Patrology

The study of the writings of the Fathers of the Church, has more commonly been

known in England as "patristics", or, more commonly still, as "patristic study".

Some writers, chiefly in Germany, have distinguished between patrologia and

patristica: Fessler, for instance, defines patrologia as the science which provides

all that is necessary for the using of the works of the Fathers, dealing, therefore,

with their authority, the criteria for judging their genuineness, the difficulties to be

met within them, and the rules for their use. But Fessler's own "Institutiones

Patrologi" has a larger range, as have similar works entitled Patrologies, of which

the most serviceable is that of Bardenhewer (tr. Shahan, Freiburg, 1908). On the

other hand, Fessler describes patristica as that theological science by which all

that concerns faith, morals, or discipline in the writings of the Fathers is

collected and sorted. Lastly, the lives and works of the Fathers are described by

another science: literary history. These distinctions are not much observed, nor

do they seem very necessary; they are nothing else than aspects of patristic

study as it forms part of fundamental theology, of positive theology, and of literary

history. Another meaning of the word patrologia has come to it from the title of

the great collections of the complete works of the Fathers published by the Abbé

Migne (q.v.), "Patrologia Latina", 221 vols., and "Patrologia Græca", 161 vols.

For bibliography see: FATHERS OF THE CHURCH.

John Chapman

Transcribed by Douglas J. Potter

Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI

Nihil Obstat, February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor

Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York

The Catholic Encyclopedia: NewAdvent.org