Newspaper Page Text
MARCH 27, 1948.
TOE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAWMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
SEVENTEEN
BOOK REVIEWS
“OUR LADY OF FATIMA”,
by William Thomas Walsh, (Mac
millan). $2.75, a Catholic Book
Club selection.
(Reviewed by Sylvia Zsuffa)
To read “Our Lady of Fatima”
is to rip the veil that divides
our daily living from its spiritual
counterpart; to experience an
awareness of supernatural forces
surcharging our every day.
The book records the apparition
of the Angel of Peace and the five
visitations of the Blessed Virgin to
three shepherd children. Jacinto,
Francisco, and Lucia in the village
of Fatima, Portugal, at the time
of World War I. In a style mark
ed with suspense and accurate
scholarship, the editor recounts
the background of the three chil
dren, their persecution for "sup-
erstiion” and the final recognition
by thousands of the Faithful of
the apparition of the “White
Lady.”
What did Our Lady want from
the shepherd children? The same
thing she wants from us today,
witli the swords of anti-Christ un
sheathed against the world, the
Holy Father and the Catholic
Church. In the words of Jacinto,
“It is necessary to do penance.
If people reform, Our Lord will
save he world. But if they do not
reform, he is going to punish it.”
Again, “Pray much . . . for sin
ners. Pray much for priests . . .
pray for those who govern . . .
mortification and sacrifice pleases
Our Lord a great deal.” So Our
Lady is asking us for prayers and
penance, surely an easy price to
pay for saving the worid and our
own immortal souls.|
In her messages to the chil
dren, Our Lady propheeied the
first World War, the second, and
a possible third. Of the second
she said there would be a great
light over the world, that thou
sands would be without food and
homes, and millions would die.
History has verified the prophecy.
On the eve of the second World
War, the great light that came
over Europe from Finland to the
Mediterranean was the sign that
Our Lady had given to Lucia. Of ,
more immediate interest, is the!
prophecy of World War III, which j
will occur unless Russia is con
verted. Oud Lady adjured the {
children to pray for the consecra-1
tion of Russia to her Immaculate
heart.
The story moves to a dramatic |
climax with the early death of :
Jacinta and Francisco, who sure-
entrance of Lucia into a convent.
At the command of her bishop,
Lucia, now Sister Maria das Dores,
recorded her memoirs, recounting
as accurately as she could, de
tails of her supernatural experi
ence. There is one prophecy
kept secret by the Virgin’s com
mand. In the event of her death,
Sister Maria das Dores has it re
corded in writing, “not to be
opened until 1960.” Whether the
secret for which the shepherd I
children were persecuted has to
do with the next war or not, we
can only speculate. Sister Dores 1
said to the author, “What Our 1
Lady wants is that the Pope . . . j
shall consecrate Russia to her Im- j
maculate Heart on one special
day ... if this is done, she will
convert Russia and there will be
peace. If it is not done, the er
rors of Russia will spread through
every country in the world.” Cis-
er Maria Das Dores feels that
Our Lady’s wishes have not been
carried out; although Pope Pius
XII in 1940, consecrated the world
to her Immaculate Heart.
Hundreds of cures have been
performed at the shrine of Our
Lady of Fatima in Portugal, and
no doubt Francisco and Jacinto
in time will be beatified.
story of Christ. In the telling
of his tale, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Sheen
includes incidental moral lessons,
for example, “in this world, peo
ple who are proud and who think
they are terribly important, can
not get used to the idea of God
making Himself so little. That is
why only two kinds of people
come to visit Him . . . shep
herds and the wise men. The
(shepherds! were sure that they
did not know anything. The (wise
men) knew that they did not know
everything.” . Every attempt is
made to tie up the story of Jesus
with the child’s personal experi
ence. This is the strength of
the book and its great appeal.
Dividing the story into sec
tions on Our Lord’s birth, boy
hood, His mother, the parables
and the crucifixion, Msgr. Sheen
tells a straightforward story. He
does not fictionize. No extraneous
dialogue or fictitious anecdotes
are added. I
The water color and pencil
drawings of Rafaello Busoni are
adequate. I iiked especially the
manger scene in which the artist !
captured something of the sweet
ness of Mary's expression that
characterizes the Madonnas of
Corregio.
