New-York tribune., 1891-12-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
nIpON,s LIFE OF CHRIST.


JESUS CHRIST: Our Saviour's Person, Mission and
Spirit From the French Of he Rev Father Dld0n'
o. p. Edited by the Rt; Rev: Bernard o'RelIly. G
Holiness with an introduction by His Emineucc
James, Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop OF BSltimo,re.
4D3, vi, 4s1 d. Appleton 4 CO.
Devout Christians generally will find much to please
them in this work by the great French Dominican
1t is characterized by spirit Of profound devotion
and reverence 1t is marked by deep learning ana
wide knowledge II is strongly dpctured with tho
local cnorng of the scenes described The suhor having
spent number Of years is inspecting every spot IN
the Holy Land halowed by association with Chrise'
His style is clear and oftentimcs elegant ana We As
add that he does not suffer as much rom MS "s's .
ss some foreign authors do The hook Is the resa' o'
many years of loving and revercnt labor ana As we
read its narrative touched 1t Is with the very spr'
Of unquosoning religious faith. we are quito reans "
believe the statement that the work is father Daohs
masterpiece 49,
And yet in spite Of all these merits-for merits uey
are-and in spite Of the fact thai II records the
ideal OF the Saviour painted with rare skin by ono OF
the most eminent sons Of Catholicism we venture W
say that the work will be a disappointment W Ivy "
few Catholics In this country, as well as Froesu'"'e
For not only does. II not meet the hisporioA anu
critical questions that inevitably confront US IN any
suryey OF Chrst's life, but the author does not so
t,e slightest evidence that he has any conception OF
tbess ouesaons Throughout the work he gives us
the old traditional views in the old tradtona 'neuaee
of the Church. all obhvious OF what mas been done anu
said during the last fifty years oy coir
seryatiye thinkers and critics within the Churches'
II IA NOT that We expect Catholic author to adopt
an the theories and views Of Christs life and work
that have been put forth BY these thinkers and critics
but we do expect him to indicate. by what ne says
as well as by what he does not say that ne mas ao
least heard OF tbem and could. IL he would overthro"
them The faith and reverence of Father Doon arc
most commendable; but we look in vain for any sign
that he has taken the trouble find out what modern
criticism has TO say about Christ He does Indeed give
ne n critical introduction but even to conservative
critics Il will seem childish and ont OF date he mag
pifes tradition and makes light OF history except In
so far as It may happen to confirm tradiuon' ihcoh
sistencies and contradictions never trouble MN so
,onr as he has in his hand the golden thread OF
tradition With that he can escape out Of the most
involved labyrinth Of facts, and enter that antasc
world Of the past ip which Tradition and CreounS
reign supreme.
The critical Judgment of the author may be eauced
from his declaration that the universal tadluoh OF
the Church paces the composition Of the first Gospel
between the years 33 and 40 OF the Christian
Era Now In the first Place, even il such were the
universal tradition Of the Church. Ii would not be con-
elusive as TO the date of Matthew'S Gospel fof'
as every intelligent scholar knows such traditions are
much more likely TO be wrong than right. But as
matter of fact there Is universal tradition on Ums
point There are two references to It, in Euseblus
and one in Irenaeus the first Of which has nothing 10
do with the matter and the second OF whlch goes 10
prove that the Gospel question written not be-
tween 80 and 40. but between GA and 6s. Numerous
similar examples could be given, which prove con-
cuslvely that Father Didon knows nothing about the
modern scientific historical method Of Investigation.
But IL wOnld be unkind and ungracous to dwell unoWy
on such defects especially be reminded that
good Catholic cannot recognize the scientific historical
method Of investigation without being dsoyal TO the
principles of his Church And we prefer rather ta
emphasize as we have already DONE the excellences OF
this book It's many flashes of genuine religious in
sight its tone Of deep spirituality its passages of lofty
eloquence and its ever present undercurent of simple
unquestioning faith well the absence from II OF
any vexing difficulties unsolved problems, VIII
highly commend it to many Christians of every name
whose temperament and training alike make it i'm
possible for them TO be at religious and critical