BOOKS OF DEVOTION AND SPIRITUAL READING. 1. Contemplations and Meditations on the Passion and Death, and on the Glorious Life, of Our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Method of St. Ignatius. Translated from the French by a SISTER OF MERCY. Third edition. London: Burns & Oates. 1881. 2. Familiar Instructions and Evening Lectures on all the Truths of Religion. By Mgr. DE SÉGUR. Translated from the French. Vol. II. London: Burns & Oates. 1881. 3. St. Bernard on the Love of God. CAROLINE and COVENTRY PATMORE. Translated by MARIANNE London: C. Kegan Paul & 4. The Following of Christ. A New Translation. London: Burns & Oates. 1881. 5. Instructions for First Communicants. Translated from the German of the Rev. Dr. J. SCHMITT. New York: Catholic Publication Society Company. 1881. 6. The Three Tabernacles: a Golden Treatise. By THOMAS À KEMPIS. Edited by the Rev. M. COMERFORD, New edition. Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son. 1881. 7. The Will of God. Translated from the French by M. A. M. New York: Catholic Publication Society Company. 1881. 8. The Happiness of Heaven. By F. J. Boudreaux, S. J. edition. London: Burns & Oates. 1881. Third 9. Life of St. Frederick. By FREDERICK G. MAPLES, Missionary Apostolic. London: Burns & Oates. 1881. 10. The Confraternities, their Obligations and Indulgences. Compiled from authentic sources, by the Rev. W. J. B. RICHARDS, D.D., Oblate of St. Charles. Second edition. London: Burns & Oates. 1881. 11. Rules of the Associates of the Holy Angels. Dublin: H. M. Gill & Son. 1881. 12. Letters and Writings of Marie Lataste, with Critical and Expository Notes by two Fathers of the Society of Jesus. Translated from the French by EDWARD HEALY THOMPSON, M.A. London: Burns & Oates. Dublin: H. M. Gill & Sen. 1881. 13. First Communicants' Manual: a Catechism for Children preparing to receive Holy Communion for the first time, and for the use of those charged with the Duty of instructing them. By Father F. X. SCHOUPPE, S. J. Translated from the French by M. A. CROSIER. London: Burns & Oates. 1881. THESE 1. THESE are very useful and effective meditations, not too diffuse, but well-expressed, and not without unction. The little work is in great part a second edition, but the writer or translator has added a fresh part to the book, containing meditations on the Risen Life of our Blessed Saviour. 2. Notwithstanding a little exaggeration and some fanciful explanations, Mgr. de Ségur's "Familiar Instructions" will be found both edifying to readers and useful to priests and catechists. The work, of which this is the second volume, is handy and attractive, and the translation is very fairly done. 3. Mr. Coventry Patmore, in finishing and editing the translation of the series of beautiful excerpts from St. Bernard, which his wife had begun, has presented his readers with a precious and welcome volume of spiritual reading. Some of the ardent language of the holy Doctor's Sermons on the Canticles, used indiscriminately and apart from its context, would no doubt be found in these days of disrespect to be rather too strong and suggestive. Some readers may be disposed to object to this little book on the same grounds. But, after all, we cannot lay aside the venerable works of saints because modern associations may have touched with their coarseness the spiritual purity of their contemplations. At least, if there are any for whom such associations are too strong, they are to be pitied, but their case is no rule for all. 4. A new edition, which is also a new translation, of the "Imitation of Christ," is proof, if any proof were needed, that whilst men dispute about its authorship they do not neglect to study its contents. This new translation is beautifully brought out, and enriched with woodcuts in the robust German style, which has grown so familiar during the last twenty years. Although it professes to be "new," the translation retains most of the old mistakes. For instance, in I. 1, we have "know the whole Bible outwardly," instead of "know" (it) "by heart;" in II. 9, the phrase, "does not fall back upon comforts,' should be "rely upon," &c.; the curious sentence in II. 12, "ecce in cruce totum constat et in moriendo totum jacet," is very inadequately rendered.—“Behold in the Cross all doth consist, and all lieth in our dying;" whilst the phrase," with the same equal countenance," (III. 25) is not English, and should be "indifferently." 5. We have in this translation of Dr. Schmitt's "Instructions" a well-meant and, to some extent, useful répertoire of matters connected with first communion. The form of the work is not attractive, however, and the style is heavy. The translation seems to be correct ; but there is in the greater number of German spiritual books a want of finish, which is always reflected in their translations. There are one or two inaccuracies of language. For instance, it should not be asserted that the institution of the Holy Eucharist in both kinds was necessary in order that it should be a Sacrifice (p. 127). And the reason given for this is almost more than misleading-"these separated kinds, exhibiting to us the Body and Blood of Christ as separated, are emblems, &c. . . . . represent His Sacrifice upon the Cross." The same language occurs in pp. 93, 94, though the true doctrine is also stated. The reality of the Sacrifice of the Mass and its representative characters, are two different things. 