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FEBRUARY 18, 1956.
THE. BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
NINE
BOOK REVIEWS
EDITED BY EILEEN HALL
3087 Old Jonesboro Road, Hapeville, Georgia
Each issue of ihis Bosk Page
is confided to ihe paironage of
Mary. Mediatrix of All Graces,
with the hope that every read
er and every contributor may
be specially favored by her
and her Divine Son.
THE NUN, by Margaret Thoun-
cer, (Sheed & Ward), $3.50.
(Reviewed by. Virginia Mackey)
This is the complete life sto
ry of St. Margaret Mary Alaco-
que. Through this great
little saint the love of Jesus as
shown in His Sacred Heart
broke through the misery of
17th century France.
Extensive research and much
authentic information obtained
from the Abbe Decreau, who
spent a lifetime gathering and
sifting evidence about St. Mar
garet Mary, enabled Mrs. Troun-
cer to write this inspiring story
of the saint,- telling us of her
evferyday life among unloving
relatives, her youthful dedica
tion of herself to Christ, her joy
ful entry into the Visitation Con
vent at Paray-le-Monial, her
persecution in the convent, and
finally of her death in the 43rd
year of her life, after 18 years
in the convent.
Particularly interesting is Mrs.
Trouncer’sdetailed description
of life in the Visitation Convent.
“The Nun” has. been translated
into the Dutch, French, German
and Italian languages.
A HAND RAISED AT GETTYS
BURG, by Grace and Harold
Johnson, (Bruce), $2.00.
(Reviewed By Wenonah
Chambers, age 13)
This is a book boys will fight
over! This close-up of soldiers’
life in the Civil War begins with
a drummer boy who wanted to
learn about war and go back to
Ireland and fight the English.
We also meet Matt, who has oth
er reasons for learning about
war. Together these young boys
find that war is more than
“shooting apd being shot at.”
There’s always slippery mud and
rain. And they find that soldiers
have little to talk about as they
A NEW WAY OF THE CROSS,
by Rev. M. Raymond, O.C.S.O.,
(Bruce), pocket edition, 50c.
(Reviewed by Margaret G.
Smith
This is a small but unabridged
edition of a full-sized, hard-cov
ered book, published earlier. It
is in convenient form for carry
ing in a purse or pocket, thus
making it easy to use in church.
In true Trappist form, Father
Raymond presents us with a rare
gem of prayer. Who of us doesn’t
feel the need of a fresh spiritual
approach at one time or another?
In this book, Father Raymond,
in artistry of words, and John
Andrews, in artistry of design,
have given us just’ a fresh ap
proach.
Mr. Andrews illustrates the
Passion of Our Lord, the Sta
tions of the Cross, using only
hands and feet, Christ’s “mem
bers.” He does so with startling
and dramatic effect, forcing the
observer to imagine, think and
meditate upon the meaning of
each station.
Father Raymond presents the
accompanying contemplation for
each station. He does this simp
ly, so simply that even a childl
may easily follow the unfolding
of the Passion, yet so profound
ly phrased as to encourage the
deepest in adult meditation. He
constantly reminds us through
out of our own incorporation in
Christ as His Mystical Members
and therefore a living part of
His Passion.
Father Raymond constructs a
Mass of this New Way of the
Cross, and makes the Way of
the Cross a Mass. To read and
study this work gives new •mean
ing to all of our Catholic devo
tions, as Father Raymond blends
all of them, even our devotion
to Our Blessed Mother, into one
great and logical whole.
This book is a fitting com
panion to another gem of per
fection by the same author and
artist, namely, “God, a Woman
and the Way,” a meditation on
the Seven Dolores of Mary. Each
of retreats for lay people, we are
told. If the lay people involved
were ready for Teresa of Avila,
logically they must have known
something about mental prayer,
contemplation, difficulties in
prayer, etc. Such dissecting and
dismembering of Teresa’s words
as occurs in this book would
seem needless. Might not some
have been scared away forever,
who otherwise would have read
her own writings for them
selves?
Granted, all minds do not re
act in the same way. Such scho
larly studies as this, no doubt,
have a place in seminary libra
ries and for some students with
analytical minds. But we fail to
see what value they can be to
the average lay reader. The stir
ring appeal of the original work
of such giants of Catholic
thought as Teresa and John of
the Cross, it seems to us, is far
more helpful to ordinary peo
ple.
SAINT CHRISTOPHER FOR
BOYS AND GIRLS, by Cath
erine and Robb Beebe, (Bruce),
$2.00.
