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Writing & Citation Guide
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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Statement on Plagiarism.............................................................................................................................4
Essential Elements of Essay Writing............................................................................................................5
Tips for Writing a Research Paper...............................................................................................................6
General Writing Tips....................................................................................................................................8
Words Commonly Used in Academic Writing............................................................................................10
Verbs that Introduce Quotes.................................................................................................................10
Coordinating Conjunctions....................................................................................................................11
Correlative Conjunctions.......................................................................................................................11
Common Conjunctive Adverbs..............................................................................................................11
Common Transitional Expressions.........................................................................................................11
Ten Important Grammatical Issues............................................................................................................12
Sample Title Page......................................................................................................................................20
Standard Format of an Academic Paper................................................................................................21
Citing the Bible......................................................................................................................................23
Citing Magisterial Documents................................................................................................................24
Catechism of the Catholic Church......................................................................................................24
Vatican II documents.........................................................................................................................24
Exhortations and Encyclicals..............................................................................................................25
Papal Audiences.................................................................................................................................25
USCCB Documents.................................................................................................................................26
Summa Theologiae................................................................................................................................26
Code of Canon Law - 1983.....................................................................................................................27
Compendiums - Denzinger....................................................................................................................27
Writings of the Church Fathers..............................................................................................................28
Books within a Collection/Selection of Writings....................................................................................28
Liturgical Books......................................................................................................................................29
Biblical Dictionaries & Commentaries.......................................................................................................31
Secondary Sources.................................................................................................................................33
Books with one author......................................................................................................................33
Books with one author plus edition...................................................................................................33
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Books with foreword/introduction/preface/afterword written by different author.........................33
Books with two authors.....................................................................................................................34
Books with two authors plus editor and translator...........................................................................34
Books with multiple authors..............................................................................................................34
Books with author and editor(s)........................................................................................................35
Books with editor(s) in place of an author.........................................................................................35
Chapters within an edited book.........................................................................................................35
Textbook chapters with multiple book editors..................................................................................36
Books with translators.......................................................................................................................36
Books in a series................................................................................................................................36
Books with volume numbers (same title for each volume)...............................................................37
Journal articles...................................................................................................................................37
Magazine articles...............................................................................................................................38
Sample Paper with Comments..................................................................................................................39
Sample Bibliography..................................................................................................................................57
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Introduction
Welcome to St. Joseph's Seminary! This Writing and Citation Guide, together with its accompanying bibliography guide, is intended to help you navigate through the occasionally daunting process of writing and researching the papers that will be assigned to you during your time at St. Joseph's. It is designed to help students in all of our various seminary, diaconate, and M.A. programs. Even if you have not written a research paper in many years, you can learn to write papers that will enhance your understanding of the course material and serve you in your ministry.
Before you begin your first research paper, it is recommended that you read the section on writing and follow the suggested steps for starting your research. Close attention to the required formatting at the earliest stages of your research will prevent mistakes that require correction later. As you begin gathering sources for your research paper, format them into a bibliography by following the guidelines provided in the citation section that begins on page 24. To aid you in your research, the Bibliography Guide offers a list of fundamental sources in the areas of Scripture, dogmatic theology, moral theology, Church history, canon law, liturgical/sacramental theology, homiletics, and philosophy, respectively. The guides are also available on the St. Joseph's library website under the "Writing and Research" tab, along with links to sources that will help with your writing. The best time to start a research paper is at the beginning of the semester, so please check the seminary website for more information about the workshops and other services that are available. At any point during the semester, please feel free to directly contact Annmarie McLaughlin, Professor of Writing and Research, at [email protected], or to submit the help request form available on the "Writing and Research" tab of the library website.
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Statement on Plagiarism
Plagiarism or academic fraud of any type will not be tolerated at St. Joseph’s Seminary. If plagiarism or cheating is suspected, the professor is to contact the Academic Dean immediately with the paper or exam in question. If an initial review of the evidence deems the suspicion to be credible, the Academic Dean convenes an ad hoc committee of three professors from the full-time faculty to review the evidence. If the committee deems that plagiarism or academic fraud has occurred, the Academic Dean thereafter requests a meeting with the student in which the student has the opportunity to explain their work and evidence.
If no credible explanation is proffered, the student receives an automatic failure for the course, and the rector and the faculty will review the student’s continued matriculation at St. Joseph’s.
Plagiarism occurs when students
directly copy the wording of an author without the use of quotation marks or proper acknowledgement
copy and paste information from the web without using quotation marks or without citing the source
attempt to paraphrase the wording of an author without significant changes and without the use of quotation marks where necessary, even if the source is acknowledged
paraphrase the wording of an author without proper acknowledgement repeat the unique wording or idea of an author without quotation marks or proper
acknowledgement purchase a paper, or hire or utilize someone else to write a paper, which is then presented
as the student's own
Plagiarism often occurs when students procrastinate and/or fail to begin planning and writing a paper in advance. The best way to avoid plagiarism is to begin a research paper well in advance of the due date and to take careful notes from all sources. Your notes should either record the exact wording of an author in quotation marks or significantly paraphrase the wording of an author. Significant paraphrasing includes changes to word order, vocabulary, and possibly sentence structure without altering the meaning of the author's original wording. In your notes, be sure that the original context is apparent so that the author's meaning is preserved.
Whether you paraphrase or record direct quotes in your notes, be sure to record the name of the source and corresponding page number in order to avoid confusion and mistakes when adding footnotes to your paper. Finally, footnote as you write your paper. This will spare you the hassle of trying to determine the correct sources and page numbers at the last minute. For additional guidelines, see "Tips for Writing a Research Paper," pp. 4-5.
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Essential Elements of Essay Writing
1. Strong introductory paragraph2. Supporting body paragraphs3. Concluding paragraph that sends the reader forward
An Introductory Paragraph should
1. Pique the reader’s interest2. Contain a clear thesis statement3. Provide supporting/secondary elements for the thesis4. Include a sense of where the paper is going5. Include a “plan” for the paper
Body Paragraphs should
1. Include at least 5-7 sentences 2. In some way refer back to the introductory paragraph, support the thesis, and
be part of the “plan” for the paper3. Have a clear topic or theme4. Flow logically from one to the next and include transitional words5. Not include tangents or digression (save these for the footnotes or eliminate
them entirely)
Concluding Paragraphs should
1. Summarize the content of your essay2. Demonstrate that the thesis has been proven3. Refer back to the introductory paragraph/thesis4. Send the reader forward with something to ponder
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Tips for Writing a Research Paper1. Pick a topic as soon as possible after the paper is assigned. If necessary, get approval for your
topic from your professor.
2. Visit the library to select books; go online to the library catalog. Use EBSCO to find relevant
journal articles, many of which can be downloaded as full-text PDFs. (Older articles may require
a visit to the journal section of the library, but you will need to use these as well.)
3. Build a bibliography. Once you have selected even just a few books or articles that you would
like to use for your paper, open a Word document and entitle it “Bibliography.” Using the
guidelines found in Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and
Dissertations and in the St. Joseph's Citation Guide, add your selected books and articles to your
bibliography. The entries should be listed alphabetically according to the author’s last name. The
bibliography is often the first thing your professor will check–even before reading your paper–so
use it to make a good impression.
4. Make a template for your footnotes. As you build your bibliography, format each entry as a
footnote and as an abbreviated citation. As you write your paper, you can copy and paste the
entries into your footnotes, changing only the page numbers.
5. Take notes. Starting as far in advance of your due date as possible, select one or two books or
articles a week and begin taking notes. Open a new Word document for your notes. At the top of
the entry for each book or article you are reading, record the title and author’s name. As you take
notes–whether you record direct quotes or paraphrase the author’s words–put the page numbers
in parentheses. When it is time to write your paper and record the footnotes, you will have all the
necessary information in your notes document; this will spare you the hassle of searching
through your books to find the correct page numbers.
6. Organize your notes according to topic. Once you have taken notes on all the articles and books
you intend to use, highlight the notes in different colors according to topic. For example, if you
are writing a biblical exegesis, highlight in blue all the information pertaining to the historical
context of the passage. Highlight in yellow all the information pertaining to word exegesis.
Highlight in pink any disputed issues surrounding the passage. When you begin writing your
paper, you can organize it according to subheadings. For a research paper of 10-15 pages, three
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or four different subheadings should provide you with a solid basis to make a strong
presentation.
7. Let the evidence speak to you. Rather than beginning a research paper with a firmly established
thesis in mind, it is often better to let the results of your research guide you in formulating a
thesis. Read through the work of various theologians on a particular topic. Consider the salient
points of their research. Is there a common thread to what they are saying? Do theologians
disagree on particular points pertaining to your topic? Often your thesis can involve presenting
the different aspects of a disputed topic.
8. Formulate a thesis. Once you have read through your research thoroughly, write your thesis in
one or two sentences. Then build an introductory paragraph around it. Introduce the topic in a
manner that is engaging and piques the reader’s interest. Explain how you will demonstrate your
thesis. Lay out the organizational structure of your paper–topic by topic–and follow that structure
throughout your paper. You can always return to and refine your thesis statement once you have
finished compiling your research.
9. Write body paragraphs according to the plan delineated in your introductory paragraph.
The body paragraphs will form the bulk of your paper. Be sure to focus on one solid point in
each paragraph. Begin a new paragraph whenever you introduce a different perspective on what
you were previously discussing. Make sure that each paragraph pertains to your thesis and
follows the plan you delineated in your introductory paragraph. Avoid tangents. If there is a
tangential topic that you believe merits some attention in your paper, incorporate it into your
introductory paragraph so that it coincides with the rest of your paper or delegate it to a footnote.
Use subheadings to help you maintain focus.
10. End with a bang. It is easy to let a paper fizzle out at the end; this can unravel all the positive
effects of your hard work. A concluding paragraph should summarize what you have discussed
and refer back to the thesis you presented at the beginning, but it should also send the reader
away with something to ponder.
11. EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!! First drafts should NEVER be submitted to your professors. Finish the
first draft of your paper at least a few days or a week in advance of the due date. Spend time
reading it over, checking for grammatical errors, and making sure it is cohesive. Think about it
when you are not sitting in front of it. Do not hit “print” until you are sure it is the best possible
representation of your work. On the television show Madame Secretary, the Secretary of State
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says of her speech writer, “I don’t usually like his first draft, or his second, but I love his third.”
