The Holy See [Vatican]
www.vatican.va

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
www.nccbuscc.org

Many recent documents, with limited older material, are made available on the Vatican and U.S. Bishops Web sites (above).

Especially for older documents, try exploring document sites below:

Papal Encyclicals Online
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/

EWTN Searchable Library
http://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/library/search.asp

Catholic Information Network
www.cin.org/ftp.html

Catholic Documents by Subject
www.catholic.net/extlinks.phtml?cat=8

New Advent: Church Documents
http://www.newadvent.org/docs

Searching the Library

With a known title, author, issuing group/body or a basic subject, begin with the library catalog. If unsuccessful, check sources listed below.

If only an approximate date is known (but no title or author), try a catalog, index or database search by topic. Or consult subject encyclopedias, document collections, or ask the librarian for help.

In catalogs and databases, Vatican official bodies are usually indexed under a Latin name (except in CPLI where English is preferred). Papal documents are under the Pope's name in English. For John Paul II, start with the Web or CPLI. For Record Type, choose papal document. You may also search the Origins index for documents (frequently accompanied by commentary).

In-Library Sources
Origins
[1971- . basement]
Origins is a reliable source for items from U.S. Bishops as well as significant documents from the Vatican. Even with the advent of web sites for the Holy See and US bishops, Origins remains indispensable, with much retrospective material. Consult pink index pages in each volume. See
cumulative index for 1971-1990.

CPLI. Catholic Periodical & Literature Index.
Online                
Although there are unfortunate gaps in coverage, the indexing of CPLI is often easier to use than Origins own index .

L'Osservatore Romano
[Newspaper. Available in paper, microfilm and on CD. Check holdings in catalog for details.]
Official Vatican weekly in English. International scope, including documents, addresses & pronouncements, many not available elsewhere in English. Extensive coverage of papal
activities, as well as documents from the congregations and curia. Annual index on film. Items may also be indexed in CPLI.

The Pope Speaks. 1954- .
[Periodical]
Selected papal as well as other Vatican documents.

Reference Books

Encyclicals of John Paul II
Ref BX 860 1978 .A213 1996
All major pronouncements except Fides et Ratio (1998).

Papal Encyclicals: 1740-1981. 5 vols.
Ref BX 860.C37 1981
The most complete collection of texts for the period. Good subject index. Note ending date.

Papal Pronouncements: 1740-1978. 2 vols.
Ref BX 850 .P36
Excellent subject index. Citations & brief abstracts with English translation noted when available. In general does not index the encyclicals (see above collection).

Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortations of John Paul II
Ref BX 870 .C36 J5316 1998
Six documents, to 1997.

Catholic Periodical & Literature Index
On CD-ROM

Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. 2 vols.
Ref BX 825 .A1990
Collection of all major Councils, including Trent and Vatican I & II.  Latin/English facing pages.

Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents
Ref BX 830 1962 A3. F55

Primary documents.

The Christian Faith in the Doctrinal Documents of the Catholic Church
BX 1747.5 .C48 1996
Classified compendium by topic from important documents and writings spanning the centuries. A kind of summa of the teachings of the Church. Based on the famous original "Denziger."

Pastoral Letters of the United States Catholic Bishops. 1792- 6 vols.
Ref BX 874 .A2 C37
Important pronouncements and position papers from the US Bishops issued as letters. Volume six covers up to 1997.

The Papacy: An Encyclopedia 3 vols.
Ref BX 955.2.D53 2002
A recent excellent encyclopedia on a broad range of topics having to do with the Papacy. Includes
bibliographies.

Catholic Social Thought: The Documentary Heritage
BX 1753 .C39 1992
Basic collection of church documents on social issues.

Documents on the Liturgy: 1963-1979
BX 2207 .C47 1983
English versions of selected documents from a period of major liturgical reform. In depth resource of original material.

Marquette University Index
BX 873.7 .M37 1991 In Librarian’s Office.
Specialized checklist of NCCB and USCC documents, 1960-1990.

Enchiridion Symbolorum. 37th ed.
BX 1749 .D4 2001
Known simply as "Denziger," and usually cited by DS number, the best-known compendium of
doctrines/teachings of the Magisterium. In Latin with German translations -- no English ed.

Acta Apostolicae Sedis. 1865-
[Periodical]
Cited as AAS; the official source for documents and speeches of the Pope, in addition to the acts and decisions of congregations and other curial bodies. In original language, most frequently Latin.

Critical Guide to Catholic Reference Books
BX 1751.2 .M33 1989 In Librarian’s Office.
Even though out of date, a standard guide to Catholic reference books, includes sections on
"sources" for documentary research.

Catholic Encyclopedia
Ref BX 841 .C355

Enchiridion Documentorum Instaurationis Liturgicae. 3 vols.
BX 1970 .A57
1970 Latin collection of documents on the liturgy

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