Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche
Encyclopedia
Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche ("Lexicon of Theology and Church") (commonly abbreviated LThK) is a German-language Catholic theological encyclopedia. Three editions have appeared so far, all published by Herder-Verlag
in Freiburg im Breisgau.
, between 1930 and 1938. It was an emended and expanded version of an earlier work in two volumes entitled Kirchlicher Handlexikon (Freiburg im Breisgau, 1907-1912). The editor's goal was to create a modern "summa theologiae
", i.e. a reference work that would cover all aspects of Catholic teaching, life and practice. This edition contained 10 volumes.
. At that time, the Catholic Church was experiencing drastic changes, culminating in the Second Vatican Council
. As a result, the ten volumes of the encyclopedia and the additional volume containing the index were supplemented by three volumes containing the complete texts of the decrees of the council (in Latin
and in German). The complete edition, thus, comprised 14 volumes, and had approximately 22,000 articles.
Herder publishers
Verlag Herder is a publishing company started by the Herders, a German family. The company focuses primarily on Catholic topics of ecclesiology, Christian mysticism, women's studies, and the development of younger Catholic theologians.-Bartholomäus Herder:...
in Freiburg im Breisgau.
First Edition: 1930 to 1938
The first edition of the "Lexikon" was published by Michael Buchberger, Bishop of RegensburgRegensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, between 1930 and 1938. It was an emended and expanded version of an earlier work in two volumes entitled Kirchlicher Handlexikon (Freiburg im Breisgau, 1907-1912). The editor's goal was to create a modern "summa theologiae
Summa
Summa and its diminutive summula are mainly used, in English and other modern languages, for texts that 'sum up' knowledge in a field, such as the compendiums of theology, philosophy and canon law which were used both as textbooks in the schools and as books of reference during the Middle...
", i.e. a reference work that would cover all aspects of Catholic teaching, life and practice. This edition contained 10 volumes.
Second Edition: 1957 to 1968
The second edition of the work was prepared between 1957 and 1968 by Josef Höfer and Karl RahnerKarl Rahner
Karl Rahner, SJ was a German Jesuit and theologian who, alongside Bernard Lonergan and Hans Urs von Balthasar, is considered one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century...
. At that time, the Catholic Church was experiencing drastic changes, culminating in the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. As a result, the ten volumes of the encyclopedia and the additional volume containing the index were supplemented by three volumes containing the complete texts of the decrees of the council (in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and in German). The complete edition, thus, comprised 14 volumes, and had approximately 22,000 articles.