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SEPTEMBER 29, 1956. THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA FIFTEEN BOOK REVIEWS EDITED BY EILEEN HALL 3087 Old Jonesboro Road, Hapeville, Georgia Each issue of this Bovk Page is confided to the patronage of Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, with the hope that every read er and every contributor may be specially favored by her *nd her Divine Son. THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE LADY, by Michael de la Bedo- yere, (Pantheon), 63.50. (Reviewed by Flannery O’Connor) This is an account of the per secution of Madame Guyon, the author of the “Moyen Court,” and Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambrai, by the French court and clergy in the 17th century. In these times when every newspaper adver tises that Christ is the way to success, it is particularly cheering to have this story reconstructed, for as the parties to the conflict were drawn more and more close ly to the Divine, they enjoyed less and less success in the world, Fenelon being deprived of just ambitions both for himself and the future of France and Madame Guyon eventually spending eight years in the Bastille. Besides recounting this en grossing story, the author throws considerable light on .the subject of true and false mysticism and shows clearly that Madame Guy on, although an emotional and bizarre; woman given to an in flated style of writing, never de viated in intention from the mainstream of mystical doctrine taught by the Church. Essential ly she practiced the “little way” that St. Therese of Lisieux, with possibly an even ghastlier style of writing, was to make more widely know-n to the world two centuries later. Madame Guyon, however, had an unfortunate pe riod of history in which to pub lish her way of prayer, and for an enemy one of the most famous Catholic bishops of all time, Bos- suet, who emerges from this stu dy something less than respect able. The author points out that “there cSn, of course, be no cer tainty in the reconstruction of disputed points in the small amount of historical testimony which posterity possesses,” but throughout his conclusions seem fair and indisputable. THE BOOK OF BOOKS, by Daniel- Rops, (Kenedy), illustrat ed by Fritz Kredel, $3.75. (Reviewed by Margaret Donovan) Years ago, when I was a little girl, my grandmother told me Bible stories. Now it is my turn to tell Bible stories to my own grandchildren. This book brings them all back vividly and nostalgically—Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; Joseph and his coat of many colors; Moses hidden by his moth er in the bulrushes; Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt. My favorite waS the story of Noah and the ark, in which he and his family and two of every kind of animal and bird were saved from the flood; and of the rainbow that God set in the sky as a promise that such a terrible thing would never happen again. Even now, whenever I see the rainbow in the sky, I recall my grandmother telling me this story. This celebrated French writer, a member of the French Academy, wrote this book for his little goddaughter Christine, age 10. and for all boys and girls from 10 to 14. He tells the stories dra matically, in a way that will sure ly appeal to the children and hold their attention. ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, by Leonard von Matt and Hugo Rah- mer, S.Jy, translated by John Murray, S.J., (Regnery), $6.50. (Reviewed by Rev. John Schroder, S.J.,) A photograph-text book, al ready appearing in French, Itali an and Dutcft- editions, with a separate edition published in Western Germany, this is a fas cinating portrayal in pictures and words of the life of the soldier- saint, a life which ranged from the Basque homeland to the battle fields of Spain, the Univer sity of Paris, far-away Palestine and finally to Rome. Photographic m a s t e r p ieces abound, each illustrating some scene connected with the founder of the Jesuits—scenes from the Basque country where Loyola was born, photographs of knights in armor, a picture of the sick room where the wounded Ignatius made his decision to follow his heaven ly King, of the monastery where he meditated, views recalling his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, of the Universities of Salamanca and Paris, where he studied, scenes and personages connected with the founding of his society. For those unacquainted with the life of Ignatius, this is- a fresh, concise biography; for the rest, a satisfying treasury of 226 photo graphs of the main scenes and events of that life. CONTEMPORARY CHURCH ART, by Anton Henze and Theo dor Filthaut, (Sheed & Ward), $7.50, published September 19. Those familiar with the devel opment of modern art will surely find this book a treasure. Others, not too well informed on the sub ject, can gain from it some basic appreciation of the current trend in Church architecture, painting, sculpture and other arts used in furnishing God’s House and pro viding vessels and vestments for the altar. Dr. Henze, Professor of History of Art at art school in Munster, Germany, is author of the first essay: “The Potentialities of Mod ern Art and Its Position in His tory.” Dr. Filthaut, a teacher of theology in Germany, contributed the second: “Church Art and the Liturgy.” The preface of the Am erican edition is by Maurice Lava- noux, secretary of Liturgical Arts Society and editor of the quarter ly “Liturgical Arts.” Two-thirds of the handsome volume consists of photographs and other reproductions of repre sentative churches and their furn ishings, all in contemporary styles, in Europe, Mexico and the United States. Studying these beautiful illustrations is quite an education in itself. Other specialized volumes re cently published include: INVALIDATING LAWS ($3.00) and PRECEPTS ($3.50), both by Edward Roelker, S.T.D., J.C.D., (St. Anthony Guild Press). These books were given to the Trappists at Our Lady of the Holy Ghost Abbey, Who wrote: “The two books by Dr. Roelker are a valu able addition to our Canon Law library which we are slowly and DISTRIBUTORS: Holsum Ice Cream Co., Macon, Ga. — Magnolia Creamery, Milledgeville, Ga. PLANTS AT AUGUSTA, GA. — WASHINGTON, GA. B E S T W CATHOLIC ISHES LAYMEN painfully trying to build up. Doc tor Roelker is very highly esti mated at CU and by most of the canonists in the country.’ ! ADDRESSES AND SERMONS, 1951-1955, by the Most Reverend Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apos tolic Delegate to the United States, (St. Anthony Guild Press), $3.00. Reviewer Margaret G. Smith says: “These addresses and sermons were presented at various functions throughout the country. All are permeated with deep re ligious fervor and an ease of words and phrasing which is beau tiful to read. Each is redolent of the history of Catholicity in our North American continent.” QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, by Cecily Hastings, (Sheed & Ward), $3.00. Reviewer Wenonah Chambers says: “The first section of this book is a brief but com prehensive statement of Catholic truth. The second contains selec tions first printed in The Catholic Herald of London. The author’s knowledge was gained in many years pf Catholic Evidence Guild work and other forms of Catholic Action. An excellent book for stu dents and study groups.” INDULGENCES, by Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S., (Bruce), $1.50. Re viewer Margaret G. Smith says: “. . . the history of The Reccolta, which contains the most complete collection of indulgenced prayers. . . . This is followed by a section devoted to the meaning and his tory of indulgences, authority for them, their importance. For gen eral information on a little under stood subject, this small volume presents, simply and concisely, a startling amount of facts.” FIDES BOOKS THIS WAY TO GOD, by John Rossi, $2.75, is one of four new books from Fides Publishers As sociation. Its prayerbook-size for mat and bright gold cover, attract the eye immediately. A glance at the text reminds one of Merton’s “Seeds of Contemplation”—brief, pithy paragraphs under various subject-heads, such as “Victory Over Sorrow,” “Contemplation,” “The Spirit of the Apostolate,” etc. These are portions of three principle divisions: “In Christ,” “Through Christ” and “With Christ.” The original Italian work, of which this is a translation, was called “Breviario Cristiano.” 1 Fath er James Keller, M.M., Director of the Christophers, in his foreword, comments: “The reader is taken from the highest flights-of the spiritual to the most concrete situ ations of every day. The transition is never jolting ... It is the rare touch that keeps the proper bal ance between the active and the contemplative' . . . Father Rossi has succeeded where most even fear to tread.” Also published September 20 by Fides are: Father Louis Lochet, $4.50. Father Lochet, who taught phi losophy and moral theology for ten years, and has been since 1950 in the worker-parish of St. Louis in Reims, writes in his fore word to this book: “Activity in the Church, purification in the Church, contemplation in the Church, those are the three themes that recur incessantly in our reflections, because they make up our life. Engaging in activity in the Church demands the purifi cation of our energies for her and in her; the purity of our views leads to contemplation . . .” In his eleven chapters he writes of such things as temptations, the mystery of the Church, apostolic life in the Church, apostolic puri fications, the missionary spirit and contemplations. “The result,” the publishers say, “is a book on apostolic spirituali ty ... a reflection on apostolic action and the enormous dispro portion between the apostle’s love of men and his own innate weak ness to reach so few men and for so short a time.” It is addressed to all those who serve the Church, whether as priests, religious or laity. CONVERSATION WITH CHRIST, by Father Peter-Thomas Rohrbach, O.C.D., $3.75. An introduction to mental pray er, based on the methods of St. Teresa of Avila, written by a young American Carmelite priest who is director of vocations for his province and assistant editor of “Spiritual Life.” The author was born 30 years ago in New York City and ordained in 1952. His book was prompted by the discovery that many people do not understand the basic principles of mental prayer, a discovery, which he made while giving retreats to religious, laity and high school students. This busy young jiriest elaborates on St. Teresa’s state ment that “mental prayer is noth ing else than an intimate friend ship, a frequent heart-to-heart conversation with Him by Whom we know ourselves to be loved.” MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILD HOOD, by Dr. Charles L. C. Burns, $2.75. Dr. Burns, Senior Psychiatrist to the Birmingham 6hild Guidance Service in England, writes as a parent as well as a child-psychia trist, and bases his work on “more than twenty years of practical ex perience in dealing with mal adjusted, nervous and delinquent children.” It is a small book be cause, the author says, “in my ex perience, longer books on this sub ject go largely unread; people have no longer -the time nor the patience.” It’s the aim of the man behind the gun to make his mark. It’s even possible for the fel low who thinks he knows it all to SON OF THE CHURCH, by profit by experience. DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR YOU CAN'T BEAT A PONTIAC Pontiac laster Auto Service 11th at Telfair Augusta/ Ga.