(Reviewed by Carol
Patron, age 13)
This is the story of Offero,
later called Christopher be
cause, according to the legend,
he carried the Christ Child
across a stream. Offero was a
very large and strong man. Be
cause of his size he wanted to
serve a master who was all-pow
erful, afraid of no one. So he
traveled all over the country in
search of just such a person,
whom he finally found in the
person of the little Christ.
This book tells of his travels
in a simple way that may be
easily understood by children.
Boys especially will delight, in
reading over and over again
about the adventures of this fas
cinating giant.
Throughout the book are pic
tures illustrating what St. Chris
topher might have looked like
and might have done. All in all
this book is exactly right for
small boys and girls. My little
brothers and sisters enjoyed it.
NOTRE DAME LIBRARY OFFERS
EXCELLENT LENTEN READING
ATLANTA, Ga. — One of the
best Lenten resolutions that can
be made is to read some good
spiritual book. This is a positive
action that not only will bring
a person closer to God but it
will enrich his mind and perhaps
aid him to bring someone else
closer to the true Faith.
The availability of good Cath
olic reading has no doubt been a
drawback to many in the past,
but Catholic books are becoming
more and more plentiful in this
section. One of the best sources
is the Notre Dame Library in
Atlanta. Over 1200 Catholic titles
can be found on the shelves of
this active Library. - After - a
nominal membership fee of $1.00,
or $2.00 for out-of-town mem
bers, books may be borrowed ab
solutely free of any charge,
rental or otherwise, from the
Notre Dame Library.
All of the following are ex
cellent books to read during
Lent and each of them can be
found in the Notre Dame Libra
ry.
“A Retreat for Lay People” by
Knox, “The Easter Book” by
Weiser, “Approaches to God” by
Maritain, “Seven Words to the
Cross” by Sheen, “Prayer and
Intelligence” by Maritains, “Ma-
THE GRAIL, a Magazine for
Husbands and Wives, $3.00 a
of us may gain much in the way year.
march away to fight. When they i spiritual, recollective miaterial
finally reach the battlefield, the | from either- or more perfectly
glory of war fades away as they
see what war really is. They
finally realize that what the
world needs is more men like
Father Corbin (whose hand was
raised in blessing at Gettysburg)
and much less war. We agree!
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST,
by Thomas A. Kempis, a modern
version edited wtih an introduc
tion by Harold C. Gardiner, S.J.,
(Image), 65c.
(Reviewed by Martha Fowler)
More than 500 years ago Tho
mas a Kempis wrote this im
mortal classic which has since
become, next after the Bible, the
most widely read and best loved
religious book in the world.
In his interesting introduction
to this edition, Father Gardiner
tells a little about Thomas a
Kempis’ life, as well as about
this particular translation of his
work, which was done by Rich-
a r d W h t f o r d. Whitford’s
translation was beautiful and
flavorful. In editing it, Fath
er Gardiner kept as close as pos
sible to it, while softening some
of the phrases and giving us a
modern version that can be more
easily understood. The table of
contents is helpfully arranged
for finding any subject the read
er wishes to look up .
No Catholic hdme should be
without this classic, now that
it is available at this low price.
from both of these inspirational
works.
I WANT TO SEE GOD, by P.
Marie-Eugene, O.C.D., (Fides),
$5.75.
(Reviewed by Sylvia Zsuffa)
His scholarly analysis of Car
melite spirituality is not for the
average reader. Written by a
Definitor erf the Discalced Car
melites, who is also Apostolic
Visitor of the Carmels in France
and Belgium, it is an analysis of
the teachings of Teresa of Avila
and a comparison with those of
John of the Cross.
The author points up the main
teaching of Carmelite spirituali
ty. Whether Teresa or John of
the Cross or the Little Flower
speaks, the message is the same
—the way to perfection is the
way to Calvary.
I started this book with great
hope, having read a few of Te
resa’s own works. “This,” I
thought, “will tell me more
about her.” I was disappointed.
The book seemed long and dull.
I found nothing in it which
Teresa herself had not told me
a thousand times more in
terestingly. Her teachings on
mental’ prayer, in her dwn
works, are quite clear. For me,
at least, Father Eugene-Marie
adds nothing. His comments on
ly distract me.
This work grew out of a series
Here is a brand new slant
in magazines, not just for par
ents, but especially for HUS
BANDS and WIVES. It is edit
ed in cooperation with the Cana
Conference of Chicago. The
magazine contains stories, prob
lems of current interest, articles,
movie and book reviews and
reader reaction.
On an adult level, this handy
size magazine presents some
thing of definite interest for
both husband and wife. For in
stance, in one issue you will
find the In-Law Problem, Base
ball Fans, Just Like Daddy,
Meditations for Your Family
Rosary, a music article, and
much else besides. In another
issue, Why Marriages Break Up,
Education for Women, Family
Without Children, Teaching
Modesty to Children, Anointing
Your Sick, and more family
reading.
