Extraordinary Life of Marie Louise Brault by Louis Bouhier, S.S. (review)

512BOOK REVIEWS from St. Anselm in this that he demands that this possibility of existence be rigorously demonstrated and not merely taken for granted. Since an a priori demonstration of this possibility is out of the question for us in our present state of existence, Scotus has recourse to an a posteriori demonstration.. St. Anselm's mistake, then, was to regard his proof as a priori. Interesting as is Father Bettoni's interpretation, we wonder if he has not overlooked the technical meaning of "colorado." (See for instance, P. Boehner 's commentary on the Nature and Origins of Scientism in Franciscan Studies, V (1945), p. 314). In discussing the metaphysical proof for God's existence, Bettoni has occasion to correct some of the misconceptions of Gilson in regard to Scotus' natural theology. Readers will find chapters four and five interesting. The former gives a critical evaluation of the proof selected by Scotus. The latter deals with the epistemological prerequisites for the argument. The last chapter on the Theoremata deserves a word of commendation. Here the problem of the authenticity of the Theoremata is reviewed. Gilson's attempt to reconcile the doctrine of the latter work with that of the authentic works is recognized as a patent distortion of the real Scotus. If the apparent doctrinal opposition is to be resolved, it must, says Bettoni, be achieved along different lines than those suggested by Gilson and Baudry. Father Bettoni's work, on the whole, is well done. Whether one agrees with him in toto or not, readers will find his study a valuable contribution to the clarification of Scotus' natural theology. Allan B. Wolter, O.RM. Franciscan Institute, St. Bonaventure, N. Y. Extraordinary Life of Marie Louise Brault. By Louis Bouhier, S.S. Translated from 2nd Edition, as revised and corrected, by W. S. Reilly, S.S. Westminster , Md.: Newman Book Shop, 1941. Pp. xiii, 306. $3.50. After reading this book one is forced to agree that the word for Madame Brault's life is "extraordinary." She was the second child in a family of fifteen , but the oldest died when she was still young, so she bore the burdens of the oldest in a large family. When she married, she herself gave birth to eleven children, and was a devoted wife and mother. Amid all these labors entailed by the conditions of her life, she grew so close to Christ that she could say (and mean it! ) "Do you know what is my greatest suffering? It is to be without suffering!" Such expressions of her feelings stem from her deep love and admiration of St. Theresa of Avila. She imitated that great saint to the point of becoming herself a great mystic. The author divides his study into two parts, the first dealing with Madame Brault's life; the second, a collection of eighty letters written in obedience to her spiritual director. The first part is divided into twenty-two chapters describing her background, her home, her desire of the cloister, her marriage, BOOK REVIEWS513 her various virtues, the persecutions she endured from the devil, her charismata , her last sickness and death. The eighty letters of the second part of the book show us the inner soul of this great woman; they show us the workings of God in His chosen vessel; here in simple language is shown the mystical growing-together of a creature and the Creator. The greatest lesson emphasized in the book to my mind is this: faithfulness to one's duties will lend to union with God. Madame Brault never neglected her duties as wife and mother. She cooked, baked, washed, sewed, and found time to help the poor, the sick, and to assist in decorating the altars of the parish church. In the whirl of all these activities she still became more and more absorbed in the Love that is God. The book should appeal to all who are striving to advance in the spiritual life; it should prove a valuable aid to directors of souls. Arnold Yanker, O.F.M.Cap. St. Fidelis Seminary, Herman, Pa. Obras de San Buenaventura. Edición Bilingüe. Three volumes. Edición dirigida, anotada y con introducciones...