Your professors will love your third draft too.
General Writing Tips
1. Double-space papers in 12-point Times New Roman font.
2. Use only one space between sentences.
3. Justify the left margin only.
4. Indent one "tab" space at the beginning of each paragraph.
5. Use Chicago Manual of Style citations, 16th edition.
6. Footnotes are preferable to endnotes (unless otherwise specified by your professor).
7. All quotes should be introduced. This can be done in a variety of ways:
Ex. Pope Benedict observes, "Those words of Jesus, 'as I have loved you,'
simultaneously invite and disturb us."1
Ex. Pope Benedict observes that "Those words of Jesus, 'as I have loved you,'
simultaneously invite and disturb us."2
Ex. Pope Benedict observes that these words serve as a Christological goal: "they
are an incentive that....does not permit us to be content with what we are but spurs
us to keep advancing towards this goal."3
8. When citing a Church document such as the Catechism, a Vatican II document, or a papal
exhortation or encyclical, cite the first reference in a footnote, and then use parenthetical
citations for all subsequent references. See pp. 4-6 of the Citation Guide for examples.
9. Research papers should include a "Bibliography" rather than a "Works Cited" page.
10. In written text, spell out numbers up through and including one hundred as well as
numbers that can be written in one or two words. Hyphenated numbers count as one
word. Longer numbers may use Arabic numerals.
Ex. twenty-two hundred
Ex. 1,463
1 Benedict XVI, The Apostles (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 2007), 83.2
Ibid.3
Ibid.
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11. Place all commas and periods inside the quotation marks. Question marks, exclamation
points, semi-colons, and colons should be placed outside the quotation marks unless they
are part of the quote.
12. Avoid contractions in formal writing.
13. Do not place commas between subjects and their verbs unless there is an intervening
phrase.
incorrect: The young boy, was eager to go on vacation.
correct: The young boy was eager to go on vacation.
correct: The young boy, who just completed third grade, was eager to go on
vacation.
14. Use parallel phrasing when listing items or concepts.
Ex. In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis encourages parents to participate actively in
the moral formation of their children, to use correction as an incentive for good
behavior, and to exercise patient realism when formulating expectations.
15. It is preferable to place a comma after the penultimate item in a list.
Ex. All bishops, priests, and deacons are invited to the meeting.
16. When appropriate, use the active voice instead of the passive.
passive voice: In Amoris Laetitia, it is suggested that married couples face crises
together.
active voice (preferred): In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis encourages married
couples to face crises together.
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Words Commonly Used in Academic Writing
Verbs that Introduce Quotes
says proposes
states argues
notes asserts
explains observes
suggests believes
Do not use the word "on" after any of these verbs. All of these verbs may be used in the following ways:
ex. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis says, "....."OR
ex. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis says that "....."
ex. In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Frances observes, "....."OR
ex. In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Frances observes that "....."
ex. In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Frances proposes that "....."
ex. The Church argues in favor of pro-life issues.OR
ex. The Church argues against pro-abortion viewpoints.
However, some other similar verbs run more directly into the rest of the sentence without the use of a comma or "that."
ex. In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis discusses the important role played by parents in the ethical formation of their children.
ex. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis advises us to consider the future consequences of the decisions that we make about the earth in today's society.
ex. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis encourages us to contemplate the future consequences of how we care for the earth today.
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Coordinating Conjunctions
ForAndNorButOrYetSo
Correlative Conjunctionsboth...and
not only...but also
either...or
neither...nor
Common Conjunctive Adverbs
also furthermore meanwhile still
accordingly however moreover then
anyway incidentally nevertheless therefore
besides indeed next thus
consequently instead nonetheless
finally likewise otherwise
Common Transitional Expressions
after all for example in other words
as a result for instance on the contrary
by the way in addition on the other hand
even so in fact that is
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Ten Important Grammatical Issues
1. Run-on sentences: A run-on sentence consists of two complete sentences that are combined together as if they are one sentence. Run-on sentences occur when two sentences are fused together with a comma where there should be a semi-colon, or when there is no punctuation or coordinating conjunction between the two sentences.
Run-on: St. Augustine was the greatest theologian of his time, his work became the foundation for many essential teachings of the Catholic Church.Correct: St. Augustine was the greatest theologian of his time; his work became the foundation for many essential teachings of the Catholic Church.[compound sentence with semi-colon]Correct: St. Augustine was the greatest theologian of his time. His work became the foundation for many essential teachings of the Catholic Church. [two sentences]
Run-on: St. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, wanted him to become a Catholic, she was worried that he would continue to live a dissolute life.Correct: St. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, wanted him to become a Catholic, but she was worried that he would continue to live a dissolute life.[compound sentence with comma and coordinating conjunction] Correct: St. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, wanted him to become a Catholic; however, she was worried that he would continue to live a dissolute life. [compound sentence with semi-colon plus conjunctive adverb]
2. Fragments: A sentence fragment occurs when part of a sentence is punctuated as if it were a whole sentence. Fragments usually result when there are subjects or verbs missing from the sentence, or when a clause does not express a complete thought.
Fragment: Jesus and his disciples on the hill while Jesus preached. [missing verb]Correct: Jesus and his disciples sat on the hill while Jesus preached.
Fragment: Jesus preaching to his disciples. [missing helping verb]Correct: Jesus was preaching to his disciples.
Fragment: Said that he came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it. [missing subject]Correct: Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it.
Fragment: By providing them with loaves of bread and fish. [not a complete thought – missing subject and verb]
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Correct: By providing them with loaves of bread and fish, Jesus taught his disciples that God would provide for them.
Fragment: After the Passover preparations had been completed. [adverb clause fragment]Correct: After the Passover preparations had been completed, Jesus shared a meal with his disciples.
3. Semi-colons v. commas: Use semi-colons between independent clauses that are closely related in thought. Semi-colons should also be used to separate items in a list if the items in the list already contain commas or if the items in the list are detailed and complicated.
Incorrect: Pope Francis was the first Jesuit to become a pope, he was also the first pope from the Americas. [two independent clauses]Correct: Pope Francis was the first Jesuit to become a pope; he was also the first pope from the Americas. [two independent clauses joined by a semi-colon]
Incorrect: Pope Francis completed Pope Benedict’s encyclical on faith, subsequently he has written influential encyclicals of his own. [run-on sentence]Correct: Pope Francis completed Pope Benedict’s encyclical on faith; subsequently, he has written encyclicals of his own. [semi-colon with conjunctive adverb and comma]
Incorrect: Pope Francis has visited many influential cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Seoul, South Korea, and Strasbourg, France.Correct: Pope Francis has visited many influential cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Seoul, South Korea; and Strasbourg, France.
Incorrect: The Synod on the Family covered many topics, such as the need for greater pastoral awareness of the challenges faced by blended families, the question of how to deal with divorced and remarried Catholics, and outreach to Catholics who feel alienated from the Church.Correct: The Synod on the Family covered many topics, such as the need for greater pastoral awareness of the challenges faced by blended families; the question of how to minister to divorced and remarried Catholics; and outreach to Catholics who feel alienated from the Church.
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4. Punctuation marks with quotations: Commas and periods are always placed inside closing quotation marks.
Ex. With regard to racism, Cardinal Dolan has said that "neither I nor anyone in the Church would ever tolerate hatred of or prejudice towards any of the Lord's children."Ex. When speaking of his recent move to New York, Cardinal Dolan noted, "New York has grown on me," while patting his belly.
An exception to this occurs when providing in-text citations; in this case, all punctuation marks are placed after the bracketed citations.
Ex. Jesus told Nicodemus, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
Semi-colons and colons that are not part of a quote are placed outside closing quotation marks.
Ex. Jesus told the rich man, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"; however, the man "went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions" (Matt 19:19, 22).
Question marks and exclamation points are placed inside closing quotation marks if the quotation is a question or an exclamation. Otherwise, they are placed outside.
Ex. At the Wedding at Cana, Jesus says to his mother, "O woman, what have you to do with me?" (John 2:4).Ex. What did Jesus mean in Matthew 17:20 when he spoke of having "faith as small as a mustard seed"?
**Always place footnote numbers directly after the closing quotation marks.**Ex. When discussing St. Francis of Assisi's approach to self-denial, G.K. Chesterton notes that "It was not...merely in the sense of self-control....He devoured fasting as a man devours food. He plunged after poverty as men have dug madly for gold."1
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5. Direct quotes: All direct quotes should have an introduction; a direct quote should not stand as a sentence by itself. Whenever possible, include your own analysis along with the quote.
Incorrect: The Church at Corinth was one of Paul's strongest communities, yet it experienced a variety of difficulties which Paul addressed in his letters. "Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another" (1 Cor 11:33).Correct: The Church at Corinth was one of Paul's strongest communities, yet it experienced a variety of difficulties which Paul addressed in his letters: "Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another" (1 Cor 11:33).Correct: The Church at Corinth was one of Paul's strongest communities, yet it experienced a variety of difficulties which Paul addressed in his letters. For example, he notes in his letter to them that "your meetings are doing more harm than good" (1 Cor 11:17).Correct, with additional analysis added: The Church at Corinth was one of Paul's strongest communities, yet it experienced a variety of difficulties which Paul addressed in his letters. One such difficulty was the inequality that existed between the wealthy and the servants in their community. In 1 Corinthians 11:33, Paul encourages them to practice unity when sharing the Lord's Supper. He writes, "Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another" (1 Cor 11:33).
6. Verb tense consistency: Avoid switching verb tenses within a paragraph or within the course of your paper unless it is grammatically appropriate.
Incorrect: In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis speaks about what it means to be truly patient in our relationships with others. He noted that "Unless we cultivate patience, we will always find excuses for responding angrily" (92). Correct: In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis speaks about what it means to be truly patient in our relationships with others. He notes that "Unless we cultivate patience, we will always find excuses for responding angrily" (92).
When writing about a text, the present tense is preferable; write about the text as though the author is still speaking to us today. However, when speaking of events that clearly took place in the past, use the past tense.
