Catholic Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
- Historical Dictionary of CatholicismPersons, organizations, places, events, titles, and concepts. Includes appendixes on popes, ecumenical councils, the documents of Vatican Council II, major papal encyclicals, and Catholic prayers, and a comprehensive bibliography.
- New Catholic EncyclopediaThe standard reference for all things Catholic. This is the third edition of the reference work, and there are a number of supplemental volumes.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (old free web version)Free (but outdated) version of Catholic Encyclopedia.
- Sacramentum MundiThe online edition of the famous six volume English reference work in Catholic Theology, edited (in 1968-1970) by Karl Rahner, one of the main Catholic theologians of the 20th century.
Reference Tools
The library has many print reference books such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and biblical commentaries. We also have numerous online reference works. If you need assistance in learning how to use these imporant resources, please ask for help at either library.
Theology Specific Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
- Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary This link opens in a new windowExtensive 6-volume dictionary for biblical studies.
- Dictionary of the BibleCovers the important places, people, themes, and doctrines of the Bible.
- Cambridge Dictionary of ChristianityReference work created by 800 scholars covering all aspects of Christianity.
- Canterbury Dictionary of HymnologyEcumenical, international reference work for hymns in the Judaeo-Christian tradition.
- Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the BibleThe Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible Online contains academic articles on the named gods, angels, and demons in the books of the Hebrew Bible, Septuagint and Apocrypha, as well as the New Testament and patristic literature. This online version contains the second extensively revised edition.
- Encyclopedia JudaicaEncyclopedia covering all aspects of Jewish life and culture.
- Encyclopaedia of Islam This link opens in a new window
An essential tool for understanding Islam in history and in the modern world.
- Encyclopedia of ReligionComprehensive general encyclopedia covering religion and religious experience across cultures.
- Encyclopedia of the Bible and its ReceptionCovering the origins and development of the Bible, including the history of its interpretation and reception over time.
- International Encyclopedia of EthicsThe definitive single-source reference work on Ethics
- Oxford Dictionary of the Christian ChurchEncyclopedic dictionary covering all aspects of the Christian Church.
- Oxford Handbooks This link opens in a new windowBrings together the world’s leading scholars to discuss research and the latest thinking on a range of major topics. We have access to the history and religion handbooks, along with select titles from other disciplines.
- Religion Past and PresentEncyclopedia of religion, theology, and biblical studies.
Search Online Reference Collections
Credo, Gale, and Oxford offer online reference collections that let you cross-search many dictionaries and encyclopedias at once!
- CREDO Reference This link opens in a new window
Dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc. from a variety of sources.
- Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Online reference works from a variety of publishers.
- Oxford Reference This link opens in a new window
Reference books by Oxford University Press, including the Oxford Digital Reference Shelf.
