Problemas do Catolicismo Contemporâneo by Mesquita Pimentel (review)

322BOOK REVIEWS different Christian and other Communities in the various Shrines and having ascertained the facts, let justice be done. Then this new "Status Quo"- can be enforced and the Holy Places which witnessed the earthly sojourn of the Prince of Peace amongst us will be once more the abodes of fraternal peace and charity among those who reverence His sacred memory. KEVIN O'SULLIVAN, O.F.M. Christ the King Seminary, St. Bonaventure, N. Y. Problemas do Catolicismo Contemporáneo. By Mesquita Pimentel. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Vozes, 1948. Pp. 333. This volume unites several essays published by the author since 1943 in the periodical Vozes de Petropolis. Animated by the fervent desire to see the basic tenets of the Faith untouched and fully recognized, as well as made the principles of attitude and action, Mr. Pimentel sometimes becomes rather agressive and, perhaps, even a little unjust, his emphasis on charity notwithstanding. It is, of course, everyone's right to judge accordingto his lights, and his duty to speak according to his conscience; but it would seem that before condemning altogether men who, after all, have been admired by people not less anxious to preserve the true spirit of Catholicism, some consideration might be given for the reasons why these others failed to see all the dangerous errors the author discovers in the "four evangelists of a new Christianity" who are false prophets: Maritain, Bloy, Peguy, and Bernanos. His standpoint had been attacked, and in one article he answers his critic. The titles: The Catholic in today 's world, Confusionism, Collaborating with evil (already reporting in a not wholly unfavorable manner on books not strictly Catholic is such a collaboration), Catholic mentality, Literature and Catholicism, False prophets, The centennary of L. Bloy, The four evangelists, Catholicism and politics, Catholic conformism (highly critical of the ideas, e.g. of W. Parsons), Morals and art, Ethics and Aesthetics, Union in truth and charity. These essays are interesting, more perhaps as the testimony of a sincere if rather extremistic mind, than because of their philosophical content. To judge the attitude of the author one would have to take BOOK REVIEWS323 account of the particular situation in Brazil and the repercussions the "false prophets" may have caused there. It may be that Mr. Pimentel views his problems too much from the angle of local events. RUDOLF ALLERS Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. The Didache, The Epistle of Barnabas, The Epistles and the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, The Fragments of Papias, The Epistle to Diognetus. Translated and Annotated by Rev. James A. Kleist, S.J. No. 6 of Ancient Christian Writers. Westminister, Md.: Newman Bookshop, 1948. Pp. 235. $2.75. Father James Kleist makes another valuable contribution to the study of the Ancient Christian Writers in this the sixth number of the series. This volume should prove as popular as his first (The Epistles of St. Clement of Rome and St. Ignatius of Antioch). Here we have some of the most ancient Christian documents bearing witness to the life and discipline of the Church in the first and second centuries. The first work,. TAe Didache or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, according to its longer title, is usually considered as the oldest Christian non-canonical piece of literature. The original author is unknown. The date of its composition is placed towards the end of the first century. This work is valued so highly because it gives us a glimpse of the primitive Christian community. It sketches the primitive instruction for converts, offers a brief description of the liturgy of the time, outlines the early Church organization together with some disciplinary regulations, and concludes with a final instruction on the Parousia. The Didache has been described by various authors as the oldest ritual-ordo of Christianity . Perhaps it would be more exact to describe it as a summary of moral, individual and social obligations of the early Christians. It could have served as a "Vade Mecum" for the faithful and as an ordo for the Church officials. The Epistle of Barnabas is a letter of instructions intended for recent converts from paganism. The purpose of the instructions was to shield the neo-converts from...