Notices Of Books.
I.
Appendix ad Rituale Romanum sive Collectio Benedictionum et Instructionum a Rituali Romano exsulantium, Sanctae Sedis auctoritate approbatarum seu permissarum, in usum et commoditatum Missionariorum Apostolicorum digesta. Romæ, Typis S. Con. de Propagande Fide, 1864.
This book has been compiled by authority, to serve as an appendix to the Roman Ritual, and is intended for the convenience of priests on the mission. In Ireland especially, where the Catholic instincts of the people have ever maintained pious confraternities in the honour which is their due, the clergy must have felt the want of a manual containing the formulæ to be used in enrolling the faithful in the various religious societies approved by the Holy See. These forms are not to be found in the Roman Ritual, nor in the books easily accessible to the great body of priests. Besides, since every creature of God may be blessed by prayer, the Catholic Church, whilst she refuses to be reconciled with whatever is defective in modern progress, hastens, on the other hand, to sanctify by her blessing whatever this progress contains of good. Hence, new forms of prayer are rendered necessary from time to time, such as the form for blessing railways, and the Benedictio ad. Omnia, to be used in blessing all objects for which a special benediction is not contained in the Roman Ritual. These forms are to be found in this appendix. The instructions which the Holy See issues from time to time on various subjects for the guidance of missionary priests, also find their place in this collection. Among them is the Instructio, issued by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, for those who have permission to say two Masses on the same day in different churches, and which is inserted in the Ordo for use of the Irish clergy. To this is added, in the book under notice, the ritus servandus a Sacerdote cum utramque Missam in eadem Ecclesia offere debet. It runs as follows:—
“Hoc itaque in casu Sacerdos post haustum in prima Missa diligenter Sanguinem Domini, omissa consueta purificatione, patena calicem et palla patenam tegens ac super corporale relinquens dicet junctis manibus: Quod ore sumpsimus Domine, etc. Deinde digitos, quibus SS. Sacramentum tetigit, in aliquo vase mundo ad hoc in Altare praeparato abluet, interim dicens Corpus tuum Domine, etc., abstersisque purificatorio digitis calicem velo coöperiet, velatumque ponet super corporale extensum. Absoluta Missa si nulle in Ecclesia [pg 397]sit sacristia calicem eodem modo super Altare relinquet; secus vero in Sacristiam deferet, ibique super Corporale vel pallam in aliquo loco decenti et clauso collocabit usque ad secundam Missam, in qua, cum eodem calice uti debeat, ilium rursus secum deferet ad Altare, ac super corporale extensum reponet. Cum autem in secunda Missa Sacerdos ad Offertorium devenerit, ablato velo de Calice hunc parumper versus cornu Epistolae collocabit sed non extra corporale, factaque hostiae oblatione cavebit ne purificatorio extergat calicem, sed eum intra corporale relinquens leviter elevabit, vinumque et aquam eidem caute imponet, ne guttae aliquae ad labia ipsius Calicis resiliant, quem deinde nullatenus ab intus abstersum more solito offeret.”
The contents may be reduced to three heads. The first regards the sacraments, and embraces a short form for blessing the baptismal font; the rite of confirmation when administered by a simple priest by delegation from the Apostolic See; instruction for priests who duplicate; manner of carrying the Eucharist in secret to the sick among unbelievers; decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites concerning the oil for the lamp of the Blessed Sacrament. The second contains various forms of blessing, twenty-two in number, and including those for erecting the Via Crucis, and for enrolling in the scapulars of the different orders. The third part contains the ceremonies appointed by Benedict XIII. to be performed in the smaller parish churches on the great festivals of the Christian year.
II.
Popular Objections against the Encyclical. By. Mgr. de Segur. Authorized Translation. Dublin: John F. Fowler, 3 Crow Street.
We are delighted to welcome this little work, both for the sake of its own proper merits, and because it is the first instalment of the authorized translation of the admirable works of Mgr. de Segur. The Encyclical and Syllabus still continue to be the great event of the day. Indeed, as yet, we see only the beginnings of the influence it is surely destined to exercise on men's minds; and for the due development of that influence, works like this of the French prelate are very necessary. The docile Catholic, for whom St. Peter lives and speaks in Pius IX., will find set forth herein the majesty and beauty of the doctrine he had before received in simple faith. The Catholic whose mind has been coloured for good and evil by modern ideas, and who has felt alarm at the apparent contradiction between the teaching of the Pope and certain social doctrines he has long held to be as sacred as first principles, will find in these pages wherewith to calm his apprehensions and steady his judgment [pg 398] He will see that what the Church condemns is already condemned by reason and history; and that, far from placing under the ban any of the elements of true progress, the Holy See censures the very errors which make all true progress impossible. The priest who has charge of the wise and the unwise together, will be glad to have, in these few pages, what may enable him to provide for the wants of both. We quote a few passages:—
The Pope Condemns Liberty Of Conscience.