The case, therefore, of Rosmini before the Holy See, to judge from the Roman documents above cited up to 1882, would seem to stand thus-The Holy See has acted with manifest consistency throughout the whole controversy, under Gregory XVI., Pius IX., and Leo XIII. It has submitted Rosmini's works before the tribunal of public opinion, in the Schools, and by the press, during a space of fifty years; it has uniformly defended them from unjust censures; it has condemned nothing; of course it has not, however, endorsed his philosophy with its own authority. It has not given to the works of Rosmini an authority like that of the works of St. Thomas, which enjoy before the Church the prestige of six centuries; therefore the Holy Father has frequently declared, as he said to me in an audience some years ago, "I wish St. Thomas to be the textbook." His Holiness added: "Rosmini may be read like any other author, to throw light on questions. It has been said that in my Encyclical, Eterni Patris, I intended to condemn Rosmini. This is untrue. In that Encyclical, every word of which I weighed, there is not a word that applies to Rosmini." Thus, while St. Thomas is the textbook, Rosmini is left to be read by those who approve his principles, or to be rejected by those who do not-only those who reject them are "forbidden to affix any theological censure on the works which have been examined and acquitted," seeing that nothing has been found, after stringent examination by public authority, censurable in his writings. It has been objected that two of Rosmini's works, the Cinque Piaghe and the Project of a Constitution for Italy, were placed on the Index under Pius IX. To this the Rosminians reply that no propositions in these works were pronounced censurable, but that they were placed on the Index for prudential reasons, because they had a political aspect. The Roman Revolution and the flight of the Pope to Gaeta had taken place between the time that they had been read and approved by Pius IX. in Rome, and the time they were placed on the Index when the Pope was an exile at Gaeta, and a change of policy had been forced on Pius IX. by the action of his revolutionary subjects. It is certain that in making his submission to the Decree of the Index Rosmini offered to retract any doctrinal error in the works, if they should be pointed out to him; this, however, was not done, and he was only required to submit to the Disciplinary Decree. He did so at once, withdrawing the works from circulation. To the Decree of the Index was added, at the time of publication, the honourable testimony: "Auctor laudabiliter se submisit "" the author has laudably submitted." The official letter he received at the same time, enclosing a copy of this Decree, stated that "it was impossible for an author to have done more than Rosmini had done to show his submission to the Holy See." Since 1882 the Holy See has been again and again importuned by the adverse party to review the sentence of acquittal, or to allow the posthumous works of Rosmini to be examined officially. More than one non-official or private examination, by Consultors of the Index, has been instituted to see whether any new accusations had been brought forward, not contained among the 300 charges that had been examined and rejected thirty years ago. This not being the case, the demands for a revision of the sentence of acquittal have been rejected, thus adding force to the original sentence of dimittantur opera, of 1854. This has been emphasized by a Declaration of the Index in 1883. A question had been put in the name of some Bishops of Italy, how the case of Rosmini actually stood, and the reply was: "Standum in decisis "-"What has been decided stands good.' Another objection has been raised, that the Sacred Congregation of the Index made a Declaration two or three years ago in answer to interrogations from the opposite party; that "the sentence dimittantur opera was equivalent to non prohibentur;" but this is all that the Rosminians claim, only they say when works so inculpated, after fifty years of trial before public opinion, and after rigorous examination by the authority of the Holy See, are declared not to deserve any of the censures that had been brought against them by private authors, this is very nearly equivalent to the Decree mil censuræ dignum-the highest sentence ever given by the Sacred Congregation of Rites concerning the writings of canonized Saints. In a note in the "Introduction," quoted above, we read: "The Congregation of the Index according to the Constitution given it by Benedict XIV. in his Bull Sollicita et provida, is empowered to pronounce' one of three sentences, 'pro