The Practice of the Presence of God By Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. Trans. by Sister Mary David, S.S.N.D. (review)

BOOK REVIEWS253 author had in view. Notwithstanding a few minor shortcomings, Eastern Catholic Worship is recommendable to general readers. Kilian J. Hennrich, O.F.M. Cap. Our Lady of Sorrows Friary, New York, N.Y. Catholics and the Civil War. By Rev. Benjamin J. Blied, Ph.D. (Milwaukee , Wis.: private publ., 1945. Pp. 162.) The author prefaces these essays with the remark that "they are neither exhaustive, nor do they constitute an integrated narrative, but as a collection of fragments they may be helpful to others who wish to tell the story of the civil war in detail." They represent many hours of careful research in a field that has interested the Rev. Dr. Blied since he began to prepare his thesis for the degree of master of arts. They present the findings of the author regarding the bishops of the North and the South, the Catholic press in our country, the influencing of Europe, the Fenian Brotherhood, the charity in the armies, Wisconsin Catholics, and the mourning with the nation at the death of Lincoln. They will therefore be most useful to those who are interested in this phase of the history of the Church in the United States. A selected Bibliography and a good Index will help to supplement this usefulness. Theodore Roemer, O.F.M. Cap. St. Lawrence College, Mount Calvary, Wis. The Practice of the Presence of God. By Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection . Translated by Sister Mary David, S.S.N.D. (Westminster, Md. : The Newman Book Shop, 1945. Pp. 127. $2.25.) This is one of those small books that may not be lightly put aside without the loss of profit it may occasion to spiritual guides of religious, or to those seeking self-perfection. The material was partly written, partly gathered and partly explained by Abbé Joseph de Beaufort some three centuries ago. It comprises (1) a spiritual biography of Brother Lawrence a Discalced Carmelite Brother, (2) an exposition of the way he practiced the remembrance of the presence of God, (3) some personal interviews (4) maxims, and (5) letters of the Brother, who, so far as the reviewer knows, is not yet on the way to the honors of the altar. Although the book is a translation, and a good one, of an old French treatise, it is by no means antiquated so far as doctrine and practice are concerned. Its doctrines are independent of time and circumstances, although its practice may be somewhat easier at one particular time than another. The gradual opening of the world to religious and the opening of the monastery or convent to the world have brought about changes which do not contribute to spirituality and perfection, the main purposes of religious life in community. However, this should not lead us to the rash conclusion that FRANCISCAN STUDIES — 8a 254BOOK REVIEWS walking and living in the presence of God is no longer practiced among .religious as well as among seculars in various degrees. The book abounds in good thoughts to increase the number of such religious as well as to increase their fervour. For personal use a careful and meditative reading will bring highly desirable results. It may at least recall the truth that the warmth of the love of God is entirely adequate to offset the coldness of the world, and while making concessions to the weakness of the flesh, we must not neglect to draw on the power of grace and the Spirit. Brother Lawrence's way leads a simpler path to the presence of God than many of those ways advanced by other spiritual writers and is, therefore, more commendable. Kilian J. Hennrich, O.F.M. Cap. Our Lady of Sorrow Friary, New York, N.Y. Proceedings of the National Liturgical Week, 1944. (Chicago: The Liturgical Conference, Inc., 1945. Pp. ix+173. $1.35.) This fifth volume of the annual Liturgical Week reports carries the five papers read at the 1944 Liturgical Conference held at St. Meinrad's Abbey in October as well as the eighteen contributions offered at the December Liturgical Week held in New York City. Unlike the four previous Liturgical Week proceedings, the 1944 volume omits the floor discussion and comments...