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i PAGE 2—THE BULLETIN, March 17, 1982 (MAKE I , ( * In (HOME \ lAJriterd nd !\eacL er& EDITED BY LEO J. ZUBER 2332 North Decatur RdL Decatur, Georgia A. M. D. G. For the greater glory of God and for the spiritual benefit of authors, publishers, reviewers and readers. THE CONSCIENCE OF IS RAEL, Bruce Vawter, C.M., Sheed & Ward, 1961, 295 pp. $5.00, Reviewed by Flannery O'Connor In The Conscience of Israel, Fr. Vawter analyses the pre- exilic prophets of the eighth and seventh centuries B. C., Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah and Jeremiah and the minor prophets, Nahum, Sephaniah and Habakkuk, and attempts to reset their words in the con crete historical moment thai brought them forth. Nine teenth century Biblical criti cism was largely that of liberal Protestantism. The result of this was that the prophets were seen in the light of lib eral Protestant concerns. They became Israelite Luthers and. Wesleys, innovators opposing ritualism, or social reformers of advanced views. Twentieth century Biblical criticism has returned the prophets to their genuine mission, which was not to innovate, but to recall the people to truths they were already well aware of but chose to ignore. Victorian com mentators appear sometimes to have thought of the prophets as “liberal vicars or non-con formist chaplains . . . with the same bluff piety that made the Empire great.” Fr. Vawter re stores them to their exotic Oriental culture where they Were seen by their contempo raries as inspired men in com munication with “that other ness that men have always as sociated with the divine.” In this setting alone it is possible to understand an Isaiah walk ing naked as a warning to Egypt, an Hosea agonizing over his prostitute wife or an Ezekiel baking his bread over dung to symbolize the destruc tion to come. Fr. Vawter warns against making Christians of the pro phets. The prophets prepared for the revelation of the New Testament; they did not an ticipate it. This excellent book will give the reader a fuller understanding of both prepara tion and fulfillment. THE CLOUD FOREST, by Peter Matthiessen, Viking, 1961, 288 pp., $6.50, and FOUR THOUSAND YEARS AGO, by Geoffrey Bibby, Knopf, 426 pp., $6.95. ) Reviewed by Michele Caraher Explorers’ books come and go, but your true devotee en joys them all. Peter Matthies- sen’s expedition covered such contrasting regions as the Matto Grosso jungle of Brazil and the barren Tierra del Fue- go on the southern tip of Ar gentina. With several compan ions he went down the Urub- amba river (including its fa bled Pongo de Mainique rap ids), found an immense fossil jawbone, and came in contact With various Indian tribes and odd characters. The Cloud For est, however, is less the ac count of an explorer than that of a keen naturalist and writ er. There is a wealth of ma terial on the birds, animals and plants of jungle, altiplano and mountain country. On ev ery page there are interesting sidelights on the people, their customs, political and social convolutions, graft, good na ture or pessimistic fatalism. In Brazil’s frontier towns the au thor finds a “wildwest” influ ence: a revolver is still the most potent law. About maps he comments wryly that car tographers must hate blank spaces, judging from the num ber of “cities” in vast jungle areas. Mr. Matthiessen is not, as the book jacket claims, a naturalist writer of Tomlin son’s or Beebe’s stature, but he does offer marvelous humor and revealing detail. Turning from the present day to the very distant past, Geoffrey Bibby’s Four Thous and Years Ago makes that time comprehensive—a praise worthy feat. In the span of a millenium (2000 B. C.-1000 B. C.) Abraham began the odys sey of the Jews, Cretan ships brought goods from as far north as Denmark, an Egyp tian pharoah defied tradition by worshipping one God, the Greeks rose as. a nation which would help shape our western civilization, and the ancient east flourished in splendor and war. The author dramatizes archaeology by concentrating on men and events, adopting a positive approach to unsolv ed questions (he carefully doc uments his reasons at the end of each chapter), and by un- obstrusively presenting the latest discoveries in this field. He looks at a thousand years* of history in terms of individu al lifetimes, and the result is a vivid re-telling of events. This strictly non-scientific reviewer