and that of the Blessed Lord is startling in its sameness. Catholics, in the meanwhile, have not been idle; among their output are three works by Father Pascal Robinson of Washington, of the utmost importance to all lovers of the Saint:* THE REAL ST. FRANCIS; THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS; and THE GOLDEN SAYINGS OF BLESSED BROTHER GILES. The first named is a complete and convincing refutation of the many errors that disfigure the pages of M. Sabatier's otherwise fascinating life of the Saint: a work of great beauty running over with erudition and withal as successful as a work of fiction, having already passed through some twenty-five or more editions, translated into many languages and crowned by the French Academy as a masterpiece. The translation of the works of St. Francis is almost perfect, if not quite so; nevertheless, it appeals more to the scholar than the general reader, as it is loaded down with notes of value to every student but of little moment to the lovers of St. Francis, that is, from a devotional point of view. It is to be hoped Father Robinson will arrange an edition, in the form of a book of devotion, for it would, without doubt, be popular, more especially THE OFFICE OF THE PASSION, which appears here for the first time in English. This office was composed by St. Francis by weaving together in a masterly way extracts from the Psalter, arranging them for the canonical hours and apportioning them to the ecclesiastical seasons. As Father Robinson gives only one of the three canticles usually attributed to St. Francis, he must be of the opinion that the other two are not authentic; this is the Canticle of the Sun, which rerenders literally, believing that is the only way the "naif rhythm of the original Italian" can be kept. This is a question, however. Take the rst two verses which he translates as follows: Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, To Thee alone do they belong, most And there is no man fit to mention Thee. creatures, Especially to me worshipful brother sun, The which lights up the day, and through him dost Thou brightness give; And beautiful is he and radiant with splendor great; Of Thee, most High, signification gives. and compare them with the following Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, to All glory, honor, praise and blessings be: Praised be my God for creatures, every And praised be thou, my Lord, for Thy gifts to us that he our day may Most beautiful is he, and passing bright; This last rendering is certainly pleasanter to the ear, and seems equal *The Real St. Francis of Assisi. By ly as close to the original. The can Rev. Fr. Paschal Robinson of the Order of Friars Minor. Catholic Truth Society. (Benziger Bros., New York). 25 cents. The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi. Newly translated into English by Father Paschal Robinson, O. F. M. Illustrated. The Dolphin Press. One dollar. The Golden Sayings of the Blessed Brother Giles of Assisi. Translated_by the Rev. Fr. Paschal Robinson. The Dolphin Press, Philadelphia. (Six illustrations). One dollar. ticles omitted: Love sets me all on fire and O Love of Charity, if not written by St. Francis, are so much in his spirit and manner, that they must have been at least inspired by him, and in all probability, as Ozanam holds, they are in very truth his compositions, but retouched by the Blessed Jacopone da Todi. The Golden Sayings of Brother Giles, "The Knight of our Round Table," as St. Francis called him, are wonderfully beautiful, running over with spiritual wisdom, and a number of them with worldly wisdom as well, as for example: The slothful man, he says, loseth this world and the other, bringing forth no fruit for himself; and again, Ever fear and beware of thyself and of him who is like unto thee; and again, He who doth not wish to know, shall not be known. Brother Giles followed St. Francis, as Francis did the Blessed Christ, hence all he has to teach is the wisdom of the Poverello. He was truly Franciscanized, as witness the following words, which are a mere echo of the Seraphic Patriarch: Blessed is he who loveth and doth not therefore desire to be loved; blessed is he who feareth and doth not therefore desire to be feared; blessed is he who serveth and doth not therefore desire to be served; blessed is he who behaveth well toward others and doth The College of St. Angela, New Rochelle, N. Y. The College of Saint Angela, founded in 1904, is the only Catholic college for women in New York State. It offers a four years' course leading to a bachelor's degree in art, science or music. Its graduates