Publisher's Notices

The little works published by R. P. Merkelbach, O.P., in the collection "Pastoral Questions," have generally been received with grateful spirit and approved with many praises.

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

"Brief, clear, methodical: the first qualities of a summary which the author wished, as far as possible, complete so that it might be practical. Happy choice of the preliminary anatomical and physiological notions: here one finds details ordinarily passed over in silence, and nevertheless indispensable. We cannot record all the particulars worthy of praise in this work: we would never finish."
Collationes Namurcenses

"We commend this little work of the distinguished author with the best note: for he has handled skillfully and with restraint a matter already much and long discussed, and indeed a difficult one."
Divus Thomas, Piacenza

"No theoretical digressions, but the right, certain exposition of all that is required to form the trustworthy counselor and confessor."
Ons Geloof

"This volume gathers and develops a little more than the general treatises of morals 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, one will learn with great interest the opinion of the eminent professor, whose fineness of analysis and rigor of reasoning are sufficiently known. He solidly proves the severe solutions proposed by the Church; he very happily refuses to proclaim a certain obligation when it cannot be proved in a sufficient manner."
J. Salsmans, S.J., Nouvelle Revue theol.

"The doctrine in general is secure, the exposition clear and ordered, the end intended by the author excellent. The little work will certainly prove useful, especially to priests who exercise the care of souls. We gladly recommend it."
Felice M. Capello, S.J., Gregorianum

"...The doctrines are clearly set forth, the arguments summarily but solidly proposed, the solutions frankly given. And we will open this work with the certainty that we shall find what we seek. For everything is there which ought to be there, and there is more than one thought to find. All kinds of penitents are passed in review, from children, the simple, occasionaries, relapsers, habitual sinners, the sick, etc., etc., up to the abnormal, the devout, contemplatives, etc., etc. The author profits from these diverse questions to sketch little special treatises: ...on contemplation and its degrees, ...on the morality of dances and dress, ...the absolution of the excommunicated, ...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 repent of it."
G. Kiselstein, Revue Eccl. de Liege

"A truly excellent pastoral-theological treatment concerning the administration of the Holy Sacrament of Confession is given to us by Fr. M.... Through its clear expositions and right judgment this book receives a proper value of great utility for every Confessor."
Studien

"Like the two volumes which preceded it, this one is a sum of dogmatic and moral doctrine, at the same time as a precious manual of pastoral theology. It is the fruit of numerous readings but also of long reflections. To everything he touches the author gives a stamp of order and measure, and he does not declare himself satisfied except when he has rendered it massive with ideas proposed, explained, defended, and coordinated. Too modestly he entitles his works: Pastoral Questions. Read the present work, and you will see that no aspect is lacking which could figure in an extended treatise, not even the historical openings drawn from universally esteemed authors. Here one will find what regards 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 diverse questions which one is accustomed to treat concerning them."
G. Kiselstein, Rev. Eccles. de Liege

"In several fascicles, M. publishes the most important doctrinal pieces of pastoral theology. The fascicles are essentially a commendable compilation of the doctrines presented by various authors."
Zeitschrift fur kathol. Theolog.

"All sorts of questions, otherwise divided over different treatises and sometimes touched only in passing, we find here systematically ordered and discussed more fully with reference to the best authors. This is indeed the great merit of this series."
Studien

"A series of pastoral-theological brochures which, in our opinion, is especially very worthy of the particular attention also of the clergy engaged in service... The strong, speaking print, in alternation of ordinary type, bold type, and italic type, corresponds to the content.

"The writer shows himself in these brochures 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 abreast of 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 the current teachings... We know no work of this kind which is superior to it."
Revue Eccl. de Liege

"The treatise on the 'Sacrament of Marriage' of R. P. Salmon yields in nothing to those of R. P. Merkelbach: same concision, same clarity, same precision in the exposition of the theory. We could add, same care to attach practice to theory and to illumine the latter by the former."
Revue Dominicaine (Canada)

"This chiefly is had in the present work as a merit to be praised, that by using this guidance the priest will be able as quickly as possible, as if in one single and brief view, to see the whole treatise on marriage: which complete knowledge is surely an advantage of no small moment for the pastoral ministry."
Armand Gougnard, Coll. Mechlinienses

"Almost nothing on purely speculative questions, no long theories on controverted points, but always practical, frank, and secure solutions. Thanks to the good 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 Manager,
P. Rutten.

Imprimerie Veritas
Mont-Saint-Amand (Ghent), Belgium.