was disappointed by the lack of a map comparing ancient cities and countries with our present day map, so that one has at least some concrete idea of their locations. In every oth er respect, it is an unusually interesting book. Handsomely printed and designed, Four Thousand Years Ago is well worth the price. THE HOUSE AT OLD VINE by Norah Lofts, Doubleday, 1961, 408 pp., $4.95. Reviewed by Jane Woodham A really good novel is a treasure find and Norah Lofts has written a true story of the old “curl-up-with-in-a-g o o d chair” school. It is one of those rare novels that reads as though it were written for the sheer joy of it; this makes for quick and happy union be tween writer and reader. Miss Lofts tells of the love and hate and joy and suffering in the house at Old Vine in England’s dynamic years of re ligious turmoil from 1496 to 1679. She begins with a burn ing at the stake in 1496 of a Catholic who denied the Real Presence. She Counterbalances with the priest who died of starvation in a secret room in the attic because the man who had hidden him from the Roy alists died suddenly in posses sion of the keys to the hiding room. And she tells of the generation who find the strange bones in the attic. There is much high drama, but also much tender ness and understanding; as the life of the house changes from feudal manor to inn to boys’ prep school, the story moves and changes, but continually Vibrates with the mysteries of men’s touching lives. This is that rare combination of engaging fiction with a soul of truth. The surface moves and changes in light and pow er, but it moves over a depth of faith and truth that fortu nately never is sermonized. Technically, Miss Lofts is a skilled writer, but never self consciously so. The only flaw is in the number of transitions; though it is difficult to see that they could have been avoided. OUR LADY OF THE MILLS CAMP A Catholic camp for boys and girls ages 7 to 16. 200 acres, 37 buildings in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Large modern pool, mountain lake, with all camping activities guided by trained counselors. Ideal accommodations for visiting par ents. Camp provides pick-up service to or from nearest rail, air, bus terminal. A camp for youngsters to grow... spirit ually, healthfully. For literature, write: Father Charles McLaughlin OUR LADY OF THE HILLS GAMP HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA RETREAT FOR BEGIN NERS, by Ronald Knox, Sheed & Ward, 1960, 234 pp., $3.50. Reviewed by E. Matthews In Retreat For Beginners, Msgr. Knox brings to the lev el of beginners the truths of our religion and our spiritual life. Many books have been writ ten for children in the primary grades and for the adolescent who is just learning to control his maturing passions. For the child of any school age level who wants to go deeper into the meanings of his faith and the development of his spirit ual life, we have had a regret table scarcity. The publication of this retreat which Msgr. Knox gave to boys at school should become a stimulus for all students to study their re ligion With the purpose of forming a strong spiritual life. The introductory chapters explain the what and why of a retreat and, after thus form ing the desire to make a good retreat, Msgr. Knox develops in twenty-two short conferenc es the theme of the retreat— personal religion, my God and me. As with all his sermons, Msgr. Knox has a delightful appeal for everyone, and school students will not be the only benefactors from this col lection. The publishers antici pate the enjoyment of all read ers — bishops, teachers, clois tered religious, housewives. FROM GLORY TO GLORY: TEXTS FROM GREGORY OF NYSSA'S MYSTICAL WRIT INGS, selected, and with an introduction, by Jean Dan- ielou, Scribner’s, 1961, 298 pp., $4.95. The interest among Western Christians in the churches of the East has developed grad ually during the past few dec ades and is now further in tensified by the special aim of the forthcoming General Coun cil, the reunion of Christen dom. Publications dealing with oriental religious matters are no longer a novelty, but in the present collection of texts from St. Gregory of Nyssa, one of the four great doctors of the Eastern Church, we have a work of quite exceptional qua lity and interest. Eighty-three texts from the sermons and other writings of the saint are prefaced by a long treatment from the pen of Father Danielou, Gregory’s