merito' (ie., according to deserts) on works submitted to its examination, viz., prohibeantur corrigantur, dimittantur, so that the sentence of dimittantur is the highest sentence ever given, and means that nothing has been found in the works demanding prohibition or correction, but that they are pronounced to be dismissed or acquitted after having been thoroughly sifted pro merito, according to their deserts, and are thereby declared free to be read by the faithful." This matter is treated more fully in the "Life of Rosmini," which will be ready by Christmas. S. Etheldreda's, Ely Place, WILLIAM LOCKHART, Writer of the Life of Rosmini. Catholic Hymns, with accompanying Tunes: being a Musical Edition of St. Dominic's Hymn Book. Edited by A. E. TOZER, L.R.A.M. &c. London: Burns & Oates; Novello, Ewer & Co. THI THIS useful collection of some seventy English hymns, with music and organ accompaniment, appears under the editorship of Mr. A. E. Tozer. There are a few new settings, and the arrangements of old ones have in many cases been revised. The medium between making hymns too difficult and making them too commonplace is fairly preserved both in the accompaniments and in the new settings. Choirmasters and the clergy will find it worth while to get the book (which is clearly printed and very cheap), if it be only to provide themselves with a few new ideas. They will find most of the popular favourites here, words and airs; and the alterations in the settings will not be objected to. The work contains all the usual Dominican hymns; it is a pity the poet of the Order has not made them a little more adapted for singing. Such lines as Thou who hero-like hast striven- are collections of British syllables which no arrangement of muscles can do justice to. There are some harmonies which many will not like; as, for instance, the chords which are given to the second Gregorian mode at p. 72. Mr. Tozer's setting of "Faith of Our Fathers" (p. 90) is not bad; but the refrain is a little too suggestive of "Ah! che la morte! Some of the hymns go too high. E natural is certainly the highest note which a congregation can produce with edification. **We much regret to find, at the last moment, that a quantity of Book Notices, in type, have necessarily to be held over. Books of Debotion and Spiritual Reading. 1. The Way of Salvation and of Perfection. By St. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI. Translation, edited by the Rev. EUGENE GRIMM, C.SS.R. The Centenary Edition. Vol. II. New York: Benziger Brothers. 2. A Companion to the Catechism. Designed chiefly for the use of Young Catechists and the Heads of Families. Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son. 1886. 3. Golden Sands. Fourth Series. Little Counsels for the Sanctification and Happiness of Daily Life. Translated from the French by Miss ELLA M MAHON. New York, &c.: Benziger Brothers. 1886. 4. Little Month of St. Joseph. St. Joseph according to the Gospel. By the Rev. Father MARIN DE BOYLESVE, S.J. Translated by Mrs. EDWARD HAZELAND. London: Burns & Oates. New York: Catholic Publication Society Company. 1886. 5. The Children's Mass. Containing Morning and Evening Prayers, Catholic Hymns, and Benediction Service. By the Rev. C. MAHER. Ďublin: James Duffy & Sons. 6. Eucharistic Hours. By the Author of "Legends of the Blessed Sacrament." London: R. Washbourne. 1886. 7. Conversations on the Blessed Sacrament: a Preparation for First Communion. Edited by the Very Rev. J. B. BAGSHAWE, D.D. London St. Anselm's Society. 8. The Life of St. Olave, Martyr and King, and Patron of Norway. By the Rev. S. M'DANIEL. London: R. Washbourne. 1886. 9. A Simple Prayer-Book. London: Catholic Truth Society. 10. The Rite of Conferring Orders. from the Roman Pontifical. 1886. 1. THER Translated, with Annotations HE second volume of the "Centenary" edition of the translation of St. Alphonsus's works contains what is known as "The Way of Salvation," followed by several shorter spiritual treatises. The translators, following the French editors, have confined the designation "Way of Salvation" to a single workviz., those Meditations, ninety-seven in number, which are called by the Saint, "Meditations suitable for all times of the year." But the Italian editions of an earlier date make the "Via della Salute" to consist of three distinct parts-viz: 1, the Meditations we have named; 2, Meditations for "certain particular occasions;" and 3, "The Rule of a Christian Life." The present volume will be found quite as well done as its predecessor. We have noted a few slips; for instance, on page 23, the word translated "region" is really "palace (reggia); at page 186, "mortal" sin is a mistake