Richard McBrien facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Reverend Richard McBrien
Richard sometime in 1989 or earlier.
Born	Richard Peter McBrien (1936-08-19)August 19, 1936
Died	January 25, 2015(2015-01-25) (aged 78) Farmington, Connecticut
Title	Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Richard McBrien Education St. Thomas Seminary St. John's Seminary Gregorian University Occupation Priest theologian writer professor Notable work Catholicism Theological work Era Post-Second Vatican Council Main interests Implementing the Second Vatican Council Catholic Church renewal Notable ideas Advocated "seamless garment" of social teaching

Richard Peter McBrien (born August 19, 1936 – died January 25, 2015) was an important Catholic priest, teacher, and writer from the United States. He taught theology at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He wrote 25 books, including a very well-known book called Catholicism. This book helped people understand the Church better after the Second Vatican Council, which was a big meeting that changed many things in the Catholic Church.

Richard McBrien's Life Story

Richard P. McBrien was born on August 19, 1936. He was the fourth of five children. His father was a police officer, and his mother was a nurse.

His Education and Early Career

Richard went to St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and earned his first degree in 1956. He then studied at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, and got his master's degree in 1962. In the same year, he became a Catholic priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. His first job as a priest was at Our Lady of Victory Church in New Haven, Connecticut.

McBrien continued his studies and earned his doctorate degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1967. After that, he taught at the Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts.

A Leading Theologian and Author

Richard McBrien wrote many books and articles about Catholicism. His most famous book is Catholicism. He was also the president of the Catholic Theological Society of America from 1974 to 1975. In 1976, he received the John Courtney Murray Award for his great work in theology.

In 1980, McBrien joined the faculty at the University of Notre Dame. He led the Department of Theology there from 1980 to 1991. He retired from teaching in 2013. Before working at Notre Dame, McBrien taught at Boston College.

His Interests and Contributions

McBrien was very interested in the study of the Church (called ecclesiology). He also studied how religion and politics are connected. He explored the spiritual and teaching parts of the Catholic Church.

He wrote 25 books and was the main editor for the Encyclopedia of Catholicism. McBrien also appeared on TV as a commentator, explaining Catholic events for networks like CBS and ABC News. He wrote articles for Catholic newspapers like the National Catholic Reporter and The Tidings. He also wrote a regular column called Essays in Theology for Catholic newspapers.

Richard McBrien passed away after a long illness on January 25, 2015, at his home in Farmington, Connecticut. He was 78 years old.

Books by Richard McBrien

McBrien wrote many books that helped people understand the Catholic Church, its history, and its teachings. His books Lives of Saints and Lives of the Popes shared detailed stories about important saints and popes. He also made smaller, easier-to-read versions of these books.

Here are some of his notable works:

• Religion and Politics in America, (1987)
• Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from Saint Peter to John Paul II (HarperSanFrancisco, 2000 (revised in 2006), ISBN: 0-06-065304-3)
• The Church: The Evolution of Catholicism (2008, ISBN: 0-06-124521-6)
• The Pocket Guide to the Popes (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006, ISBN: 0-06-113773-1)
• The Pocket Guide to the Saints] (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006, ISBN: 0-06-113774-X)
• Lives of the Saints: From Mary and St. Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006, ISBN: 0-06-123283-1)
• 101 Questions & Answers on the Church (Paulist Press, 2003, ISBN: 0-8091-4250-3)
• Responses to 101 Questions on the Church (Paulist Press, 1996, ISBN: 0-8091-3638-4)
• The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism (HarperSanFrancisco, 1995, ISBN: 0-06-065338-8)
• Inside Catholicism (Signs of the Sacred) (HarperCollins, 1995, ISBN: 0-00-649052-2)
• Ministry: A Theological, Pastoral Handbook] (HarperSanFrancisco, 1988, ISBN: 0-06-065324-8)
• Caesar's Coin: Religion and Politics in America (MacMillan, 1987, ISBN: 0-02-919720-1)
• In Search of God (Dimension Books, 1977, ISBN: 0-87193-082-X)
• The Remaking of the Church: An Agenda for Reform (Harper & Row, 1973, ISBN: 0-06-065327-2)
• For the Inquiring Catholic: Questions and Answers for the 1970s (Dimension Books, 1973)
• Who is a Catholic? (Dimension Books, 1971)
• Church: The Continuing Quest (Paulist Press, 1970, ISBN: 0-8091-1525-5)
• The Church in the Thought of Bishop John Robinson (Westminster Press 1966, SCM Press 1966)