The Irish standard., 1913-07-26
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
Important Work by Rev. c. F. McGinnis,
D. D., Ph. D.
Endorsed by Prelates, Priests and People.
Review Specially Written for The Irish Standard.

1t well to understand the various
forms which Christians have ever
used in venerating those champions
of God
This thought leads to q considera-
tion OF holy relics. The truth and
consolation contained in this part OF
the dogma Is brought forth clearly
and convincingly. After this we have
a long treatise on the worship Of sa-
cred images from the first to the sew
enth centuries, and from then to tho
present. Following this are chapters
on canonization, pilgrimages, shrines,
festivals. stations, litanies. An ap-
pendix and copious alphabetical in
dex complete the volume of over four
hundred pages
The bare outline given above of tho
work does not in any way explain the
nature of this contribution to Cath.
olic literature. In the first place, un-
like the average work on such sub
jects. the author has not been con.
tent to copy arguments or authori-
ties from other approved works. Find
Ing that great many writer's have
simply taken their quotations. and
| like material, bodily from other au-
thors, DR.. McGinnis has gone to the
very source OF the matter. He has
| gone through between six and eight
thousand works, comprising the works
of the Fathers, liturgies, ancient
| manuscripts, works on archaeology,
history and many other sources that
might furnish lucid arguments and
proofs as we'll us authentic material
for the work.
/ A work of this kind may sometimes
be considered in the light OF purely
j esthetic production, or of Il simple
religious and devotional character.
The present treatise, however, aims at
something more. 1t presents the sub
4 jcct from every point of view. Argu-
ments from theology are brought to
bear upon the subject in order to
| show the true Catholic nature Of tho
: doctrine. The catacombs of Rome
are called in to witness to the an
| tiquity Of the practice OF praying to
the saints. The most approved sources
are cited to prove the authenticity of
the early Christian Epigraphy, as we'll
as to establish the veracity of the
early writer's. The works of the
Fathers have been thoroughly search
cd to secure the very best references
from those valuable authorities OH the
subject in hand. History has been
called into the open to furnish its
proofs of facts and it's evidence that
early Christians practced the devo-
tions towards the saints as a part of
their every day lives. Grammar and
rhetoric of the languages used by the
early Christians are also adduced to
prove various points related to the
dogma. Poetry, Christian and pagan,
abounds in every chapter telling Its
own story in verse. Early documents
that have references to this subject
have been carefully selected, and have
been quoted with telling effect against
the errors OF later times. The errors
of the ages against the practices of
Christians have been fully refuted.
and those errors traced down to their
orogin, and exposed.
In order to give the work a thor
oughly scholarly appearance and
; weight the original sources quoted
are in every instance thrown into
footnotes, and in the majority of
cases the original texts are quoted in
; their own language. In order to make
this ineligible to those unacquainted
with the original language, the trans
lation, or at least the substance of
the original, is placed in English Ell
ther in the notes or in the body of
the work. Thus those precious testi-
n1onials from early times are made
accessible to every reader.
This work on the Communion Of
ity not only to priests but also to
r Sisters, to teachers, to college pupils,
3, students Of Apologetics, and to the
l. laity in general. The chief magazines
t and reviews Of the country have been
most lavish of their praise on this
e. work; some of the leading prelates
l. have given it their highest approval.
% Cardinal Gibbons says: II Judge it