most authoritative student and admirer. Bolstered with nu merous cogent quotations, Fa ther Danielou demonstrates for us the depth and above all the originality of St. Gregory’s spiritual doctrine. Despite the fact that he was father of Eastern monachism, Gregory’s famous brother, Bas il, was above all a man of ac tion, in contrast to the mysti cal and truly contemplative spirit of his younger brother, whom circumstances neverthe less forced into the episcopate. After Basil’s death, Gregory was perforce the natural lead er of the bishops of Asia Min or and played a leading role in the Council of Constan tinople of the year 381. Long ■a court favorite, both as preacher and director of per sons in high places, he event ually fell into disfavor thus enabling him to enter into a sort of retirement and a re covery of the leisure he long ed for. He could turn his life and pen now wholly to things of the spirit and he was happy. Gregory’s doctrine, at once sublime and sensible, as ex emplified in these selections, can enrich the life of every earnest reader.—(MPB). THE MYSTERY OF MARY. by R. Bernard, O.P., translated by M. A. Bouchard, B. Heraer Book Co., 1960, 304 pp., $4.95. Reviewed by W. L. Schmidt The theme of this work can best be stated by a quotation from St. Louis Mary de Mont- fort which Father Bernard himself uses: “If Jesus Christ the Head of men is born in her (Mary), the predestinate, who are the members of that Head, ought also to be born in her, by a necessary consequence. One and the same mother does not bring forth into the world the head without the members, or the members without the head; for this would be a mon ster of nature. So in like man ner, in the order of grace, the Head and the members are WALTER H. BODIFORD Guaranteed Watch, Clock and Jewelry Repairs CE. 7-7337 3993 Peachtree Road Brook haven, Ga. PARISH bulletin t HttJnHi) ni noA dNiHag -ONiiiis S.OHM 335 oi Aiisomno 370! 30 ino ondosv Nbni DOA 00 % This ought to be a good attention-getter." From INSIDE BROTHER JUNIPER, by Father Justin McCarthy, Hanover House, 1961, $LQQ. born of one and the same mo ther; and if a member of the mystical body of Jesus Christ —that is to say, one of the predestinate—was born of any other woman than Mary, who has produced the Head, he would not be one of • the ’predestinate, or a member of Jesus Christ, but simply a monster in the order of grace.” Obviously Father Bernard wants Mary to be better known among men. In pro claiming her he draws solid ly on the New Testament and on St. Thomas Aquinas, and takes the reader on an inter esting journey through the mysteries as they relate to Mary and her accomplish ments. Theological in nature, this is, however, very readable, particularly in that the whole will give the layman a clear er understanding of the basic aspects of the Mystical Body, and Mary’s relation to it. This work has gone through four editions in France, where Father Bernard is recognized as an outstanding theologian. Its appearance in English is a genuine contribution to Mari an literature. THE INTERIOR LIFE, by Canon Jacques LeClercq, translated by Fergus Murphy, Kenedy, 191 pp., $3.95,; x., The distinguished professor of the University of Louvain here penetrates the essentials for developing holiness in his discussions on prayer and its various forms, and on living the life of the sacraments. Par ticularly revealing are the chapters detailing the need for exterior action necessary for developing the interior and spiritual life. Since man is made up of the spiritual and the physical, both necessarily interact on each other, and one phase of man’s being can not be developed without the help of the other. — (W.L.S.) PRIESTLY HOLINESS, by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D., St. Paul Editions, Bos ton, 1961, 183 pp., $3.00. For the priest, of course. Each chapter begins with words Christ Himself spoke in relation to a particular sub ject. These are followed by Words from St. Paul, and of various popes. Each chapter then ends with a prayer for a particular grace. Good for dai ly meditations, or for retreat reading. — (W.L.S.) HISTORY OF THE MASS, by Francois Amiot, translated by Lancelot C. Sheppard, Guild Press, 1960, 212 pp., in dexed, 85c. An interesting history of the development of the Mass from its earliest stages to its present form. The various parts of the Mass are taken one by one, their purpose and meaning ex plained. A helpful