning with the life of Jesus. The introduction presents a historical overview of Catholicism as it became known today as Roman Catholicism. The main part of the volume is the more than 500 entries arranged alphabetically. At the end, appendixes are found with lists of all popes, ecumenical councils, documents of the Second Vatican Council and papal encyclicals with synopses, and common prayers. The volume is completed with an extensive bibliography and index.
American Reference Books Annual
The Catholic Church is the only 'the Church'"—so said comedian Lenny Bruce. The joke, of course, was a reference to the power and influence of Catholicism in the US and around the world. Although the second edition of this dictionary (1st ed., CH, Jul'97, 34-6012) does not include any jokes, interested researchers will find over 500 useful entries on a wide range of topics. Collinge (Mount Saint Mary's Univ.) includes new and revised entries on people, places, concepts, and changes in the church, but some earlier entries were cut from the new edition. The volume continues to include more than 100 pages of appendixes that provide easy access to information on the popes, the ecumenical councils, the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and selected papal encyclicals. Of particular value is an 80-page bibliography that provides an excellent overview of recent research on the major themes covered in the entries. Unquestionably, this volume succeeds all previous historical dictionaries on this topic. Summing Up: Highly recommended.
William Collinge has produced a very helpful source of reference and information for a wider readership...one is tempted not only to read the entry one is looking for, but to continue to read and read and read.
This book, an excellent source of information for American Catholics, makes a significant contribution to the promotion of historical and theological scholarship.
Collinge has dealt quite effectively with the initial problem this book posed; from among the many topics a tradition that stretches back two millennia offers, he has selected the most significant for exposition...clear prose...welcome...
...the entries are generous in the historical information provided...[and] cover a broad range of doctrinal, theological, liturgical, spiritual, ethical, historical, and institutional topics. The entires are uniformly well-written, informative, and refreshingly readable. The descriptions are impressive in their accuracy and fairness. The book includes several useful features in addition to the entries themselves.
...while its approach is scholarly and historical, it is written in a lively tone from a modern perspective.
...an extremely ambitious undertaking, but one I believe he has accomplished in a brilliant way...a fine summary of the beliefs, rites, events, movements, memorable popes, saints, and other key persons in Catholic history. The summary of church history he provides in the introduction is a model of compression and delineates well the main lines of development...a lively, well written work...a very full bibliography...for anyone interested in the history of the Catholic Church, this is a most useful and up-to-date reference work.
The Catholic Historical Review
This work is a revision of the 1st edition published in 1997 (see ARBA 98, entry 1384). The preface specifies that this volume is not a dictionary of Catholic history but covers the practical, experiential, narrative, doctrinal, ethical, social, and material dimensions of Catholicism. The preface is followed by lists of acronyms and abbreviations, and a chronology of Catholicism beginning with the life of Jesus. The introduction presents a historical overview of Catholicism as it became known today as Roman Catholicism. The main part of the volume is the more than 500 entries arranged alphabetically. At the end, appendixes are found with lists of all popes, ecumenical councils, documents of the Second Vatican Council and papal encyclicals with synopses, and common prayers. The volume is completed with an extensive bibliography and index.
American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)
Any attempt to edit a one-volume reference source on Catholicism is an enormous assignment, and Collinge (theology & philosophy, St. Mary's Coll.) has succeeded admirably. More than 500 entries cover a broad range of topics: historical (councils, schism, the Renaissance); doctrinal (incarnation, resurrection, trinity); liturgical (lectionary, transubstantiation, the Eucharist); institutional (curia, Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith); and spiritual (religious orders, St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila). Ample attention is given to specific figures including God, Juliana of Norwich, G.K. Chesterton, Flannery O'Connor, and Karl Rahner. Concise, well-written entries, averaging a page or more, provide even treatments. Collinge's range of reference begins from the time of Jesus and extends through the various councils, schisms, reformation, and Vatican II before ending with modern-day concerns of the church (the sexual abuse crisis, women's ordination, etc.). Entries offer in-text cross-references. Adding to the overall appeal is an extensive bibliography organized by topic referencing many of the seminal works in a given subject; a chronology; and five appendixes providing lists of popes, ecumenical councils, summaries of documents from Vatican II, and prayers. This second edition contains an updated and informative introduction reflecting upon the election of Pope Benedict XVI. VERDICT Given the length and breadth of Roman Catholic tradition, Collinge has curated and edited a text that will be informative, accessible, and readable for researchers. Highly recommended for academic, large public, seminary, and parish libraries.—Jacquline Parascandola, Columbia Univ. Libs., New York