Ex. In his Confessions, St. Augustine speaks of the sordid details of his past life. He describes the sins he committed as a young boy, which even included lying about sinning in order to impress his friends (II,3).
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7. Subject-verb agreement: Present tense verbs, except be and have, add -s or -es when the subject is third-person singular. Present tense verbs do not add -s or -es when the subject is a first-person pronoun (I, we), a second-person pronoun (you), or a third-person plural pronoun (they).
Ex. I believe in a triune God. Do you believe in a triune God? They believein a triune God. However, she believes in Allah.
Singular nouns take singular verbs.Ex. The Archdiocese of New York has many auxiliary bishops.Ex. The pope promotes many missionary activities throughout the world.
Plural nouns take plural verbs.Ex. Some dioceses in the U.S. have very elaborate cathedrals.Ex. Missionary priests travel throughout the world helping those in need.
A gerund phrase or an infinitive phrase used as a complete subject usually takes a singular verb. The gerund or infinitive serves as a singular simple subject.
Ex. Studying the works of the Church Fathers requires much diligence.Ex. To achieve success in one's theological studies demands a strong work
ethic.
The number of a subject is not changed by a word in a phrase or a clause following the subject.
Ex. The works are written by the Church Fathers.Ex. The works in this anthology are written by the Church Fathers.
The use of a phrase that begins with a compound preposition (such as in addition to, as well as, or in conjunction with) does not affect the number of a subject.
Ex. Jesus, along with his disciples, celebrates the Last Supper in an upper room. [singular subject and singular verb]Ex. The early Christians, as well as St. Paul in particular, were responsible for spreading the gospel throughout parts of the Middle East and Asia. [plural subject and plural verb]
Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some can be singular or plural depending upon their usage.
o The following are singular and always take singular verbs, regardless of any intervening prepositional phrases: anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something.
Ex. Anyone who is going on the pilgrimage should meet at the church.Ex. Each of the students is being assigned to a different parish.Ex. Either of these articles is suitable as a source for your paper.
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o The following indefinite pronouns are plural and always take plural verbs: both, few, many, and several.
Ex. Both of the courses offer a comprehensive survey of church history.Ex. Several of the students have already received parish assignments.
o The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some may be singular or plural, depending on their meaning in a sentence.
Ex. All of the book was easy to read. [All refers to the singular noun book and takes a singular verb.]Ex. All of the chapters were well organized. [All refers to the plural noun chapters and takes a plural verb.]Ex. Is any of the dinner left? [Any refers to the singular noun dinner and takes a singular verb.]Ex. Are any of the students studying for their exams? [Any refers to the plural noun students and takes a plural verb.]
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8. Past, Present Perfect, and Past Perfect verb tenses: When speaking of events that occurred in the simple past, use the past tense.
Incorrect: David saw Bathsheba from the rooftop of his palace. Hehad sent one of his men to bring her to him.Correct: David saw Bathsheba from the rooftop of his palace. He sentone of his men to bring her to him.
Use the present perfect tense when speaking of events that took place before the current time, but which still may be continuing.
Ex. I have given you sufficient time to complete the project; there can be no more extensions.Ex. He has been working on his thesis for many months, but he still has not completed the first chapter.
Use the past perfect tense when speaking of events that took place before a specific time in the past.
Ex. Prior to his conversion, Paul had persecuted many Christians.Ex. Nathan's parable reminded King David of the sins he had committed in order to cover up his relationship with Bathsheba.
9. Parallel Structure: Be sure to express similar concepts using similar structures. For example, pair an adjective with an adjective, a prepositional phrase with a prepositional phrase, and a noun clause with a noun clause. Similar ideas should be expressed using the same grammatical form.
Ex. Jesus is both divine and human. [divine and human are both adjectives]Ex. Sr. Marianne serves her parish as both youth minister and pastoral associate. [minister and associate are both nouns with preceding adjectives]Ex. In order to improve his grades, Jason has resolved to study harder, complete all writing assignments, and eliminate an hour of television every day. [to study, complete, and eliminate are all verbs that are used as infinitives following "to"]Ex. In his spare time, Fr. Jones enjoys swimming and biking. [swimming and biking are both gerunds]
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10. Paragraph structure: Each paragraph should contain at least five sentences. The first line of each paragraph should be indented one "tab" space. Begin a new paragraph when changing topic, and make sure that all sentences within a paragraph share a common theme. Try to vary the types of sentences within a paragraph. Use transitional words to connect sentences and paragraphs, particularly when presenting an opposing point of view.
Ex. At the core of The Only Way is the belief that you cannot preach the first commandment, love of God, without living the second, love of neighbor.2 Las Casasargues that one must draw people to the faith the way teachers draw students to knowledge. In order to learn, students must be freed of anything that will distract them. Las Casas quotes John Chrysostom in saying, "'A teacher must never harm students with truths intended to help them.'"3 Those with no prior knowledge of Christianity, such as the Native Americans, cannot be expected to embrace it when the only Christians they know spread their message through violence in God's name. Instead, Las Casas advocates the use of "gentleness" and a prayer demeanor. He says, "Christ deeds are expressive. As expressive as His words. So Christ's deeds are His words."4
--definitions and format for examples based on John E. Warriner’s Holt Handbook: Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Sentences, Sixth Course. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2003.
2 Bartolomé de las Casas, The Only Way, ed. Helen Rand Parish, trans. Francis Patrick Sullivan, S.J. (New York: Paulist Press, 1992), 58.3
John Chrysostom, PG 62:399−406, 405, quoted in Las Casas, The Only Way, 104.
4 Las Casa, The Only Way, 88.
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Sample Title Page
Title:
Subtitle
Your first and last name
Name of the course
Your instructor's name
Date of submission
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Standard Format of an Academic Paper
1. Title Page Center the title one-third of the way down the page, with the main title on one line and
the subtitle on the second line. Place a colon after the main title. Boldface the title. Three-quarters of the way down the page, your paper should have four separate lines that
include the following: 1. your name2. the course title3. the name of your instructor4. the date submitted
2. Pagination Center the page numbers at the top of the page, beginning with the first page of your text.
The title page should not be numbered.
3. Margins Use standard one-inch margins at the top, bottom, and sides.
4. Text Formatting Use 12-point Times New Roman font, left margin justification.
5. Spacing Double-space the text of your paper. Use one space only between sentences. Single-space all block quotes, footnotes, and indented lists. Bibliographical entries should be single-spaced with an extra line in between entries.
6. Abbreviations In the body of your paper, spell out the titles of all biblical books, Church documents, and
other references. Use appropriate abbreviations in footnotes or in-text citations.
7. Capitalization Capitalize titles, subtitles, section headings, and subheadings according to "headline
style" (see Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Research Paper, Theses, and Dissertations, Eighth Edition, pp. 312-314, or Ninth Edition, pp. 324-328).
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8. Quotations See Turabian's A Manual for Writers, chapter 25, pp. 346-357 (Eighth Edition), or pp.
358-369 (Ninth Edition). Use block quotations when a quote runs five or more lines in the body of the paper. Block
quotations should be single-spaced and indented one "tab" space at the left margin only. Add an extra line of space before and after the block quotation. Block quotations do not require quotation marks. Quoted statements within the block quotation should preserve the original quotation marks. Place the footnote number after the period at the end of the quote.
When citing the Bible in a block quotation, place a period at the end of the quoted material, followed by the bracketed biblical reference.
9. Punctuation with Quotation Marks See "Writing Guide."
10. Footnotes To insert a footnote in Word, click on "References" and then "Insert Footnote." Footnotes
should be 10 point Times New Roman font. Indent the first line of each footnote one "tab" space. Place a space between the footnote number and the ensuing text. Single-space each footnote, and place a line of space between footnotes.
When referring to the same source and page number as an immediately preceding citation, write "Ibid." When referring to the same source as an immediately preceding citation but a different page number, format the footnote as follows:
Ibid., 39. Use "Ibid." only when referring to an immediately preceding citation. "Ibid." cannot be
used to refer back to a source cited on a previous page of your paper. In that case, use an abbreviated citation that includes the author's last name, an abbreviated title of the book, and the page number:
Rahner, Foundations of Christian Faith, 191. For additional examples, see the guidelines for footnotes (FN) and for "Abbreviated
Subsequent Citations" on p. 7 and following.
11. Bibliography Center the word "Bibliography" in boldface at the top of your bibliography page. Skip
two lines before beginning to insert your entries. Single-space your bibliography. Alphabetize your bibliography according to the last name of each author. The first line of each bibliographical entry should be flush to the left margin. All
subsequent lines of each entry should be indented one "tab" space so that the author's last name stands out. Using a hanging margin will provide the proper format. In Word, click on the arrow next to "paragraph" and select "hanging" under the "special" category for indentation.
For additional examples, see the guidelines for bibliographical entries (BIB) on pp. 4 and following, as well as the sample bibliographies included in this guide.
24
Citing the Bible
All biblical references should be included parenthetically within the body of your paper. Place all sentence periods after the bracketed citation, except in block quotations (see "Quotations," p. 22). The first time you refer to the Bible in your paper, cite the version to which you are referring (NAB, NRSV, etc.). If the same version of the Bible is used throughout your paper, cite it only the first time. If different versions are used throughout the paper, indicate the version with each reference.
Ex. "His mother said to the servers, 'Do whatever he tells you'" (John 2:5 NRSV).
When referencing consecutive verses, separate the first and last verse numbers with the longer en dash, not a hyphen. Do not include a space after the colon.
Ex. Matt 12:1−5.
When citing specific books of the Bible, use the references recommended by the Society of Biblical Literature (see below) rather than those found in Turabian's A Manual for Writers.
Old Testament
Gen Ezra Song AmosExod Neh Wis ObadLev Tob Sir JonahNum Jdt Isa MicDeut Esth Jer NahJosh 1-2 Macc Lam HabJudg Job Bar ZephRuth Ps (pl. Pss) Ezek Hag1-2 Sam Prov Dan Zech1-2 Kgs Eccl Hos Mal1-2 Chr Joel
New Testament
Matt 1-2 Cor 1-2 Thess JasMark Gal 1-2 Tim 1-2 PetLuke Eph Titus 1-2-3 JohnJohn Phil Phlm JudeActs Col Heb RevRom
25
26
Citing Magisterial Documents
When citing magisterial documents, Cite only paragraph or section numbers, not page numbers. The first time you refer to a magisterial document in your paper, cite the version to which you are referring in a footnote and include the paragraph or section number. All subsequent references should be parenthetical only, using an abbreviated version of the document's Latin title.