Any little boy or girl would be
happy with a birthday present of
“Jesus. Son of Mary.”
“JESUS, SON OF MARY,” by
Fulton J. Sheen, illustrated by
Rafaelle Busoni, (McMullen), $2.00,
a selection of the Junior (Catho
lic) Book Club, for younger chil
dren.
(Reviewed by Sylvia Zauffa)
“Jesus, Son of Mary” is a wel
come addition to Catholic juven
iles. Slanted for the age groups
seven through thirteen, it tells in
simple and dramatic language the
Easter G reelings
ESTES SURGICAL SUPPLY CO.
2(i Auburn Ave., N. E.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Easter Greetings
THE DARLING SHOPS
Stores on Whitehall and Peachtree Sts.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
"THE STORY OF A FAMILY,”
by Stephane-Joseph Piat, O. F. M.,
(Kenedy), $3 50.
(Reviewed by Myrtle Patron).
“God gave* me a father and a
mother more worthy of Heaven
than of earth.” wrote St. Therese
of the Child Jesus. “The Story
of a Family” is a vivid, enthusias
tic and beautiful portrait of the
exemplary lives of that mother and
father, Zelie and Louis Martin,
and the heroic family life which
produced St. Therese and “allow
ed her to grow up in holy soil en
riched wtih the odor of purity,
and preceded by eight lilies of
shining whiteness.” The “eight
lilies of shining whiteness” were
four sisters, Marie, Pauline, Celine
and I.eonie, who like St. Therese
grew -up to become brides of
Christ; two other little sisters,
Helene and Marie-Melanie, whom
God recalled to Himself before
they reached the age of reason,
and two little brothers, the lov
ingly awaited and eagerly desired
missionaries for whom Zelie and
Louis Martin so ardently prayed,
and whom God also saw fit to
bring back to Heaven in their in
fancy.
This book is a portrait of two
incomparable models of Catholic
parenthood, set before us not only
for our admiration but for our
imitation. At a time when so many
unhealthy influences have attack
ed the sanctity of the marriage
state, and so many deluded sources
have decriqd and derided the pro
ducing and raising of many chil
dren. the fruitful and happy mar
ried life of M. and Mme. Martin
offers an attractive, stimulating
and persuasive picture.
The author has succeeded well
in his effort to make known to us
a family who joyously dedicated
their every duty to God and found
the source of their strength and
happiness in the love of God. We
are shown how the gentle and
loving parents made use of every
day happenings in order to mold
their daughters’ character. The
small orbit of the duties of their
Some years ago, at one of the Retreats for
men, sponsored by the Catholic Laymen’s As
sociation of Georgia, one of the retreatants
came across the beautiful Solitary Meditation
which is reproduced here.
With the approval of His Excellency the Most
Reverend Gerald P. 0’IIara, D. D., J. U. D.,
Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta, the Solitary Medi
tation was printed in leaflet form and thousands
of copies of it have been distributed gratis by
The Bulletin, to all who have enclosed stamped,
self-addressed envelopes with their requests
for it.
The Bulletin is still receiving requests for
copies of this Solitary Meditation from all parts
of the country, and in order that more people
may become acquainted with it, the meditation
will be reprinted in these pages for several
successive issues. If you do not have a copy,
clip the one on this page and keep it in your
prayer book.
It is hoped that in this way the meditation
may become even more widely' known, and if
other Catholic publications would like to re
produce the meditation, The Bulletin will be
pleased to supply them with a matrix or plate
of it, without charge.
SOLITARY MJDITATION
Read and ponder these words.
I am alone in this Chapel, yet not alone, for Christ, upon
the Altar, is here with me.
There will bo another day (sooner than I think), when
I shall be taking leave of my family, relatives, and my
friends. My hard earned worldly goods, with all tho
pleasures of the world, all that I cherish here in life, the
day will come when I shall feel my strength departing
and my senses closing on the world about me. Then 9
shall be ALONE with Christ—ALONE with HIM, for the
last time on earth, with Christ my Savior, coming to re*
ward me for my life of service* or with Christ my Judge,
coming to condemn me to eternal torments for my life
of sin. THEN, at last the GREAT BUSINESS of mil
SOUL'S SALVATION will force itself upon me, then •
shall realize if never before, that
It profiteth me NOTHING to gain the whole world, if •
lose my own soul.