are recognized by the Regents of the State of New York, and by the Educational Department of New York City as having the same careful preparation given in the New York State colleges of highest rank. Special attention is given to the study of music and art. In the Extension centres, courses of college rank are given. Teachers are trained for New York State and New York City licenses. Extension Departments: New York, Park Ave. and 93d Street; Brooklyn,. Montrose and Graham Aves.; Albany, St. Patrick's Institute. THE CATHOLIC SICK ROOM Apropos the recent exclusion of a priest from the bedside of a patient in a New York hospital, The Catholic Transcript says: "There is always more or less hazard in trusting one's self in a serious illness to non-Catholic hospitals, doctors and nurses. Many of Many of them have no faith whatever in the rites and ceremonies of the Catholic Church. It is hard to imagine, therefore, that they will be vigilant in having the priest called in on time. They cannot see the necessity of it, and they cannot understand why the sick, who need quiet, should be disturbed by thoughts of approaching dissolution or by the terrors of the judgment to come. "The risk taken by Catholics when committing themselves to non-Catholic hands in sickness is especially grave in cases where infants are born into the world only to die. Who will baptize these helpless innocents? Many Protestant physicians are care ful to learn the ceremonies of Catholic baptism, and they make a practice of administering it to the children. who are in immediate danger of death. The presence of such a physician is no menace to the eternal welfare of the unborn child. But when the attending physician is known to be contemptuous of everything pertaining to the sacramental system of the Catholic Church, he is as much out of place in the Catholic sick room as a direct emissary from his satanic majesty himself. Catholics who employ such a scoffer wantonly jeopar dize the eternal welfare of their offspring, and they cannot, whatever eventuates, be held guiltless in the sight of heaven. 缨 -The unrighteous penny corrupts the righteous pound. -The pleasures we enjoy are lost by coveting more. -God hath often a great share in a little house. Intending purchasers of a STRICTLY FIRST-CLASS Piano, or Piano and Self-Player combined, should not fail to examine the merits of the worldrenowned PIANOS SOHMER PIANOS and the "SOHMER-CECILIAN" Inside Players, which surpass all others. Catalogue mailed on application. Warerooms, Cor. 5th Ave. 22d St. SOHMER & COMPANY, New York. THERE IS ONLY ONE SOAPINE Does Twice as Much Work as any Cheaper Washing Powder SAVE THE BEAUTIFUL FRAMED PICTURES WHALES FOR Art Gallery: 134 W. 18th St., near Sixth Ave., N. Y. Jersey City Agency, 623 Ocean Avenue DANGERS OF SPIRITISM The Ave Maria states that hundreds of papers and magazines have as their main object the propagation of this movement. Its devotees are among the ablest opponents of the Christian religion. Consequently it is proper that Catholics should be warned against participating in spiritualism. Even on natural grounds, this is very desirable, for it is reported that within the last forty years insanity has increased alarmingly precisely on account of this practice. "In one of our largest cities," says the Ave Maria, "a law was recently enacted, making it a misdemeanor to advertise spiritualistic seances of any kind, so widespread had the evil become, and so notable the increase in the number of insane patients from the ranks of the spiritualists."-Some are inclined to favor an utter disregard of the practice on the plea that Catholics consider it nothing more than deceit. However, this is a false attitude. The editor of the above mentioned publication says very pertinently: "After the fullest allowance has been made for fraud and charlatanism, rere than enough remains in spiritualism to confound the keenest investigators." 馋 -Patience is a tree whose root is bitter, but whose fruits are very sweet.-Persian Savings. -We ought never to think we have done enough when there is question. of eternity.-St. Gregory the Great. Wire May to wire Everything Third Sunday in Lent Gospel, St. Luke xi. 14-28: Jesus Casts S. 14 St. Mathilda, Q. Fourth Sunday in Lent Gospel, St. John vi. 1-15: The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. S. 21 St. Benedict, Ab. Th. 25 Annunciation of the B. V. Mary. Passion Sunday Gospel, St. John viii. 46-59: The Jews Try to Stone Jesus. S. 28 St. Sixtus, P. C. M. 29 St. Jonas and Comp., MM. W. 31 Bl. Nicholas von der Flue, C. 37TH ST AT 6THAVENE.COR. PHONE 24-381 Electrical repaired |