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Benziger Brothers 1910 Benziger Catalog-Church Ornaments of Our Own Manufacture
Potosi, WI 53820 St Athanasius Press 2005 0970652658 Softcover New 4to - over 9 3/4-12 Benziger Brothers
Church Ornaments of our own Manufacture-Reprint of the 1910 Benziger Bros Catalog of all the Catholic items they sold. 168 pages. Fully Illustrated in B&W. Softcover. Approx 8" X 10". Just about everything you can think of for a Church was being produced or sold by Benziger Bros., including Altars, Altar Cards, Baptismal Fonts, Burses, Candelabra, Candlesticks, Chains, Chalices, Ciborias, Communion Patins and rails, Crosiers, Crowns, Crucifixes, Creuets, Frames, Light Fixtures, Gongs, Holy Water items, Lamps, Missal Stands, Oilstocks, Ostensorias, Pectoral crosses, Prie Dieus, Processional items, Pulpits, Pyxis, Tabernacles and many more items. Every page is loaded with illustrations. Whether for research, nostalgia, reproduction...etc it is a great book to have. Reg Retail $24.99.
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Christopher, Rev Joseph P; Spence, Rt Rev Charles E; Rowan, Rt Rev John F. The Raccolta or A Manual of Indulgences
Potosi, Wi 53820 St Athanasius Press 2003 0970652666 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
The Raccolta or A Manual of Indulgences: Prayers and Devotions Enriched with Indulgences. Brand New Unedited Reprint of the 1957 Latin/English Edition. From Title page: Edited and in part newly translated into English from the 1950 official edition ''Enchiridion Indulgentiarum--Preces et Pia Opera'' issued by the Sacred Penitentiary Apostolic by authorization of the Holy See. All prayers originally in Latin in the Typical Edition are given in English and Latin. Other prayers in English Only. These are the official prayers of the Catholic Church. Even though the Church has changed indulgences these prayers are timeless and an excellent aid to the Interior Life. Included Table of Contents, Index and Appendix. Chapter headings include: Ch. 1 The Triune God
Ch. 2 God the Father
Ch. 3 God the Son
Ch. 4 God the Holy Ghost
Ch. 5 The Most Blessed Virgin Mary
Ch. 6 The Holy Angels
Ch. 7 The Saints
Ch. 8 For the Faithful Departed
Ch. 9 For Special Occasions and also In Favor of Certain Groups of Persons Softcover. 720 Pages. Approx 5" X 8" X 1 3/4". Imprimatur. Makes a great gift or add it to your own Catholic Library! Regular Retail $29.99.
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Christopher, Rev Joseph P; Spence, Rt Rev Charles E; Rowan, Rt Rev John F. Collection of Catholic Prayers and Devotions
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2010 0982583001 Paperback NEW 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
Collection of Catholic Prayers and Devotions also known as The Raccolta or A Manual of Indulgences: Prayers and Devotions Enriched with Indulgences. Brand New Unedited Reprint of the 1957 Latin/English Edition. From Title page: Edited and in part newly translated into English from the 1950 official edition ''Enchiridion Indulgentiarum--Preces et Pia Opera'' issued by the Sacred Penitentiary Apostolic by authorization of the Holy See. All prayers originally in Latin in the Typical Edition are given in English and Latin. Other prayers in English Only. Most prayers are in English. These are the official prayers of the Catholic Church. Even though the Church has changed indulgences these prayers are timeless and an excellent aid to the Interior Life. Included Table of Contents, Index and Appendix. Chapter headings include: Ch. 1 The Triune God
Ch. 2 God the Father
Ch. 3 God the Son
Ch. 4 God the Holy Ghost
Ch. 5 The Most Blessed Virgin Mary
Ch. 6 The Holy Angels
Ch. 7 The Saints
Ch. 8 For the Faithful Departed
Ch. 9 For Special Occasions and also In Favor of Certain Groups of Persons Softcover. 720 Pages. Approx 5" X 8" X 1 3/4". Imprimatur. Makes a great gift or add it to your own Catholic Library! Regular Retail $29.99.
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Elinor Tong Dehey Religious Orders of Women in the U.S.
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2010 0976911884 Blue Clothbound NEW 6.14 x 9.21in or 234 x 156mm
This is a Brand New exact Reprint of the 1930 Revised Edition of Elinor Tong Dehey's Religious Orders of Women in the United States: Accounts of their Origin, Works, and most important Institutions interwoven with histories of many famous foundresses. 942 Pages. Blue Clothbound Hardcover, Black & White. Many photos of nuns in their original habits. *Religious Orders of Women in the United States* was written by Elinor Tong Dehey in 1930. In 1913, the same author had published an earlier edition of this directory and this is its revision. Dehey's work was the first attempt EVER made to collect a listing of every religious order of women in the United States describing their origins, their foundresses, their works, activities, charism, way of life clothing (habit) and institutions. Rev. Thomas McCarthy later published his famous *Guides to Catholic Sisterhoods*, but Elinor Dehey's book was the first and is much more extensive in its research and presentation. Unlike the McCarthy Guides which confine each order to one page, some of Dehey's entries need many pages (orders like the Ursulines have 40 pages, the Sisters of Mercy have 88 pages and the various Charity orders have 30 pages). Other smaller, lesser known communities can be described in a single page or two (like the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge or the Sisters of the Infant Jesus). The entries are presented in chronological order starting with the earliest community in America (the Ursulines in 1727) to the most recent (1930 Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa). This 940 page hardbound book is filled with over 400 illustrations of sisters, foundresses, Motherhouses, novitiates and institutions (schools, colleges, hospitals). Along with historical sketches of the origins of each order and its founders, the story of the development of each individual mission in the U. S. is related including naming the pioneer sisters who sacrificed so much to spread God's Word and to fulfill their vows. These sketches always conclude with a Summary chart which lists the official name of the order, the place and date of its original foundation, a description of the habit worn by the sisters, the approximate membership numbers and a listing of their institutions. The Directory ends with a 50 page supplement giving the addresses of the Motherhouse, Novitiate, College, Hospital and Boarding Home in the United States conducted by religious orders of women (in 1930, of course). The book concludes with a 5 page Glossary of words such as: prioress, grille, cornette, oblate, bandeau, wimple, coif, guimpe, etc.) *Religious Orders of Women in the United States* by Elinor Tong Dehey is the definitive Directory of all of the Catholic Sisterhoods existing at that time and is an extremely difficult book to locate. Many Photos. $59.99
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Fra Girolamo Savonarola The Triumph of the Cross
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2009 0981990118 Softcover NEW 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$19.99 The Triumph of the Cross was a favorite book read often by St Philip Neri. Of St. Philip Neri, the Apostle of Rome, who was ever staunch in his loyalty to the memory of the one who, for a time at least, was the Apostle of his own native Florence, it is said, that this was one of his favorite books. The Saint's biographer. Cardinal Capecelatro, writes :"It is well known that Philip often read the writings of Savonarola, especially The Triumph of the Cross, and that he used them for the instruction of his spiritual children. There are still preserved in the Vallicella, among the books which belonged to St. Philip, and which were given by him to the Congregation, five of Savonarola's works." 248 pages. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Introduction 4 BOOK I. 29 Prologue 29 CHAPTER I. How by means of visible things we arrive at the knowledge of such as are invisible 31 II. How the Triumph of Christ testifies to the truth of our Faith 33 III. Containing certain fundamental and irrefragable principles 37 IV. Answers to the objections which may be brought against the foregoing propositions 39 V. The mode in which our argument must be conducted 42 VI. The existence of God 44 VII. God is not a body, nor the form of a body, nor is He a complex substance 46 VIII. God is the perfect and supreme Good, and is of Infinite power; He is in every place; and He is immutable and eternal 48 IX. God is One 50 X. God knows all things perfectly, and acts of His own Will, and not from natural necessity 51 XI. The Providence of God extends over all things 53 XII. The end to which man is guided by Divine Providence 55 XIII. Man’s last end cannot be attained in this present life 57 XIV. The soul of man is immortal 62 BOOK II. 67 Method observed throughout this Book I. Some true Religion exists in the world 68 II. Religion is both interior and exterior 70 III. No better life can be found than the Christian life 71 IV. The end presented to us by the Christian Religion is the best which can possibly be conceived 73 V. A Christian life is the best possible means for attaining to happiness 76 VI. The Christian life is a most sure means of attaining to beatitude 78 VII. The faith of Christ is true, because it causes men to lead a perfect life 80 VIII. The Doctrines taught by Christianity are true and come from God 84 IX. The truth of the faith proved by arguments founded on the prayer and contemplation of Christians 90 X. Proofs of the truth of the Christian Religion founded on its external forms of worship 94 XI. The truth of Christianity evidenced by its effects on the interior life of Christians 98 XII. The truth of Christianity manifested by its visible effects on the lives of Christians 102 XIII. The truth of the faith demonstrated by the wonderful works of Christ, especially those which pertain to His power 105 XIV. The truth of Christianity shown by arguments based on the Wisdom of Christ 112 XV. The truth of Christ’s teaching is proved by His goodness 117 XVI. The truth of Christianity is proved by the power, wisdom, and goodness of Christ, considered collectively 122 BOOK III. 125 Method observed throughout this Book I. God contains within Himself, and can perform, an infinite number of things surpassing human understanding 126 II. An examination of certain Articles of the Christian Creed which exceed the limits of human understanding 129 III. The mystery of the Trinity is neither unreasonable nor incredible 131 IV. The Christian Doctrine of Creation is neither incredible nor unreasonable 138 V. The Christian teaching concerning the Sanctification, Glory, and Resurrection of rational creatures contains no Article which is either impossible or unreasonable 140 VI. The Doctrine of the Damnation of the wicked is one befitting Christianity 143 VII. The Doctrine of the Incarnation of the Son of God is, in no sense, incredible, unseemly, or unreasonable 144 VIII. The belief in the Virginal birth of Christ is consistent with reason, and His life befitted, in all respects, His dignity 147 IX. The Christian Doctrine of Original Sin is neither unreasonable nor incredible 149 X. Our belief in the Passion of Christ, in the other mysteries of His Humanity, and in all the Articles defined by the Church, is strictly consistent with reason 154 XI. The Christian Religion most prudently establishes the two precepts of charity, as the foundation of our whole moral life 158 XII. The excellence of the moral teaching of the Church161 XIII. The perfect reasonableness of the Christian constitution and code of judicial law 164 XIV. The Sacraments of the Church have been instituted by Christ, and are admirably adapted to the needs of mankind 168 XV. The number of the Sacraments is reasonable 170 XVI. The rites used in the administration of the Sacraments are both reasonable and seemly 172 XVII. Answers to certain objections brought against the Doctrine of the Blessed Eucharist 179 XVIII. The reasonableness of the Ceremonies of the Church 183 BOOK IV. 186 Introduction. Method observed throughout this Book I. No Religion except Christianity can be true 187 II. The defective and erroneous Religions taught by Heathen Philosophers 189 III. The futility and superstition of the traditions of astrology 196 IV. Idolatry is of all things the most vain 205 V. A refutation of the Jewish perfidy and superstition 210 VI. The malicious untruthfulness of heretics 221 VII. The utter irrationality of the Mahometan Religion 225 VIII. The Christian Religion will remain true and unwavering unto the end 233 IX. Epilogue 236 Footnotes 241 THE TRUTH OF FAITH MANIFESTED BY THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS. BOOK I. THE TRUTH OF OUR FAITH MADE MANIFEST IN THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS. Written by Fra Girolamo Savonarola of Ferrara, of the Order of Preachers. PROLOGUE. The glorious triumph of the Cross embraces so many mysteries that, in attempting to unfold them, and thus to silence the profane and foolish babble of worldly-wise philosophers, I am undertaking a task far above my powers, and can trust only to the help of the Lord. It would seem mere waste of time to discuss and analyze our Faith, based as it is upon the miraculous works of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which are patent to the whole world, and upon the teaching of venerable theologians. Nevertheless, there are nowadays men living in such bondage to vice, that, even in the light of the noonday sun, they grope in darkness, and scorn the marvels of heavenly science. I, therefore, on fire with zeal for the House of God, intend, for the sake of the salvation of these misguided men, and in order to rouse them from the slumber that oppresses them, to recall to their memory the things of Christ, which they have forgotten and thrust from their hearts. Our Faith cannot be demonstrated by natural prin- ciples and causes. Nevertheless, the past and present events of Church history afford arguments in support of our religion so convincing that no logical mind can reject them. At the same time, no one believes that Faith itself depends upon these arguments, seeing that it is “the gift of God; not of works, that no man may glory” (Eph. 2:8, 9). We make use of these arguments indeed; but we do so in order to confirm the faith of such as waver, to prepare unbelievers for the reception of super- natural light, and to enable the faithful to confute the arguments of irreligious men; and thus, by exposing their folly, to undeceive the simple and unlearned who have been misled by them. This use of human reasoning does not detract from the value of Faith; for the axiom that faith proved by argument has no merit, refers only to the faith of such as refuse to believe without proof They who, being enlightened by God, embrace the Faith without proof, and who then, in order to strengthen their own belief and that of others, investigate the grounds of their faith, deserve commendation, and obey the precept of St. Peter: “Sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy everyone that asks you a reason of that hope which is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). In this book we intend to be guided by reason only. We shall not, then, appeal to any authority, but shall proceed as if we had no belief in any one in the world, no matter how learned he may be. We shall rely solely on reason. Such a mode of procedure must, surely, satisfy everyone who is not absolutely foolish. Chapter 1 HOW BY MEANS OF VISIBLE THINGS WE ARRIVE AT THE KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH AS ARE INVISIBLE. The senses, in which all our knowledge originates, take cognizance only of extrinsic corporeal accidents. Our understanding, on the other hand, is enabled, by its subtlety, to penetrate to the substance of natural things, and thence to rise to the knowledge of such as are in- visible and immaterial. Thus, by the investigation of the substance and properties, the order, the causes and the activities of visible things, we are led, by little and little, to the understanding of invisible substance, and, at length, to the “knowledge of the Divine Majesty; just as, by means of the external accidents and operations of man, we arrive at the understanding of his soul, and of its invisible parts. Philosophers, from the contemplation of the universe — of the heavens with their magnificence; of the elements with their divers motions and operations; of the variety and activity and individual perfections of the things composed of these elements; and of the wonderful harmony and greatness and beauty of this visible world — have raised their eyes to gaze upon invisible things, and to investigate (so far as might be) their nature and properties. 15 And, as these philosophers have understood that natural things are the work of God’s hands, and are the means of arriving at a knowledge of His infinite power and glory, we likewise desire to show that those things which have been seen, and are still witnessed, in the Church of God, are Divine works, by which we may attain to the knowledge of the glory and Infinite Majesty of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is unseen by us. Sages of old were wont to marshal before their eyes all the visible things of the universe. Thus, the wonder- ful works of nature constrained them to acknowledge God as the First Cause of all things, and natural phenomena as the creation of His unerring wisdom. We, in like manner, must bring together before our minds all the wonderful works of Christ, whereby we desire to prove that He was the First Cause of all things, and that all His doings proceeded from God, who can not err. We would not be understood to say, that these proofs cause Christians to believe; for they are estab- lished in their faith by the supernatural light of God (otherwise, their belief would be, not faith, but opinion). But such testimonies confirm us in our Faith, and prove to our adversaries that we believe, not lightly, but thoughtfully and with deliberation. In order the better to bring the works of Christ, which are continually being performed in the Church, before the eyes of men, we will describe them under the figure of a triumphal car, the figure of the entire universe. $19.99