Shall I wait until that last visit of Christ's to be alone
with Him, NO—I am wtTERMINED RIGHT NOW TO.
SAVE MY SOUL. •
I am alone with Him in this Chapel
I will speak to Him now while I can
I will pray to Him now while I can
Another day may be too late
NOW—He is calling me from His Tabernacle
Have I nothing to say to Him.
Yes—I have—My Savior Jesus, I want to ask YOU to*
forgive all the past sins of my life—wash them away in
Thy Precious Blood—I am sorry I have offended Thee.
Give me Thy Blessed Mother and St. Joseph to be my
earthly Mother and Father. Let them walk along through
life beside me to direct my steps to Thee and when my
lime comes to die, grant me the choicest of all Blessing*
that I may die in the arms of Thy Blessed Mother, and
that she and St. Joseph may bring me to a Joyous Eternity
with Thee in Heaven. AMEN.
(Reprinted from an old copy discovered at O Georgia,
Catholic Laymen's RetreetJ^
Imprimatur:
A GERALD P. O’HARA. BISHOP
OF.SAVANNAH.ATLANTA
Pastor of Belmont
Abbey Cathedral
FATHER CHARLES
The Rev. Charles Kastner, O. S.
B., pastor of the Cathedral of
Mary Help of Christians, Belmont
Abbey, Belmont, N. f C.
state of life was used, and the es
sential supernatural motives were
put before them in order to per
suade them to fulfill these duties
faithfully.
The book is enhanced by abun
dant and well chosen illustrations.
Quotations from many of the let
ters written, by Zelie and Louis
Martin to each other, to their
children and to other relatives add
much to the interest and appeal
of the story and give the reader
an insight to the interior life of
these saintly parents.
The family life of the Martins,
aside from giving the reader the
joy of just following the daily ac
tivities of a particular and glori
ously Catholic^ family, offers an
inspiring and challenging example
to present day parents who not
only wish to give to the world
many children, but wish to raise
them to men and women of char
acter—to give to God holy nuns
and priests, apostles of Christ, and
—why not?—saints!
ingly new in the book, may wish to
have it, if for no other reason
than; “Never enough is said of
Mary.”
“The Catholic Picture Diction
ary,” text by Rev Harold A. Pfeif
fer, S. J., illustrations by R. and
K. Wood, (Dueil, Sloan and
Peajre). $2.00.
(OTViewed by Rita Santry Mc
Gill).
Have you ever triul to recall
the name of that poimed, folding
hat worn by the Bishop at church
services? It’s a mitre. Or do you
have difficulty identifying the
chasuble, capsula. maniple, wimple
or vimpa? If your answer is
“Yes,” then this picture dictionary
should be on your bookshelf, for it
illustrates with attractive draw
ings and explains -n clear language
more than 300 terms vital to a
thorough knowledge of the church.
The pronunciation of each term is
also given.
A brief “Story of the Mass” and
“Instructions for serving low
Mass” are includ id in this valu
able Catholic reference book.
(The terms defined include: all
articles used for the services of the
Roman Catholic Church; the Latin
and English prayers; the Church
symbols: the major and minor
orders; the divisions of the Church
Year; the various Masses; and the
diocesan and .lierarchical struc
ture of the church.)
“The Prince of Peace," by Arch
bishop Alban Goodier, S. J.,
(Grail), $1.25.
(Reviewed by Wenonah Cham
bers).
This little book of meditations
consists of 30 reflections, particu
larly appropriate for Advent and
the coming of Christ, followed by
30 on Christmas and the Christmas
mysterious, but valuable and in
spiring for any time of the year.
The thoughts contained are nec
essarily brief, but they are ideas
which may easily be developed.
They appeal to the heart rather
than to the mind, and thus help
the soul to raise its mind and heart
to Gcffi in prayer IN ITS OWN
WAY.