for "venial;" and at page 415 it is not the mule which "sets" Sister Seraphine "weeping," but the poor animal is touchingly said to have shed tears itself when the servant of God lamented that it had not the power of knowing and loving its Creator. The contents of the volume, besides the Meditations which give it its name, are as follows:-"Pious Reflections on Different Points of Spirituality," a set of delightful considerations in which the holy author unconsciously describes his own soul to the life; a treatise on "Divine Love; short reflections on "The Passion;""Conformity to the Will of God;" "The Way to converse familiarly with God;" a short treatise on "Prayer;" "Interior Trials;" "Sure Signs by which we may know when we have the Divine Love in us; and the abridged "Rule of Life." "Rule of Life." Many of the Saint's spiritual poems are translated metrically in this volume, and there is a short alphabetical index which will be of great service to preachers. If there is a complaint to make about this carefully edited series of volumes, it is that they are rather heavy and clumsy for holding in the hand—a fault they share with a large number of American publications, which are printed on a paper much more solid, and also much more strong than what we use in England. 2. No author's name is attached to this work, but it follows the Maynooth Catechism, and is approved by the Archbishop of Dublin. In a series of instructions, extending over from three to four hundred pages, this catechism, that is, its questions, answers, terms, and statements, are explained and developed, by reason, Scripture, and authority. The book is very full, very careful, and very prudent, and will be most useful to preachers and catechists. Explanations of the catechism are not easy to make, and they just as often sin by excess as by defect. There is such a thing as letting a question alone-a very useful way of treating it sometimes. Our author explains, among other matters, the duties of servants to their masters, and he quotes in enforcement of his views the well-known passage 1 Peter ii. 18. Perhaps some one could tell us how the lady-help, or the young persons who in these days contract to give their services for a consideration, relish the having applied to them a text which St. Peter addressed to slaves. 3. This translation of the fourth series of" Golden Sands " is well done, and the pretty little book will no doubt serve the good purpose of strengthening and intensifying piety in the hearts of the girls for whom it is written. 4. A well-executed translation, prettily got up, of a month's meditations on St. Joseph, by Père Boylesve, with anecdotes, prayers, and devotions. 5. The "Children's Mass," by Father Maher, is too well-known to require description or commendation. This edition contains, besides the words and music, full directions for conducting a "Chil. dren's Mass," in the manner made popular by the Redemptorist Fathers, together with other useful matter. The simple yet effective music to which Father Maher has set the words has always appeared to us admirable; but perhaps in some instances the key of the accompaniment is pitched too high. This seems especially true of the very beginning, where the words, "In the Name of the Father, &c.," have to be shouted out on C-a very high note for recitation where children are concerned. 6. "Eucharistic Hours" will be welcomed as a pleasing and somewhat novel book of devotion. It is divided into thirty chapters, for as many days; and in each chapter we have extracts from the Fathers of the Church, passages of Holy Scripture, a legend, and sometimes a hymn on some particular aspect of the Blessed Sacrament. The feature of the book is the citations from the Fathers, which are not by any means common or hackneyed, and have been carefully done. The verses, too, many of which are by the compiler, Emily Mary Shapcote, will be found to be melodious and devotional. This handsome volume of some 260 pages contains a great deal of instruction on the Eucharistic mystery, mingled with much devout reflection; and its freshness and earnestness make it a very desirable addition to a spiritual library. 7. The writer of the "Threshold of the Catholic Church" here presents us with an elaborate course of instructions in preparation for First Communion. They are in the form of dialogues, the interlocutors being a lady, her two daughters, and another young lady-a "distant relation "who is a Protestant at the beginning of the book, but succumbs to Mrs. Hamilton's exposition about page 147. There is a certain "real life" flavour about the work, the introductory chapter sketching the widow lady, the Protestant |