The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-17
.NEW PUBLICATIONS.


The very name of st. Francis do Sales re-
calls to mind all that is sweet, amisble and
winning-and we feel sure that the oonsidera- {
tions which depict him to Us in his many vir- /
tues, will charm and edify all who peruseE
them. These are 90 arranged 40 to form aI
x meditation for every day in the month, and
tho beautiful lessons thus conveyed encourage
and console the heart as we'll as enlighten theI
mind. St. Francis made piety attractive by
his unalterable sweetness, and yet bis dignity
was equal to his amiability, while this lastf
beautiful virtue was surpassed only by hist
humility.
He resembled our holy Father, Plus TX +
in that unohapgeable equsnimity which no
good nor evil fortune could rufle, and inI
that grand yet simple dignity of mien which,
3charaoterizes the perfect Christian. This holyI
man by his influence and example made many
4 of his associates saints like himself-and whoI
knows but the reflection Of his excellent vir-
tues, as mirrored in this little book, will, i'll
Earnestly contemplated, make saints also of
his admirers and imitators.
V1y Catholic IN the Nineteenth Century7 ByI
VIM. Giles Dix. New York: Catholic Pub
location Society.
We once heard soldier-boy say that only
teen inches taller! This quaint yet impressiyel
Thought occurs to us somehow or other in con-
uection with the book before Us. 1t SO en-
larges our mind and expands our heart Is toI
make MS feel grander than we really are. Thel
ssight of General Hood, with his grave, sad
face, shis tall, crippled form, made the boy rea-
lize all the struggles of the past, its heroism
it's grandeur, its depths of earnestness, it'll
heights of glory; so in reading Mr. Dix's|
work, there steals over our Catholic heart aI
fuller realization of the power, the endurance,
the might, the beauty, the grandeur, the
glory of the old. unohangipg Church which,
has battled for nineteen hundred years in theI
cause of truth and justioel
The work is the earnest, ringing answer of 81
sincere soul to the question, Why Catholic in|
the Nineteenth Century,
A convert himself, that is, one who losgI
groping in darkness, suddenly emerges into|
perfect sunlight, he feels an earnest, ardent
Irresistible desire to lead others into the sameI
Exquisite atmosphere; and thus we hear hs|
voice ringing out its clear and urgent invita-
ton to his fellow men.
We do not know much of Mr.. Dix, but hsl
book shows him to be a scholar, with powersE
sof close reasoning and perfect control of Ian.
zgusge;-a chivalrous gentleman who carries!
no poisoned weapon, no barbed arrows with
which to strike his enemies. He is a noblet
champion of the truth, bearing the colors of
his lady-love upon his Breast and challenging
all the world to find one truer nobler, or moreI
s beautiful. Catholics will be charmed With
I the little book, and may perhaps blush to seeI
\ how much more earnestly this new recruit inl
! the glorious army of the Church battles in her
cause, than many who have grown grey in|
years without striking one blow in her de-
fence or winning one laurel for her brow.
St. Jcsephs Manual. Boston, Thos. B. Moo |
nan 81 Co.
This beautiful new prayer book, complied
I by the venerable Father Fitton, of Boston, !!
4comprises, we are inclined to believe, every
8 thing that Catholic can desire in the way
of instruction, prayer and meditation. There
are eighteen Litanies in the book, including
that of Our Lady of Lourdes, and that of St.
Patrick-a very desirable and important addi.
ton to those usually found in ordinary prayer
books. We also find the Gospels, etc., for
Sundays and holidays and as the name i'm.
plies, every thing necessary for expressing our
devotion to ST. Joseph, father of all Christ
aims and patron of the Universal Church.
The only word of fault finding we have to
say is that we do not understand why the pic
tures, which are said to have been imported
expressly for the book from Paris, should be
accompanied by explanations and prayers in
aFrench. These look rather out of place in an
: English work; but apart from this objection
we find no reason to doubt the assertion made
by its publisher, viz: "that it is the most com-
plete and best arranged prayer book published
in America"
Fanny Allen. The First American Nun. 4
Drama in Fire Acts By Marie Josephine.
Boston Thos. B. Noonan g. Co.
1t is pity that this work was ever written
f also pity that it was ever published, and
+ pity that we are compelled to notice it at
all.
1t has very little sense, and still less gram
mar Although written, no doubt, with q
pious designand very good intention, it is,
nevertheless, very silly, very fat, and deci
dedly Improbable.
We do not think the writer's talent lies in