The Latest Approbations

San Francisco, September 13, 1876.

Rev. Father,

After it was given me to be present at the canonization of St. Alphonsus, and for about forty years to admire the doctrine and writings of so great a Doctor, I rejoice that it is also given me to commend your compendium of the Moral Theology of the same Doctor, as consonant with his doctrine and very useful to the students of our colleges, and indeed to the Venerable Clergy.

• JOSEPH S. ALEMANY, O.P., Archbishop of San Francisco.

Rev. Fr. A. Konings, C.SS.R., etc.

Natchez, Miss., March 9, 1877.

Rev. A. Konings, C.SS.R.:

Rev. Dear Sir: Since I have had an opportunity of looking through your Moral Theology, I cordially agree with what has been said in its commendation by so many better judges. Its special value for this country is its treating of so many matters particularly belonging to us - making a good use of the judicious opinions of the venerated Archbp. Kenrick; and yet not hesitating to give authorities and reasons opposed to them, where such exist. Another special value is in the various recent documents of the Holy See that you give; together with suitable remarks: making your Theology a practical manual for reference; - for the Syllabus, for various answers and instructions of the Holy See, for the Faculties of Bishops, etc. With regard to the general merits of your work, - I have not studied it enough to form a definitive judgment, but as far as I have seen it, I think you manifest a very practical judgment; what we call solid good sense; that you are clear and positive in your opinions, when the matter admits of it, and yet very modest and deferential to others, in your expression of them. Of all the Moral Theologies that I know, yours is the one which I would most wish every priest of my diocese to have and to use.

Your faithful servant in Christ,

• WILLIAM HENRY ELDER, Bishop of Natchez.

St. Paul, March 18, 1877.

Rev. Dear Sir:

Allow me to express to you the great satisfaction I have found in examining your Compendium of Moral Theology. I have recommended it earnestly to all of my priests.

• THOMAS L. GRACE, Bishop of St. Paul.

Rev. A. Konings, C.SS.R.

Harrisburg, Pa., September 24, 1876.

Very Rev. Dear Sir:

It gives me pleasure to add my feeble word of commendation to the many high testimonials you have received for your truly valuable work on Moral Theology.

I am, very respectfully,

Yours in Christ,

J. F. SHANAHAN, Bishop of Harrisburg.

Very Rev. A. Konings, C.SS.R.

Ottawa, September 20, 1876.

Very Reverend Father:

Your work, whose title is: Moral Theology of the Most Recent Doctor of the Church, St. Alphonsus, reduced into a compendium, clearly sets forth the genuine doctrine of the Holy Doctor, and is most excellently adapted also to the condition of this Canadian region.

For this reason it is very pleasing to me to commend it,

• J. THOMAS, Bishop of Ottawa.

St. Cloud, Minn., November 10, 1876.

Rev. and Dear Father:

It gives me great pleasure to add my weak voice of approbation to that of so many learned and distinguished prelates. I consider your Compendium Theologiae Moralis a most useful, I might say necessary, book for every priest, and chiefly for students of Theology. May God bless you for your labors.

Yours very sincerely,

• RUPERT SEIDENBUSH, O.S.B., Vic. Apos. North Minn.

St. Hyacinthe, September 17, 1876.

Very Reverend Father:

I have been able to go through only in part the excellent work, Moral Theology of St. Liguori, which you have published, and of which you kindly sent me a copy. I thank you very much for your kind attention, and I make it a happiness to join my approbation to those, already numerous and of such great weight, which you have received from the venerable Bishops of the United States and elsewhere. I do not hesitate to declare that your work is precious to religion, and that it will be extremely useful to the clergy of the United States and of Canada, who find themselves in nearly the same position, and facing similar needs.

In making very sincere wishes for a wide and prompt diffusion of your work, I remain, very respectfully, my Reverend Father,

Your wholly devoted servant in Our Lord,

• L. Z., Bishop of St. Hyacinthe.

Very Reverend Father Konings, C.SS.R.

Seton Hall College, South Orange, N.J.,

September 11, 1876.

The Rev. A. Konings, C.SS.R., Ilchester, Howard Co., Md.

Rev. and Dear Sir: ..... Your Moral Theology is held in high favor by the professors of our seminary; with myself it is a specially favorite book; I have been reading a portion of it every day for months back. I am happy also to state that it is to be the text-book in the class of Moral Theology.

Very truly yours,

James H. Corrigan, Vice President.

St. Meinrad's Abbey, September 18, 1876.

Rev. and Dear Father:

I find your Moral Theology a most excellent book, and wish to see it introduced into all the ecclesiastical seminaries of this country, as it treats so practically the questions peculiar to America, but also in the other questions it is clear and accurate. Let the fact of having adopted your work as text-book in our seminary be a proof of the high esteem we have for it.

Yours truly in Christ,

Fr. Fintan, O.S.B., Prior.

"When we say that Father Konings, in the work before us, has laid down well and faithfully the moral doctrine of St. Alphonsus, we consider it no ordinary praise. But he has done more. He has written for no general, abstract purpose, but for the special benefit of the American Clergy. Accordingly, he has sought out and carefully brought together whatever there is in our civil laws or social customs that has a moral character, and has examined it by the doctrine of St. Alphonsus. The peculiar condition of the Church in this country, from our legislation and society - especially since the wide-spreading of New England ideas, which have pervaded the willing West and sought to force themselves upon the reluctant South - often brings about difficulties and complications that never existed in Europe, certainly not in the days of St. Alphonsus. These Father Konings has scrutinized keenly and decided by the unerring principles of Catholic doctrine. As an instance, we may quote the vexed question of mixed education, which he treats, as far as we can judge, with wise discretion and sound theology. Elegance of style is not expected and would be out of place in a book of the kind. Father Konings has taken the proper course. He writes with clearness and in a way to make himself intelligible to every reader."

We recommend to our readers the work of Rev. Father Konings, which seems to us to be the best manual of Moral Theology that we possess up to this day. Published for the first time in 1874, it has already reached its third edition.

Fort Wayne, Ind., July 10, 1877.

Rev. A. Konings, C.SS.R.

Rev. Dear Sir: In writing a Moral Theology, wherein due regard is paid to our laws and customs, especially the "common law" of England and this country, you have supplied one of our greatest theological wants, and admirably have you done so; following the safest of guides, St. Alphonsus de Liguori.

• JOSEPH DWENGER, Bishop of Fort Wayne.

Cleveland, January 5, 1878.

I fully approve "Koning's Moral Theology."

• R. GILMOUR, Bishop of Cleveland.