Catechism of the Catholic ChurchPrint version
Footnote for first citation: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 862.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (CCC 863).
BIB: Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: United States CatholicConference, 2000.
Web version
FN: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2016), 863, accessed March 18, 2017, http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#4.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (CCC 865).
BIB:Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, 2016. Accessed March 18, 2017.http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#4.
-----
Vatican II documentsPrint (preferred)
Footnote for first citation: Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium (November 21, 1964), in Vatican II: The Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents, ed. Austin Flannery (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2014), 24.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (LG 24).
BIB: Vatican Council II. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium. November 21,
1964. In Vatican II: The Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents. Edited by Austin Flannery. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2014.
27
Exhortations and Encyclicals
Apostolic Exhortation - Print (preferred)
Footnote for first citation: Francis, Apostolic Exhortation on the Joy of the Gospel Evangelii Gaudium (November 26, 2013) (Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2016), 9.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (EG 10).
BIB: Francis. Apostolic Exhortation on the Joy of the Gospel Evangelii Gaudium. November 26,
2013. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2016.
-----Encyclical Letter - Print (preferred)
Footnote for first citation: John Paul II, Encyclical on the Splendor of Truth: Regarding Certain Fundamental Questions of the Church's Moral Teaching Veritatis Splendor (August 6, 1993) (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1993), 33.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (VS 34).
BIB: John Paul II. Encyclical on the Splendor of Truth: Regarding Certain Fundamental
Questions of the Church's Moral Teaching Veritatis Splendor. August 6, 1993. Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1993.
-----
Papal Audiences
FN: John Paul II. General Audience on the Theology of the Body (September 19, 1979), accessed July 25, 2017, at the Holy See, https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/1979/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_19790919.html.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: John Paul II, General Audience on the Theology of the Body.
BIB:John Paul II. General Audience on the Theology of the Body (September 19, 1979). Accessed
July 25, 2017. At the Holy See. https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/1979/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_19790919.html.
28
USCCB Documents
Prior to 2001, all documents published by the Conference of U.S. bishops were done so under the authorship of the United States Catholic Conference. Consequently, all conference documents published prior to 2001 should be ascribed to the United States Catholic Conference. All 2001 and post-2001 documents should be ascribed to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Prior to 2001:
Footnote for first citation: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 862.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (CCC 863).
BIB: Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: United States Catholic
Conference, 2000.
2001 and post-2001:
Footnote for first citation: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Program of Priestly Formation, 5th ed., (Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2006), 79.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (PPF 80).
BIB:United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Program of Priestly Formation. 5th ed.
Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2006.-----
Summa Theologiae
The Summa is cited according to part (I, I-II, II-II, IV), question, and article. As with magisterial documents, all references to the Summa except the first should be parenthetical. The first time you cite the Summa in your paper, cite the version to which you are referring in a footnote.
Footnote for first citation: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, in Summa Theologica: Complete English Edition in Five Volumes, vol. 4, trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province (Notre Dame, IN: Christian Classics, 1981), III, q. 69, a.3, ad. 1.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (ST III, q. 69, a. 3, ad. 2).
BIB:Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica: Complete English Edition in Five Volumes. Vol. 4.
Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Notre Dame, IN: Christian
29
Classics, 1981.
Code of Canon Law - 1983
FN: Code of Canon Law, c. 312, §1, in Code of Canon Law: Latin-English Edition(Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America, 1999), 99.
Abbreviated subsequent reference: CIC, c. 312, §1. Note that the Latin abbreviation forCodex Iuris Canonici is used.
BIB: Code of Canon Law: Latin-English Edition. Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of
America, 1999.
-----
Compendiums - Denzinger
Footnote for first citation: Heinrich Denzinger, Enchiridion symbolorum definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum: Compendium of Creeds, Definitions and Declarations on Matters of Faith and Morals, ed. Peter Hünermann, 43rd edition (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012), 4470.
Subsequent parenthetical reference within the text: (DH 4471).
BIB:Denzinger, Heinrich. Enchiridion symbolorum definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et
morum: Compendium of Creeds, Definitions and Declarations on Matters of Faith and Morals. Edited by Peter Hünermann. 43rd edition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012.
30
Writings of the Church Fathers
FN: John Chrysostom, Homilies on Genesis 18-45, trans. Robert C. Hill, Fathers of the Church 82 (Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 1990), 18, 2.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Chrysostom, Homilies on Genesis, 18, 4.
BIB:Chrysostom, John. Homilies on Genesis 18-45. Translated by Robert C. Hill. Fathers of the
Church 82. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 1990. -----
FN: Augustine, Answer to the Pelagians, ed. John E. Rotelle, The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century I/23 (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 1997), III, 4, 7.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Augustine, Answer to the Pelagians, III, 11, 19.
BIB:Augustine. Answer to the Pelagians. Edited by John E. Rotelle. The Works of Saint Augustine:
A Translation for the 21st Century I/23. Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 1997.-----
FN: Ambrose, On the Duties of the Clergy, trans. H. De Romestin, ed. Philip Schaff and HenryWace, The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers X, Second Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1969), I, IV, 14.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Ambrose, Duties of the Clergy, I, XVI, 62.
BIB:Ambrose. On the Duties of the Clergy. Translated by H. De Romestin. Edited by Philip Schaff
and Henry Wace. The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers X, Second Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1969.
-----
Books within a Collection/Selection of Writings
FN: Bonaventure, The Life of Saint Francis, in The Soul’s Journey into God/ Tree of Life/ The Life of Saint Francis, trans. Ewert Cousins, The Classics of Western Spirituality (New York: Paulist Press, 1978), 185.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Bonaventure, Life of Saint Francis, 186.
BIB:Bonaventure. The Life of Saint Francis. In The Soul’s Journey into God/ Tree of Life/ The Life of
Saint Francis. Translated by Ewert Cousins, 177-328. The Classics of Western
31
Spirituality. New York: Paulist Press, 1978.
Liturgical Books
Citations for the liturgical documents listed below should include references to section or paragraph numbers - not page numbers - wherever section or paragraph numbers are provided.
FN: General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Fourth Edition, Liturgy Document Series, vol. 2(Washington, D.C. : Office of Publishing Services, United States Catholic Conference, 1982), 24.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: GIRM, 25.
BIB:General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Fourth Edition. Liturgy Document Series. Vol. 2.
Washington, D.C.: Office of Publishing Services, United States Catholic Conference, 1982.
-----
FN: Documents on the Liturgy: 1963-1979: Conciliar, Papal, and Curial Texts. (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1982), 2200.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Documents on the Liturgy, 2207.
BIB:Documents on the Liturgy: 1963-1979: Conciliar, Papal, and Curial Texts. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1982.
-----
FN: Rite of Baptism for Children (Totowa, NJ: Catholic Book Publishing, 2001), 91.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Rite of Baptism for Children, 93.
BIB:Rite of Baptism for Children. Totowa, NJ: Catholic Book Publishing, 2001.
-----FN: “Order for the Blessing and Conferral of a Scapular,” in Book of Blessings (Collegeville,MN: Liturgical Press, 1989), 1488.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: “Blessing and Conferral of a Scapular,”1488.
BIB:“Order for the Blessing and Conferral of a Scapular." In Book of Blessings. Collegeville,
32
MN: Liturgical Press, 1989.-----
FN: Martin Connell and Sharon McMillan, "The Different Forms of Celebrating Mass (De Diversis Formis Missam Celebrandi), in A Commentary on the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, eds. Edward Foley, Nathan D. Mitchell, and Joanne M. Pierce (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2007), 226.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Connell and McMillan, "Celebrating Mass," 227.
BIB:Connell, Martin, and Sharon McMillan, "The Different Forms of Celebrating Mass (De Diversis
Formis Missam Celebrandi). In A Commentary on the General Instruction of the RomanMissal. Edited by Edward Foley, Nathan D. Mitchell, and Joanne M. Pierce, 224-
278. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2007.
-----
FN: Joseph A. Jungmann, The Mass of the Roman Rite: Its Origins and Development, Vol. 1, trans. Francis A. Brunner (Notre Dame, IN: Christian Classics, 2012), 73.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Jungmann, Mass of the Roman Rite, 75.
BIB:Jungmann, Joseph A. The Mass of the Roman Rite: Its Origins and Development. Vol. 1. Translated by Francis A. Brunner. Notre Dame, IN: Christian Classics, 2012.
-----
FN: Michael S. Driscoll and J. Michael Joncas, The Order of Mass: A Roman Missal Study Edition and Workbook(Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2011), 95.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Driscoll and Joncas, Order of the Mass, 96.
BIB:Driscoll, Michael S., and J. Michael Joncas. The Order of Mass: A Roman Missal Study Edition and Workbook. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2011.
-----
FN: Peter J. Elliott, Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite: The Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours: A Manual for Clergy and All Involved in Liturgical Ministries, Revised Edition (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1995), 105.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Elliott, Ceremonies, 110.
BIB:
33
Elliott, Peter J. Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite: The Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours: A Manual for Clergy and All Involved in Liturgical Ministries. Revised Edition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1995.
Biblical Dictionaries & Commentaries
The New Interpreter's Bible
FN: Ronald E. Clements, "The Book of Deuteronomy," in The New Interpreter's Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes, ed. Leander E. Keck et al. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), II:319.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Clements, NIB II:320.
BIB:Clements, Ronald E. "The Book of Deuteronomy." In The New Interpreter's Bible: A
Commentary in Twelve Volumes. Vol. II. Edited by Leander E. Keck et al., 239-538. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998.
-----
Anchor Bible Dictionary
FN: D.E. Aune, "Eschatology," in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman et al. (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 2:584.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Aune, ABD 2:585.
BIB:Aune, D.E. "Eschatology." In The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Vol. 2. Edited by David Noel
Freedman et al., 575-609. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
-----
Anchor Bible Commentary
FN: Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Romans: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, The Anchor Bible 33 (New York: Doubleday, 1993), 125.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Fitzmyer, Romans, 126.