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Henri Marie Boudon Devotion to the Nine Choirs of Holy Angels
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2009 0981990169 Softcover NEW 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$19.99 This translation of what may, perhaps, be called the most popular of all Boudon's works, was undertaken with the desire of furthering the holy object for which it was written, in the way which the venerable author specially recommended; for one of the means, and, indeed, one of the chief means, which he prescribes for spreading devotion to the Holy Angels, is the distribution of well selected books on the subject." This means," he writes, "includes almost all the others, since it both gives them honor and teaches it." It is superfluous to add that the doctrines it contains are not the offspring of the writer's imagination, or his mere private opinions, but that they rest on the solid basis of Catholic theology, and are in faithful accordance with the teaching of the Church. CONTENTS. Preface 3 Dedication to Our Lady of the Angels 22 Dedication to my Good Guardian Angel 23 Exhortation to Love and Devotion for the Holy Angels 28 It is the property of great things to be indescribable. The excellences of the angels cannot worthily be expressed. All possible motives urge us to love them. Men are moved to love by different considerations; and all these considerations oblige us to love the angels. Every kind of good is to be found in their love. Their friendship is incomparable. Their love pursues us everywhere. Yet devotion to them is rare. This is owing to the absence of the interior life. The more exalted the angels are, the great their love and their power. The author’s desire to rouse men from their insensibility. The world’s forgetfulness of God; and of God’s angels. The language of the Fathers respecting them. The author calls upon all sorts of men to love all the nine choirs with a particular love. He invokes the blessing of God upon all who practice devotion to them. PART I. 46 Motives for this Devotion FIRST MOTIVE. 46 THE ADMIRABLE PERFECTIONS OF THESE SUBLIME INTELLIGENCES. The greatness of the angels beyond the thought of man to conceive. They are spirits pure and bright. Why they are called Intelligences. How they are represented in Scripture. Their marvelous power. Their enchanting beauty. Everything about them enrapturing. They are the mirrors of God’s perfections. Called by the name of God in Scripture. SECOND MOTIVE. 52 THE INCOMPARABLE GOODNESS OF THESE SPIRITS OF LOVE. Angels the kings of heaven. They love us with every variety of love. Their love untiring and unchangeable. They are our best and oldest friends. Yet they meet with nothing but ingratitude and contempt from men. Hence their love for men is past understanding. THIRD MOTIVE. 56 ALL THE HOLY ANGELS ARE ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF MEN. All the angels are ministering spirits; even the highest and most exalted. Proofs of this from Scripture. Their numbers exceedingly great. What gratitude we ought to feel to these princes of heaven, and what joy and confidence in their friendship. FOURTH MOTIVE. 60 ALL MEN ARE ASSISTED BY THE HOLY ANGELS. The love of God to man has no other motive but itself. The smallest sin has in it something terrible and abominable: the angels clearly discern this, yet cease not to assist sinners. Heretics and unbelievers have their protecting angels; even Antichrist will have a guardian-angel. No excess of malice and ingratitude prevents these beings of heavenly purity from devoting themselves to the service of men. FIFTH MOTIVE. 65 THE HOLY ANGELS DO ALL THAT IS POSSIBLE TO BE DONE FOR THE GOOD OF MEN. Angels have assumed visible forms in the service of men. They accompany us everywhere, despite our folly and vileness. The princes of Paradise are our servants and slaves. They watch over everything belonging to us. Scripture instances. The whole world is full of them, SIXTH MOTIVE. 71 THE HOLY ANGELS ASSIST US IN TEMPORAL THINGS. Their considerate kindness and liberality. They have care of our bodily nature and sustenance; and confer all sorts of benefits upon us. Instances of this from Scripture and the Lives of Saints. They deliver us from all kinds of evil, and assist us in all our distresses. Instance of the pillar of cloud and of fire that accompanied the people of Israel SEVENTH MOTIVE. 77 THE HOLY ANGELS RENDER US GREAT SERVICES FOR ETERNITY. The affair of eternity the one great affair. The zeal which the angels show to procure men the life of grace. The care they take to maintain and increase it. They instill a love of all virtues, and especially of purity. They inspire men with love for Jesus and Mary. An incident in the life of St Dominic. They communicate light to the understanding and pious impulses to the heart. They preserve from sin, and deliver from it. They animate and encourage in labors and sufferings EIGHTH MOTIVE. 85 THE PROTECTION OF THE HOLY ANGELS AGAINST THE DEVILS, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THEIR DIFFERENT TEMPTATIONS, WHICH ARE HERE TREATED OF. Life one long temptation. We are weak, and our enemies are mighty. The devils cruel in their rage. Their formidable strength. Their subtle machinations. The devil ever busy in laying snares. Baits them cunningly. Attacks if he cannot seduce. Chooses well his time. Feigns to retreat. Amuses with a false peace. These wicked spirits mislead souls in the ways of grace. Turn men aside from their true vocation. Tempt them to frustrate God’s intentions. Delude them in the matter of prayer, confession, and communion. The artifices they employ in the highest paths of grace. They tempt to presumption, impatience, weariness, despair. Distort the imagination even of good people. Take advantage of their smallest imperfections. Present false notions of devotion. Insinuate a censorious and critical spirit. Raise persecutions against the servants of God. Promote scandals and abuses. Some persons their special instruments. The devils find their stronghold in heresy. They are indefatigable in pursuit. They penetrate everywhere. Their assaults more violent in proportion to our love of God. Their number beyond conception. Our blindness and insensibility. The power of humility and of self mistrust. We must avoid occasions of temptations; and be prompt in resisting. When chastity is assailed the only safety is in flight. Remedies to be adopted in case of other interior sufferings; scruples, or other disquietudes; temptations to blasphemy, or the idea of reprobation. Living by faith the sure rule of the spiritual life. It is one of the devil’s stratagems to make us be occupied with anything but what we ought to be about. Another is to give us a taste for occupations which are not suitable to our state. Against all the artifices of hell God has given us the defense of His holy angels. Instances of their protecting power. The devils have a great dread of them. NINTH MOTIVE. 132 THE GREAT ASSISTANCE WHICH THE HOLY ANGELS AFFORD US AT THE HOUR OF DEATH, AND AFTER DEATH. On the moment of death hangs the sentence of eternity. The thought of God’s judgments terrible. The angels our friends when creatures abandon us. Blessed are they who have been devout to them during life. The angels present our souls before the tribunal of God. TENTH MOTIVE. 136 DEVOTION TO THE HOLY ANGELS IS A MARK OF A HIGH PREDESTINATION. That which passes away deserves only our contempt. The human heart is made for great things. The joys of the blessed in heaven are unequal. We ought to strive after the highest honors for the sake of the greater glory of God. Devotion to the angels contributes wonderfully to the perfection of divine love, and therefore to the increase of heavenly glory. The higher the angels the more of God there is in them. Our devotion rarely extends beyond those of the lowest choir. ELEVENTH MOTIVE. 141 THE GLORY OF THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN. The glory of the Blessed Mother of God a powerful motive. The zeal of the angels for the interests of their Queen. Therefore the motive of her glory is one of the most powerful in promoting devotion to the angels. The several titles which belong to her in connection with these heavenly spirits. The angels are the “friends “ of the spouse in the Canticles. TWELFTH MOTIVE. 144 GOD ONLY. God all in all to the soul that loves with a pure love. It cares for nothing save His sacred interests; self-interest is an abomination to it. God only forms the whole occupation of a glorious eternity. Very few love God after a perfect manner. We must love the angels only in God and for God. Illustration taken from the spouse in the Canticles. Pure love a state of universal death to everything. PART II. 154 Practice of this Devotion FIRST PRACTICE. 154 TO HAVE A PARTICULAR DEVOTION TO THE ANGELS, ARCHANGELS, AND PRINCIPALITIES. The different offices of these three orders. We ought to have a singular devotion to our Angel-Guardians. We ought also to be devout to the Guardian Angels of our friends. Among our friends our spiritual directors ought to hold a prominent place. We must honor also the angels of our benefactors, of our enemies, of the prelates of the Church, especially the Sovereign Pontiff, as also of temporal princes. The Archangels of kingdoms and provinces, of towns and villages, must be objects of our devotion. Churches and altars have their Guardian Angels. The author laments the profanations committed against the Blessed Sacrament; carelessness in giving communion; penuriousness in providing altar furniture. He invokes the assistance of the holy angels in remedying these evils, and entreats pious souls to seek their aid. Not only dioceses, but communities and confraternities have their angels. Special virtues to be acquired through these three orders. SECOND PRACTICE. 170 TO HONOR ESPECIALLY THE POWERS, THE VIRTUES, AND THE DOMINATIONS. The different offices of these three orders. We are apt to mistake our own will for the will of God. Devotion to the Dominations a great remedy to this disorder. We are easily led by our inclinations. Devotion to the Virtues our resource. The Virtues ought to be invoked in times of public calamity. To the Powers, God has given a special strength against the might and malice of the devils. Their aid to be sought to protect the Church against her enemies. THIRD PRACTICE. 174 TO HAVE A PROFOUND REVERENCE AND EXTRAORDINARY LOVE FOR THE THRONES, CHERUBIM, AND SERAPHIM. The Seraphim excel in the pure love of God. Eight properties of this love. The special attribute of the Cherubim is light. The Thrones are in close vicinity to the glory of God, and repose upon Him. The peace which passes understanding is to be sought through their ministry. The science of Heaven, which is the science of the Saints, is to be learned at the feet of Jesus Crucified through the teaching of the Cherubim. The hatred which the devils bear to directors who inculcate this science. The Seraphim are the sacred ministers of divine love. The Carmelite order destined, by their super-excellent grace, to fill the seats of the apostate spirits of this choir. FOURTH PRACTICE. 182 TO HAVE A GREAT DEVOTION TO ST MICHAEL, ST GABRIEL, ST RAPHAEL, AND THE FOUR OTHER ANGELS WHO ARE BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD. St Michael, the great saint of the cause of God and of God Incarnate. The meaning of the title Archangel as applied to the highest princes of Heaven. St Gabriel negotiated the mystery of the Incarnation. St Raphael, the great benefactor of men. Emblems of the seven angels. They will obtain us the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and grace to avoid the seven deadly sins FIFTH PRACTICE. 188 TO HOLD INTERIOR CONVERSE WITH THE HOLY ANGELS. Our conversation ought to be heavenly; therefore we ought to converse frequently with these spirits of Heaven. Men live in oblivion of the world of grace. Where there are numbers of people there are also numbers of angels; yet we take no notice of them. Our neglect of our angel-guardian. We ought to converse habitually with him. We need never feel solitary. We may visit in spirit heathen and heretical lands, and converse with their angel-guardians. It is a laudable practice to salute the angels of those we meet. These practices may be unusual, but they ought to be common. SIXTH PRACTICE. 199 TO PERFORM NOVENAS IN HONOR OF THE NINE CHOIRS OF ANGELS. This practice an efficacious means for obtaining the assistance of Heaven in times of distress. God employs these blessed spirits to work wonders. Directions how to employ each day of the novena. Public calamities the effects of God’s anger. This devotion a fitting preparation for the feasts of our Lord and His Blessed Mother. Pious exercises to be used. SEVENTH PRACTICE. 204 TO TAKE CERTAIN DAYS EVERY MONTH AND EVERY WEEK FOR THE PURPOSE OF HONORING MORE ESPECIALLY THE HOLY ANGELS, AND TO CELEBRATE THEIR FEASTS WITH ALL POSSIBLE DEVOTION. How to dedicate every day in the week to their honor. We may make our birthday a feast of our angel-guardian. Feasts of St Michael. Pilgrimages to his Mount in Normandy. His apparitions. Legend of his slaying the dragon. St Gaudentius: invention of his body and miracles wrought at his tomb. Feasts of St Gabriel, St Raphael, and the Guardian Angels. The rosary of our angel-guardian. How to honor the angel-guardians of the Saints. EIGHTH PRACTICE. 215 TO VISIT CHURCHES AND ORATORIES DEDICATED TO GOD IN HONOR OF THE HOLY ANGELS. Certain localities honored by God with special favors. Pilgrimages approved by the Church, and highly esteemed by Saints. It is a pious practice to visit some chapel or altar dedicated to the angels. Revival of devotion to St Michael in the city of Rouen blessed by God. Visits of devotion during nine succeeding days. NINTH PRACTICE. 218 TO PLACE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THE PROTECTION OF THE HOLY ANGELS, AND TO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEM IN ALL OUR NECESSITIES, BODILY AND SPIRITUAL. The angels are as impregnable bulwarks to those who trust in the Lord. How great, then, ought to be our confidence. The blindness of men exemplified in the conduct of Eliseus’s servant. The little confidence they place in the protection of Heaven. Revelations which Saints have had of the presence and ministrations of angels. Our Lord employed their ministry. TENTH PRACTICE. 225 TO LABOR FOR THE CONVERSION OF SOULS, AND FOR THEIR RELIEF IN THE FLAMES OF PURGATORY, IN HONOR OF THE HOLY ANGELS. The angels do all for the glory of God; and we ought to labor with them for the interests of God in souls. The extravagance of men where self is concerned; their niggardliness when God’s interests are at stake. The example of the angels a powerful motive for succoring souls. Like them we ought to assist the souls in Purgatory. Pious practices for this end. Our forgetfulness of the dead. Revelations of the interest taken by angels in suffering souls. ELEVENTH PRACTICE. 233 TO PRACTICE SOME VIRTUE, OR ABSTAIN FROM SOME VICE, IN HONOR OF THE HOLY ANGELS. If we desire to love the angels, we must love what they love and hate what they hate. Miraculous deliverance of a young nobleman. Humility, purity, and prayer the virtues dearest to the angels. Their jealousy for the Divine interests. Instance of this. We must be careful not to do anything to offend them. Plato’s doctrine on the subject. TWELFTH PRACTICE. 239 TO PROMOTE IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS DEVOTION TO THE NINE CHOIRS OF HOLY ANGELS. Our gratitude to these heavenly spirits ought to be as comprehensive as our duties towards them. The great thing is to have a real love. One means of honoring them is to distribute pictures of them, and books composed in their honor. The rich can erect churches, or chapels, or altars to them. Preachers ought to instruct the people in devotion to them. Bishops and superiors can recommend it to pastors and flocks. Pious persons can confer together to promote it. CONCLUSION OF THIS LITTLE WORK BY THE PLAN OF AN ASSOCIATION IN HONOR OF THE NINE CHOIRS OF ANGELS. Associations instituted for various objects. The object of this association would be to hasten the reign of Jesus and Mary. The members should make a general confession. Special times for communion. Daily, monthly, and yearly observances. Other practices of piety and virtue. The associates must have a great horror of sin, and especially of impurity. In towns a solemn novena may be kept. A Prayer To The Nine Choirs Of Holy Angels 254 Postscript 256 Litany Of The Holy Angels 258 A Prayer To All Angels 264 Litany Of Our Holy Angel-guardian 265 $19.99
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Henri-Marie Boudon The Holy Ways of the Cross or A Short Treatise on the Various Trials and Afflictions, Interior and Exterior to Which the Spiritual Life is Subject
Potosi, WI USA St Athanasius Press 2010 0976911876 Paperback NEW 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$19.99 Amid the present darkness and distress this little book may help to minister consolation and inspire drooping hearts with courage, by reminding them that suffering is the Church's heritage, the very condition of her well-being, nay, her highest privilege, inasmuch as it renders her most like to her Divine Spouse and is the pledge and surety of her triumphs. As of the Lord Himself (Luke 24:26), so of His Church it may be truly said that she ought to suffer these things and so to enter into her glory. Her most signal successes have been preceded, and indeed attended, by humiliations and apparent failures, and have been accomplished, like all the great designs of God, under the heavy weight of the Cross. It is not, however, of exterior trials and sufferings that the author principally treats, or of those obvious temptations to which all Christians are exposed, but of those deep interior miseries, those subtle devices of self-love, those illusions and preternatural assaults of the evil one, which, in some form or other, they must be prepared to encounter who strive to pursue the arduous paths of spiritual perfection. And if testimony were wanted to the high character and the great practical usefulness of the work, it might be sufficient to cite the words of the doctors in theology who were commissioned to examine and report upon its contents previous to its publication in the year 1671. From the terms in which their approbation is couched, it will be seen that the doctrine which the treatise enforces, as it is necessary for all times, so is particularly applicable to our own, when men who profess to represent the highest intellects of this boasted age of progress are inviting Christian people to exchange the truths of divine faith and the life-giving lessons of the Cross for the base, uncertain tenets of a sensual philosophy and of a false and godless science. " It is a book," say they, " as full of instruction for souls which desire to rise to perfection as for those whose office it is to direct them on their way. We have found in it a teaching all divine, which the light of faith alone is capable of rendering intelligible to those who read it, and which divine love alone can enable them to relish. It is a knowledge which God hides from worldlings who allow themselves to be guided by their senses, and from men of mundane policy who regulate their actions by the sole light of human reason. This science of the Cross, unhappily, is ignored, neglected, or despised by the greater part of men, comprising even a number of the learned, who, devoting all their life to the study of the speculative sciences, pay no regard to the science and the maxims of Jesus Crucified, ' in whom' nevertheless ' are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge' (Col. 2:3). It may be hoped," they add, " that the reading of this book will inspire those who peruse it with the desire of dying wholly to themselves and following Jesus Christ, seeing that it is replete with the unction of the Spirit of God." 218 pages. Table of Contents Advertisement page 3 Dedication To Our Lady Of Pity 20 Dedication To St. John The Evangelist And The Blessed Maries On Calvary 22 PART I. The Science of the Cross. CHAPTER I. 25 THE SCIENCE OF THE CROSS IS A HIDDEN MYSTERY. This mystery was hidden from Jews and Gentiles; and even from Christ’s own disciples. It is unintelligible to the wise of this world; however great their learning. It is opposed to worldly pride and delicate living. Many professedly devout persons ignorant of it. To be learnt only by Christian simplicity and mortification CHAPTER II. 29 WHETHER IT BE PRUDENT TO WRITE RESPECTING THE WAYS OF THE CROSS. A counter opinion stated. This opinion opposed to the practice of the doctors and masters of the spiritual life. The Lives of the Saints abound in relations of interior trials. The ill use made of such reading no argument against the treatment of the subject. The knowledge of it necessary in many cases. The valuable instruction thereby afforded. The compassion due to souls so terribly afflicted CHAPTER III. 34 THE WAY OF THE CROSS IS THE ROYAL HIGH ROAD TO A BLESSED ETERNITY. It is the road by which all Saints have passed. Examples from Holy Scripture. Security of those who walk therein. The ways of consolation full of peril: by-paths at best, from which it is easy to go astray. The way of the Cross is rough but safe CHAPTER IV. 38 WE MUST OF NECESSITY WALK IN THE WAY OF THE CROSS. Crosses are inevitable on the way to Heaven. Sin must be punished. As the Head suffered, so must the members. Our Lord preached the doctrine of the Cross openly and to all; and pressed it-on His disciples. To be a Christian and to be crucified one and the same thing CHAPTER V. 41 THE HAPPINESS OF A CHRISTIAN CONSISTS IN SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD. REPLY TO CERTAIN OBJECTIONS. Several reasons given for this assertion. In particular, the grace of Jesus is a crucifying grace. Most crosses sent to those whom God loves most. Testimonies to the blessedness of suffering from Scripture and revelations made to Saints. Suffering necessary to draw man out of his state of corruption. Life a state of warfare, and therefore of suffering. Crosses necessary for perfecting the soul. They endure throughout life, and, if withdrawn for a while, are given back. Crosses are profitable, and even necessary, in order— 1. To satisfy the Divine Justice; 2. To purge the soul of its imperfections; 3. To humble us; 4. To increase our grace and merit; 5. To bring us into closer conformity to Christ. How God refreshes His elect. The joy that is promised and enjoined not a sensible joy; but that which resides in the superior region of the soul. Abuses and faults may occur in the holiest states, but do not detract from the perfection of those states. The dangers of spiritual consolations. Jesus the true pattern of the elect; His refusal of joys and satisfactions. Ought, then, guilty man to be exempt from suffering? The value of suffering taught by Christ’s example. The true import of His teaching. Testimonies thereto from Scripture and maxims of Saints CHAPTER VI. 59 CROSSES ARE A MARK OF PREDESTINATION, AND OF A HIGH PREDESTINATION. The thought of Eternity; how little pondered. Suffering the portion of the elect. Express testimonies of Scripture to this truth. It is a law which knows no exception. The greatest Saints have borne the heaviest crosses. Sufferings serve to the increase of eternal glory CHAPTER VII. 63 CROSSES EXALT TO MATCHLESS GLORY. No glory to be compared with that of the Cross. Remarkable language of St. John Chrysostom and St. Augustine. Our Lord’s own words, and those of St. Paul. The suffering and the indigent exhorted to recognize the exceeding privileges of their state CHAPTER VIII. 66 CROSSES ARE THE EARTHLY PARADISE. No Paradise without God; crosses unite to God. This union the source of solid happiness. Often more perfect the less it is felt and known. No rest save in God alone. Happy effect of meditating on crosses A Prayer To The Blessed Virgin, Queen or All The Holiest Lights Of Grace 69 PART II. Exterior Trials. CHAPTER I. 70 THE WAYS OF THE CROSS ARE VARIOUS All true Christians walk by the way of the Cross; but not all alike. Great variety of sufferings; the creature bound to submit to the Creator’s behests. Our Lord’s whole life one continued suffering CHAPTER II. 73 EVERYONE MUST BEAR HIS OWN CROSS, AND IN THE MANNER GOD WILLS. All who belonged to Christ have borne their cross. Three things of which we must beware:—1. Not to procure ourselves crosses by our own faults; 2. Not to occupy ourselves with desiring other crosses than those we have; 3. Not to delude ourselves with desiring to bear our cross in a different way from that which God appoints. We must turn our crosses to the best account. To which end we must look simply to the will of God CHAPTER III. 77 WE MUST BEAR OUR CROSSES IN THE MANNER GOD WILLS. The soul must blindly follow God’s will, and not make reflections on itself. Disquietude of mind a stratagem of the devil. Sensible repugnance to suffering no proof of unwillingness to suffer. Impossible to escape temptations by our own efforts. Self-abandonment necessary in order to attain to perfect indifference. God never refuses His aid. In the strength of Jesus we shall be able to endure and to overcome. We must not relax in our spiritual exercises although we feel nothing but repugnance to them CHAPTER IV. 82 CORPORAL INFIRMITIES. Bodily defects a favor of Heaven. Bodily ailments a great grace, which must be utilized for Eternity. Pretexts of self-love. Incalculable blessings obtained by suffering souls. God, who wills infirmities, wills also the inconveniences and afflictions which they entail. Persons of very great virtue often so sensitive to pain as to be constrained to cry aloud from their excessive sufferings CHAPTER V. 86 THE LOSS OF HONOR. Without contempt of worldly honour there can be no perfect union with God. Our Lord’s abhorrence of it shown in the circumstances of His Birth and of His whole Life. How He was judged by the people; by priests and doctors of the law; and by civil governors. His guilt inferred from the conduct of His disciples; and His dereliction on the Cross. Loss of reputation knows no exceptions. To be despised by men a state very precious in the spiritual life CHAPTER VI. 91 PERSECUTIONS ON THE PART OF MEN. As the world persecuted our Lord, so it will not spare His disciples. Its rash and cruel judgments. Its ingenuity in inventing, misrepresenting, and exaggerating. An instance in the case of Father Baltasar Alvarez. The interior life itself condemned by the world. Creatures nothing before God; their judgment therefore less than nothing. They who take pains to please people are not exempt from wounds and fall into many sins. Practical conclusions CHAPTER VII. 97 CONTRADICTIONS ON THE PART OF THE GOOD. Some good people harass others from pure but mistaken motives. But in many cases the corruption of nature mixes itself up with good intentions. Examples. All the great designs of God accomplished under the weight of the Cross. Condemnation by the good and virtuous permitted for the more perfect abasement of the elect. The use made thereof by the devil CHAPTER VIII. 101 ABANDONMENT BY CREATURES AND PARTICULARLY BY FRIENDS. The being forsaken by friends a grievous affliction; but in losing friends the true Christian finds God. No one so utterly forsaken as Jesus. The thought of this excites a holy desire of being abandoned by all; the vastness of the subject. Blessed exchange: God instead of creatures. Interior abandonments most profitable Prayer To The Most Holy Virgin, Consoler Of The Afflicted 105 PART III. Interior Trials. CHAPTER I. 106 OF INTERIOR SUFFERINGS; AND FIRST OF TEMPTATIONS TO UNBELIEF AND BLASPHEMY. These sufferings far surpass all exterior sufferings. Temptations against faith most terrible. Many Saints have endured them; examples. We must not argue with such temptations; danger of so doing. Heresies come from the exercise of private judgment; duty of sincere submission to the Pope and the Church. The remedy against such temptations lies in avoiding all voluntary reflections. Acts of faith real, though unconscious; proofs of this. Temptations to blasphemy frighten more than they hurt; resistance mistaken for consent. The Lord Himself thus tempted. Sentiments of St. Teresa on this subject CHAPTER II. 112 TEMPTATIONS TO DREAD OF REPROBATION, DESPONDENCY, AND DESPAIR. Many holy souls have been thus afflicted. God desires our salvation more than we do ourselves; proof in the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Blessed Eucharist. The remedy is to abandon ourselves to Divine Providence; an heroic act of love. Our God Infinite Goodness. Frequent falls no ground of discouragement. These interior sufferings the chastisement of sin: this of itself a motive for courage. Temptation a sign of election; the devil assails those who are the true servants of God CHAPTER III. 117 OF DRYNESS, DARKNESS, DISTRACTIONS, AND REPUGNANCE TO PIOUS EXERCISES. Instances of holy persons who have been tried by spiritual dryness. How St. Catherine of Genoa suffered from interior darkness. Saints not exempt from painful distractions; striking confessions of St. Jerome and others. States in which the soul becomes devoid of feeling. That which renders us pleasing to God is, not feeling or the want of feeling, but the free action of the will. Remarkable instance in the person of Father Jognes. How we ought to deal with distractions. Consoling thoughts under such affliction. CHAPTER IV. 123 OF TEMPTATIONS AGAINST PURITY. Exciting causes of such temptations. They may be made the occasions of great victories and great rewards. This consideration a consolation to souls so afflicted. Such trials contribute much to spiritual advancement; examples from the Lives of Saints. Chastity does not consist in insensibility but in resistance. Remedies recommended. CHAPTER V. 127 OF DOUBTS AND SCRUPLES. No temptations can sully the soul so long as they are displeasing to it; the doubt whether we have consented itself a mark of not having consented. Origin and occasions of scruples. Need of a charitable and enlightened director. St. Ignatius most severely tried. Persons so afflicted ought not to repeat their confessions. Neither ought they to confess their temptations or sins about which they have a doubt; they ought to avoid long examinations of conscience, and abide by the judgment of their director. Submission of spirit absolutely necessary; subtle inventions of self-love. We must combat ‘our scruples with courage; instances of peace of mind being restored by simple obedience. CHAPTER VI. 136 OF SUFFERINGS CAUSED BY THE DEVIL. Instances of ordinary temptations. Persons of extraordinary virtue tempted by the devils in an extraordinary way. These eminent souls the special objects of their malice. Their efforts to deter persons from practicing mental prayer, and especially the highest order of prayer. Instances of exterior diabolical assaults. Their interior assaults most formidable. The craft and subtlety of these spirits of hell. Remedies against these temptations, ordinary and extraordinary. Directors of souls so terribly tried ought to be men of great enlightenment. In cases of possession, the exercise of the will not free; although the sufferers maybe obstinate in declaring that they consent with full deliberation. This state most humiliating, but one of the most effectual for attaining a high degree of sanctity. The devil flees before resolute souls. He has no power to force the will. Holy Communion the most effectual defense against his attacks. His efforts to prevent persona from communicating. CHAPTER VII. 150 OF SUPERNATURAL SUFFERINGS. These come immediately from God, and are most terrible. Father Simon de Bourg’s description of such trials: the soul deprived, not only of reflective acts, but of the power of making many direct acts. St. Teresa’s more detailed account of these suffering states. Similar reflections of another spiritual writer. Mysterious dealings of God with certain souls. Case of an innocent soul afflicted with all the effects and emotions of sin. “The exile of the heart”: these words of “ The Following of Christ” very little understood. CHAPTER VIII. 156 THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. These extraordinary sufferings inflicted by God in order to perfect the soul in virtue and defeat the artifices of self-love. Divine annihilations; none comparable to that of Jesus. These crosses reserved for God’s dearest friends. Signs which distinguish a passive state of suffering. What a soul so afflicted must do. The immense advantage of these interior pains. Prayer To Our Lady Of Martyrs 163 PART IV. The Value of Crosses. CHAPTER I. 164 OF THE CAUSES OF CROSSES. Crosses are sent to punish us for our sins. To purge us of our faults, and especially our secret faults. To sanctify our souls. In fine, we suffer because we are members of Jesus Crucified. CHAPTER II. 167 WHY GOD OFTEN DOES NOT HEARKEN TO US WHEN WE PRAY HIM TO DELIVER US FROM OUR SUFFERINGS. All crosses come from God, and God is Sovereign Reason; they are therefore always just. They are also always profitable, however painful. Dereliction of our Blessed Lord upon the Cross; revelations to Saints CHAPTER III. 169 OF THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS, AND OF THE STRATAGEMS OF WHICH SELF-LOVE AND THE PRUDENCE OF THE FLESH MAKE USE TO ESCAPE FROM ITS WAYS. St. Paul could not speak of these enemies without weeping. Mortification necessary for understanding the spirit of the Cross. Covert enemies of Evangelical perfection; the great evil they do. The plausible reasons they adduce; their terrible responsibility. Their maxims condemned by the conduct of Jesus. All great religions successes effected by suffering CHAPTER IV. 174 WE OUGHT TO HAVE A HIGH ESTEEM FOR THE CROSS, AND TO DEEM OURSELVES UNWORTHY OF IT. The value of crosses beyond all price. The heaviest crosses reserved for God’s special favorites. Our unworthiness to suffer: remarkable testimonies thereto. The reverence due to suffering. Few even among the pious really share it. Few look to God alone; to do so demands magnanimity and courage. Church history abounds in examples of this generous Christian spirit. St. Paul’s warm appreciation of it CHAPTER V. 181 WE OUGHT TO LOVE CROSSES. Jesus loved them with an ardor inconceivable. Proofs of this from the Gospels. Example of St. Andrew in his martyrdom CHAPTER VI. 184 WE OUGHT TO ACCEPT CROSSES WITH JOY, WITH THANKSGIVING, WITH ASTONISHMENT. Exhortations of our Lord and His Apostles to rejoice in suffering. This rejoicing compatible with extreme sadness in the sensitive region of the soul. How holy persons have evinced their gratitude for being visited with afflictions. These heavy blows ought to be received as strokes of divine grace and regarded with astonishment CHAPTER VII. 188 WE MUST CARRY OUR CROSS WITH ALL ITS DIMENSIONS. St. Paul’s language respecting these dimensions. The mystery of the Cross not to be comprehended without the special aid of the Holy Spirit. By its breadth are meant all its circumstances, effects, and consequences. Our crosses those which our Lord wishes us to bear, and not those which we figure to ourselves. The grievous trial of Blessed Robert d’Artus. The length of the cross is its duration: examples of our Blessed Lord, His holy Mother, and certain Saints. Holy souls even distressed at the thought of losing their cross. The height of the cross is the many afflictions of which it is composed. Its depth, the intensity of the suffering it causes. Holy souls thirst for suffering, while we do all we can to avoid it CHAPTER VIII. 195 THE PERFECT CROSS, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE PERSON OF THE SERAPHIC ST. TERESA. Few crosses are completed. St. Teresa a prodigy of grace. The vastness of her cross; constructed of such a variety of materials. Her body one whole cross. Her own testimony to this. The sufferings of her soul intense, beyond description. The divine favours she received afforded her no consolation. The saint’s own description of her torments; for which she found no relief. The opposition she encountered almost universal. She is rebuked by her confessors, threatened by magistrates, insulted by the populace, upbraided by her own friends, denounced by prelates, condemned by doctors. The slanders, ridicule, and ill-treatment to which she was subjected. She is falsely accused before the superiors of her Order, and the authorities of the Inquisition; her own General forsakes her. Her exalted virtues declared to be fictitious. The reasoning of human prudence. How they are refuted and stultified by Almighty Wisdom; example of the Patriarch Joseph. St. Teresa sorely tried by evil spirits. Sufferings the means by which the saints are made partakers of Christ’s glory Prayer To The Most Holy Virgin, The Crowning Perfection Of God’s Works 212 $19.99
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MacLaughlin, John Indifferentism or Is One Religion as Good as Another?
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2009 0981990177 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$14.99 214 pages. The arguments put forward apply to Christians of all denominations who believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures. Some of them may reach the position even of those who, while they do not pretend to take the Bible for their guide, nevertheless profess as much belief in a Divine revelation of some kind as saves them from the imputation of utter unbelief or extreme Rationalism. As the title indicates, my scope is to show that all religions are not equally right, that one only can be right, that all the rest must be wrong; and, having done this, then to point out that one which alone is right among the multitudinous claimants. ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. 19 Views of Cardinal Newman on Indifferentism—Expressed long before he became a Catholic—Repeated after his conversion—Indifferentism quite as much the enemy of the Church of England as of the Church in communion with Rome—Growth of Infidelity in England—Indifferentism leads to Infidelity—It is a kind of preparatory school for Infidelity—Bossuet’s words on this subject, quoted by Dr. Moriarty—Words of His Eminence Cardinal Manning on the necessity of being uncompromising in confessing our Faith, PART I. Refutation Of The Theory Of Indifferentism From Reason And From Revelation. Chapter I. 38 Refutation of Indifferentism from Reason, and from Reason enlightened by Faith—Veracity or Essential Truthfulness, one of God’s Essential Attributes—By a law of His being, He loves Truth of necessity and hates falsehood of necessity—To say He is indifferent what creed people profess, equivalent to saying He is indifferent whether they believe truth or falsehood—Right reason cannot sanction contradiction: therefore cannot sanction Indifferentism—If God would not allow change in the pattern of ark and tabernacle, against all reason to hold He would allow change in doctrines which teach in what His true worship consists, Chapter II. 45 Refutation Of Indifferentism From Revelation. Indifferentism shown to be a contradiction of Revelation from the words of the Great Apostolic Commission: “Going, teach . . . teaching them to observe ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I Have Commanded you”—Our Lord did not authorize the Apostles to preach one doctrine in one country and to preach the contradictory in another—Argument from His foresight of the trials and sufferings they must undergo in carrying out His Commission—The objection, that the Apostles were sent PRINCIPALLY that people might know and believe the Mediation or Redemption, answered—Comprehensive Theory of Indifferentism makes such objection powerless—Tenets of Socinians or Unitarians—The doctrines revealed by Christ not to be classed under the heads of Primary and Secondary or Principal and Subordinate—If indifferentism a lawful or tenable creed, labours of Apostles vain and meaningless— Such Theory brings down Religion to a level with natural society, natural morality, human intellect, human conjecture. Chapter III. 55 Indifferentism Shown To Be A Contradiction Of Revelation FROM THE HISTORY OF THE CONVERSION Of Cornelius The Centurion.—Acts 10. Advocates of Indifferentism on horns of dilemma—Application of this narrative to current events—Circumstances connected with several notable conversions must incline thinking men to draw certain inferences—What people must do who have rational doubt about truth of Religion they have hitherto been professing—Allusion to conversion of some living illustrious Dignitaries of Catholic Church— State of man oscillating in perpetual uncertainty about matters of Faith, who stifles doubts instead of seeking solution of them—Such a man cannot possibly be a good man in God’s sense of word ‘’ Good”—Terms in which Theory of Indifferentism enunciated sophistical—Cardinal Manning on the dishonor to God those are guilty of who treat truth as a sort of coin—Answer to objection taken from 34th and 35th verses of Chapter—Teaching of St. Thomas concerning those who live in a place in which are not found any of the ordinary means of attaining to a knowledge of Divine Revelation—Answer to reasoning of those who hold contradictory creeds may be lawfully built on broad fundamental truths of Christianity—If such latitude allowed Christianity can have no limits—Truth something pure and simple: not compound, consisting of various elements, some true, some false—Church in communion with Rome allows liberty of opinion to a certain length, no further— She fixes limits of free thought and necessary faith, Chapter IV. 87 INDIFFERENTISM SHOWN TO BE A CONTRADICTION OF REVELATION FROM THE HISTORY OF THE COUNCIL OF Jerusalem.— Acts 15. Difficulty of holding Council — Matter of Discussion — Dangers likely to follow from putting forth a decree—Decree notwithstanding—Several Apostasies date from holding of Council—Would Apostles have acted wisely or justly in promulgating Decree if they thought it matter of indifference a little falsehood should be mixed up with the truth?—Terms of Decree—Importance attached to it— Care taken to promulgate it—Effort to secure its observance—Attitude of Church towards error THEN; to indicate her attitude towards it to end of time—Successors of Apostles not authorized to be more indulgent towards error than Apostles had been themselves—Suppose Apostles had met on that occasion to discuss question of Indifferentism, what would have been terms of their Decree? Chapter V. 97 Further Refutation Of Indifferentism—Refutation From St. Paul’s Epistle To The Galatians. Chapter I. “ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you, besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema,” 5:8.—This scathing condemnation strikes as effectually as some errors of present time, as at errors against which originally written—It embodies overwhelming refutation of Indifferentism—Repeated by Apostle twice—Hard to think he who wrote it would endorse or connive at modern popular Theory that one gospel is as good as another—Answer to those who say: My Religion was Religion of my father, of grandfather, and of ancestors at least since Reformation—Transmission of an error from one generation to another does not change error into truth —No length of time can give heresy prescriptive claim to be looked upon as orthodox Religion—Cardinal Manning on Principle of Inheritance—Example of Count Leopold Stolberg—Summary of Part I.—Indifferentism an engine of destruction before which all Revealed religion must fall to pieces—Would have brought world long ago to state of absolute anarchy in matters of Religion, had not edifice of TRUE Christianity been built on foundation that could not fail, PART II. 111 Marks Of The True Church—Unity And Universality. Chapter I. 111 Unity. Sincere Inquirer asks which is Christ’s Church?—Where is she?-—Claims of rival claimants examined—Christ proclaimed Unity to be one of the most striking and most distinguishing marks of His Church—The Church He founded must be one—Cannot be two—Cannot contradict herself—Cannot tolerate, much less sanction, principle or privilege, use of which, taking men as they are, leads necessarily to contradictions in important matters of faith —Church of England, in all her various parties, as a matter of fact sanctions or tolerates such principle or privilege; that is, Free Inquiry, Individual Preference, Private Judgment—Ritualists and members of High Church Party use such privilege as extensively as any other sectaries—Their gradual approach to series of Catholic Dogmas which make up their present creed— Exercise of Private Judgment all along—Individual Preference or Private Judgment keeps them where they are— They use this arbitrary right both in the interpretation of the Scriptures and of the Ancient Fathers—Their religion in its present state their own arbitrary creation—Fact of arbitrarily taking up certain number of doctrines cannot stretch over a dead past of fifteen hundred or a thousand years—Mere volition or reading New Profession of Faith cannot restore dead Church to life—In vain to try to shake hands with Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, Cyril, as long as they refuse to recognize some unfailing definitive Tribunal, from which no appeal—Cardinal Wiseman on slight separation of Samaritans from acknowledged truth—Meaning of Free Inquiry, Individual Preference, Private Judgment—Interminable contradiction, and, therefore, interminable error it leads to—Leads to contradictory interpretations of those Scripture passages which refer to most vital doctrines of Christianity—Though gilded by softer names, meaning the same—Measureless doctrinal differences which separate the various Parties of which Church of England is composed—All fruit of this arbitrary right—Testimonies of Calvin,, Beza, Melancthon, about differences generated by Principles of Reformation —Macaulay’s Essay on Mr. Gladstone’s Volume: ‘’ The State in its Relations with the Church “—His Strictures on Mr. Gladstone’s Theory of Private Judgment—His own way of gauging Effects of Private Judgment—He declares that Church of England has not unity, never has had it, and that as Unity is essential to truth, she has not truth— According to Macaulay, Mr. Gladstone is bound, on all his own principles, to abandon the defense of a Church in which unity is not found—Greek Schismatical Churches have no unfailing bond of Unity—No Definitive Tribunal in Pope or General Council—One Church alone has such bond—Only one claims it—Cardinal Wiseman on this point—Church in communion with Rome alone possesses this mark of truth—HER mode of teaching bears impress of Divine Institution. Chapter II. 144 Universality Or Catholicity. Section I. 144 Meaning of it as mark of True Church—Transparent medium through which Unity becomes strikingly visible— Diminution of her space would not deprive her of this mark—She existed before she was actually universal in any sense, but could NOT exist without innate Potentiality of Universality—As Christ meant her to save all, He must have meant her to reach all, must have given her the power of reaching all, as far as people would allow themselves to be reached by her—This Potentiality to be chief ground of my argument. Section II.—Potentiality presupposes Unity. 149 Church which has not unfailing bond of Unity cannot possibly have capacity of Universality, and, hence, cannot have mark of Universality—A thing which has not permanent identity cannot have quality of universal assimilation. Section III.— This Potentiality must be Active and Energizing. 153 Church which has not exhibited, ever from her first beginnings, signs of active zeal for conversion of heathen cannot be true Church of Christ—Which Church can claim this testimony?—Scope of Church of England and of other Reform Churches purely local—Statements of various non-Catholic writers—Feeble and fruitless efforts of non- Catholic Denominations to convert pagans—Enormous sums contributed towards Protestant foreign missionary funds—Enormous number of sectarian missionaries sent out since beginning of this century—Attempt a signal failure, because Creed A Divided ONE—Efforts of Catholic missionaries, without human help, fruitful— Testimonies concerning both classes of missionaries from various non-Catholic sources—Protestant Churches made no notable effort to Christianize pagan nations till beginning of this century—Remarks of Dr. Milman and Colonel Mitchell oil evangelizing conquests of Church of Rome—Success of Catholic foreign missionary efforts compared with uniform barrenness of Protestant ones— Further testimonies from non-Catholic sources—Whose work in spreading the Faith has most appearance of impress of Holy Ghost upon it?—Which Church can most reasonably claim to be the one which is still fulfilling commission: “ Teach all nations”?—Is not Catholic missionary more likely to succeed than one whose movements are impeded by encumbrance of wife and family?