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Vatican II: A 50th Anniversary Review of Resources: Background Info

This LibGuide is aimed at supporting student research on the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), which has had an enormous, but not comprehensive or undisputed, effect on the Catholic Church since it began to be implemented.

Starting on Solid Ground

Unless you're an expert, starting a new project can be a little scary.

The kind of tools described on this page will give you a solid foundation (vs. a "house built on sand") upon which to build your paper or project. Encyclopedias, whether an e-reference or print, will give you a good overview of the turf. These tools cover a subject broadly, break it into segments (helping you narrow down your topic), and usually provide a list of good books and/or articles that will take you further into your topic.

And better search terms!

Reference Tools for Catholicism: Examples

The following will help you begin your research -- and perhaps find a good topic! Subject dictionaries give you thorough definitions and explanations of terms. Subject encyclopedias help you see a topic broadly, and also help you narrow down your topic; most offer definitions and suggested readings, which will help you start your information-gathering.  See box below for electronic reference texts.  NOTE: These are only examples.

Social Ethics

More than a thousand first-year students enter LMU in the Fall.  Many will be taking an introductory Theology course. Be aware of the need to share our print resources.

Please remember these simple guidelines:

  • Keep all Reference books in the Reference area. You can take a book up to make a photocopy, but please bring it back to Reference on your way out.
  • Handle books with care. These resources are meant for all to use; many can't be replaced.
  • Don't create "interference" with your neighbor's ability to see the text as it was printed. Highlighters and underlining are fine for books you purchase for yourself.  Shared books need to be clean and new for every student.
  • Use thin paper bookmarks to mark your place. Pencils, pens and notebooks are not "bookmarks", and can damage any binding.

Thanks for keeping the Library alive!

E-Reference: Sample titles

These sample titles are among the dozens of Reference books and sets available electronically on campus, or off-campus using your MyLMU name and password.

For additional titles of both print and electronic reference titles (with links), see  compilation databases like Credo Reference, Oxford Reference Online, and the Gale Virtual Reference Library.

Other Reference Titles

Articles in the following works can be useful for their views and approaches to Vatican II:

Pope and Saint

Saint John XXIII
St John Borromeo Seminary
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania