Publisher's Notices

They were universally received with gratitude and confirmed by the praises of many.

The aforesaid booklets, although previously published, are nevertheless a necessary complement to the Summa of Moral Theology, since they treat questions more profoundly and extensively, and in another order, or more practically, or even treat new and diverse questions. This is especially evident in booklets I, II, III, and VI.

...His chapter on the causes of and remedies for carnal sins is well timed, and will be especially valuable for confessors and directors of youth.

The Month.

Brief, clear, methodical: these are the first qualities of a summary which the author wished to be, as far as possible, complete so that it would be practical. The preliminary anatomical and physiological notions are happily chosen: here are found details ordinarily passed over in silence, and nevertheless indispensable. We cannot point out all the particulars of this work which are worthy of praise: we would never finish.

Collationes Namurcenses.

We commend this booklet by the distinguished author as being of the highest quality: skillfully and concisely, indeed, it treats a matter now much and long discussed, and one certainly difficult.

Divus Thomas, Piacenza.

No theoretical digressions, but the correct and certain exposition of everything required to form the reliable adviser and confessor.

Ons Geloof.

A work of great clarity in its terminology, of true solidity in its pastoral and penitential practice, and in which we find what is too often lacking in similar works: the physiological and moral notions necessary to the confessor.

P. Hourat, Bulletin Circulaire.

The treatise On Chastity, while complete, remains brief, as befits a work having above all a pastoral purpose. Its object is chastity in marriage as well as in celibacy; it does not omit the study of the causes and remedies of lust.

Collationes Tornacenses.

This volume brings together and develops somewhat more than general treatises of moral theology do the questions relating to abortion, surgical interventions, and the administration of baptism. In these matters, which give rise to so many anguishing cases of conscience, the opinion of the eminent professor, whose subtlety of analysis and rigor of reasoning are sufficiently known, will be learned with great interest. He solidly proves the severe solutions proposed by the Church; he very happily refuses to proclaim an obligation certain when it cannot be proved in a sufficient manner.

J. Salsmans, S.J., Nouvelle Revue Théologique.

The doctrine in general is safe, the exposition clear and orderly, and the end intended by the author excellent. The booklet will certainly prove useful, especially to priests who exercise the care of souls. We willingly recommend it.

Felice M. Capello, S.J., Gregorianum.

...The doctrines are clearly expounded, the arguments summarily but solidly proposed, and the solutions frankly given. And we will open this work with the certainty that we shall find what we seek. For everything which ought to be there is there, and there is more than one expected to find. Every kind of penitent is reviewed, from children, the simple, those in occasions of sin, relapsing penitents, habitual sinners, the sick, and so forth, up to abnormal persons, the devout, contemplatives, and so forth. The author takes advantage of these diverse questions to sketch little special treatises: ...on contemplation and its degrees, ...on the morality of dances and dress, ...on the absolution of the excommunicated, ...on temperaments. How many instructive things professors of pastoral theology do not have time to develop before their students! Here it is done by a master. Let confessors consult it: they will not regret doing so.

G. Kiselstein, Revue Ecclésiastique de Liège.

Father M. gives us a truly excellent pastoral-theological treatise concerning the administration of the Holy Sacrament of Penance.... Through its clear expositions and sound judgment, this book acquires a distinctive value of great utility for every confessor.

Studiën.

Very Reverend Father,

...It is with lively gratitude that I received your book On the Minister of Penance. Thank you for sending it to me, and thank you also for publishing it. I am persuaded that it is worthy of your preceding works.

Your studies of pastoral theology will thus constitute a whole of the very first value. I wish for your books the widest and most enduring influence.

J. E. Cardinal Van Roey, Archbishop of Mechelen.

They are both pastoral treatises, and will be acceptable to all shepherds of souls. The former deals with the confessor's treatment of various classes of penitents, much as St. Alphonsus did so well in the Homo Apostolicus. Father Merkelbach has given us the benefit of wide reading and a long experience. The second monograph deals with the confessor himself, his powers, jurisdiction, reservation, the seal, and so forth. Though the seminarian will hardly have time to read them with all his other work, the priest on the mission should find time to do so.

The Month.

Like the two volumes which preceded it, this one is a summa of dogmatic and moral doctrine, at the same time as a precious pastoral manual. It is the fruit of numerous readings but also of long reflections. Upon everything he touches the author places a stamp of order and measure, and he declares himself satisfied only when he has rendered it substantial with ideas proposed, explained, defended, and coordinated. Too modestly he titles his works Pastoral Questions. Read the present work, and you will see that it lacks no aspect which could appear in an extended treatise, not even historical observations drawn from universally esteemed authors. Here will be found what concerns the matter of the Sacrament of Penance, remote matter and proximate matter, that is, the acts of the penitent: contrition, confession, and satisfaction, with the various questions customarily treated concerning them.

G. Kiselstein, Revue Ecclésiastique de Liège.

In various fascicles, M. publishes the most important doctrinal parts of pastoral theology. The fascicles are essentially a welcome compilation of the teachings presented by various authors.

Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie.

All kinds of questions, elsewhere distributed among different treatises and sometimes touched upon only in passing, are found here systematically ordered and discussed more fully, with references to the best authors. This is indeed the great merit of this series.

Studiën.

...A series of pastoral-theological booklets which, in our opinion, is eminently worthy of particular attention, especially from clergy engaged in the ministry.... The strong, expressive printing, alternating ordinary type, bold type, and italic type, corresponds to the contents. In these booklets the author shows himself an excellent theologian, whose works, at once theoretical and practical, deserve the highest recommendation.

M. van Grinsven, C.Ss.R., Nederlandsche Katholieke Stemmen.

This seventh fascicle of the Pastoral Questions is a good summary of the treatise on marriage: brief, clear, practical.... It is well informed concerning the most recent decisions of the Pontifical Commission for the Interpretation of the Code.

A. C., Collationes Namurcenses.

It is a very well-made summary of current teaching.... We know of no work of this kind superior to it.

Revue Ecclésiastique de Liège.

The treatise on the Sacrament of Marriage by the Reverend Father Salmon is in no respect inferior to those of the Reverend Father Merkelbach: the same concision, the same clarity, the same precision in the exposition of theory. We could add, the same concern to connect practice with theory and to illuminate the latter by the former.

Revue Dominicaine (Canada).

This especially is held to be a praiseworthy merit in the present work: by using this guide, a priest will be able as quickly as possible, as it were in a single brief view, to perceive the whole treatise on marriage. Such complete knowledge is certainly an advantage of no small moment for the pastoral ministry.

Armand Gougnard, Collectanea Mechliniensia.

Almost nothing on purely speculative questions, no long theories concerning controverted points, but always practical, frank, and sure solutions. Thanks to the sound divisions made evident by an excellent typographical arrangement, consultation of the work is easy and rapid.

D. A. S., Revue Liturgique et Monastique (Maredsous).

The work of Father B. H. Merkelbach will be most useful by reason of its clarity, the exactness of its definitions, and that of its generally well-justified divisions. On many difficult and complicated questions, it gives in few words a solution whose precision manifests the very conscientious and profound study which he made of it, while keeping abreast of the most recent works.

F. Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P., Angelicum.

We are persuaded that students, from the study of this work, will arrive at a more solid and more scientific knowledge of moral theology than from many even celebrated manuals of moral theology. To the praise of the author we add that he wrote his work methodically and in a style not difficult.... Truly and heartily we congratulate the distinguished professor upon this eminent work, which we judge useful also for professors.

Vermeersch, Gregorianum, 1932 (fasc. 2).

A strong work, because it was thought through and conducted with constant care for logic; compact, because fully up to date, touching upon all questions of morals, in a close style, without useless digressions. Once again we were struck by the precision of the author's formulations.... To this is added great erudition....

G. Kiselstein, Revue Ecclésiastique de Liège.

The theologians formed by this method will not only be good confessors; they will know how to teach and defend Catholic moral doctrine.... This work will provide many professors with the means of improving their teaching of moral theology.

J. Creusen, S.J., Nouvelle Revue Théologique.

We have the impression that these two volumes belong among the best works offered in recent times in the speculative-theological renewal of moral theology. That the doctrine is maintained in a strictly Thomistic manner is an unqualified gain.

Dr. Damen, C.Ss.R., Nederlandsche Katholieke Stemmen, November 1932.

Everything is diligently elaborated, fully treated, and clearly expounded, so that the work is to be numbered among the more excellent. One who is not deterred by the scholastic and speculative method will scarcely find a better guide.

F. B., Collationes Gandavenses.

The Manager: P. Rutten.

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