— Impossible to convert heathen populations by distribution of Bibles and Tracts—Result proves it—First Apostles did not follow such method—Members of Catholic Church more numerous than those of all other Christian Denominations collectively—Manifestation of Church’s Universality or Universal Unity at late (Ecumenical Council of Vatican, sketched at the time in several London daily papers—Statements of various writers—Exclusive and ‘ inalienable possession of the title “Catholic’’—Testimonies of the Ancient Fathers—In her alone fulfilled Prophecies of Old Testament, Section IV.—Schism and Heresies no objection to Claim of Church in Communion with Rome to mark of Universality. 190 Bulk of schisms and heresies no argument against Universality of Church in communion with Rome— Objections answered—From beginning corruptions of Gospel—Apostles predicted such—They felt her life in their own day was index to her history to the end—Wide diffusion of heresy no more argument against Catholicity of Church than spread of Mahometanism—And spread of Mahometanism no more argument, etc., than the gigantic pagan populations, CONCLUSION. Strange to say, Indifferentism may help much in search after True Faith—Explanation—The fact that Indifferentists disagree among themselves, not merely about what they term minor points of Revelation, but disagree also as to what doctrines are to be regarded as fundamental, establishes two things: (1) The utter untenableness of their system; (2) the necessity of an Infallible Voice still speaking which can tell with certainty what has been revealed, how much, and in what sense to be received— Where that Infallible Voice speaks? ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE SUBJECT. In the following pages I propose to answer the question: “ Is one religion as good as another?” In other words, I propose to discuss that popular theory which teaches that all Christian creeds find equal favor in the eyes of God, and that it does not matter what branch of Christianity a man belongs to, provided he be a good man after his own fashion. Lest those outside the Catholic Church, into whose hands this little book may fall, might think that, as being a Catholic priest, I have put forward my views on the subject in an exaggerated light, I wish to anticipate such charge, by quoting at the outset the words of a man whose words can evoke no such suspicion. He wrote them while he was still a Protestant, some seven or eight years before he became a Catholic. I allude to the illustrious Cardinal Newman. Long before he made up his mind to renounce Anglicanism he condemned this insidious theory in language quite as strong and emphatic as any that is used in these pages. As early as 1838, he foresaw, with the eyes of a seer, the havoc which Indifferentism, Latitudinarianism, Liberalism in religion, would make of the Gospel, and he pointed to the gulf of unbelief to which it must inevitably lead. From the outset of his brilliant career, and while he was still a comparatively young clergyman of the Church of England, he raised his eloquent voice and wielded his powerful pen against it. He felt that those whose duty it was to try to keep down the flood of Agnosticism and infidelity must use all their energies to stem the torrent of Indifferentism. The one, he saw, was but a process of transition into the other. To his mind it was clear as noonday, even then, that the theory, that every man’s view of revelation was equally acceptable to God, would, in the case at least of many, end in the conviction that all religions were useless. It was to check the growth and to counteract the influence of this pernicious system that he made so many and such energetic efforts to give to the Articles of the Church of England a dogmatic interpretation— such an interpretation as would make them say something definite, and clear away from them that ambiguity which left every man free to become the arbiter of his own belief. But he was not allowed to do so. In his Tracts for the Times he treats, amongst many other subjects, that of Latitudinarianism or Indifferentism. After showing that the Indifferentist or Latitudinarian may, quite consistently with his principles, deny even the fundamental doctrine of the Trinity, since that doctrine is not found on the surface of the Scriptures, he proceeds to say:—” And if the doctrine of the Trinity is not to be accounted as one of the leading or fundamental truths of revelation, the keystone of the mysterious system is lost; and that being lost, mystery will, in matter of fact, be found gradually to fade away from the creed altogether; that is, the notion of Christianity, as being a revelation of new truths, will gradually fade away, and the Gospel in course of time will be considered scarcely more than a republication of the law of nature. This, I think, will be found to be the historical progress and issue of this line of thought. It is but one shape of Latitudinarianism.’’ In this same paper, which was published in the fifth volume in 1838, he pronounces Latitudinarianism or Indifferentism so extravagant and so unreasonable,,,,,,,,,,Cont. $14.99
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Rodriquez, S.J., Fr Alphonsus The Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection 3 Volume SET
Potosi, WI 53820 St Athanasius Press 2006 0976911817 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$59.99 The Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection, 3 Volume Set, by Fr Alphonsus Rodriguez, S.J. New Unused Copy. 544/508/420 Pages. Softcover. Unedited Reprint of the 1882 Edition. Originally published in 1609. Regular Retail $59.99. Individual Volumes retail for $24.99 each. Buy the Set and Save! "This work is based on the material which he collected for his spiritual exhortations to his brethren, and published at the request of his superiors. Although the book thus written was primarily intended for the use of his religious brethren, yet he destined it also for the profit and edification of other Religious and of Laymen in the world. It is a book of practical instructions on all the virtues which go to make up the perfect Christian life, whether lived in the cloister or in the world." (Catholic Encyclopedia 1912) THE FIRST TREATISE The great value we ought to set on spiritual things What a love and ardent desire of Perfection we ought to have That an ardent desire of our Spiritual Advancement is a Means and Disposition most proper for obtaining favors from God The more we apply ourselves to Spiritual Things, the more earnestly we desire them That the desire a Man has of becoming perfect in Virtue, is a great Mark that he is in the state of Grace That not to advance in virtue is to go back That a good means of attaining Perfection is to think continually on what we are deficient in - without thinking of what we have acquired To aim at the highest things is very conducive to the Attainment of Perfection How important it is not to neglect the smallest things Another weighty reason which shows how extremely requisite it is to attach importance in small things That the business and concern of our spiritual advancement are to be undertaken not in a general, but in a particular manner In order to attain Perfection, we should never deliberately commit any fault, nor be remiss in our endeavors to become perfect Of three other Means which conduce to our advancement in Virtue That we should behave ourselves all our Life-time in Religion, after the same manner we did the first day we entered into it That it is very advantageous to consider and often to ask ourselves, for what End we entered into Religion Of some other things which may contribute much to our advancement in Virtue and Perfection Of the Perseverance we ought to have in Virtue Of Spiritual Exhortation The Second Treatise That our advancement and Perfection consist in performing well our ordinary actions Perfection consists in such easy matters, that we ought to be extremely encouraged to labour, to attain it In what the Goodness and Perfections of our actions consists That another means to perform our actions well is to imagine each one the only one we have to do Another means of doing our actions well, is to perform each one as if it were the very last actions of our life To perform our actions well, we ought to think of the present day only That it is exceedingly advantageous to accustom ourselves to do all our actions very well How imperfect it is to be a Religious not to relax in the Way of Virtue Of what importance it is that Novices employ their time well, and perform their religious duties with great exactness during their Noviceship. The Third Treatise That we ought to fly vainglory in our actions In what the malignity of vainglory consists How prejudicial vainglory is That the Temptation of vainglory attacks not only those that enter into the Way of Perfection, but even such as are most advanced in it That those who labour for the Salvation of their Neighbour have more reason than others to be upon their guard against vainglory Of several remedies against vainglory Of the end we ought to propose to ourselves in our actions What is requisite that we may always act with a great purity of intention That our distractions and remissness ought not to be ascribed to our exterior occupations, but to our negligence therein How advantageous it is to perform our actions as already described The rectitude and Purity of Intention we ought to have more fully explained Several marks to know when we act purely for God and when we seek ourselves in what we do What is requisite for us to obtain every day greater purity of intention Of three degrees of Perfection -------------------------------------------- A total of 8 treatises are contained in Volume 1. 8 Treatises are also contained in Volume II: On Mortification On Modesty and Silence On Humility On Temptations On Disorderly Affections for our Relations On Joy and Sadness On the Advantages and Infinite Treasures we Possess in Jesus Christ On Holy Communion and the Sacrifice of the Mass Volume III contains 8 Treatises as well: On the end for which the Society of Jesus was instituted--The means which are conducive to this end and which regard all religious in general On the three principal vows of religion--The advantage of a religious state The Vow of Poverty Of Chastity On Obedience On the Observance of Rules On the fidelity on which all ought to have in laying open the bottom of their heart and conscience to their superiors and ghostly fathers On Fraternal Correction Price: $59.99 USD
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St Alphonsus Liguori The Treatise on Prayer
Potosi, WI 53820 St Athanasius Press 2009 098199010X Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
This New, unedited edition is in English, Softcover, 102 Pages. God Bless! From St Alphonsus Liguori: I have already published several spiritual works, viz.: Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the Clock of the Passion of Jesus Christ, the Glories of Mary, a volume containing a Refutation of Materialism and Deism, and several small Treatises of Devotion, a Novena of the Nativity, which treats of the infancy of our Lord, a Book on the eternal maxims, entitled, a Preparation for Death, which contains a great deal of useful matter, for Sermons and Meditations, and also nine Discourses for the time of public calamities. But of all these works, I do not consider one more useful than this little book which treats of prayer as a secure and necessary means of obtaining salvation and all the graces necessary for it. Were it in my power, I would publish as many copies of this little work, as there are Christians on earth, and would give to each a copy, that each might be convinced of the absolute necessity of prayer for salvation. I speak in this manner of this little treatise, because on the one hand, I see the absolute necessity of prayer so strongly inculcated in every page of Holy Writ, and in the writings of all the fathers, and on the other, I perceive that very few Christians make use of that great means of Salvation. What grieves me most, is, that though there is no practice of which preachers, confessors, or spiritual writers, should insist with greater warmth, or in stronger terms, than on that of prayer; still, I know, that preachers seldom recommend it to thier auditors, or confessors to their penitents, and that the spiritual books most currently circulated amongst the people, do not sufficiently detail its advantages or inculcate its necessity. They indeed suggest many excellent means of preserving sanctifying grace, such as to avoid the occassion of sin, to frequent the sacraments, to resist tempations, to hear the word of God, to meditate on the truths of eternity, and other means; all of which are, I admit, most useful. But of what use, I ask, are sermons, meditations, and all the means proposed by masters of spiritual life, without prayer, when Jesus Christ has declared that He will grant His grace only to those who ask it. 'Ask,' He says, 'and you shall receive.' In God's ordinary providence, all our meditations, and good purposes, and promises, will be fruitless without prayer. If we do not pray, we will be for ever unfaithful to all the inspirations of God's Grace, and to all our own promises. Because, to do actual good, to overcome tempation, and to practise virtue; in a word, to observe all the divine precepts, the light which God pours into our souls, and the reflections and resolutions which we ourselves make, are insufficient. The actual assistance of God is moreover necessary, and, as we will immediately see, the Almighty grants this actual assistance to those only who pray, and persevere in prayer. The lights we receive, and our own considerations and good purposes enable us actually to pray, when tempted to transgress the divine law, and by prayer, to obtain from God actual help, by which we will avoid sin. But if, in temptation, we do not pray, we shall be lost. I thought it right, dear reader, to say so much, by way of preface, on the advantages and necessity of prayer, that you may return thanks to God for giving you, by means of this little book, occasion to reflect more seriously on the importance of that great means of salvation, by which alone, all adults who are saved, ordinarily obtain the gift of final perserverance. I therefore, exhort you, to be grateful to God for this favour. The gift of prayer is an exceedingly great grace. I hope, dear reader, that after having read this little book, you will not neglect, for the future, to seek God's assistance by prayer, whenever you are tempted to offend Him. If, in your past life, you have fallen into numberless grievous sins, you may be assured, that this was the result of inattention to prayer, and of not imploring the divine aid to repel the tempations by which you were assailed. I pray you to read again and again, this little work, not because it is my production, but because it is a means of salvation which God puts into your hands, giving you thereby a special proof that He wishes you to be saved. And after having perused it, I beseech you to induce as many as possible of your friends, and of the poor with whom you converse, to read it attentively. Let us now commence in the name of the Lord. The apostle writing to Timothy, says, 'I desire, therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men.'--1 Tim. 2:1. Prayer, says St Thomas, is an elevation of the soul to God. It takes different names according to the objects sought, or the manner in which they are sought. If the object of Prayer be something determinate, it is called petition; if indeterminate, as when we say, 'incline unto my aid, O God,' it is termed supplication. Obsecration is a solemn form of prayer, in which a favour is fervently implored, and in which the grounds on which we expect to be heard are represented; as when we say, 'By thy cross and passion, deliver us, O Lord.' Thanksgiving is a species of prayer, by which we return thanks for the benefits we have received, and by which St Thomas says, we merit greater blessings. Prayer, strictly speaking, signifies, according to St Thomas, recourse to God for aid, but, in a more extended signification, it includes all the above-mentioned species. It is in this extended signification, that the word Prayer is used in the sequel of this little work. To acquire a high esteem and affection for this great means of salvation, we must first reflect seriously on its necessity for salvation, and its efficacy, when accompanied with the proper conditions, to obtain from God all the graces we stand in need of. Hence, in the first part of this little book, I shall treat of the necessity and efficacy of prayer, and of the conditions necessary to render it effectual. In the second part it will be shown that the grace of prayer is given to all, and the mode in which grace ordinarily operates will be pointed out.
