Talk About New Books [pp. 891-897]

TALK ABOUT NEW BOOKS.
we wonder that more time and place have not been given to it
as a scientific study. Years are spent in the study of dogmatic
and moral theology. Ascetical theology-is taught in conference,
and practically learned in daily meditation and weekly counsel
of the director of souls; but the application of all this sacerdotal knowledge in the practical work of a priest's life has been
left more or less to the good sense of each priest in the circumstances in which he finds himself, or the bishop makes for him.
It goes without saying that this good sense may be informed
to a very great advantage by the experience of men who have
gone through long years of work, and who, by their wisdom
and prudence, are in a position to advise. This is the special
province of Pastoral Theology. For this reason the work of
Father Luebbermann is of very great value at the present
juncture. It treats particularly of the "teaching office," how
the duty of preaching and catechising should be fulfilled, and
for practical detail the advice is very minute. It would be
pleasing if it could be said that the standard of preaching could
be raised no higher in Catholic churches. As the generation
of church.builders passes away, the new generation, with sharpened intellect and heart craving for religious nourishment, will
demand a more abundant supply of mental and spiritual food
from the pulpit. This supply must be afforded them. The new
generation of priests will, therefore, be obliged to cultivate more
and more the preaching instinct. According to the wise counsel of the Holy Father, the sacred Scripture must be more
thoroughly absorbed and more completely assimilated, that its
life-giving lessons may animate the souls of the hearers, and,
moreover, the manner of conveying these salutary truths must
be more and more perfected, so that the light of the Holy
Spirit may not be dimmed or refracted as it passes through
the medium of the preacher's mind. To achieve the formerthe acquisition of a better knowledge of Holy Scripture-the
latest and best book is the life-work of Father Vaughan, The
Divine Armory of Holy Scripture;* to cultivate the latter, we
may recommend this new work, The Priest in the Pulpit.
Catholic Book Exchange, 120 West 6oth street, New York.
1894.]
897