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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.