BOOK NOTICES

New Zealand Tablet, 30 March 1922, Page 17

BOOK NOTICES

Converting a Business Into a Private Company, by Herbert Jordan. Jordan and Sons, Chancery Lane, London; 1/- net.

The Truth About Ireland, by P. J. Gearon, O.C.C. (From David Griffin, 53 Willis Street, Wellington.) A very useful magazine of information concerning Ireland’s fight for freedom.

The Fundamental Principles of the Spiritual Life, by Father Meschler, S.J.B. Herder, London, W.C.1.; 5/net. Father Meschler gives us the essence of the science of

the spiritual life in this volume. He reduces it to three

fundamental principles: the principle of prayer; the principle of self-denial; and the principle of the love of Christ. It is sound spiritual reading, and the section dealing with self-denial is very apposite for Lent. A 1 ear With Christ, by William Young, S.J. Herder, London - 776 net.

The laity as a rule do not devote as much attention as they might to spiritual reading. Yet, no man who is solicitous about his salvation can afford to neglect it. Hem e in all religious communities it is part of the daily routine, and its importance is established by long experience. The readings for Sundays, in this volume, are sure to be helpful both to the laity and to religious in making Christ better known and better loved.

Liturgical Prayer: Its History and Spirit, by the Right Rev. Fernand Cabrol, 0.5.8. (Translated by a Stanbrook Benedictine.) Burns, Oates, Washbourne, London; 12/6 net.

Le Livre de la Priere Antique, has already been translated into many languages and has run into several editions in each. The author is an authority on all liturgical matters and well known to English students already. This volume is a most illuminating guide to the beautiful prayers of the Church, especially to, those consecrated by the devout use of centuries in the Catholic Liturgy. It is a pity that so many Catholics are ignorant of the treasure of doctrine, piety, and even poetry contained in the liturgical books, while we have testimonies from non-Catholic sources that are eloquent in praise of our official prayers. When still a Protestant, Newman wrote: “There is so much of excellence and beauty in the services of the Breviary that, were it skillfully set before the Protestant by the Roman controversialists, as the book of devotions received in their communion, it would undoubtedly raise a prejudice in their favor, if he were but ordinarily candid and unprejudiced.” It is a principle with theologians that the prayer of the Church is an eloquent indication of her belief, and students of Liturgy are well aware that the study of the Church prayers is an interesting guide to the development and growth of the Christian society. Many extracts are given in this volume, which is not only a critical study, but also a liturgical anthology. As such, it might bo used with profit for meditation and spiritual reading. No prayers can compare with the ancient prayers, and it must be confessed that the unction and compactness of thought of the prayers composed long ago have never been surpassed, or even equalled, in later years. Much the same may be said regarding the liturgical hymns. What modern poet could rival the devotion and the beauty of the Stahat Mater, the sublimity of the Vies I me, or the artistic finish and the wonderful sense of words of that summary of Christ’s life:

Se unseens dedit socium, Se vivens in edulium, Se moriens in pretium, Se regnans dat in premium.