BIB:Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Romans: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. The
Anchor Bible 33. New York: Doubleday, 1993.
-----
34
Word Biblical Commentary
FN: Ralph Klein, 1 Samuel, Word Biblical Commentary 10 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1983), 161.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Klein, 1 Samuel, 170.
BIB:Klein, Ralph. 1 Samuel. Word Biblical Commentary 10. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1983.
-----Sacra Pagina
FN: Raymond F. Collins, First Corinthians, Sacra Pagina 7 (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999), 195.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Collins, First Corinthians, 203.
BIB:Collins, Raymond F. First Corinthians. Sacra Pagina 7. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999.
-----New Jerome Biblical Commentary
FN: Richard J. Clifford and Roland E. Murphy, "Genesis," in The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, eds. Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990), 10.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Clifford and Murphy, "Genesis," 11.
BIB: Clifford, Richard J., and Roland E. Murphy."Genesis." In The New Jerome Biblical
Commentary. Edited by Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, 8-43. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990.
-----Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture
FN: John Chrysostom, "Homilies on the Gospel of John, 42:1," in John 1-10, ed. Joel C. Elowsky, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, New Testament IVa (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006), 210.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Chrysostom, "Homilies," 210.
BIB: Chrysostom, John. "Homilies on the Gospel of John, 42:1." In John 1-10. Edited by Joel C. Elowsky.
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, New Testament IVa. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
35
Secondary Sources
Books with one author
FN:T.Z. Lavine, From Socrates to Sartre: The Philosophic Quest (New York: Bantam Books, 1984), 58.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Lavine, From Socrates to Sartre, 73.
BIB:Lavine, T.Z. From Socrates to Sartre: The Philosophic Quest. New York: Bantam Books, 1984.
Books with one author plus edition
FN: J.N.D. Kelly, Early Christian Doctrines, Revised Edition (San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1978), 32.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Kelly, Early Christian Doctrines, 46.
BIB:Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines. Revised Edition. San Francisco, CA:
HarperSanFrancisco, 1978.
Books with foreword/introduction/preface/afterword written by different author
FN: Joseph F. Girzone, foreword to Saint Francis of Assisi, by G.K. Chesterton (New York: Doubleday, 1989), 5.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Girzone, foreword, 5.
BIB:Girzone, Joseph F. Foreword to Saint Francis of Assisi, by G.K. Chesterton, 5-6. New York:
Doubleday, 1989.
36
Books with two authors
FN: Russell R. Conners and Patrick T. McCormick, Character, Choices and Community (New York: Paulist Press, 1998), 134.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Conners and McCormick, Character, 136.
BIB:Conners, Russell R., and Patrick T. McCormick. Character, Choices and Community.
New York: Paulist Press, 1998.
Books with two authors plus editor and translator
FN: Blessed Zélie and Louis Martin, A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885, trans. Ann Connors Hess, ed. Dr. Frances Renda (New York: St. Pauls, 2011), 43.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Martin, A Call to Deeper Love, 56.
BIB:Martin, Blessed Zélie and Louis. A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the
Parents of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885. Translated by Ann Connors Hess. Edited by Dr. Frances Renda. New York: St. Pauls, 2011.
Books with multiple authors
FN: William V. D'Antonio, James D. Davidson, Dean R. Joge, and Mary L. Gautier, Catholic Laity: Their Faith and Their Church (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2007), 124.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: D'Antonio et al., Catholic Laity, 127.
BIB:D'Antonio, William V., James D. Davidson, Dean R. Joge, and Mary L. Gautier. Catholic Laity:
Their Faith and Their Church. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2007.
37
Books with author and editor(s)
FN: Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the "Saint of Calcutta," ed. Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C. (New York: Doubleday, 2007), 190.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light, 231.
BIB:Mother Teresa. Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the "Saint of Calcutta." Edited by
Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C. New York: Doubleday, 2007.
Books with editor(s) in place of an author
FN: Wes Howard-Brook and Sharon Ringe, eds., The New Testament: Introducing the Way ofDiscipleship (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2002), 142.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Howard-Brook and Ringe, eds., The New Testament, 142.
BIB:Howard-Brook, Wes, and Sharon Ringe. The New Testament: Introducing the Way of
Discipleship. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2002.
Chapters within an edited book
FN: Catherine E. Clifford, "The Exercise of Ecclesial Authority in Light of Vatican II," in The Long Shadow of Vatican II: Living Faith and Negotiating Authority Since the Second Vatican Council, eds. Lucas Van Rompay, Sam Miglarese, and David Morgan (Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 2015), 59.
Abbreviated Subsequent Reference: Clifford, "The Exercise of Ecclesial Authority," 61.
BIB:Clifford, Catherine E. "The Exercise of Ecclesial Authority in Light of Vatican II." In The Long
Shadow of Vatican II: Living Faith and Negotiating Authority Since the Second Vatican Council. Edited by Lucas Van Rompay, Sam Miglarese, and David Morgan, 58-82.Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 2015.
38
Textbook chapters with multiple book editors
FN: David Smith, "God's Covenant with Israel," in The Christian Theological Tradition, 3rd ed., eds. Catherine A. Cory and Michael J. Hollerich (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009), 45.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Smith, "God's Covenant," 47.
BIB:Smith, David. "God's Covenant with Israel."In The Christian Theological Tradition, 3rd ed.
Edited by Catherine A. Cory and Michael J. Hollerich, 42-59. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009.
Books with translators
FN: Augustine, Confessions, trans. R.S. Pine-Coffin (London: Penguin Books, 1961), III, 7.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Augustine, Confessions, IV, 13.
BIB:Augustine. Confessions. Translated by R.S. Pine-Coffin. London: Penguin Books, 1961.
Books in a series
FN: Regis J. Armstrong and Ingrid J. Peterson, The Franciscan Tradition, ed. Phyllis Zagano, Spirituality in History (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2010), 12.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Armstrong and Peterson, The Franciscan Tradition, 14.
BIB:Armstrong, Regis J. and Ingrid J. Peterson. The Franciscan Tradition. Edited by Phyllis Sagano.
Spirituality in History. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2010.
39
Books with volume numbers (same title for each volume)
FN: Avery Dulles, "Faith and Revelation," in Systematic Theology: Roman Catholic Perspectives, eds. Francis Schüssler Fiorenza and John P. Galvin (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1991), 1:93.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Dulles, "Faith and Revelation," 1:94.
BIB:Dulles, Avery. "Faith and Revelation." In Systematic Theology: Roman Catholic Perspectives.
Vol.1. Edited by Francis Schüssler Fiorenza and John P. Galvin, 89-128. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1991.
Journal articles
FN: Joseph H.P. Wong, "Karl Rahner's Christology of Symbol and Three Models of Christology," The Heythrop Journal XXVII, no.1 (January 1986): 2.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Wong, "Karl Rahner's Christology," 5.
BIB:Wong, Joseph H.P. "Karl Rahner's Christology of Symbol and Three Models of Christology."
The Heythrop Journal XXVII, no.1 (January 1986): 1-25.
Web
FN: Peter Joseph Fritz, "Karl Rahner, Friedrich Schelling, and Original Plural Unity," Theological Studies 75, no. 2 (June 2014): 286, accessed March 6, 2017, ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials at EBSCOhost.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Fritz, "Karl Rahner," 300.
BIB: Fritz, Peter Joseph. "Karl Rahner, Friedrich Schelling, and Original Plural Unity."Theological
Studies 75, no. 2 (June 2014): 284-307. Accessed March 6, 2017. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials at EBSCOhost.
40
Magazine articles
FN: Alberto Carosa, “Francis’ Surprise Visit to Convents of…St. Francis!,” Inside the Vatican, October 2016, 20.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Carosa, "Francis' Surprise Visit," 21.
BIB:Carosa, Alberto. “Francis’ Surprise Visit to Convents of…St. Francis!” Inside the Vatican,
October 2016.
Web
FN:Terence W. Klein, “What Mother Teresa wouldn’t do for a million dollars,” America, February 2, 2017, accessed February 4, 2017, http://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/02/02/what-mother-teresa-wouldnt-do-million-dollars.
Abbreviated Subsequent Citation: Klein, "What Mother Teresa wouldn't do."
BIB:Klein, Terence W. “What Mother Teresa wouldn’t do for a million dollars.” America, February
2, 2017. Accessed February 4, 2017.http://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/02/02/what-mother-teresa-wouldnt-do-million-dollars.
Sample Paper with Comments
Bartolomé de las Casas,
Role Model for the New Evangelization
40
When Pope John Paul II called for a “new evangelization” in 1983, the worldwide
population of Roman Catholics topped one billion, a staggering figure in light of the fact that
Christianity began its global spread with just twelve apostles. John Paul II sought to impress
upon us (as did Pope Paul VI before him) that the work of evangelization will never be complete
until every last soul has been led to Christ; therefore, the church can never content itself even
with large raw numbers. Paul VI described evangelization as the “deepest identity” of the church
and the reason for its existence,0 and John Paul II made it unequivocally clear that evangelization
is the duty of every Catholic, stating that “No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can
avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples.”0 Since the publication of
Redemptoris Missio in 1990, Catholics everywhere have been compelled to struggle with the
question, “But what should I do?” This paper seeks to address this question based on the life and
example of one of the first missionaries to the Americas, Bartolomé de las Casas. First, it will
consider the relevance of Las Casas's life and situation for the modern age. Secondly, it will
discuss the challenges faced by Las Casas and the innovative approaches he undertook in order
to combat these obstacles. Thirdly, it will apply these lessons to a modern approach to
evangelization.
Addressing the Latin American bishops at Port-au-Prince in 1983, John Paul II declared
that the upcoming fifth centenary of the evangelization of the Americas would attain its fullest
significance if it marked the beginning of a new evangelization. He stressed that there should be
nothing new about the content of evangelization, which is always the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
0
Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation on Evangelization in the Modern World Evangelii Nuntiandi (December 8, 1975) (Boston: St. Paul Books & Media, 1975), 14. 0
John Paul II, Encyclical on the Mission of the Redeemer Redemptoris Missio (December 7, 1990) (Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 1990), 3.