hand-book towards a fuller understanding of the most vital form of. wor ship in the church towards which all other forms are fo cused. — (W.L.S.) GENERAL MORAL THEO LOGY, Vol. I, by Most Rev. Antonio Lanza and Most Rev. Pietro Palazzini, translated by Very Rev. W. J. Collins, M.M., St. Paul Editions, 1961, 254 pp., $4.00. The first in a series of three books dealing with the princi ples of moral theology, and a concise treatment of the ori gins, the nature, methods and divisions of the subject. Its ori gin is traced from the early Fathers of the church down through St. Thomas, and St. Alphonsus to the present. Not only will theologians find this work valuable, but the serious laymen will find it helpful in the pursuit of his study of the moral law. — (W.L.S.) Catholics, Jews Sponsor Course ROME, (NC)—Thirty stu dents have begun a course in interracial and interreligious relations at Pro Deo University here under joint Catholic and Jewish auspices. The Chair of Intergroup Re lations was founded as a part of the Catholic-sponsored uni versity’s Institute of Sociology with a $30,000 endowment made by the American Jewish Committee. The idea for the course grew out of an audience which uni versity officials arranged in 1957 for the American Jewish Committee with Pope Pius XII. It was referred to the American Council for Inter national Promotion of Democ racy under God, an interna tional movement of which Pro Deo University is a part. The idea was approved and be came a reality in January of this year with the American Jewish Committee endow ment. The course is being given by Eugene Hevesi, a foreign af fairs specialist for the Ameri can Jewish Committee since 1940. Hevesi, who holds de grees from the University of Budapest' and the Consular Academy in Vienna, served in a number of diplomatic posts in Europe and the United States prior to World War II. Among the subjects covered in the course are The Root Causes of Group Tensions and Antagonisms. Under this head ing discussion is centered on prejudice as it operates to sep arate one group from another; the roots of discrimination and persecution; the influence of economics cn prejudice. Another topic is the Existing Spiritual and Social Forces Fostering Group Cooperation. In this area, the course probes the influence of religion, edu cation and law and the impact of democratic values and prac tices as well as voluntary so cial action. Other subjects to be cover ed by the course include: Ne groes and group integration; intergroup relations in the sat ellite countries; the situations in Africa and Asia; the status of nationalities in the Soviet Union; anti-Semetism as the i n t ernational prototype of group hostility. CLAIRMONT PHARMACY Have Your Doctor Call Us or We Will Send for Your Prescription — PROMPT DELIVERY — 3668 Olalrmont Rd. — GL. 7-4483 Chamblee, Ga. Announcing Change of Name NELSON-RIVES REALTY, INC. 366!5A Clairmont Road CHAMBLEE, GEORGIA Formerly Smi-Nel Realty Co., Xnc. Howard C. Nelson, President Ernest M. Rives, Secretary-Treas. SMITH'S BROOKHAVEN SHOE STORE "CORRECT FIT AND SATISFACTION ASSURED" Next to Woolworth’s "Horn© ot Red Goose Shoes" • Shoe Headquarters in Brookhaven Cultivation Of Good Reading Habits Sister Mary Gerald, C.S.J. Principal, St. Mary's School Augusta Much has been said and written within the past few years about the lack of interest of the present day child in reading good books. Many rea sons have been given for the lack of interest; we are prone to accuse our children of en joying too many television programs, absorbing movies and skimming through so- called comic books to pass away time and absorb facts in an easy manner. Some of this may be true . . . but let us ask Ourselves, as parents and teachers what motivation have we set forth in order to show children that much pleasure can be enjoyed through good books? The following poem which I shall quote will perhaps make the awareness of our respon sibility in this field more ap parent to us. The poem deals with the thoughts of a teach er but is applicable to parents as well. I quote: “I just teach school. But poet’s thrill, And singer’s joy, and soldier’s fire, And statesman’s power — all, all are mine; For in this little group where still I just teach school Are poets, soldiers, statesmen, all I see them in the speaking eye, In face aglow with purpose strong, And straightened bodies tense and tall — When I teach school.” How true