Patristic Bibliography: Websites

1. Patristic Bibliography - St. Willibrords
2. Bibliographical Information Base in Patristics
3. Marian-Patristic Bibliography
4. Library Guide-Patristics/Early Church History - Pius XII Memorial Library, St. Louis University
5. A Basic Bibliography in Medieval History - Columbia University Library
6. Research Guide to Patristics - John M. Kelly Library, University of St. Michael's College
7. Bibliographies for Theology - Spring Hill College

Bibliography: Texts

J.P. Migne, Patrologia Latina (= PL). 222 volumes.  1844-1866.

J.P. Migne, Patrologia Graeca (= PG).  168 volumes.  1857-1866.

Corpus Christianorum (= CChr). 

Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum (= CSEL).

Sources Chrétiennes (=SChr).

Ante-Nicene Fathers (= ANF):  This series was begun in 1866 by T. Clark, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, who was also a publisher and Elder of the Free Church of Scotland.  The original twenty-four volumes were reduced to eight for the American edition and an index volume and a supplement were added.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (= NPNF):  These volumes were begun under the initiative of the founders of the Oxford Movement in 1837 with a special concentration on exegetical works.  In 1886 the forty-eight original volumes were republished in the United States in twenty-eight volumes.  Eight volumes are devoted to Augustine and six to Chrysostom; the other Fathers are spread through the remaining fourteen.  Both sets have been reprinted in uniform format by
Eerdmans and are relatively inexpensive.  They are also available on the Web at various websites.  Their chief value is that they make it possible for those without Latin and Greek to verify references.  The translations are cumbersome with many complex sentences.  At times the rendering is theologically tendentious and some texts have been bowdlerized to conform with nineteenth century sensibilities.

The Fathers of the Church (= FC):  This series of patristic (and more recently medieval) translations has been sponsored for more than half a century by the Catholic University of America.  They are attractive books and the translations are clear and accurate.  A limited amount of introductory and explanatory material is included.

Ancient Christian Writers (= ACW):  Originally published by the Newman Press and now issued by the Paulist Press, these volumes are clear and up-to-date.  They are usually well-equipped with notes. 

Classics of Western Spirituality (= CWS):  The scope of this series produced by the Paulist Press is very wide, but it contains many significant works of the Christian spiritual tradition.  It shares with the previous two series the advantages of being clear, contemporary and attractive to read.

Cistercian Fathers Series (= Cistercian):  This is published by Cistercian Publications, associated with Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.  There is a companion series Cistercian Studies Series which includes texts from the broader monastic tradition and studies.  Together the two series number more than 200 volumes.  Although the quality of translation is uneven, the series is valuable because most of the texts were written with a vie4w to lectio divina.

Bibliography: Guides for Reading the Church Fathers

Adalbert Hamman, How to Read the Church Fathers.  New York: Crossroads, 1993

Boniface Ramsey, Beginning to Read the Fathers.  New York: Paulist Press, 1985.

Aelred Squire, Asking the Fathers.  New York: Morehouse-Barlow, 1973.

Aelred Squire, Fathers Talking: An Anthology.  Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1986.

Maurice Wiles, The Christian Fathers.  New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.

Created by Eugene Hensell, OSB
Saint Meinrad School of Theology
Saint Meinrad, IN 47577
Last Updated May 19, 2004