Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum
Encyclopedia
The Enchiridion is a compendium
of all basic texts of Catholic
dogma
and morality
since the apostles. Commissioned by Pope Pius IX
, it has been in use since 1854, and has been updated since. Enchiridion (from Greek cheir, "hand") means "handbook."
, and is abbreviated DS in catechetics. By including all basic texts of Catholic teachings, it is a compendium of faith through the centuries. It is also a search instrument for theologians, historians and anybody interested in Christianity. The latest updates extend to the teachings of Pope John Paul II
. The Enchiridion can thus be used for research on contemporary issues, such as the social teachings of the Church, subsidiarity
, poverty
, social justice
, death penalty, birth control
or the ordination of women
. The Enchiridion, published originally as "Enchiridion Symbolorum et Definitionum" is today published as "Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum".
s since. It does not repeat all the full texts, but only those central parts which are relevant to dogmatic or moral theology. All texts are listed in Latin, though the Enchiridion has often been translated into modern languages.
In addition to the texts, the Enchiridion supplies certain indices:
stated, that every theologian should have always two books at hand, the Holy Bible and this Enchiridion.
The following CD-Rom includes all documents up to 1950.
The following CD-Rom includes all documents up to 1995.
Compendium
A compendium is a concise, yet comprehensive compilation of a body of knowledge. A compendium may summarize a larger work. In most cases the body of knowledge will concern some delimited field of human interest or endeavour , while a "universal" encyclopedia can be referred to as a compendium of...
of all basic texts of Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
and morality
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
since the apostles. Commissioned by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
, it has been in use since 1854, and has been updated since. Enchiridion (from Greek cheir, "hand") means "handbook."
Description
The Enchiridion is sometimes referred to as Denzinger, after its first editor, Heinrich Joseph Dominicus DenzingerHeinrich Joseph Dominicus Denzinger
Heinrich Joseph Dominicus Denzinger was a leading German Catholic theologian and author of the Enchiridion Symbolorum et Definitionum commonly referred to simply as "Denzinger".- Life of Denzinger :...
, and is abbreviated DS in catechetics. By including all basic texts of Catholic teachings, it is a compendium of faith through the centuries. It is also a search instrument for theologians, historians and anybody interested in Christianity. The latest updates extend to the teachings of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. The Enchiridion can thus be used for research on contemporary issues, such as the social teachings of the Church, subsidiarity
Subsidiarity (Catholicism)
Subsidiarity is an organizing principle that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority. Political decisions should be taken at a local level if possible, rather than by a central authority...
, poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, death penalty, birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
or the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
. The Enchiridion, published originally as "Enchiridion Symbolorum et Definitionum" is today published as "Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum".
Structure
The Enchiridion is chronologically ordered, starting with the Symbolum Apostolicum. It includes the teachings of popes and ecumenical councilEcumenical council
An ecumenical council is a conference of ecclesiastical dignitaries and theological experts convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice....
s since. It does not repeat all the full texts, but only those central parts which are relevant to dogmatic or moral theology. All texts are listed in Latin, though the Enchiridion has often been translated into modern languages.
In addition to the texts, the Enchiridion supplies certain indices:
- Index scripturisticus, on the uses of scripture in various dogmas
- Index systematicus of dogmatic and moral Church teachings
- Index alphabeticus of names and subjects
Quote of Cardinal Gibbons
James Gibbons, Cardinal Archbishop of Baltimore, co-author and driving force behind the Baltimore CatechismBaltimore Catechism
A Catechism of Christian Doctrine, Prepared and Enjoined by Order of the Third Council of Baltimore was the de facto standard Catholic school text in the United States from 1885 to the late 1960s....
stated, that every theologian should have always two books at hand, the Holy Bible and this Enchiridion.
- Optandum est, ut quilebet Theologiae lector semper duo volumina praemanibus habeat: Bibliam Sacram et hoc Enchiridion: ita ut, si omnibus non licet omnia catolicae traditionis monumenta consulere, ea saltem, quae maxima authentica sunt et quasi medullam aliorum continent, frequenter adire possint.
Source
- Denzinger, Heinrich, and Adolf Schönmetzer. Enchiridion symbolorum definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum. Freiburg, Basel, Rome & Vienna: Herder, 1997.
online sources, CD-Roms
The online sources are based on various earlier editions. The latest editions are not available online.- Latin text - documents to 1957
- French translation - documents to 1959
- Spanish translation - documents to 1957
- English translation documents to 1950 and old numbering only
The following CD-Rom includes all documents up to 1950.
- Welcome to the Catholic Church. Gervais: Harmony Media, n.d. (Welcome reproduces this print version: Denzinger, Henry. The Sources of Catholic Dogma. Trans. Roy J. Deferrari. St. Louis and London: Herder, 1957. This in turn is translated from: Denzinger, Heinrich, ed. Enchiridion Symbolorum et Definitionum. Rev. Karl Rahner. 30th ed. Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder, 1954.)
The following CD-Rom includes all documents up to 1995.
- CD-Rom for Windows and Macintosh in Latin, Greek and German: Enchiridion symbolorum definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum : Griechisch/Lateinisch - Deutsch = Kompendium der Glaubensbekenntnisse und kirchlichen Lehrentscheidungen [Computerdatei] / Heinrich Denzinger. Verb., erw., ins Deutsche übertragen und unter Mitarb. von Helmut Hoping hrsg. von Peter Hünermann. - Freiburg [u.a.] : Herder, 1997. - CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh -- ISBN 3-451-31503-3 [4677]