Publisher's Notices

Little works published by R. P. Merkelbach, O.P., in the collection "Pastoral Questions," were everywhere received with gratitude and approved by 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, to be complete so that it might be practical. A happy choice of the preliminary anatomical and physiological notions: here one finds details ordinarily passed over in silence, and nevertheless indispensable. We cannot point out all the particulars worthy of praise in this work: we would not finish.

Collationes Namurcenses.

We commend this little work of the distinguished Author in the best terms: for he has skilfully and coherently resolved a matter already much and long discussed, and indeed a difficult one.

Divus Thomas, Piacenza.

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

Ons Geloof.

This volume brings together and develops, somewhat more than general treatises of morals do, the questions relating to abortion, to surgical interventions, and to the administration of baptism. In these matters, which give rise to so many distressing cases of conscience, one will learn with great interest the opinion of the eminent professor, whose fineness of analysis and rigor of reasoning are well enough 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 sound, 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 expounded, the arguments briefly but solidly proposed, the solutions frankly given. And we shall open this work with the certainty that we shall find what we are seeking. For everything is there which ought to be there, and there is more than one expected to find. All kinds of penitents are reviewed, from children, the simple, those in occasions, relapsers, the habitual, the sick, etc., etc., even to the abnormal, the devout, the contemplatives, etc., etc. The author profits from these diverse questions to sketch small special treatises: ...on contemplation and its degrees, ...on the morality of dances and attire, ...on the absolution of excommunicates, ...on temperaments. How many instructive things professors of pastoral theology have no time to develop before their pupils! Here this 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 treatise concerning the administration of the Holy Sacrament of Confession is given to us by Father M.... Through his clear expositions and right judgment this book obtains a proper value, of great use for every confessor.

Studien.

Most Reverend Father,

...It is with lively gratitude that I have received your book De Poenitentiae Ministro; thank you for having sent it to me, and thank you also for having published it. I am persuaded that it is worthy of your previous 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 lasting influence.

• J. E. Card. Van Roey.

Archbishop of Malines.

The learned Author, professor of Theology at Louvain, expounds with depth and clarity, both from the speculative and from the practical side, the questions of moral and pastoral theology which concern the jurisdiction and duties of the confessor, most important questions which are accustomed to be treated too briefly in the common scholastic treatises of moral theology.

Osservatore Romano.

They are both Pastoral treatises, and will be acceptable to all shepherds of souls. The former deals with the confessors' 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, etc... Though the Seminarist 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 sum of dogmatic and moral doctrine, and at the same time a precious manual of pastoral theology. It is the fruit of numerous readings but also of long reflections. To everything that he touches the author gives a stamp of order and measure, and he does not declare himself satisfied until he has rendered it solid 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 sketches drawn from universally esteemed authors. Here will be found what regards the matter of the sacrament of Penance, the remote matter and the proximate matter, that is, the acts of the penitent: contrition, confession, and satisfaction, with the various questions which one is accustomed to treat concerning them.

G. Kiselstein, Rev. Eccles. de Liege.

In several fascicles, M. publishes the most important doctrinal sections of pastoral theology. The fascicles are in substance a praiseworthy compilation of doctrines presented by various authors.

Zeitschrift fur kathol. Theolog.

All kinds of questions, elsewhere divided among various treatises and sometimes touched only in passing, we find here systematically ordered and discussed more broadly 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 judgment, is exceedingly worthy of the special attention above all of the clergy engaged in ministry... The strong, clear type, in alternation of ordinary letter, bold letter, and italic letter, 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" by R. P. Salmon yields in nothing to those of R. P. Merkelbach: the same concision, the same clarity, the same precision in the exposition of the theory. We could add, the same concern to attach practice to theory, and to illuminate the latter by the former.

Revue Dominicaine (Canada).

This especially is held to be a merit deserving praise in the present work: that by using this guidance a priest will be able, very quickly and as if by one single and brief survey, to perceive the whole treatise on marriage. This complete knowledge is certainly of no slight importance as an aid 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 sure solutions. Thanks to the good divisions brought into relief by an excellent typographical arrangement, consultation of the work is easy and rapid.

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

1 volume in octavo, 112 pages, 10 fr. (Fr.)

"...namely, that under the form of a glossary or lexicon the principal questions of Moral Theology may be indicated, together with the places where there is discussion of them."

According to the mind of St. Thomas and according to the norm of the new law

The work of Father B. H. Merkelbach will be among the most useful by its clarity, by the exactness of the definitions and by that of the divisions, generally well justified. On many difficult and complicated questions he gives in few words a solution whose precision manifests the very conscientious and thorough study which he has 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 attain to a more solid, more scientific knowledge of moral theology than from several even celebrated manuals of moral theology. To the praise of the author we add that he has written his work methodically and with a style not difficult... Truly, from the heart we congratulate the distinguished professor on a work which we judge will be notably useful even to professors.

Vermeersch, Gregorianum, 1932. (fasc. 2.)

A strong work, because thought out and carried through with a constant concern for logic; compact, because fully up to date, touching upon all questions of morals, in a close style, without useless digressions. We have once more been struck by the precision of the author's formulas... To this is added great erudition...

G. Kiselstein, Revue Eccl. de Liege.

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 furnish many professors with the means of improving their teaching of moral theology.

J. Creusen, S.J., Nouvelle Revue Theologique.

We have the impression that these two volumes belong to the best that has lately been offered for the speculative-theological renewal of morals. That the doctrine has been kept strictly Thomistic is, moreover, pure gain.

Dr. Damen, C.Ss.R., Nederl. Kath. Stemmen, Nov. 1932.

All things are diligently elaborated, fully treated, and clearly set forth, so that the work is to be counted among the more excellent. Whoever is not deterred by the scholastic and speculative method will scarcely find a better guide.

F. B., Collationes Gandavenses.

The Manager,

P. Rutten.

Imprimerie Veritas

Mont Saint-Amand (Gand), Belgium.