41
rather, evangelization must be new in its “ardor…métodos…expresión.”0 Cardinal Avery Dulles
has further noted that it should be proclaimed “in a style and language adapted to the people of
our day.”0
The Pope’s exhortation should summon to mind the life and work of one of America’s
first and greatest evangelizers, Bartolomé de las Casas. Las Casas began by evangelizing the
unchristianized of the Americas, yet he also re-evangelized those who had been converted by the
conquistadors. Both situations are relevant to the challenges faced by evangelizing Catholics
today. First and foremost, we must find effective ways to reach those who do not know the
Gospel of Christ; additionally, we must invite back into the fold those Catholics who have
strayed from or become alienated from the church.0
The protests Las Casas raised against the conquistadors’ treatment of the Indians0 in the
sixteenth century reverberate in our society even today because they speak to the very core of the
mandate issued by Jesus to his apostles, and by extension, to every Christian throughout history:
go forth and preach the Gospel (Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15 NAB). Las Casas's life and work
demand that we consider the fundamental question, "What does it mean to evangelize, and how
can we do so effectively?" Though Las Casas devoted much of his writing to theoretical
0 John Paul II, “Discurso del Santo Padre Juan Pablo II a la Asamblea del CELAM,” Libreria Editrice Vaticana (March 9, 1983), accessed June 12, 2014, at the Holy See, https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/es/travels/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_09111999_tbilisi-culture.html. 0 Avery Dulles, S.J., “John Paul II and the New Evangelization: What Does It Mean?” in John Paul II and the New Evangelization: How You Can Bring the Good News to Others, eds. Ralph Martin and Peter Williamson (Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2006), 5.0
In Redemptoris Missio 33, Pope John Paul II refers to a third situation– that of “solid ecclesial structures”–in which the Church enacts continuing pastoral care; however, this situation does not fall under the scope of this paper.
0 Although the term Indians is no longer used to describe the natives whom Las Casas and the conquistadors encountered, it will be used throughout this paper since it reflects the terminology used by Las Casas and those who write about his work.
42
questions surrounding religious freedom and the rights of the Indians, his theology was
essentially practical because it was derived from personal experience: "His is a thinking that not
only refers to practice, but is developed by someone engaged in practice."0 Andrée Collard notes
that "What makes Las Casas' eloquence particularly compelling is its tone of anguished urgency:
the reader must become morally involved, he must wake from his mental lethargy (el sueño de la
razón)."0
Las Casas's instructions remain relevant as the Church continues to undertake the New
Evangelization. From his writing, we can extract the following universal principles:
1. Conversion should be achieved through personal invitation, one person at a time.
2. Conversion should be undertaken in "a gentle, coaxing, gracious way."0
3. Those seeking to evangelize others do so most effectively through the example of
their own lives, and thus ought to live upright, moral lives.0
4. Showing respect for others prior to engaging them in conversation is a necessary
component in evangelization.
In order to effectively evangelize others, one must be fully devoted to Christ and his
Church. A lackluster Catholic has little chance of successfully convincing others to embrace
Christ. Effective evangelization begins with an individual’s personal conversion or radical
turning toward Christ; such a process requires honest self-assessment and a willingness to
renounce that which separates one from Christ. In a variety of ways, Las Casas’s story may serve
0 Gustavo Gutierrez, Las Casas: In Search of the Poor of Jesus Christ (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1993), 6.
0 Andrée Collard, “Introduction,” in History of the Indies (New York: Harper & Row, 1971), xii. 0 Bartolomé de las Casas, The Only Way, ed. Helen Rand Parish., trans. Francis Patrick Sullivan, S.J. (New York: Paulist Press, 1992), 68.
0 Ibid., 109, 116.
43
as a guide for those seeking to purge their lives and recommit themselves to Christ. He
underwent a radical transformation shortly after he began his ministry in the New World.
Strengthened by his conversion, the ardor with which he evangelized both the unchristianized
and those in need of re-evangelization won him converts where others had failed. With great
passion and certitude he battled both the religious and secular forces that denied the serious
moral implications of the conquistadors’ actions in the New World. When attempting to
evangelize those deemed too dangerous to approach, he devised new methods of instruction.
Finally, in order to influence those alienated from the mainstream population, he devised
innovative means of expression which earned him the trust of the natives.
When Las Casas first landed on the pristine shores of Hispaniola in 1502, he did so with
the expectation of caring for the encomienda (land and its inhabitants) granted to his family by
Christopher Columbus. As part of the encomienda-doctrina arrangement, he also anticipated
overseeing the spiritual development of the native workers entrusted to him. Yet nothing could
have prepared him for the atrocities he would soon witness. Between 1502 and 1514, Las Casas
acted as did many other encomendero-doctrinos; he cared for his land and the people on it
without much reflection on the justness or injustice of the situation. Las Casas was ordained a
priest in 1507, becoming one of the first to celebrate Mass in the New World. Four years later,
Las Casas became familiar with the preaching of Dominican priests Pedro de Córdoba and Antón
Montesino, who challenged the Spaniards' treatment of the Indians. Though their preaching did
not immediately convince him to assess his own treatment of the Indians, the two friars clearly
impressed the young Las Casas, who eventually devoted entire sections of his Historia de las
Indias to describing their piety:
Córdoba, seated on a stool with a crucifix in his hand, using some interpreters, preached. He began with the creation of the world, narrating its history up to the point where Christ
44
was put on the cross. It was a sermon eminently worth hearing, and remembering, very fruitful for the Indians−they had never to that point heard someone like him or such doctrine. He was the first ever to preach to them or to other island natives in the many years since the Spaniards came. Most Indians died without hearing the faith preached....He left behind with all those who heard or saw him vivid impressions of his love and his piety.0
Las Casas thus describes the kind of preaching he ultimately so came to admire−a "gentle,
coaxing, gracious" encounter precipitated by a personal invitation (though in Córdoba's case, it
took the form of a command issued to the local encomenderos to allow their slaves to attend
Mass).
Las Casas had been rewarded with an encomienda on the island of Cuba after its initial
subjugation; at this point, Las Casas still believed that the Spaniards and Indians could co-exist
peacefully, and he had personally baptized thousands of Indians in Cuba. However, by all
accounts, in 1514, as Las Casas prepared to give a sermon on Pentecost Sunday–one of the four
occasions on which the Spaniards could expect to receive communion– he stumbled upon
Ecclesiasticus 34:18−19: "'Unclean is the offering sacrificed by an oppressor. [Such] mockeries
of the unjust are not pleasing [to God]. The Lord is pleased only by those who keep to the way of
truth and justice.'"0 Las Casas, speaking as he often did of himself in the third person, “decided
for himself, convinced by truth, that everything done to the Indians in these Indies was unjust
and tyrannical...all he read tended to confirm this.”0 He realized that he must preach against the
unjust treatment of the Indians, but he could not do so hypocritically: he would have to renounce
his own encomiendas. The process of matching his actions to his conscience took some time,
0 Francis Patrick Sullivan, S.J., Indian Freedom: The Cause of Bartolomé de las Casas, 1484-1566: A Reader (Kansas City: Sheed & Ward, 1995), 135.
0 As translated in Helen Rand Parish, “Introduction: Las Casas’ Spirituality–The Three Crises,” The Only Way, ed. Helen Rand Parish, trans. Francis Patrick Sullivan, S.J. (New York: Paulist Press, 1992), 20. 0
George Sanderlin, “Introduction,” in Bartolomé de Las Casas: A Selection of His Writings, trans. and ed. George Sanderlin (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), 88.
45
since relinquishing his land meant leaving his Indian workers vulnerable to a new owner.
Nonetheless, Las Casas refused to back down. As he contemplated how safely to repudiate his
encomienda, he recalled the time that he had been denied absolution because of it. Las Casas had
argued with the cleric, who replied, "'I have concluded, father, that the truth always encounters
much opposition and a lie has many helpers.'"0
During his lifetime, Las Casas journeyed between the New World and Spain at least ten
times to plead the cause of the Indians. In 1516 he was given the official title, "Protector of the
Indians," but the path ahead remained rocky. Around 1518, Las Casas undertook a number of
ventures aimed at creating more peaceful colonies in which the Indians were treated fairly.
Following the particularly devastating destruction of one of these colonies at Cumaná, Las Casas
fell into a deep depression and entered a period of seclusion.
Yet out of this seclusion emerged remarkable achievements. It is believed that Las Casas
began composing his Historia de las Indias around 1527 while in the monastery, following a
five-year period in which he was not permitted to preach, partly due to his refusal to grant a
deathbed absolution to an encomendero.0 Las Casas's Historia has been described as "the most
valuable groundwork for the history of America that exists."0 The knowledge acquired by Las
Casas during these years provided him with the background necessary to argue against learned
scholars and royalty in court, using their own academic weapons against them.0
0
Sanderlin, "Introduction," 87-88.
0 Helen Rand Parish, “Introduction,” 30.
0 Sir Arthur Helps, K.C.B., The Life of Las Casas: The Apostle of the Indies (London: George Bell and Sons, 1896), 180.
0 Ibid., 176-177.
46
While a variety of opportunities gradually broke through to Las Casas in his secluded
state, the one most credited with bringing him back to the active life was the Enriquillo incident
of 1537, from which his Del único modo de atraer a todos los pueblos a la verdadera religión
(On the Only Way to Draw All People to a True and Living Faith) is believed to have been
derived. Raised by Franciscan missionaries, Enrique (also known as Enriquillo) was a Christian
cacique whose wife was raped by Enrique's master, supposedly on their wedding day. When
Enrique confronted his master, Valenzuela, he was beaten. When he approached the governor's
agent about the event, he was incarcerated. Upon his release, he appealed to the Audiencia,
which wrote a letter in support of him but failed to take action; instead, he was beaten. Having no
further recourse, Enrique seized advantage of an opportunity to leave his master's service and lay
in wait, armed, until Valenzuela came in search of him. When the Spaniards attacked Enrique
and his troops, the counterattack was so fierce that the surviving Spaniards rapidly fled. Thus
began a rebellion that would last fifteen years without a single victory on the part of the Spanish.
