Translated by Roy J. Deferrari from the Thirtieth Edition of Henry Denzinger’s Enchiridion Symbolorum.
Imprimatur 1955.

It is our hope that this work will increase among English-speaking people both the knowledge of our faith and the appreciation of its continuity from the days of our Lord to our own times. Perhaps it is not too much to hope that it will also bring out more sharply the role played by the Fathers of the Church in the establishment and formulation of the basic dogmas of the faith.

Certainly we do not wish that this English version replace the original Latin and Greek, but we feel that there is great need of this translation in the institutions of higher learning in English speaking countries, where unfortunately a working knowledge of Greek no longer exists, and a practical knowledge of Latin is fast disappearing, but where, most fortunately, a desire for systematic knowledge of theology is increasing daily.

In this age of doctrinal latitude and speculative innovation there is a pressing need for a comprehensive source book on authentic Catholic dogma that is magisterially anchored while at the same time both practical and non-voluminous. You have such a book in this English translation of Father Heinrich Denzinger’s Enchiridion Symbolorum et Definitionum. Since it was first published a century and a half ago, this handbook or collection (enchiridion) of articles (symbols) of faith and morals has enjoyed universal appeal and approbation since the pontificate of Blessed Pope Pius IX. The Enchiridion has been updated periodically; the edition being offered here by Loreto is that issued in 1957. The collection includes all articles and creeds of the Catholic Faith beginning with that of the twelve apostles, all dogmatic definitions stamped with the Petrine authority of the apostolic See (ex cathedra), decrees of the solemn magisterium, papal bulls, encyclicals and letters, as well as some of the more weighty decisions of the Holy Office prior to 1957. Although not every entry in this 653 page compendium of Church teaching is definitional (i.e. ex cathedra) it still should be considered the "locutus est" for every wayfaring Catholic whose patria, this side of heaven, is Roma. In addition to a general index there is a scriptural index plus an invaluable systematic or topical index making for very easy reference. Note, too, this edition comes with a one page Corrigenda which is a list of sixteen corrections that must be applied to errors (usually omissions) that escaped the eyes of editors in previous editions.