Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum

The Enchiridion (full title: Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum; "A handbook of symbols, definitions and declarations on matters of faith and morals"), usually translated as The Sources of Catholic Dogma, is a compendium of texts on Catholic theology and morality, some of which date back to the Apostolic Age. It has been first published in 1854, and has been regularly updated in subsequent editions since. It is sometimes referred to as Denzinger, after its first editor, Heinrich Joseph Dominicus Denzinger.

Name

The name Enchiridion (from Greek cheir, "hand") means "handbook". It was riginally published as Enchiridion symbolorum et definitionum, quae de rebus fidei et morum a conciliis oecumenicis et summis pontificibus emanarunt. The work is today published as Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum.

The Enchiridion is sometimes referred to as Denzinger, after its first editor, Heinrich Joseph Dominicus Denzinger. It is commonly abbreviated 'D', 'D.', or 'Dz', as 'DS'^[1] in editions edited by Adolf Schönmetzer due to a revision in numbering ('DS' sometimes continues to be used as a general reference to even later editions), as 'DB' for editions edited by Clément Bannwart, and as 'DH' for editions edited by Peter Hünermann.

Structure

The Enchiridion is chronologically ordered, starting with the Symbolum Apostolicum. It includes the teachings of popes and ecumenical councils since. It does not repeat all the full texts, but only those central parts which are relevant to dogmatic or moral theology. All texts in Denzinger-Schönmetzer are listed in Latin.

Since the 37th edition of Denzinger-Hünermann (1991), the original language (mostly Latin) is put in the left-hand column with a corresponding vernacular translation in the right-hand column.

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

References

1. "General Directory for Catechesis". Retrieved 2009-05-27.

External links

• Denzinger, Henricus (1854). Enchiridion symbolorum et definitionum, quae de rebus fidei et morum a conciliis oecumenicis et summis pontificibus emanarunt (1st ed.). Wirceburgi: Sumptibus Stahelianis.
• Denzinger, Henricus (1854). Enchiridion symbolorum et definitionum, quae de rebus fidei et morum a conciliis oecumenicis et summis pontificibus emanarunt (2nd ed.). Wirceburgi: Sumptibus Stahelianis.
• Denzinger, Henricus (1856). Enchiridion symbolorum et definitionum, quae de rebus fidei et morum a conciliis oecumenicis et summis pontificibus emanarunt (3rd ed.). Wirceburgi: Sumptibus Stahelianis.
• Denzinger, Henricus (1865). Enchiridion symbolorum et definitionum, quae de rebus fidei et morum a conciliis oecumenicis et summis pontificibus emanarunt (4th ed.). Wirceburgi: Sumptibus Stahelianis.
• Denzinger, Henricus (1874). Enchiridion symbolorum et definitionum, quae de rebus fidei et morum a conciliis oecumenicis et summis pontificibus emanarunt (5th ed.). Wirceburgi: Sumptibus Stahelianis.

• Latin text – documents to 1957
• French translation – documents to 1959
• Spanish translation – documents to 1957
• English translation – documents to 1950 and old numbering only