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St Alphonsus Liguori Dignity and Duties of the Priest or Selva
Potosi, WI 53820 St Athanasius Press June 26, 2009 0981990134 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$24.99 460 pages. Dignity and Duties of the Priest or Selva: A Collection of Materials for Ecclesiastical Retreats, Rule of Life and Spiritual Rules by a Doctor of the Church St Alphonsus Liguori. An excellent book to assist the priest to live a virtuous and holy life. As a layman I have benefited greatly from reading this wonderful book and applying it to my life - Publisher. CONTENTS Approbation 8
Notice 9
Admonitions Necessary for Him who Gives the Spiritual Exercises to Priests 15 Part 1
Material for Sermons Chapter 1. The dignity of the priesthood 18
1. Idea of priestly dignity 18
2. Importantance of the priestly office 19
3. Grandeur of the priestly power 21
4. The dignity of the priest surpasses all other created dignity 24
5. Elevation of the post occupied by the priest 28
6. Conclusion 32
Chapter 2. The End of the Priesthood 34
1. The priesthood appears to the saints a formidable charge
2. What is the end of the priesthood 36
3. Principal duties of the priest 38
Chapter 3. The Sanctity Necessary for the Priest 43
1. What should be the sanctity of the priest by reason of his dignity 43
2. What should be the sanctity of the priest as the minister of the altar 50
3. What should be the sanctity of the priest as mediator between God and man 54
4. What should be the sanctity of the priest given to the people to be their model 57
5. Practical consequences 59
Chapter 4. Grievousness and Chastisement of Sin in a Priest 65
1. Grievousness of sin in a priest 65
2. Chastisement of the sinful priest 70
3. Exhortation 78
Chapter 5. The Injury that Tepedity Does to a Priest 83
1. To what the tepid priest is exposed 83
2. A priest can not be satisfied with avoiding grievous sins
3. Exhortation 96
Chapter 6. The Sin of Incontinence 102
1. Necessity of purity in the priest 102
2. Malice of impurity in the priest 104
3. Sad effects of impurity, Blindness of the soul, 108 Obstinacy of the will, 112 Eternal Damnation 114
4. Remedies for incontinence 116
Chapter 7. The Sacrilegious Mass 117
1. Purity required in the priest to celebrate worthily 117
2. How great is the crime of the priest that celebrates Mass in mortal sin 120
Chapter 8. The Sin of Scandal 134
Chapter 9. The Zeal of the Priest 150
1. The obligation of every priest to labor for the salvation of souls 150
2. The pleasure that a priest who labors for the salvation of souls gives to God 162
3. How secure the priest who labors for the salvation of souls renders his own salvation and how great the reward that he shall receive in Heaven 168
4. The end, the means, and the labors of the priest who has zeal, The end to be proposed, Means to be employed, Works of a zealous priest 173
Chapter 10. The Vocation to the Priesthood 181
1. Necessity of a divine vocation to take Holy Orders 181
2. Marks of a divine vocation to the sacerdotal state, Purity of intention, Science and talents, Positive goodness of character 185
3. To what dangers one exposes one’s self by taking Holy Orders without a vocation 194
Part 2
Material for Instructions Instruction 1. The Celebration of Mass 204
1. Importance of the Holy Sacrifice and what it exacts of the priest 204
2. The preparation for Mass 209
3. The reverence and the devotion with which the priest should celebrate Mass 213
4. Thanksgiving after Mass 222
5. The priest who abstains from saying Mass 224
Instruction 2. The Good Example that the Priest Should Give 226
Instruction 3. The Chastity of the Priest 239
1. The merit of this virtue and its necessity to the priest
2. Means of preserving Chastity, 243 Flight of the occasion, 244 Mortification, 255 Prayer 257
Instruction 4. Preaching and Administration of the Sacrament of Penance 261
1. Preaching 261
2. Administration of the Sacrament of Penance, Grave responsibility of confessors, The knowledge required to hear confessions well, Charity and firmness that the confessor should have, How to react to those living in the occasion of sin and those who are relapsing sinners 267
Instruction 5. Mental Prayer 284
1. Necessity of mental prayer for priests 284
2. Answer to excuses 288
3. The recitation of the Divine Office 297
Instruction 6. Humility 300
1. Necessity of humility 300
2. The practice of humility, To have a horror of pride, Not to glory in the good that we do, We must distrust ourselves, To accept humiliations 304
Instruction 7. Meekness 317
1. We must repress anger 318
2. We must bear contempt 326
Instruction 8. Mortification, particularly Interior Mortification 332
1. Necessity of mortification in general 332
2. Necessity of interior mortification 336
3. The practice of interior mortification, Property, Honors, Relatives, Self-will, Means of conquering self-will 340
Instruction 9. Exterior Mortification 356
1. Necessity of exterior mortification 356
2. Practice of exterior mortification, The eyes and the whole exterior, The taste of appetite, The Touch, Involutary mortications 360
3. The good that is derived from a mortified life 374
Instruction 10. The Love of God 378
1. Special obligation for the priest to belong entirely to God 378
2. Means to be employed to belong entirely to God, Desire for perfection, The intention of pleasing God in all things, Patience in pains and humiliations, Conformity to the will of God 385
Instruction 11. Devotion to the Most Holy Mary 402
1. Moral Necessity of the intercession of the Blessed Virgin 402
2. Confidence we should have in the intercession of the Mother of God 407
3. Practice of devotion to the Blessed Virgin 414 APPENDIX 416 $24.99
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St Alphonsus Liguori St Alphonsus Liguori on the Council of Trent
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2009 0981990185 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
An Exposition and Defense of all the Points of Faith Discussed and Defined by the Sacred Council of Trent; Along with a Refutation of Errors of the Pretended Reformers and the Objections of Fra Paolo Sarpi. Unedited Reprint of the 1846 Edition, Latin/English, 460 Pages.
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St Alphonsus Liguori Explanation of the Psalms & Canticles in the Divine Office
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2010 0976911868 Paperback NEW 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$24.99. Here we have another great work by a Doctor of the Church, none other than St Alphonsus M. Liguori himself. This work will lay a greater understanding of the Psalms & Canticles which will hopefully in turn lead to greater spiritual benefit to those who use this work. Written in Latin and English, side by side. Preface by Cardinal Manning. Unedited. 546 pages. $24.99 Excerpt from the Introduction 5. The Attention and Devotion Which the Recitation of the Divine Office Demands. Before beginning the explanation of the Psalms, I have thought that it would be useful for those who are bound to the recitation of the Divine Office, to offer here some reflections which may help to recite it well; that is, with attention and devotion. All men ought to be continually occupied during the present life in praising the Lord, in thanking Him for His benefits, and in asking of Him the graces necessary for obtaining eternal salvation; but because seculars live distracted with worldly affairs, the Church wills that ecclesiastics and religious of both sexes should be employed, at least at certain hours of the day, in praising God and to praying to Him for all the faithful, as well as for the interests of the Holy Church. For this reason, St Thomas says that the Divine Office is a common prayer which is offered to God on the part of the Church by her ministers in the name of the whole Christian people: Communis quidem oratio est, quoe per ministros Ecclesioe, in persona totius fidelis populi, Deo offertur. Elsewhere he says that the recitation of the Office is a public work laid upon the clergy for the edification of the Church, that is, for its conservation and increase. And before him, St Bernard had already written that the three chief duties of ecclesiastics are to preach the word of God, to give good example to others, and to pray for all; but he adds that the duty of prayer is greater than the other two. We may hence infer how great will be the punishment those will receive from God in the next life who, neglect this obligation, whether from weariness, or in order to give themselves to worldly amusements. But I am not now speaking of these; I speak of those who say the Office, but say it ill. It is a pity to see with what irreverence some cite the Canonical Hours... On the other hand, very great is the merit, and the profit also, which they derive who say the Divine Office with attention. What lights are then obtained from the word of God, with what holy maxims is the soul penetrated! How many good acts may one not make - acts of love, of confidence, of humility, of contrition - by paying attention to the verses one recites! Above all, how many beautiful prayers are found in the Office, prayers which, if said with faith and fervor, will obtain for us treasures of grace, according to the infallible promise of our Lord that He will hear whoever prays to Him: "Ask, and it shall be given to you. For everyone that asketh, receiveth." I may add that when the Divine Office is said without devotion, and with no other thought than to get over it as quickly as possible, it becomes a very heavy and wearisome burden, and seems as though it would never come to an end; but, on the contrary, when it is recited with devotion, and with desire to derive profit from it, by applying the mind and the heart to what the lips pronounce, its burden becomes light and sweet; of this the saints made good experience, who found more pleasure in saying the Divine Office than worldlings find in all their pastimes and amusements. One single Office recited with devotion may gain for us so many degrees of glory; what abundance of merits will they not, then have acquired who thus recite it for thirty or forty years! This thought has led me to undertake the present translation and the end that I have had in view is to help those who by the duty of their state are bound to recite the Divine Office, to do so with merit and profit to their souls, and not with demerit and a conscience continually burdened with remorse or fear at the thought of one day having to render an account before the Divine tribunal of their Office ill said and of having to be punished for this in the next life. $24.99 St Alphonsus M Liguori
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St Alphonsus M Liguori Preparation for Death or Considerations on the Eternal Maxims
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2010 098258301X Paperback NEW 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$24.99 Complete and Unabridged. It will be seen that the following Manual of Devotion consists of a series of chapters or instructions upon important points of Christian teaching, which are called "Considerations."These Considerations are written for the purpose of pricking or of wounding the conscience, it may be in many points, that so it may be thoroughly aroused and awakened; of exciting, that is, compunction of the soul, real remorse of conscience for past as well as for present coldness and dryness. It must be a very hard heart, indeed, which is not moved by these "Considerations" so touchingly simple are they, so plain, and so wholly true. They deal with such doctrines and facts as have an universal application, which admit of no dispute, and which are always confirmed by some passage from Holy Scripture. It must be allowed, on all hands, that it is necessary for the soul to be aroused to feel its own needs, to regard its own wounds, that so it may be directed to a source where these needs can be supplied, and these wounds be healed. One great aim of this Treatise, is to arouse, as well as to direct the mind, to lead it to consider its own wants, and to seek by prayer to have those wants supplied. The book is essentially a guide to prayer. It represents, from its beginning to its end, the continual outpouring of heart before God; an outpouring that is of times expressed in the very same words which imply, at the same time, a new phase of thought. Regarded as a Manual of Mental Prayer, each of these "Considerations" has a technical and special signification. They treat of life and death, of the value of time, of the mercy of God, of the habit of sin, of the general and particular judgments, of the love of God, of the Holy Communion, and of kindred subjects equally important. The "Consideration," as here used, implies far more than a mere inquiry. Its equivalents, the Italian Consideration, and the Latin Consideration, do not fully express its particular meaning in this Treatise, where it stands for a reflectional meditation. It calls into play the exercise of the memory, which puts together all the circumstances of the subject under notice; it excites the imagination, which represents, as in a picture, all such circumstances, bringing them vividly before the mind's eye; and, lastly, it urges the will so to fix and detain these things in the soul, that, by its own effort, it may unite itself with the will of God, so that God's will and the will of man may become one. 404 pages. Table of Contents CONSIDERATION
I. DESCRIPTION OF ONE WHO HAS DEPARTED THIS LIFE . . . 14
II. ALL ENDS WITH DEATH . . . 24
III. THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE . . . 34
IV. THE CERTAINTY OF DEATH . . . 44
V. THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE HOUR OF DEATH . . . 55
VI THE DEATH OF THE SINNER . . . 67
VII. SENTIMENTS OF ONE WHO HAS REFLECTED LITTLE UPON DEATH . . . 79
VIII. THE DEATH OF THE JUST . . . 91
IX. THE PEACE THAT A JUST MAN FEELS WHEN DYING . . . 104
X. HOW WE MUST PREPARE FOR DEATH . . . 115
XI. THE VALUE OF TIME . . . 125
XII. THE IMPORTANCE OF SALVATION . . .135
XIII. THE VANITY OF THE WORLD . . .147
XIV. LIFE IS A JOURNEY TO ETERNITY . . . 158
XV. OF THE EVIL OF DEADLY SIN . . . 166
XVI OF THE MERCY OF GOD . . . 177
XVII OF THE ABUSE OF DIVINE MERCY . . . 188
XVIII. OF THE NUMBER OF SINS . . . 199
XIX. THE GIFT OF GRACE IS A GREAT GOOD, AND THE LOSS OF GRACE IS A GREAT EVIL . . . 211
XX. THE FOLLY OF THE SINNER . . . 220
XXI. THE UNHAPPY LIFE OF THE SINNER, AND THE HAPPY LIFE OF THE SAINT . . . 230
XXII THE HABIT OF SIN . . . 242
XXIII. THE DELUSIONS WHICH THE DEVIL PUTS IN THE MIND OF SINNERS . . . 254
XXIV. THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT . . . 266
XXV. THE GENERAL JUDGMENT . . . 276
XXVI OF THE PAINS OF HELL . . . 289
XXVII OF THE ETERNITY OF HELL . . . 303
XXVIII THE REMORSE OF THE LOST . . . 315
XXIX. OF HEAVEN . . . 323
XXX. OF PRAYER . . . 336
XXXI OF PERSEVERANCE . . .348
XXXII THE LOVE OF GOD . . . 363
XXXIII THE HOLY COMMUNION . . . 375
XXXIV. CONFORMITY TO THE WILL OF GOD . . . 388 PREPARATION FOR DEATH CONSIDERATION I Description of one who has Departed this Life
“Dust you are, and unto dust shall you return.” Gen. 3:19 First Point. CONSIDER that You are dust, and unto dust you must return. The day will come when you must die, and be placed in a grave where “the worms shall cover you.”(Isaiah 14:2) The same fate awaits all, both nobles and plebeians, both princes and vassals. Directly the soul shall leave the body, with the last gasp, it will go into eternity, and the body will return to its dust. “When You take away their breath they die, and are turned again to their dust.”(Psalms 104:29) Imagine to yourself a person, whose soul has just departed. Behold that pale corpse, which is still upon the bed, the head fallen upon the breast; the hair disheveled and bathed in the sweat of death; the eyes sunken; the cheeks hollow; the face of ashy paleness; the tongue and the lips of a leaden hue; the body cold and heavy. Those who see it grow pale and tremble. How many there are who, upon seeing a relation or friend in this condition, have changed their life, and have left the world. But still more dreadful is it when the body begins to decay. A few hours or days will hardly have passed ere it will become offensive. The windows will have to be opened; incense will have to be burned — no, it must be sent in haste to the church to be buried, that the whole house be not infected. Behold to what that proud, that voluptuous man is reduced? In life he was the favorite, the one who was sought after in society; now he makes all those who look upon him shudder. His relations hasten to have him removed from the house, and men are hired to bear him, shut up in a coffin, to his grave. He was once famous for his great talent — for his great politeness — for his courteous behavior, and for his facetiousness; but now that he is dead, his memory will soon pass away, “their memorial is perished with them.” (Psalms 9:6) Upon hearing the news of his death, some people say he was of great dignity — others, that he left his family well provided for; some grieve because he had done them good, and others rejoice because they derive some benefit from his death. Within a short time, however, he is spoken of by no one. And his nearest relations, even from the hour of his death, will not bear him mentioned, lest their grief should be renewed. When the visits of condolence are made, other things form the subject of conversation; and if any one by chance alludes to the departed one, the relations immediately exclaim, In kindness, do not mention him to me.” You must consider that what you have done at the death of your friends and relations, others will do at your death. Those who are living, enter upon the stage of life, to occupy the wealth and the position of the dead, and little or no esteem is paid to the dead, and very little mention is ever made of them. Your relations will at first mourn for you for some days, but they will soon be consoled with that share of property which will fall to them, so that they will shortly rejoice because of your death, and in the same room in which your soul has gone forth, to be judged by Jesus Christ, they will dance and eat, laugh and play, as they did before; and your soul, where will it be then? Affections and Prayers. Jesus, my Redeemer, I thank You that You did not let me die when I was in disgrace with You. During how many of the past years have I not deserved to be cast into hell? If I had died on such a day, or on such a night, what would have become of me for all eternity? I thank You for this, O my God. I accept my death as a satisfaction for my sins; and I accept it in whatever manner it may please You to send it to me. But since You have waited for me until now, wait for me yet a little longer. “Let me alone, that I may take comfort a little.”Job 10:20) Give me time to weep over the offences which I have committed against You, before You come to judge me. I will no longer resist Your sweet voice that calls me. Perhaps these words which I have just read may be the last call for me. I confess that I do not deserve pity, for You have so often pardoned me; and I, ungrateful one that I am, have again offended You; but “a broken and contrite heart, O God, shall You not despise.”