it is that these young little people who are ours to train are the future leaders in the world and it is our responsibility to lead them along the paths that will lead not only themselves but those whom they will influence throughout their lives, with the right ideals and principles. Within good books they will find many of these important principles. Again, much has been writ ten in comment on the book published a few years ago by a critic of the present day edu cational system entitled “Why Johnny Can’t Read.” Perhaps some of the criticism is justi fied . . . but isn’t it true that Johnny doesn’t read many times for recreational purposes because Mother and Dad do not indulge in good reading. Children are born imitators . . . we know that little girls love to pretend they are grown-up by trying to do the things that Mother does; that a little boy imitates the things in Dad that make him feel like a “Big man.” So from this it follows ... if we want to teach our children to read, we must show them that we appreciate the habit of choice reading. When children are tiny tots they like to hear stories. Read stories to them . . . show them that the great world of books is truly a wonderful world . . . and well worth exploring. Give BARBETTE'S HOUSE OF BEAUTY Permanents from $10 to $25 Shampoo from $2.50 to $3 Haircuts at $2.00 Pine Tree Plaza Shopping Center Buford Hwy. 457-0582 - Doraville, Georgia your children books for gifts. Take them to the library and they will be entranced with the rows and rows of books which they see there. We must strive to cultivate culture of this sort. Have them start their own library of worthwhile books. Be interested in their choice. Do not ridicule but give constructive criticism. In the realm of school we urge our' children to be inter ested in good reading. From the practice of good reading will follow knowledge and a strengthening of faith . . . faith in the goodness of God, faith in mankind and faith in the principles laid down by parents, and those entrusted with the gigantic task of moulding truly Christian cha racter. As parents you have the duty of building these principles in the mind of your child; as teachers, we, too, must be aware of our respon sibility. If children are taught to read for the sake of develop ing good reading it will but be natural for this to carry over into school work. What is history but the “story of man” ... or geography but an exploration into foreign places with the hope that we shall learn more of the cul ture of people throughout the world and realize the common bond of mankind. When chil dren browse through the lat est materials on space travel, the Dead Sea Scrolls, explora tion of the Arctic regions they are unconsciously opening up new horizons of educational fields for themselves. In fulfilling the trust given us by God to truly educate our children for their purpose in life and for the fulfillment of their goal — eternal happiness, we must guide their minds to be educated in the true sense of the word. If we analyze the word “education” we find that it means to “draw out” . . . we must stimulate the de sire of children to find out the worthwhile things in this world and then we shall have less to do with problems of de linquency. If a child really en joys good literature, he will not be satisfied with sketchy attempts at entertainment as shown in comic books, nor in cheap sensational “paperbacks” to use an old fashioned term, but will be led to appreciate the noble thoughts of great minds, thoughts that will in fluence his life and perhaps his generation. “For in this little group where still I just teach school Are poets, soldiers, statesmen, all I see them in the speaking eye, In face aglow with purpose strong, And straightened bodies tense and tall — When I teach school.” Kindness is another form of riches that can never be taxed. TERMITES SWARMING? Any Time — Anywhere Call a TAXI RADIO CABS DECATUR CO-OP CABS 310 E. Howard Ave. 24-Hour Service Passengers Insured Trips Anywhere DE. 7-3886 — DE. 7-1701 DECATUR. GA. world's finest medals and rosaries Available At Notre Dame Book Shop 115 PEACHTREE ST.. N. E. JA. 5-1388 ATLANTA Phone and Mail Orders Welcomed DO YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAITH? 'l/Urite j^or Jree (J3ooh cJ!idt, ^Sent to 'bjoa *flion tl (if NOTRE DAME BOOK SHOP 115 PEACHTREE ST., N. E. ATLANTA 3, GEORGIA Phone JA. 5-1388 Non Profit Operated by Volunteers