Finally, in order to end the war, which had led to the imposition of an "Enriquillo tax,"
the Spaniards proposed a peace treaty. Enrique signed it, but further assistance was needed to
finalize its terms. Las Casas volunteered and was sent forth secretly, due to the great risk
involved, with one other priest. No word was heard from them for a month. Then news began to
spread that Las Casas and his companion were baptizing babies, hearing Confession, and saying
Mass among Enrique's roving community: "Fray Bartolomé had made friends with the chieftain−
something no one else had done in all these fifteen years."0 Enrique was prevailed upon to
formally accept the terms of the peace agreement. Through intimate, personal contact, Las Casas
had been able to peacefully achieve what the Spaniards and their sophisticated weaponry could
0
Parish, “Introduction,” 33.
47
not. He succeeded in bringing Enrique – angry and isolated because of the treatment he had
received–back into the fold of Christianity.
Perhaps rejuvenated by the Enriquillo incident, Las Casas eagerly undertook the
challenge proposed by his opponents to convert the unchristianized "barbarians" of an area in
Mexico called Tuzulutlan, or Tierra De Guerra (so named after its notoriously bellicose and
unreachable inhabitants). He arranged to have Catholic doctrine translated into the natives'
Quiché language. The doctrine was then set to couplets and music and taught to a group of
merchants who maintained exclusive access to the aborigines. The merchants were to sell their
wares, then meet with the cacique and use instruments to sing the verses. The cacique was so
intrigued by the teachings of the merchants (yet troubled as well, as the verses condemned the
use of idols) that he asked to meet the priests who had taught the merchants. Over time, a church
was constructed in the area. In this way, Las Casas and his fellow priests demonstrated the
viability of peaceful conversions even among the most hardened of catechumens.
Following his return to Spain, Las Casas's most notorious public debate occurred at
Valladolid toward the end of his career, against the formidable Júan Gines de Sepúlveda. Las
Casas discovered that Sepúlveda was on the verge of publishing Democrates Alter, a tract
disparaging the Indians and attempting to justify war against them on account of their many
vices. While Las Casas successfully prevented the publication of this tract, he was not able to
avoid a showdown in court. Las Casas presented his defense of the Indians' practice of human
sacrifice. Commonly used to justify the war waged by Hernando Cortés and others, the issue of
human sacrifice was one of the weapons in Sepúlveda's arsenal. Yet Las Casas objected that the
Spaniards' war claimed far more lives than the Indians of Mexico ever sacrificed. He defended
the Indians by noting that since the time of the Flood, various races of people had engaged in
48
human sacrifice because of a deep-seated religious belief that one ought to offer to God the best
of what they have. By offering up themselves, they believed they were fulfilling this religious
obligation. Las Casas did not deny that this practice needed to be curtailed; rather, he argued that
doing so with violence was counterproductive.
Las Casas laid out in this debate, as well as in subsequent writings, much material for
contemplation. To what extent is a race of people free to practice its own religion? Are the
Indians to be treated with the same respect as Europeans, or are they somehow inferior? Was it
proper to kill in the name of Christianity? Was it justifiable to kill large numbers of people to
protect a small number of innocents?
While many witnesses to the debate agreed that the Indians were being treated unjustly, a
decisive ruling proved elusive. Yet modern historians widely acknowledge the lasting impact of
Las Casas's arguments. Francis Patrick Sullivan, S.J., notes that "throughout Las Casas' writings,
particularly the History of the Indies, a set of principles appears which are clearly akin to the
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights."0 Las Casas was widely admired for his
ability to appreciate the Indians within their own context. José Almoina characterized the debate
about the Indians as "perhaps the most transcendental controversy that took place at the threshold
of the Modern Age"0; Lewis Hanke further notes that Bishop Antonio Augustin in 1550 declared
the debate to be "a question worthy of being considered in the theater of all mankind."0
Given the number of setbacks Las Casas faced even with his successful ventures, it is
scarcely surprising that members of his household reported hearing him tossing and turning at
0 Sullivan, Indian Freedom, 299.
0 José Almoina, "La primera 'Doctrina' para indios," Revista de Historia de América (Mexico), nos. 53 and 54 (1962): 78, quoted in Lewis Hanke, All Mankind is One: A Study of the Disputation Between Bartolomé de Las Casas and Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda on the Religious and Intellectual Capacity of the American Indians (De Kalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 1974), 159-160.0
Lewis Hanke, All Mankind is One, 161.
49
night, groaning and sighing in his sleep. Was he tortured by the atrocities he had witnessed or
with regret over his own mistakes? We may never know for certain, but it is clear from his own
writing that certain missteps deeply upset him, such as his suggestion in 1516 that the Spanish
government import slaves from Africa in order to reduce their reliance upon the Indians.
This proposal was part of a plan to establish small communities in which Indians were
settled into towns supervised by Spaniards, but with shared profits. Las Casas hoped to entice
laborers from Spain to these communities. One aspect of the plan was the importation of African
slaves, whom he believed were stronger and more capable of withstanding hard labor than the
Indians. The colonists had agreed to free their Indian slaves if other workers were provided.
This suggestion also came from parties even more influential than Las Casas, and so Las
Casas's involvement likely did not strongly impact Spain's African slave importation. In fact,
because of the way the license to import slaves was sold and resold, it is generally believed that
Las Casas's initial application for permission to license only four thousand African slaves helped
curtail what could have become an even more exploitative situation. Portugal had been importing
African slaves since 1442, and Spain began doing so in the sixteenth century on the theory that
those enslaved were prisoners of war. Sir Arthur Helps comments that Las Casas made many
other proposals in connection with his small communities scheme, but "of all these
suggestions...the only questionable one was at once adopted. Such is the irony of life."0
However, once Las Casas realized that African slaves were being treated just as unfairly as the
Indians and that Africans were selling each other into slavery, he immediately revoked his
approval and fought against all forms of slavery. He twice succeeded in having slavery
0 Helps, The Life of Las Casas, 73..
50
outlawed–in 1534 and 1542–only to see all or parts of these laws revoked. He continued to
defend the rights of the Indians until his death in 1566.
At the core of The Only Way is Las Casas's belief that you cannot preach the first
commandment, love of God, without living the second, love of neighbor.0 Las Casas argues that
one must draw people to the faith the way teachers draw students to knowledge. In order to learn,
students must be freed of anything that will distract them. Las Casas quotes John Chrysostom in
saying, "'A teacher must never harm students with truths intended to help them.'"0 Those with no
prior knowledge of Christianity, such as the Indians, cannot be expected to embrace it when the
only Christians they know spread their message through violence in God's name. Instead, Las
Casas advocates the use of "gentleness" and a prayerful demeanor. He says, "Christ's deeds are
expressive. As expressive as His words. So Christ's deeds are His words."0
Las Casas perhaps best summarizes his principles for evangelization when he speaks of
the apostles' success due to their imitation of Christ:
They drew people to the truth of salvation by patience, by humility, by faith, by justice. And by a gentle exposure of the truth. And by a gentle persuasion. And by a blameless life. Armed with straight talk, with devout discourse. Using no force, causing no harm, but giving gifts gratis.0
With these words, Las Casas not only models the best means of evangelization, but also
describes the principles by which he strived to live his life. His patience is evident in the difficult
conditions under which he preached–spending a month ensconced with Enrique and his
followers, or training merchants in Mexico to learn Spanish and the faith. His humility is
0 Rand, "Introduction," 58.
0 John Chrysostom, PG 62:399−406, 405, quoted in Las Casas, The Only Way, 104.
0 Las Casas, The Only Way, 88.0
Ibid., 93.
51
apparent in small yet significant ways: his references to himself in the third person; his
painstaking attention to the correct pronunciations of Indian words and to understanding the
motivations behind their religious practices. His profound faith manifests itself in his constant
appeals to Christ's example. Furthermore, his faith led to his quest for justice: he insisted that his
opponents could not truly believe in the message of Christ while senselessly killing. Though his
exposure of the truth to the Spaniards is perhaps not best described as gentle, his experience with
the Indians was consistently so. While Las Casas made mistakes, he learned from them and
sought to prevent others from sinning. Finally, his status as a formidable, “straight-talking”
debate opponent who drew upon the works of Aquinas, Aristotle, and Plato, is displayed in his
relentless narration of the atrocities committed against the Indians and in his defense of the
Indians' rights to freely choose their religion and to be treated justly by the Europeans.
Yet he was clever enough to know when some of these admirable qualities were not
enough. “Meekness” was certainly not in order when facing Sepúlveda in court or when issuing
instructions regarding absolution and restitution.0 Las Casas likely would have been the first to
admit that his life was not blameless, filled as it was with regret over the issue of African slavery
and the disappointment at Cumaná. The hallmark of a truly successful personage, or "hero-
saint"0 as George Sanderlin describes him, is not always in being meek, humble, gentle, or
persuasive. Rather, hero-sainthood stems from knowing when to be humble and meek, and when
to be assertive and formidable. Jesus knew this well: he was humble and meek when preaching
to his followers, yet he was defiant and authoritative when expelling the cheating moneychangers
from his Father's house (Matt 21:12−13; Mark 11:15−17; Luke 19: 45−47; John 2:13−16). All
0 Las Casas's plans for restitution were quite detailed and burdensome and thus met with severe opposition. For example, if a man had been killed through slavery, Las Casas stipulated that his wife and children ought to be provided for financially for as long as the man might have been expected to live.0
Sanderlin, “Introduction,” 23.
52
Christians may strive to live blameless lives by constantly evaluating their actions and
consciences, as did Las Casas. As a prelude to this, however, mistakes must first be discovered
and acknowledged, which is why every Christian–as well as the institutional Church–must
imitate Las Casas' willingness to confront his mistakes and alter them accordingly.
For these reasons, Las Casas is the paradigmatic "prophet crying out in the desert."
Though he was not entirely alone in his opposition to the actions of the conquistadores, he
surpassed even his mentors, Cordóba and Montesino, in his willingness to confront high-ranking
officials and to debate his opponents, as well as in his refusal to back down when confronted by
setbacks. He stood alone in the sense that he stepped ahead of his supporters and took their joint
cause to heart in a way that compelled him to action. To individuals, the call to evangelize the
world can seem daunting; but when Las Casas' example is used as a model, the task becomes
more manageable. Christians today may take comfort in the fact that they are not likely to face
threats of ex-communication from corrupt Vatican officials for their evangelization efforts. One
can only imagine what Las Casas would have given to serve under Pope John Paul II or Pope
Francis!