(Psalms 51:17) O Lord, since You will not despise a broken and contrite heart, look upon a traitor, who being repentant, flees unto You. Cast me not away from Your presence.”(Psalms 51:11) In mercy, do not cast me from You, for You have said, “Him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.”(John 6:37) It is true that I have offended You more than many others, because I have been favored by You with light and grace; but the blood which You have shed for me gives me courage, and gives me pardon, if only I repent Yes, O my Sovereign Good,’ I do repent with my whole heart for having despised You. Pardon me, and give me grace to love You for the time to come. I have offended You too many times already. I will not spend the life that remains to me, O my Jesus, in giving You offence, but I will spend it ever weeping over the displeasure I have caused You, and in loving You with all my heart, You, O God, who are so worthy of infinite love. Second Point. In order more clearly to see what indeed You are, my Christian soul, St. John Chrysostom observes, “Go to a sepulchre, contemplate dust, ashes, worms, and sigh.” See how that corpse becomes at first yellow, and then black. Afterwards there is seen upon the body a white and unpleasant mould. Then there issues forth a foul and corrupt matter, which sinks into the ground. In that corruption many worms are generated, which feed upon the flesh. The rats then come to feast upon the body, some on the outside, others entering into the mouth and bowels. The cheeks, the lips, and the hair fall in pieces; the ribs are the first to become bare of flesh, then the arms and the legs. The worms after having consumed the flesh eat each other, and, in the end nothing remains of that body but a fetid skeleton, which, in course of time, is divided, the bones being separated, and the head falling from the body: they “become like the chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away,”(Dan. 2:35) Behold then, what man is — a little dust upon a threshing floor, which is carried away by the wind. Behold that nobleman, who was considered to be the life and soul of society, where is he? Go into his room, he is not there; if you look into his bed, it belongs to another; his clothes, his arms, others have already taken and divided them. If you wish to see him, you must seek for him in that grave where he is changed into all that is unpleasant, and into fleshless bones. O my God that body fed with so many delicacies, clothed with so much pomp, attended by so many servants, should be reduced to this! O you saints, you, who for the love of that God whom you loved alone, upon this earth, knew how to mortify your bodies; — and now your bones are kept and prized as sacred relics in golden shrines; and your souls which are beatified, rejoice in the presence of God, waiting for the final Day, when your bodies even, will again become the companions of your souls in glory, as they were once the companions of your souls, in hearing the cross of this world. This is the true love of the body, so to burden it with mortifications here, that it may be happy in eternity; and to deny it those pleasures here which would render it unhappy in eternity. Affections and Prayers. Behold, therefore, O my God, to what my body will become reduced, through which I have so often offended You, it will be reduced even to worms and corruption. But this does not grieve me, O my God, nay, it rather cheers me, for this my flesh to become putrid and consumed, which made me lose You, O my Sovereign Good. But it does grieve me very much, to think that I should have taken so much delight in those wretched pleasures which have so often displeased You. But I will not distrust Your mercy. You have waited for me to give me pardon. “Therefore will the Lord wait that He may be gracious unto you.”(Isaiah 30:18) And You will pardon me if I repent. Yes, You will, for I do repent with all my heart for having despised You, O God of infinite goodness. I will repeat to You as did St. Catherine of Genoa, “No more sins, my Jesus, no more sins.” No, I will no longer abuse Your patience; neither will I wait to embrace You until the hour of death. O my Crucified Love, now will I embrace You, now will I commend my soul into Your keeping. “Into Your hands I commend my spirit.” My soul bas been many years in this world without loving You; give me light and strength to love You during the life that remains to me. I will not wait until the hour of death to love You; from this moment, I will love You, and embrace You, and unite myself to You, and I promise never more to leave You. Third Point. My brother, in this description of death, You see yourself, and that, which one day You will be, “Dust you are, and unto dust shall you return.”Reflect, for in a few years, no, perhaps in a few months, and even days, You will become a mass of corruption and worms. By thinking upon this, Job became a Saint, “I have said to corruption, You are my father, to the worm, You are my brother and sister.”(Job 17:14) Everything must have an end; and if, when the hour of death arrives, Your soul is lost, everything will be lost for you. St Lawrence Justinian says, ‘Consider Yourself as dead already, since you know you must die. If now the hour of your death were approaching, what is there of good, that you would not like to have done? Now, that you are living, reflect, that one day you must die. St Bonaventure observes, that in order to guide the vessel aright, the pilot must place himself at the helm: even so must a maxi, if he wishes to lead a holy life, reflect that death is ever near. Therefore, St Bernard observes, “Look upon the sins of youth, and blush; look on the sins of manhood, and weep; look upon the present evil habits of your life, and tremble, and hasten to make amends.” When Camillus de Lellis beheld the graves of the dead, he said within himself, “If all these dead bodies could come back again to life, what would they not do to go in eternal life? And I, who have now the opportunity — what am I doing for my soul?” Yet it was humility on the part of this saint which caused him to say this. But perhaps, my brother, you might with reason fear, lest you should be like that barren fig tree, concerning which our blessed Lord said, “Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none.”(Luke 13:7) You, who for many more years than three have been living in this world, what fruit have you yielded? Take care, remarks St Bernard, for the Lord does not require flowers only, but seeks for fruit also; that is to say, not only good desires and resolutions, but also good works. Therefore, take care to make good use of the time which God in His mercy grants to you; do not wait until time shall be no longer to desire to do good — when it shall be said unto you: “Time shall be no longer, depart.” Make haste, it is now almost time to leave the world; make haste, what is done, is done. Affections and Prayers. Look upon me, O my God, for I am that tree which for so many years deserved to bear these words, “Cut it down, why cumber it the ground?”(Luke 13:7) Yes, because during the many years that I have been in the world, I have yielded no other fruit than the briars and thorns of sin. But You, O Lord, do not wish me to despair. You have said to all those that seek You, that they shall find You. “Seek and you shall find.”I do seek You, my God, and I do desire Your grace. I am indeed sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. I would grieve even to death because of them. During the past years, I have often fled from You; but now I value Your friendship more than all the kingdoms of the world. I will no longer resist Your calls. You do wish me to be Yours alone. I yield myself wholly to You, without any reserve. You did give Yourself entirely for me, upon the Cross; now I live myself entirely to You. You have said: ‘Of you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.”(John 14:14) My Jesus, I trust in this Your great promise, and in Your name; and through Your merits I seek of You Your grace and Your holy love. Let Your grace and Your most holy love abound in my soul, where sin did once abound. I thank You greatly, for having given me the Spirit to make this prayer to You. While You do inspire me to pray, it is a sign that You will graciously hear me. Hear me, O my Jesus, and give me a great love towards You, and give me a great desire to please You, and then the strength to follow the desire. $24.99
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St Alphonsus M Liguori; translated by Right Rev Dr Mullock The History of Heresies and Their Refutation
Potosi, Wi 53820 St Athanasius Press 2005 0976911809 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
The History of Heresies and Their Refutation by St Alphonsus M. Liguori. New Unused Copy. 648 Pages. Unedited Reprint of 1857 edition. Some references in Latin, the rest of the book is in English. In the First part, St Alphonsus M Liguori goes over the History of Heresies. A supplementary chapter was added by the translator of the Heresies of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. In the Second Part, the Refutation of Heresies, the Holy Author comprises, in a small space, a vast amount of Theological information; in fact, there is no Heresy which cannot be refuted from it. Not alone are the usual Heresies, which we have daily to combat -- such as those opposed to the Real Presence, the Authority of the Church, the doctrine of Justification, clearly and diffusely refuted, but those abstruse heretical opinions concerning Grace, Free Will, the Procession of the Holy Ghost, the Mystery of the Incarnation, and the two Natures of Christ, and soforth, are also clearly and copiously confuted; the intricacies of Pelagianism, Calvinism, and Jansenism, are unravelled, and the true Doctrine of the Church triumphantly vindicated. The reader will find, in general, the quotations from the Fathers in the original, but those unacquainted with Latin will easily learn their sentiments from the text. The Scripture quotations are from the Douay version. A great addition to your Catholic Library!
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St Ignatius Loyola A Thought From St Ignatius Loyola for Each Day of the Year
Potosi, WI USA St Athanasius Press 2010 097691185X Paperback NEW 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$14.99 A daily devotional with the words of St Ignatius Loyola especially for those who have limited time in their lives. Take and meditate on a thought during the course of each day, 365 days a year. 120 pages. A Thought From St Ignatius for Each Day of the Year January 1. All for the greater glory of God. -St Ignatius repeats these words three hundred and seventy-six times in his Constitutions. -Saurez, de Relig., Vol. 4, Book 8, ch. 6, n. 1. 2. Spiritual Exercises are all that I can conceive, feel, and understand to be the best in this life, either for the personal advancement of each one, or for the benefit, aid, and spiritual advantages that may be drawn from them for others. -Letter 10. 3. If the devil tempts me by the thought of Divine Justice, I think of God’s Mercy; if he tries to fill me with presumption by the thought of His Mercy, I think of His Justice. -Letter 8. 4. One of the most admirable effects of Holy Communion is to help those who fall through weakness to rise again; it is much more profitable, then, to approach this Divine Sacrament often with love, respect, and confidence than to remain away through an excess of fear and scrupulousness. -Letter 21. 5. Provided that humility and sweetness are lacking in you, the goodness of God will not fail to help you to fulfill, not only without repugnance, but even with joy, whatever promises you have made Him. -Letter on Obedience. 6. What I wish above all is, that you busy yourselves in the pure love of Jesus Christ, in the desire for His Glory, and the salvation of souls which He has so dearly purchased. -Letter 50. $14.99
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St Philip Neri The Maxims and Sayings of St Philip Neri
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2009 0976911841 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$9.99 The Maxims and Sayings of St Philip Neri, Translated by F.W. Faber. A Daily Devotional with a Maxim or saying for each day of the year. 74 Pages. Excerpts 3. We must not be behind time in doing good; for death will not be behind his time. 4. Happy is the youth, because he has time before him to do good. 5. It is well to choose some one good devotion, and to stick to it, and never to abandon it. 6. He who wishes for anything but Christ, does not know what he wishes; he who asks for anything but Christ, does not know what he is asking; he who works, and not for Christ, does not know what he is doing. 7. Let no one wear a mask, otherwise he will do ill; and if he has one, let him burn it. $9.99
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St Robert Bellarmine The Eternal Happiness of the Saints
Potosi, WI 53820 St Athanasius Press 07/07/2009 0981990150 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$19.99 260 pages. The Eternal Happiness of the Saints is written by a Doctor of the Church, St Robert Bellarmine whose works are widely sought after but many have yet to be translated into English. This book is St Bellarmine's reflections on the Kingdom of God in Heaven and how we should lift our thoughts up to Heaven, our hoped for last end. The Eternal Happiness of the Saints
by
St Robert Bellarmine CONTENTS BOOK I Prefatio
Preface 8 1. The Extant of the Kingdom of God 11 2. The Inhabitants of the Kingdom of God 15 3. The Monarchial Form of the Kingdom of God 20 4. All the Blesseds are Kings 23 5. The Happiness Enjoyed in the Kingdom of God 29 6. What Importance men attach to Earthly Kingdoms and What Importance Ought to be Attached to the Kingdom of Heaven 37 7. The First Means of Attaining the Kingdom of God 42 8. The Second Means of Attaining the Kingdom of God 45 9. The Third Means of Attaining the Kingdom of God 48 10. The Fourth Means of Attaining the Kingdom of God 52 BOOK II 1. On the Beauty of the City of God 57 2. On the Concord and Peace of the City of God 60 3. On the Liberty of the City of God 63 4. On the Situation and Form of the City of God 68 5. On the Foundations and Gates of the City of God 71 6. On the Walls and Streets of the City of God 76 7. On the Temple of the City of God 79 8. On the Meat and Drink in the City of God 83 9. On the Mystical Foundation of the City of God 88 10. On the Mystical Gate of the City of God 91 11. On the Mystical Stones of the City of God 95 12. On Flying from the City of this World 102 BOOK III 1. All the Blessed are the Familiar Sons of God 109 2. The Magnitude and Beauty of the House of God 113 3. The Chambers in the House of God 116 4. On the Couches in the House of God 119 5. On the Courts of the House of God 124 6. On the First Gate of the House of God Which is Faith 127 7. On Hope Which is the Second Gate of the House of God 132 8. On Charity Which is the Third Gate 136 9. On Humilty Which is the Fourth Gate 140 10. More Considerations of Faith 145 11. More Considerations of Hope 147 12. Other Considerations on Charity 149 13. Other Considerations on Humility 152 14. The Necessity of Entering this Gate, However Narrow, if we wish to be Saved 155 BOOK IV 1. True Joy is to be Found in Heaven 158 2. On the Joy of the Understanding 161 3. On the Joy of the Will 166 4. On the Joy of the Memory 169 5. On the Joy of the Eyes 172 6. On the Joy of the Ears 175 7. On the Joy of the Nostrils 178 8. On the Joy the Senses of Touch and Taste will have 180 9. The Joys of Heaven Compared with Those of Earth 183 10. The Earthly and Heavenly Paradise Compared 186 11. The Goods of this World and Those of Earthly Paradise Compared with the Joys of the Heavenly Paradise 190 12. On the Price that Paradise was Purchased at Compared with Paradise Itself 192 BOOK V 1. On the Treasure Hidden in a Field 197 2. On the Precious Pearl 203 3. The Laborers in the Vineyard 208 4. On the Talents 215 5. The Parable of the Supper 225 6. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins 233 7. On the Prize 242 8. On the Crown 250 $19.99
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Thomas A Kempis Vera Sapientia or True Wisdom
Potosi, WI 53820 St Athanasius Press 2004 0970652674 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
Thomas A Kempis is well known for the Imitation/Following of Christ, the second best selling book of all time after the Holy Bible. His rich spiritual writings have been read by Catholics since the book was first written in 1418. What most readers don't know is that Thomas A Kempis wrote 27 books in all and most have been out of print for 100+ years. St Athanasius Press has spent the last 2 years searching for these rare spiritual classics in order to bring them back into print so today's Catholics can benefit from the spiritual richness found in Thomas A Kempis' books. The first such book is Vera Sapientia or True Wisdom. Softcover. 220 pages. In English. This unedited edition was translated from the Latin by the Right Rev Mgr Byrne D.D., V.G.and originally published exactly 100 years ago. Written in a similar style as the Imitation of Christ it is sure to become a widely read book in a generation that has all but lost its real sense of true wisdom and spirituality. CONTENTS Book 1 That Virtue Has to Carry on War with Vice Chapters: 1 Three Different Modes of Human Life
2 The Severe Judgement of God
3 That we should be Sorry and Weep for our Sins
4 Lamentation over Time and Negligence
5 The Prayer of a Humble and Contrite Spirit
6 Compunction of Heart, or the Griefs and Sighs of a Penitent Soul
7 The Devout Prayer of a Sinner turning to God, and imploring Mercy
8 Watchfulness and Prayer are to be employed in Temptations
9 An encouragement to Spiritual Advancement
10 A Determined Fight is to be carried on against Vice, after the Example of the Saints
11 That Conscience is to be Guarded at all Times and in every Place
12 On Solitude and Silence
13 How the Faithful Mind is Affected by Various Temptations by which it is assailed or to which it is now Subject
14 The Preceding Subject is Continued
15 Confidence in Divine Mercy Book II What Things Can Be Truly And Justly Called Good And Bad Chapters: 1 The Shortness and Miseries of the Present Life
2 The Preceding Subject Continued
3 Sighing for Eternal Life
4 The Eternal Praise of God, Divine Love, and Desire of Eternal Glory
5 Divine Hope
6 Christ in the Life of Him who has Died to the World
7 Withdrawing from Creatures
8 Contempt for all Earthly Consolation
9 That great Sweetness and Consolation are found in God
10 Seeking the Only and Best Good
11 True Peace is to be sought in God Alone
12 The Desire of Divine Enjoyment
13 The Sighing of a Soul on account of the Delay of Glory
14 The Remembrance of the Heavenly Country Book III The Miseries Which The Good Endure In This World Chapters: 1 The Devout are Tried by Contrary Things
