A Chapter of Franciscan History by Sister M. Mileta Ludwig (review)

BOOK REVIEWS109 the power of Mary's mediation; in short, on almost every doctrine which the Church teaches and every principle on which union with Jesus is founded. Mention should be made of a carefully planned index of the messages accompanied by brief explanatory notes and helpful cross-references. The translation is excellent. Sister M. Charlita, I. H. M. Marygrove College, Detroit, Michigan. A Chapter of Franciscan History. Sister M. Mileta Ludwig, F.S.P.A. New York: Bookman Associates, 1950. Pp. xvi-455. $5.00. This centennial history of the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Perpetual Adoration portrays a branch of the tertiary sisterhood that was founded in 1849 as St. Francis, Wisconsin , and now has its motherhouse at La Crosse, Wisconsin. It is an important story because this community, together with the sister foundation still at St. Francis, is the first of the tertiary sisterhoods founded in our country. It is most interesling, for the portrayal leads us through the many difficulties of pioneer life — hazardous enough in themselves, but doubly so in the foundation of a religious community. In thirty-seven chapters we are carried through the three periods of foundation, organization and development . More than seventy appropriate illustrations visualize the printed word. A six-fold appendix draws atleniion to individual persons and staiistical matters, which would have distracted the attention from the easy flow of the narrative in the body of the work, and yet are importanl enough to be recorded. The footnoies at the bottom of the pages, togelher wilh a good index, make for easy reference. Sisier Milela exhibits the characteristics of a trained historian. She was not satisfied with lhe abundanl material at her disposal in the community archives, but sought out all avenues that might lead to a better understanding of hitherto unclear or disputed interpretations. In the sixth appendix she describes this tortuous research. She presents her findings on a solid basis of general and particular history and in a manner that begets confidence. She 110BOOK REVIEWS does not fear to chronicle faults, even of the founders and their companions, as is often the case in community histories, nor does she offer unreasonable excuses; on the other hand, she does not let bias choke her own charity. Her interpretation of the community 's division is both charitable and according to ascertainable facts. By a simple presentation of events she avoids the patent temptation of extolling beyond measure the merits of her own superiors. Inconsequential episodes that often bolster up community histories and distract from the important facts of the story are avoided. Summing up, it may be stated that Sister Mileta digested the facts thoroughly and presented them in an admirable concentrated form. Franciscan readers, in particular, will find this book a delightful excursion into the historical realms of Franciscanism, and will admire, with Bishop Treacy in the forword, the community's spirit of poverty, love of the holy rule and devotion to the Eucharistie Lord. They will be graleful to Sister Mileta for this interesting and thorough Chapter of Franciscan History. Theodore Roemer, O.F.M. Cap. St. Lawrence College, Mount Calvary, Wisconsin. ...