Significantly, Las Casas's experiences strongly caution us about what not to do as part of
our evangelization efforts. In The Devastation of the Indies, he relates the story of a cacique
named Hatuey, who was originally from Hispaniola but fled with his people to Cuba to escape
the Christians. He managed to evade the zealously proselytizing Christians many times, but they
eventually caught up with him. While he and his followers were tied and ready to be burned at
the stake, a Franciscan friar, described by Las Casas as "an artless rascal," informed Hatuey that
he could go to Heaven if he embraced the faith before his death, but would go to hell if he did
not. Las Casas states that Hatuey "asked the Franciscan friar if Christians all went to Heaven.
53
When told that they did he said that he would prefer to go to Hell. Such is the fame and honor
that God and our Faith have earned through the Christians who have gone out to the Indies."0
It was in the hopes of counteracting impressions such as this that Las Casas proposed a
new colony at Terra Firma circa 1519-1520. Helps designates this proposal as the turning point
of Las Casas’ life, which tremendously impacted the situation in the New World. Las Casas
proposed to find fifty Spanish men who were willing and able to form a new colony in which
they would invest and work out of Christian motives. Helps describes the proposal thus:
The fifty were to wear a peculiar dress, white cloth with red crosses, like that of the Knights of Calatrava....Much ridicule was afterwards thrown on this part of the scheme; and the proposed knights obtained the name of sanbenitos, in allusion to the dress of penitent convicts of the Inquisition. The object, however, of having a peculiar dress, was to distinguish this band from any Spaniards whom the Indians had seen before.0
Most pertinent to this discussion is the notion that Christians give themselves a
makeover, clothing themselves anew with Christ in order to counteract the damage done to the
reputation of Christianity by the conquistadors. Gustavo Gutierrez observes that "according to
Bartolomé, the major obstacle to the evangelization of the natives of the Indies is the
countertestimonial of Christians themselves. He says it in a thousand ways and on a wide variety
of occasions."0
This is a challenge that continues to confront the church today in its evangelization
efforts. In the wake of scandal, and while competing with an assortment of evangelical churches,
the Catholic Church needs to continually be aware of the face it presents to the world. Giving the
church a makeover already seems to be the goal of our recently-elected Pope Francis, but it must
also be the goal of Catholics worldwide. Every Catholic can testify to Christianity in his/her own 0 Bartolomé de las Casas, The Devastation of the Indies: A Brief Account, trans. Herma Briffault (New York: The Seabury Press, 1974), 55.
0 Helps, The Life of Las Casas, 96. 0
Gutierrez, Las Casas, 155.
54
life, rather than offering a countertestimonial. The life and work of Las Casas demonstrate that
this can be achieved through reaching out to de-evangelized individuals (such as Enrique) in a
very personal way, gently and graciously coaxing them back into the fold, as well as toward the
unevangelized. Coaxing others toward Christ in this way demands that we constantly evaluate
and re-evaluate our methods, while ceaselessly searching for new, more effective ones.
So where does this leave the average Catholic? How should the typical American pastor
evangelize to an ever-increasing immigrant population? Can the Catholic Church compete with
the widespread appeal of many evangelical Protestant churches? Individual Catholics are called
upon first and foremost to be witnesses to those around them. John Paul II refers back to his first
encyclical, Redemptor Hominis, in noting that “’the Church’s fundamental function in every age,
and particularly in ours, is to direct man’s gaze, to point the awareness and experience of the
whole of humanity toward the mystery of Christ’” (RM 4).
How may we direct this gaze? The life of Las Casas reminds us that we cannot hope to
successfully evangelize others without living moral, upright lives. Las Casas emphasized the
strong connection between one's words and one's deeds. Christianity will only appeal to others
when Christians act in accordance with their professed beliefs. One of the most important steps
in this process is our method of greeting. Christ instructed the apostles to leave their material
possessions behind on their missionary journeys (Matt 10:9−12; Mark 6:8−19; Luke 9:1−4 ).
Additionally, they were to greet each other with peace (Matt 10:12). For Las Casas, a fruitful
conversation is possible only when preceded by a proper, respectful greeting; Christians should
"try to show their respect before respect is shown to them."0 If Christians do not treat each other
well within their own parishes and dioceses, the image that they present will serve as a
0 Las Casas, The Only Way, 74.
55
countertestimonial. As Pope Francis advises, “an evangelizer must never look like someone who
has just come back from a funeral! Let us recover and deepen our enthusiasm.” 0
Within this call lies a breadth of possibilities for evangelization even on a small scale. If
every Catholic alive today were to make it his/her lifelong goal to successfully evangelize just
one non-Christian or lapsed Catholic, the Church’s active membership could double within a few
decades. In turn, if those successfully evangelized make the commitment to do the same for one
other person, the Church’s numbers would grow exponentially within a century. Each
successfully evangelized Catholic has an almost unlimited potential to engender other Catholics.
Perhaps one could reach out to an unbaptized grandchild, the product of an interreligious
marriage that has neglected to provide a religious upbringing. Perhaps one has a neighbor who is
grieving and angry over the untimely death of a young child. Opportunities abound if only one
commits to search for them. Intrinsic to the success of such an approach is the understanding that
successful conversions may take time– in some cases, a tremendous amount of time. As Avery
Dulles notes, one must “avoid obnoxious proselytization,” which can arise from a mounting
sense of pressure to quickly evangelize others.0 Rather, we must remain patient, both with
ourselves and with those we seek to evangelize. Relationships require extensive nurturing, and if
the best way for someone to discover a relationship with Christ is through developing a
relationship with one of us, it must be done properly and not rushed. It ought to mimic the way
parents raise their children to be Catholics; it is a process that begins in infancy and continues for
many years.
0
Francis, Apostolic Exhortation on the Joy of the Gospel Evangelii Gaudium (November 26, 2013) (Frederick, MD: The Word Among Us Press, 2013), 10.
0 Dulles, “John Paul II,” 10.
56
In speaking of the "gentle, coaxing, gracious way" as the only way to effectively
evangelize, Las Casas speaks of the natural inclination toward God that is instilled in all
creatures by their Creator. Because of this, creatures tend to fall toward God "the way gravity
affects a stone,"0 and so the job of the evangelizer is to point others in the right direction. The
best way to do this is to allow other to witness the direction of our own gaze, which should be
towards God alone. Any child who has ever played the trick of walking along the street while
staring up at the sky in order to make others look up can testify to the effectiveness of such a
strategy. When we live our lives solely focused on Christ, others will be sure to notice.
Las Casas's words contain so much wisdom and practical advice that they remain relevant
almost five hundred years later, in a world that no longer seeks to spread Christianity with
violence, but which must continually find effective ways of spreading the faith in the face of new
challenges such as materialism, secularism, and indifference. Like Las Casas, we must be
unafraid to evangelize others in their native languages in a culturally appealing manner. After all,
the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit would be drastically different if the apostles had
emerged speaking only Greek or Aramaic. Successful evangelization requires much ingenuity,
honest self-evaluation, and moral fortitude. Because Las Casas exemplified all of these qualities,
both in his writings and deeds, his example is a call to theologians and Christians everywhere.
He personally invites us to breathe life into the words, “Go forth and make disciples,” and then
rise to the challenge these living words present to the world. By setting small, achievable goals
for ourselves, all Christians can follow in the footsteps of the apostles and bring the Gospel to a
world desperately in need of its joyful message.
0 Las Casas, The Only Way, 69.
57
Sample Bibliography
Almoina, José. "La primera 'Doctrina' para indios." Revista de Historia de América (Mexico), nos. 53 and 54 (1962): 75-98.
Casas, Bartolomé de las. The Devastation of the Indies: A Brief Account. Translated by Herma Briffault. New York: The Seabury Press, 1974.
___________________. The Only Way. Edited by Helen Rand Parish. Translated by Francis Patrick Sullivan, S.J. New York: Paulist Press, 1992.
Collard, Andrée M. "Introduction." History of the Indies. Translated and edited by Andrée M. Collard, ix-xxiv. New York: Harper & Row, 1971.
Dulles, Avery, S.J. “John Paul II and the New Evangelization: What Does It Mean?” In John Paul II and the New Evangelization: How You Can Bring the Good News to Others. Edited by Ralph Martin and Peter Williamson, 2-16. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2006.
Gutierrez, Gustavo. Las Casas: In Search of the Poor of Jesus Christ. Translated by Robert R. Barr. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1993.
Francis. Apostolic Exhortation on the Joy of the Gospel Evangelii Gaudium. November 26, 2013. Frederick, MD: The Word Among Us Press, 2013.
Hanke, Lewis. All Mankind is One: A Study of the Disputation between Bartolomé de Las Casas and Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda on the Religious and Intellectual Capacity of the American Indians. De Kalb, IL: Northern Illinois University Press, 1974.
Helps, Sir Arthur, K.C.B. The Life of Las Casas: The Apostle of the Indies. London: George Bell and Sons, 1896.
John Paul II. Encyclical on the Mission of the Redeemer Redemptoris Missio. December 7, 1990. Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media, 1990.
__________. “Discurso del Santo Padre Juan Pablo II a la Asamblea del CELAM.” Libreria Editrice Vaticana. March 9, 1983. Accessed June 12, 2014. At the Holy See. https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/es/travels/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_09111999_tbilisi-culture.html.
Parish, Helen Rand. "Introduction: Las Casas' Spirituality−The Three Crises." The Only Way. Edited by Helen Rand Parish, 9-58. Translated by Francis Patrick Sullivan, S.J. New York: Paulist Press, 1992.
Paul VI. Apostolic Exhortation on Evangelization in the Modern World Evangelii Nuntiandi. December 8, 1975. Boston: St. Paul Books & Media, 1975.
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Sanderlin, George. "Introduction." Bartolomé de Las Casas: A Selection of His Writings. Translated and edited by George Sanderlin, 3-25. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971.
Sullivan, Francis Patrick, S.J. Indian Freedom: The Cause of Bartolomé de las Casas, 1484-1566: A Reader. Kansas City: Sheed & Ward, 1995.