2 The Elect are Proved in Many Ways
3 God is to be Praised in the Absence of Devotion
4 The True Lover of God
5 The Soul should be Grateful for every gift
6 The Conformity of a Devout Soul with its Crucified Lord
7 God is the Helper adn Refuge of the Poor
8 Lazarus Poor and Infirm
9 The Union of the Soul with God in the Various Crises of Life
10 The Beloved giving the Reason of His Withdrawing
11 The Same Subject Continued
12 Praise of Religious Poverty
13 The Commendation of Poverty from the Example of Christ and His Saints
14 The Connection and Relationship of Poverty with Humility
15 The Consolation of Poverty
16 The Necessity of Patience in the midst of the Miseries of Life
17 The Consolation of the Afflicted and Sorrowful in Trouble
18 Patience is Recommended from the Words and Example of Christ and of the Patriarchs
19 Patience is to be principally Exercised in the Mortification of our own Wills
20 Patience is taught by the Example of the Prophets and Martyrs
21 Patience is Recommended from the Consideration of its Usefulness, of its Shortness, and of its Eternal Reward.
22 Divine Consolation in Suffering for Christ
23 The Consideration of the Most Pious Mother the Virgin Mary BOOK IV Of The Virtues Of A Truly Christian Man Chapters: 1 On Stability
2 A Right Intention is to be Directed to God
3 Prudent Speech and Brotherly Compassion
4 The Great Merit of Patience for Christ
5 The Remembrance of the Passion of the Lord in Opposition to Dissipation
6 The Invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus and of the Blessed Virgin Mary His Mother
7 On Humility
8 The Conduct and Actions of the Truly Humble, and also the Qualities of the Proud
9 On the clear Intelligence of the Holy Scriptures
10 In Praise of the Holy Angels
11 The Prayer of the Devout Lover and Praiser of God
12 The Union of Heart to be Maintained with God
13 The Walking of a Pure Soul with God
14 On Peace of Heart and Rest in God
15 On the Recollection of the Heart with God
16 On Companionship with Jesus and His Saints
17 Our Complete Happiness and Last End are to be placed in God alone
18 The Approach to the Holy of Holies, Jesus Christ, the King of Angels
19 The Approach to Salute the Glorious Virgin
20 That Thanks are to be Given for all Benefits An Example of Thomas A Kempis' writings from Book II, Chapter IV(1st 6 paragraphs) The Eternal Praise of God, Divine Love, And Desire of Eternal Glory 1. 'O MY SOUL, praise the Lord,' from whom every good proceeds, now and for ever. You should therefore refer all things to Him, at the beginning and end of every action, and with great gratitude sincerely praise Him, that the gifts of heavenly grace may more abundantly flow into your soul, till you come to the fountain of everlasting life, to the country of eternal splendour, and to the sight of the Divine presence and glory. 2. You can do nothing more salutary, sweeter, more joyful, more worthy, higher, happier, more perfect, or more blessed, than to love and praise God ardently. This I say one hundred times; this I repeat one thousand times-there is no study more sublime, no work more eminent, than to love and praise God, your Creator and Redeemer, with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole mind, and with your entire strength. Do this so long as you live, feel, and understand; accomplish this by word and work, by night and day, at morning, noon, and evening, at every hour and at every moment. 3. According to your knowledge and ability be entirely and purely united to God, that He may be all in all, before all, and above all; that He may be loved, blessed, praised and exalted by you, that you may be with Him forever. Exult, therefore, O faithful soul, in the Lord your God, as the Blessed Virgin Mary exulted in Jesus her Saviour. Exult and praise your God, who created and redeemed you. You are a debtor to Him for very many and great benefits, for the daily gifts He kindly gives you, for all which, though you were a holy angel, you cannot fully and worthily thank Him. Nevertheless, O mortal man, needing he mercy of God, and always seeking and imploring it, praise and give Him thanks. Cease not to pray and praise Him. 4. Though you may often fall and offend God, do not therefore despair; but humble yourself the more and pray. Love, and you shall be loved, because love makes amends for all past falls. It purifies, it heals, it enlightens and inflames, it drives away sadness, and it brings to the heart joy which the world does not know, and flesh and blood do not understand. 5. Praise God, and you shall be praised; bless, and you shall be blessed; sanctify, and you shall be sanctified; magnify, and you shall be magnified; glorify God, and you shall be glorified by Him in soul and body. But when will this be, O Lord? When wilt Thou fill my mouth with constant praise? When shall my heart and soul exult with Thy saints in glory? 6. O Lord, my Saviour, and my God, when wilt Thou make me joyful in Thy kingdom with the splendour of Thy countenance? Oh, when wilt Thou enlighten my darkness with the brightness of eternal light? When wilt Thou take away from the midst of my heart all my defects? When shall I enjoy true peace, complete blessedness, and perfect happiness? Oh, when without any hindrance from obstacles shall I securely and freely follow Thee, O Lord, whithersoever Thou goest?
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Thomas A Kempis The Valley of Lilies & The Little Garden of Roses
Potosi, WI 53820 St Athanasius Press 07/07/2009 0981990142 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$14.99 2 books in One! 2 more rare works from Thomas A Kempis for your spiritual reading pleasure. 138 pages. Table of Contents Prologue Chap. I. On the Threefold State of Human Life 7 Chap. II. Of the Praise of God during the Barrenness of Devotion 9 Chap. III. On the Probation of the Just by Adversity 10 Chap. IV. Of the True Lover of God 12 Chap. V. On the Gratitude of the Soul for every Good 13 Chap. VI. Conformity of the Devout Soul to the Cross 14 Chap. VII. On the Walking of a Pure Soul with God 15 Chap. VIII On the Peace of Heart, and Rest in God 16 Chap. IX. On Recollection of the Heart with God 18 Chap. X. On Watching and Prayer against Temptations19 Chap. XI On the fear of Eternal Punishment 21 Chap. XII. On the Memory of our Lord's Passion 23 Chap. XIII. On the Invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus, and of the Blessed Mary, His Virgin Mother 25 Chap. XIV. On the Necessity of Struggling Manfully against Vice 29 Chap. XV. On the Love of Retirement and Holy Perseverance 31 Chap. XVI. On Divine Consolation in Tribulation for Christ's sake 32 Chap. XVII. On watching over the Conscience 34 Chap. XVIII On Solitude and Silence 37 Chap. XIX. On the Refuge of the Poor in God their Helper Chap. XX. On the Poor and Sick Lazarus 45 Chap. XXI. On the clear understanding of the Holy Scriptures 47 Chap. XXII. On the great merit of Patience for the sake of Christ 51 Chap. XXIII. On the Good Conversation of the Humble Christian 52 Chap. XXIV. On Prudent Conversation and Brotherly Compassion 54 Chap. XXV On the uncertain Hour of Death, and the Speedy End of this Life 57 Chap. XXVI. Of the Eternal Praise of God, and the desire of Eternal Glory 61 Chap. XXVII. Of the Praises sung by the Holy Angels in Heaven 64 Chap. XXVIII. A Prayer of the Devout Lover of God 66 Chap. XXIX. On Union of the Heart with God 68 Chap. XXX. On True Peace, to be sought for in God alone Chap. XXXI. That our intention should be pure, and always directed towards God 72 Chap. XXXII. The Prayer of a Humble and a Contrite Spirit 74 Chap. XXXIII. Of Holy Fellowship with Jesus and with his Saints 76 Chap. XXXIV. On placing our Sovereign Good and farthest aim in God Alone 81 The Little Garden of Roses Starts on 84 THE PROLOGUE TO THIS LITTLE BOOK. “The just shall spring as the lily, and his root shall spread forth before the Lord forever, Osee 14:6.“ This little book may be called the Valley of Lilies, to distinguish in from that which precedes it, under the title of the Little Garden of Roses: for as that treats of many virtues, which spring forth as fair roses, in the garden of Jesus, so this discourses of many other virtues, which as so many lilies of exceeding whiteness, are planted by our Lord Jesus in the valley of humility; where they are sweetly bedewed and fertilized by the inward infusion of the Holy Spirit. For according to the testimony of St. Gregory, to seek to acquire all other virtues, without humility, is to carry dust against the wind. It is of these lilies that the spouse of Christ, out of the humility and devotion of her soul, speaks, in the Canticle of Canticles, when wishing to declare the inward joy and consolation she experienced from the visit of the Divine Spouse, and the graces He had heaped upon her, she says: “I to my beloved, and my beloved to me, who feeds among the lilies.” (Cant. 6. 2 v. 10.) And again: “My beloved is white and ruddy.” “So shall he repose upon my bosom.” To Him be praise, honour and glory, forever and ever. Amen. THE VALLEY OF LILIES CHAPTER I ON THE THREEFOLD STATE OF HUMAN LIFE. “I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys.” CANT. 2:1. 1. This is the voice of Christ, to His Holy Church in general, and to every devout soul in particular; for Christ is the goodly and sovereign Spouse of the Church, and the head of all the faithful. He is the flower of all virtues, the lily of the valleys, the lover of humility and chastity. If you would serve Christ, and please the Heavenly Spouse, overcome your passions, gather the lilies of virtue, eschew idleness, study diligently, work at some useful manual labor, pray often for a more intimate union with God, turn away from the turmoil of the world, love retirement, and avoid all idle or hurtful conversation. 2. If virtue be not in your heart, how seemly so ever the outward habit, it is worth nothing in the sight of God. The vessel may be of fair proportions outwardly, but within it is empty. Even as a vessel filled with good wine, exhales a pleasing odor, so from the good heart of a religious man, whose affections are pure, spring forth holy words and edifying works, which contribute to the glory of God, and the profit of his neighbor. Weigh well, then, my brother, the great importance of the state in which you art engaged, the outward marks of which you bear before the eyes of men, that so you may study both to please God worthily, and to edify your fellow men by your life and conversation; ever remembering that whether you do good or evil, both are done in the sight of Him who will render to every one according to his works. When therefore you will eat or drink, when you will sleep or take repose, when you will follow the bent of your desires, you do the works of the flesh, and your conduct is like that of the beasts of the earth; that wander about, that eat, drink, and fill their belly, till they are satisfied; that butt with their horns, that tear with their claws or teeth, that scowl with threatening looks on those who resist them, and fill the air with hideous cries such are carnal men, such the glutton, the miser, the proud, the passion ate, and the brawler; for the spirit of God is not in them, and they are subject to their passions only. 3. But when you do watch or pray, when you will read or sing psalms and hymns to the glory of God and His saints, when you will fast, and abstain from vice, and make yourself useful to your neighbor, when you will mourn and weep over your own disorders, or confess them, and supplicate pardon of God; then you do the works of the Holy Spirit, follow His inspirations, and fulfil the duties of a religious life. Such conduct is like that of the angels in heaven, who ever sing the praise and glory of God, from whose face they never turn away. But when you will give way to sentiments of anger, when you will nourish pride, when you will give loose to detraction and murmuring, when you will commit a fraud or practice lying, when you will disturb others or rejoice over the evil that has happened to your neighbor, when his prosperity afflicts you, when you despises him in your heart, or when you labors diligently for your own interest only; then you follows the suggestions of the devil, and your conduct, full of malice and teeming with disorder, resembles his: for that spirit of iniquity owns no counsellor but his passions, no motive but his perverseness. He does all the evil he can, or dare; and because there is no good in him, he strives hard to seduce and pervert the sons of men. The life of the just is like that of the angels, and the life of the carnal man like that of the beasts; but the life of the proud is like that of devils. Servants of God, take heed lest you fall into the snares which the spirits of malice lay for you; for you will be accused by them at the awful tribunal of God, and there confounded. $14.99
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Thomas A Kempis, Edited and Compiled by Alexandra J. Waller A Thought From Thomas A Kempis For Each Day of the Year
Potosi, WI 53820 USA St Athanasius Press 2009 0981990126 Softcover New 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall
$14.99 Now you can enjoy the wisdom and thoughts of Thomas A Kempis each day of the Year. Compiled from the many works of Kempis. 112 pages. 1. It is indeed good to me to attach myself to God! O short and sweet word! by which one gains God, and shuts out the world. What farther ought one to say, or what farther can one desire? Is it not enough. 2. You must not desire to be running here and there; but you must be solitary; the solitary mingle in no fellowship with externals. 3. Let your conversation be only to the One, and when he goes away, sit solitary and bear all patiently. 4. Temptation is a fire, which proves the pure gold, and burns up the dross. See you, O man, what you are! the heavenly refiner melts, and the children of Levi purify. 5. All is not gold which glistens, nor is all chaff or counterfeit that comes under the flail, or is in the fire. God looks upon the heart and the intention. 6. The whole of this present life, is but one short night. My days are short and evil, and are soon to end. They are to be, as though they had not been.
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