6. We need do no more than note this new edition of one of the most genuine and beautiful spiritual books ever written. The translation is that of Dr. Willymott, a Cambridge University dignitary, and was first published in 1722. Father Comerford has done little more than efface the evidences of Protestantism. 7. "The Will of God" is a little book of edifying reading on the duty and advantages of resignation. But either the author or the translator has got into difficulties with the "form" of the exhortation. The first section begins as if our Lord were speaking to the faithful soul, as in the "Imitation:" "My son, you know the prayer I addressed. to my heavenly Father," &c. At the end of the second section, without warning, we come upon what seems to be a direct speech of the Eternal Father: "Giving up my only Son," &c. The rest of the book appears to be written, for the most part, in the author's own person. 8. Père Boudreaux's learned and exact treatise on "The Happiness of Heaven," translated, is also a new edition. It is an excellent book of its kind, and ought to prove useful and suggestive on one of the most difficult of subjects. There are some who look forward to a carnal heaven, some to an insipid one, and many to a very vague Theology, and devout but accurate meditation, have here provided the means of correcting all such views. one. 9. One whose Christian name happens to be Frederick, naturally resents the question, which other people sometimes ask, "Was there ever a St. Frederick ?" Father Maples undertakes, in an attractive little book, to inform such persons that St. Frederick was a Bishop of Utrecht, martyred in 838 for his apostolic zeal. An interesting point is connected with the "Prayer" of St. Frederick, here printed (p. 28). It is evidently an (very brief) extract from the Athanasian Creed, with two or three phrases of a devotional character added, and was intended for popular use. We know that St. Frederick, assisted by St. Odulph, had to wage serious war against Arianism and Sabellianism. discovery of the "Utrecht" Psalter, containing the earliest known text of the Athanasian Creed, and ascribed by some to the very century in which St. Frederick lived, has given us an interesting relic, which the Saint himself may have read or possessed. The 10. In the day of a multiplication of Confraternities, such a guide-book as this little brochure by Dr. Richards is most welcome. 11. "The Association of the Holy Angels" seems to be intended for the profit of young girls at school, who are to wear a "preparatory" ribbon, and then a ribbon of full admission; who are to draw a billet on the first Tuesday of every month, &c. The rules are simple and really edifying, and the devotions are touching and attractive. 12. There are many, especially of those who have read Mr. Healy Thompson's admirable "Life of Marie Lataste," who will welcome this companion volume of her "Letters and Writings," translated by the same accomplished scholar. The volume, however, is by no means equal in point of interest or value to the former one. Whatever a saint writes carries a weight and effectiveness of its own; and Marie Lataste, though not a canonized saint, may be prudently held as a woman of heroic sanctity. But, apart from this consideration, her utterances on the Christian mysteries and the spiritual life are not remarkable; and the notes of the good Jesuit Father who "explains" her, and vouches for her orthodoxy in one or two perilous collocations, weight still more heavily a book that can hardly be called attractive reading. 13. Father Schouppe has done much to bring exact theological science to bear upon popular religious instruction; and this translation, by a competent person, of his "First Communicants' Manual," will be found useful by priests and teachers. INDEX. ADDIS, Rev. W. E., Notices by, 287, 303. Africa, Catholic Missions in Equatorial, 144; Mgr. Lavigerie's enterprise for, 147; Christian villages formed in, 150; inauguration of missions for, Algerian Missions, story of, 147. Allard, M. Paul, on Pagan Art, 336. Army, Re-organization of, 86; character of recent reforms in, ib.; reasons for 66 Arnold, Edwin, Hindu Poetry, noticed, 293. Augustine, Sister, noticed, 562 BAPTIST Newspapers, 18 seq. Barbier, Auguste, Poems of, 380. Barry, Dr. William, on the Religion of George Eliot, 433 seq. Bartolini, Cardinal, Memorie, &c. dei Sti. Cirillo e Metodio, noticed, 55 1. Belgium, Catholic divisions in, 464; Masonic influence in Government of, Bellesheim, Dr. A., Notices by, 297, 298, 551, 553, 554. Berger, Elie; Les Registres d'Innocent IV., noticed, 280. Berrinius, O., De Stilo Inscriptionum, noticed, 277. Bonaventuræ, Sancti, Breviloqium, noticed, 297; Lexicon Bonaventurianum, Boudreaux, F. J., S.J., The Happiness of Heaven, noticed, 564. VOL. VI. NO. II. [Third Series.] ૨ ૨ |