No better description of the
new Grail’s design than the edi
tors’ comment, “We chose the
subtitle Husbands and Wives
because we also want to address
those married people whom God
has not blessed with children.
They are families too. We will
continue, as we have in the past,
to have m,any articles on par
ents and their children. But we
will also include articles on the
husband-wife relationships, on
their joint relationships with
God, and" on the family’s role in
society.”
ry In OUR LIFE by Most, “Life
of Christ” „ by Mauriac, “The
Mass” by Dunnay.
“The Golden String” by Grif
fiths, “Suffering with Christ” by
Marmion, “The Interior Carmel”
by Wu, “Love and Violence” by
Bruno Marie, “Pardon a n d.
Peace” by Wilson, “The King
dom Is Yours” by Forrestier,
“Living the Mass” by DePlan-
ques, “The Church Today” by
Suhard.
“Sacrament and Sacrifice” by
Howell, “A Doctor at Oalvary”
by Barbet, “The Lord” by Guar-,
dini, “Stations of the Cross” by
Houselander, “The High Green
Hill” by Vann’ “Credo’, by Har-
ison.
“Ascent to Calvary” by Per-
roy, The Seven Swords” by
Vann, “Forty Steps to Easter”
by Coogan, “God, a Woman and
a Way” by Raymond, “The Sev
en Last Words” by Sheen, “The
Psalms” by Knox, Translator,
“Catch me Those Little Foxes”
by a Carmelite Nun.
All of the above books, being
available free from the Notre
Dame Library, are also available
for sale from the Notre Dame
Book Shop, 181 Peachtree Street,
Atlanta, Georgia.
NEW BOOKS RECEIVED
A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO
FIND, by Flannery O’Connor,
(Harcourt, Brace), $3.50.
JOURNEY INTO A FOG, by
M. Berger-Hamerschlag, (Sheed
and Ward), $3.50.
THE LIVING BREAD, by Tho
mas Merton, (Farrar, Straus and
Cudahy), $3.00.
ONE SHEPHERD, ONE
FLOCK, by Oliver Barres, (Sheed
and Ward), $3.00.
ALL MANNER OF MEN, edit
ed by Riley Hughes, (Kenedy),
$3.50.
1956 NATIONAL CATHOLIC
ALMANAC, (St. Anthony Guild
Press), paper $2.00; cloth $2.00;
cloth $2.50.
ST. ANTHONY GUILD BOOK
LETS:
THE PRIEST'S VIA CRUSIS,
by Edwin Dorzweiler, O.F.M. Cap,,
15c.
THE SEMINARIAN'S VIA
CRUCIS, by Edwni Dorzweiler,
O.F.M.Cap., 15c.
GUARDIAN ANGELS, by Flor
ence Wedge, 10c.
THE COMPLETE CATHOLIC,
by Very Rev. John J. Dougherty,
10c.
THOUGHTS FROM SAINT
BONAVENTURE ABOUT THE
MOTHER OF GOD, by Rev. Wil
liam J. Manning, 10 c.
ST. FRANCIS AND THE
EUCHARIST, by Albert J. Nim-
eth, O.F.M., 10c.
LENTEN
READING
THE WAY OF
THE CROSS
Written and Illustrated
by Caryll Houselander
If you use no other spe
cial reading this Lent,
at least be sure to get
this book. Caryll Houselander, with her deep spirit
ual understanding of the Passion of Our Lord, is
an ideal companion in making the Stations of the
Cross. $2.75
The 8th Station. From Caryll Houseiander's
Way of the Cross
NEGLECTED
SAINTS
by £. I. Watkin
Enlarge your acquain
tance among the Church
Triumphant by getting
to know some new ones
this Lent! $3.50
RETREAT FOR
LAY PEOPLE
by Msgr. Ronald Knox
Many lay people who
enjoyed Msgr. Knox's Re
treat for Priests wished
he would write such a
book for them. Here it
is—his most delightful
book in years. $3.00
THE SEVEN
SWORDS
by Gerald Vann, O.P.
One of the greatest spir
itual writers of our time
on the sorrows of Our
Lady. Illustrated with re
productions of paintings
by El Greco. $3.00
TENDERS OF
THE FLOCK
by Leo Trese
A new book on"the
priestly life by the much
loved author of Vessel
of Clay and A Man Ap
proved. $2.50
SEE THESE BOOKS AT
iOTRE DAME BOOK SHOP
181 PEACHTREE ST.
ATLANTA, GA.