New Publications [pp. 569-576]

574 Wew Publiartions.
TIle contents of il~e volume are ar- part of the book has pleased us more
ranged under il~ree general heads: than this. Simple, clear, suggestive,
Holiday Preaching, Familiar Instruc- and practical in its suggestions, the
tion, and Delivery. In the first of zealous pastor will scarcely rise from
these divisions we find minute instruc- reading the chapters on the Homily, on
tion concerning the material that should the Commandments, on the Sacrament,
be used in what is known as the "set and on Prayer, without feeling a resermon. Not merely for sermons that newed desire to teach these elementary
are preached on holidays though, but though essential truths which the Cafor every occasion on which a formal tholic people of a missionary country do
discourse is suitable. A chapter in this not know, or at least only know in an
portion of the work is well devoted to extremely vague and indefinite way.
a defence of these elaborate sermons.
Not that such preaching will be the
most useful or the most expedient, as a THE ILLUSTRATED CATHOLIC FAMILY
general rule; but simply this, that there ALMANAC FOR THE UNITED STATES
are occasions on which the faithful have FOR THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1870.
a right to expect a carefully prepared New York: The Catholic Publicasermon. These are called set sermons, tion Society, 126 Nassau St. 1869.
because they are composed in conformity with the fixed rules of oratory. They An almanac for the family has long
suppose a chaste and elevated style; and, been an imperious American necessity.
more than this, they suppose even that Judging from the success of the Cathothe subject should be treated grandly. lic Publication Society's Almanac for
At such a time the preacher, by the the year now drawing to an end, a Cadignity of his manner, forces us to re- tholic almanac was much needed and
cognize him as truly the "ambassador greatly desired by our Catholic popuof Christ." We feel that the divine lation il~roughout the United States,
word is treated, as it deserves to be, and that it should have met with a
with the same respect as the body of large sale was not surprising when
Chnst. But it is true that sermons we remember that, in addition to all
such as these can only be preached on the useful information furnished by
rare occasions, because they are expect- all well-prepared almanacs, The Calhoed to accomplish extraordinary results. lic Faml(y Ai?i~anac provided agreeTheir frequent repetition would destroy able, edify{ng, and instructive literary
the very effect that they are intended matter profusely and admirably illusto produce. The people, habituated to trated with superior engravings.
these stirring appeals, would cease to In size, amount of matter, illustrabe moved by them, until at length it tions, and literary merit, the Catholic
would be impossible to rouse them even Almanac for 1870, just published, is a
by the most fervent and skilfully plan- decided improvement upon its predened discourse. cessor, and must receive universal ap Father Potter does not give too pro- probation.
minent a place to this elevated and polished form of ~reaching. By far the
largest portion of his work is taken up THE LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMwith the most valuable hints regarding BUS. From authentic Spanish and
the familiar instruction of our people. Italian Documents. Compiled from
He tells us that it has been "his unva- il~e French of Rosselly de Lorgnes.
rying purpose to throw out substan~ial By I. I. Barry, M.D. Boston: P.
ideas, to suggest leading thoughts, and Donahoe. 1869.
to indicate lines of study." Nowhere
is this object accomplished more com- The translator or compiler of this
pletely than in the section of the work work states in his preface that he has
which explains the nature and excel- had to condense the matter of some
ence of "Familiar Instruction." No pages into almost as many lines. We