preface — Sabetti-Barrett, Compendium of Moral Theology
To the Reader
Behold, for you, friendly reader, a book certainly not altogether new, but, as I hope, one that will be useful: namely, you have Gury's Compendium of Moral Theology, reduced to a new and briefer form, and adapted to the necessities and customs of this region. For since by long experience I had learned how many and how excellent were the qualities of this book, especially after it had been enriched by Father Ballerini with many notes, I judged that it would be a better plan if I should render it especially profitable for our use, than if I should write a new one.
But in order that I might attain the end which I had set before myself, it was necessary first of all to change certain things. For by new and ever-increasing notes not only had the bulk become excessive, but also no small confusion was wont to cloud the minds of students. Wherefore, all the notes having been suppressed, I combined with the text very many of those things which I found in them solidly and usefully stated, so that the text might at the same time become briefer and contain more.
Besides, there were many things in Gury's Compendium which would be useful for France, but nothing which would serve this region; indeed, also nothing, or very little, which would be necessary for solving those cases which arise from common intercourse between Catholics and non-Catholics. Therefore I eliminated all things which would be useless to us dwelling in these States, and in their place I gathered many things from our Plenary Councils and from other best sources. For since Moral Theology consists in great part in practical applications, it must necessarily bear before itself a certain diversity and, as it were, a local character according to the diversity of regions.
In Gury's Compendium many things were being reported which today are held to be antiquated, especially those things which touch censures. Therefore I set all these aside and briefly explained the New Code of Canon Law according to the notes on the sources with which Cardinal Gasparri adorned the text of the Canons. Indeed I have often recalled the reader throughout the whole book to the said New Code, and I have cited in their proper places the most recent Decrees of the Roman Congregations.
Few things had been said by Father Gury about probabilism, and still fewer about equiprobabilism; and consequently it seemed opportune if I should speak more fully about both: yet not with the intention that I should go off into controversies, but only that the true doctrine of the most wise Doctor of the Church in moral matters, St. Alphonsus, whose disciple I both confess and glory that I am, might be placed in safety.
Certain other things also, both as to form and as to doctrine, I have tried to correct; and first of all I myself verified all citations with my own eyes, so that, so far as human fallibility allows, none is to be called erroneous.
Behold, then, with what mind and in what manner I have elaborated this brief and practical Manual, drawn up for the usefulness of students and Missionaries. For I have had only these before my eyes; namely, young students who in our Seminaries are preparing themselves for the Priesthood, and Missionaries who labor continually and strenuously in the vineyard of the Lord. For the first, lengthy dissertations are not necessary, nor controversies, nor doubts, nor new and unusual heads of doctrine; but brief and solid solutions, to be unfolded by the living voice of the Professor. But for the others there is need of a certain brief repertory, in which solutions perhaps forgotten may be seen, as it were, at one glance of the eye.
One thing remains which I should add, namely, that here I may show a grateful mind to those who by work and counsel added strength to me, and that I may entreat those to whom, in so great a multiplicity of minute things, anything to be corrected should occur, kindly to disclose it to me.