Religion

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29264, 23 July 1960, Page 3

Religion

To Heaven With Diana! By Gerald Vaun. Collins. 160 pp.

Father Gerald Vaun has long been known to readers in other communions besides his own. He is an indefatigible writer, but has always chosen interesting subjects which are treated in a fresh and sometimes unusual way. His latest book, “To Heaven With Diana!” will be found just as appealing as many of the others he has written, although two-thirds of it consists of letters translated from the Latin of Jordan of Saxony. Not everyone would accept the title without comment; it was certainly a more undistinguished choice than might have been expected. Nor does it really suit the book Father Vaun has composed. At the beginning of the thirteenth century Diana d’Andalo, a high-spirited member of a highspirited family, established herself, in spite of all opposition, in the convent of Ronzano behind Bologna. She had been greatly influenced by St. Dominic; but another chapter in her life began when Jordan of Saxony visited Bologna. A master and then a lecturer in the University of Paris, Jordan entered the Order of Preachers, of which he soon became Master General. It was in 1222 that, he began the correspondence with Diana d'Andalo that 'continued for 15 years. His letters were preserved; hers, unfortunately, were not. What remains convinces the reader, as Father Vaun suggests "of the humanness of Jordan’s holiness and of the human reality of his love for Diana.” Nevertheless, the one essential thing for him is the love of God; there is never any uncertainty as to who must come first in Diana’s heart." A selection of 50 of Jordan’s letters follows Father Vann's introduction. The translator submits that "it is impossible to capture and hold in English the full fragrance of Jordan’s Latin: warmth and grace, humanity and mystical ardour are all alike expressed in a prose of which almost every phrase is an echo of the Bible or the breviary.” Nevertheless, the tone of spiritual devotion remains obvious, and no doubt the book will be cherished by many thoughtful readers. Introduction to Christianity. By Paul Hessert. George Allen and Unwin. 383 pp. Mr Hassert has subtitled his book “A Dynamic Examination of a Living Faith.” Examination is a rather better description of its purpose than “introduction,” since one can only be introduced to something strange, and Mr Hessert assumes not only a certain familiarity but also acceptance. “To understand religion” he writes, “we must come at it from the inside.” He assumes a great deal that the atheist would challenge. Nevertheless, this book could be extremely useful for senior Bible Classes or sixth' form divinity groups. It is clearly written, theologically sound and not parochial, and includes a large number of interesting and stimulating questions for discussion, as well as a well-chosen bibliography and thorough index.