REVIEW.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 7, 7 June 1889, Page 20

REVIEW.

St. Joseph's Prayrr Book; second eJitioa. Printed at the N.Z. Tablet office, Dunedin. A second edition of this very neat and comprehensive little book has been required by *he demand created by the first eiition. The book has bean enlarged ami improved in several particulars, and is now a really valuable wrrk of i*s kind. Among its more noticeable contents we may pcint out the instructions and prayers for the Sacraments of Penance and the Blessed fcuchanst ; these alone should suffice to recommend the book to parents and all who are entrusted with the care of iheyouDg. Any boy or girl of ordinary intelligence by reading over attentively trmpartor the little work, can scarcely fail to understand clearly 1 ow to prepaie for the reception of thes^ Sacraments. Tochilduu in the country, who rarely have the advantage of oral instruction from their pastor, the book will ba of incalculable advantage. Take, for example, the instruction in Ue form of a simple note, page 118, " How iy prepare a dying friend for death when the priest cannot be got," and what can be more useful to all, both young and old, than the hints and tuijgestions there given 1 Other paiticularly valuable instructio s will be found in the explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mats, page 42 ; the instructions and devotions for altar-boys when serving at Mass, pages 8-73 ; the h^lp* to devrtion, page* 123-134; the remarks on preparation lor and i hai ksgiving after Holy Commurjion, page 133 ; the p ous pr^c ices to which indulgences are annexed, page 120; and the very nuny indulgenced prayers scattered profusely through all paits cf the book. Toe collection o fbymos is, beside?, a choice volume in itself. Take, for example, the following hymn for the Feast of our Lady Help of Christians, which ip, besides, oiiginal : — SCHOOL CHILDREN'S HYMN From hill and dale of Erin, O Virgin ever mild ! They sweetly chant thy praises, 0 maiden undefiled 1 The valiant sons of beauteous France Praise thee, O glorious Queen ; In peacu or war, in weal or woe, To thee they've faithful been. Chorvx — O sweetest " Help of Christians " I Spurn not our humb'e prayer ; Oh ! aid thy youthful soldiers, And they shall ne'er deppur. Despite the combat's fury, The peril of the fight, We'll conquer and be victors, If aided by thy might. Italia's sons and daughters Their vows to thee eti 11 pay ; From Petei'ts faith, from Mary's love. Time ne'er shall see them stray. And we in fair New Zealand,*

* In singing this hymn the word " Australia " will suit the metre as well as " New Zealand.''

On the distant ocean's boundsShall we not raise our hearts to thee In blissful joyous sounds J O sweetest " Help of Chrietians " I etc. Though fcorned and persecuted By Jovers of this world ; ( We'll nobly march, we'll bravely bear Thy banner bright, unfurl'd. While that banner floats above us, We'll fight for God and thf c ; We'll face the foe with courage bold, Thou'lt give us victory. O sweetest " Help of Christians " I etc. Then New Zealand shall prove loyal To holy Church and thee ; Thy praises shall re-echo From the rroantain to the sea. Our children shall inherit Our \oie for thee and Rome ; May they to both prove good and true For endless days to come. O sweetest " Help of Christians " 1 etc. The pretty frontispiece, as also the neatly finished cuts on pages 28 and 93 are likewise worthy of notice. Commendatory letters are given as a preface from the Archbishop of Wellington, and the Bishops of Auckland, Christchurch, Coadjutor of Sandhurst, Maitland, Sale, Bathurst, and Goulburn, in which the most rev. writers speak highly of the work. The book possesses the imprimatur of tbe Bishop of Dunedin. The work is got out in superior style, from a new fount of type, and is remarkably free from typical errors. The binding is tasteful and well done, and the price is such as to put the little work within easy reach of the poorest. We earnestly recommend all our readers to procure copies ol St. Joseph's Prayer Book for themselves and to present some copies to their young friends. The book can be had>holesale at the Tablet office, and retail from all booksellers. The prayer book may be had separately or bound up with the catechism.