The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-03-04

| Francis. There are two Novenas in the book
| one of meditstions, and another of prayers-
| the last often called "the Novena of Graces. -
because of the wonderful blessings which it
draws down from Heaven. The author tells us
what practices are in ordinary use, what davs
are set apart, and what prayers may be said
for this devotion, but adds these warning
words: "But these pious acts will neither gain
the heart of the Saint, nsr secure his favors-
unless he who practices them strives to become
living portrait of his virtues"
The earnest aim of the author is to induce us
to secure the friendship of st. Francis, assuring
us, in the words of the Holy Ghost, that "hs
who finds faithful friend, finds a treasure"
We poor Louisianans. who have sought SO
eagerly of late for mans powerful protection
and uncertain friendship in the cause Of
our worldly interests, would do we'll to turn
our efforts in another direction, and see If he
who enlightened whole kingdoms and pro-
vinces and converted innumerable souls, will
not aid US both in temporal and spiritual
affairs.
This little mite of book is model of STYLE
and treasure of information giving US the
life and deeds of this heroic Apostle of the
Genti'ea, and edifying us by its wonderful ap-
picatiou to ourselves How to initiate 30 il
by the sanity genius of the author; for he
teaches US that the gift Of tongues W ith us is
proper control of our words to which every
Christian ought to aspire, and applies in a like
manner all the great things of St. Francis life
to our poor miserable littlen esses.
Catholic Belief or Short Exposition Of Catholic
Doctrine By the Pery Rer j. Fad Di Bruno
DID Rector Of st. Peters Italian Church, Hat
ton Wall, London London: Burns, Oates IL
Co. New Orleans: c. d. Elder.
This book is prepared upon the same plan as
Bishop Gibbons work, The Faith of Our
Fathers ard mnst prove Interesting and
valuable tn re English Cath oi,c as the last is
To all American readers.
Il contains, in addition to all the Instructions
npon doctrine, many beautiful letters of very
recent dates from Cardinal M3uuiug, Dr. New
man, and other illUstrious converts to the Ca
tholic Church. We also find in its pages an
extract from the speech of the great Duke of
Wellington in regard to the loyalty of Catholic
soldiers, which makes It difficult to decide which
most TO admire, the brave Irish soldier "who in
the hour of danger and glory best knows his
duty, and is most determined to perform it," or
the great leader who 30 nobly asserted bel fore the
House of Lords that " mainly to the Irish Ca
tholic we all owe proud pre-. eminence in
our military career and I, personally, am
indebted for the laurels which adorn my brow"
The work, though small (32O psges) and very
cheap tprice only thirty.fve cents) is exceed
ingly full of miscellaneous information. We
find complete list of general councils, the
religious census of the world, list of the Sow
ereign Pontlffs and many valuable statistics.
We think that any Protestant who will read
this little book, supplemented by that Of
Bishop Gibbons, cannot fail to see the truth,
the whole truth, unless he chooses to be blind
while the Catholic who also reads will gather
up such treasures of knowledge that hence
forth no sneer, no slander no misrepresentation
can move him from his belief in the Faith, or
find him unable to defend the glorious Church
who is the Mother of Saints and the Spouse of
the Eternal Word.