Those who have little time for
reading will especially appreciate
this small volume. It is an ideal
book for the laity who wish to
participate in the spirit of the
liturgy.
“The Parish Priest of Ars.” by
Mary Fahyan Windeatt, Grail,
$2.00.
(Reviewed bv Carol Jordan, age
12).
“MARY OF NAZARETH: A
TRUE PORTRAIT,” by Igino Gior-
dani, Tr. Mother Clelia Moran-
zana and Mother Paula William
son, (Macmillan), $2.75.
(Reviewed by Rev. Valentine A.
Becker, S. M.)
In the first line of the preface
Igino Giorandi states the purpose
of his book, ‘Mary of Nazareth: a
True Portrait.” Here he quotes a
familiar saying of the theologians
and scholars: “Never enough is
said of Mary.”
Taking for his ’ theme Mary’s
motherhood of mankind the author
presents a short biographical por
trait of this Queen of all mothers.
The doctrines concerning Mary
have been appropriately brought
forth in recounting those phases
of her life that, from the earliest
days of the Church, have lent
themselves to such manifestation.
However, in building around the
sparse facts recounted in the Gos
pel narrative Igino Giordani
necessarily had to use his imagina
tion. At times his imaginings be
come over-poetic, as in the account
of the Annunciation: “And behold,
it was there that the resplendent
archangel darted down from
heaven like a blade of gold from
the sheath of the sun.” Again
they are depressive as in the some
what squalid picture of the life of
the Holy Family “in that miser
able village, Nazareth.” In both
eases the reader senses false col
ei's in the “true portrait”. The
appearance, no.w and then, of a
phrase or sentence taken from
aprocryphal or legendary writ
ings also detracts from the gen-'
uineness of the picture.
This short book terminates with
sixty-five pages devoted to prov
ing that throughout the ages, in
history, in litcratnre and in art,
men have never become satiated
with Mary. She has truly been
the Mother of all men, the one
Woman to whom all have turned
in time of need, in time of medita
tion and prayer, in time of praise
and joy.
Despite the shortcomings, which
it is possible may not appear so
marked in the original tongue,
"Mary of Nazareth: a True Por
trait" is worth having. Those who
have but a meager knowledge of
Mary may learn much from it;
those who are well informed and
well supplied with Marian litera
ture, though there is nothing strik
This story of Saint John Marie
Vianney, the simple parish priest
whom God chose to make one of
His great saints while still in his
quiet little parish ot Ars, is one
of the most interesting books I
have ever read It shows how God
calls even the most ignorant peo
ple tc become great saints and
thus set a pattern for others to
follow. But John Marie Vianney
was not really ignorant Although
he never was a very bright student,
he knew the ways of God and that
is all that really matters.
After reading the book I realiz
ed that John Marie Vianney did
not have to become a great saint;
he could have Ijeen just another
ordinary parish priest. But he
chose the haro way, the way of
prayer and penance, and in choos
ing the hard way, he also chose
the sure way—the way that, leads
straight to the throne of God. He
did not shirk the many trials tiiat
daily overtook him, whether they
were great or small, because he
did them all for the love of God.
Even when the devil came to him
every night to try to make him
give in and sin, he stood steadfast.
He could do <his only because lie
had the key to happiness, the key
that unlocks the door to God—tho
kev to Love.
This book should be a great in
spiration for boys that want to be
priests, and for everyone that
wants to be a saint.
(Note from Carol’s mother):
Mary Fabyan Windeatt writes
for children without “writing
down" for them—as a consequence
her books are read and enjoyed by
adults as well. This version of the
life of the lovable Cure of Ars,
being written in the first person, is
particularly appealing, and makes
this saint who has always been
dear to our hearts seem even
nearer. The book is well illustrat
ed by Gedge Harmon, another
feature which will be appreciated
by all grown-up children too.
THE ANCIENT ABBEY of Ben-
Hellouin, situated in Normandy
between Evreyx and Lisieux will
soon be returned to the Benedic
tines. The abbey was taken over
by the government at the time
of the French Revolution. Found
ed in 1034, two of the fii'st monks
were the illustrious philosophers
of the Middle Ages, Lanfranc and
St. Anselm. _