Book Reviews THE LAW OF THE CHURCH. A Cyclopaedia of Canon Law for Englishspeaking Countries. By Ethelred Taunton, priest of the Archdiocese of Westminster. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Truebner & Co. St. Louis: B. Herder. Price, $6.75. "My aim," says Father Taunton, "has been throughout to provide a practical work upon the canon law with special reference to English-speaking countries. Questions which more directly concern dogma, liturgy, morals and ceremonial are passed over; also all questions concerning regulars, except where they come into contact directly or indirectly with the episcopal authority. Much of this book may be found in the many volumes of the Bibliotheca Canonica, Iuridica, etc., of Ferraris, a work which, appearing first about the middle of the eighteenth century, has received so many additions from various hands that, so to say, it has become difficult to see the wood on account of the trees. I have also put most of the later and modern-day writers under direct contribution; I have also attempted to keep pace with the latest decisions. It is also well to point out clearly that I first treat of the common law on each point and then give the particular law which sometimes will be found to modify the former. It is quite likely that, in a book treating of so many subjects, errors-not grave ones, I hope-may have crept in unwittingly. I shall be truly grateful if those competent for the task will point them out to me, so that they may receive attention should other editions be wanted. The work has been cheerfully submitted to two strict revisions by independent censors, and everything has been done to secure an exact Roman spirit throughout the pages." No priest's library is supposed to be complete without containing one or other edition of the Prompta Bibliotheca of Ferraris. Prompta is a strange appellation for that immense work; for, owing to the vast scale on which the subjects are treated, one feels, when hunting up anything in it, that he is searching for a pin in a ten-acre field. It takes an expert, moreover, to determine what legislation is still in force and what has become obsolete, what is of universal force and what has been modified in particular countries. Father Taunton, by wonderful power of condensation, has boiled down. Ferraris into one volume, and has placed in our hands a badly needed digest of the canon law as it exists hic et nunc. We shall leave to professional canonists the task of examining the book with a microscope to test its absolute accuracy in petty details. We opine that very few flaws will be thus detected. As an example of Father Taunton's precision, lucidity and thoroughness we shall take the word "Motu Proprio." 1. A Motu proprio is a kind of apostolic letter (q. v.), generally in the form of a decree issued by the Roman Pontiff on his own initiative. The style is that of a breve (q. v.), e. g., Pius PP. X., motu proprio, with a clause giving the object of the legislation. 2. It differs from breves in that it is not given sub annulo Piscatoris, and it bears at the end the Pope's name, e. g., Pius PP. X. ́ It is not countersigned by any official. 3. It may be in any language, generally in Latin or Italian. 4. Motu proprio is also a phrase which occurs in many Papal documents, and it has, amongst many meanings, the following senses: 1. This clause presumes that the Pope wishes to use the fullness of his power. 2. This clause, in dispensations, interprets them in the widest sense. 3. It has sometimes the effect of the clause non obstantibus. 4. A rescript accorded motu proprio produces its effect even when it would be contrary to laws. 5. What a Pope does motu proprio in favor of a person is valid, although it be contrary to his own decrees. 6. A rescript so granted produces its effect in favor of the other even before he presents it. 7. The clause motu proprio deviates even from expressed reservations. 8. It excludes all subreption (q. v.). 9. It does not imply a dispensation of irregularity or other incapacity. 10. It never takes away the rights of a third person. II. It is never to be presumed if it be not expressed. 12. It does not give faith to what is narrated. We were particularly well pleased with the genuinely "ultramontane," that is, Catholic proclamation of principles by the author in his introduction. The concluding words are worthy of St. Bernard: "Writing these lines beneath the shadow of that glorious dome that hangs over the tomb of Blessed Peter, I submit ex animo this, as well as all my other works, to the supreme judgment of Holy Mother Church. Beforehand I reject everything that she may judge requires correction. For she is the pillar and ground of the Truth, and her word is life and law." THE LIVES OF THE POPES IN THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES. By Rev. Horace K. Mann. Vol. II., 795-858. B. Herder, 17 South Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. Price, $3.00, net. We have read this second (third) volume of Rev. Mr. Mann's "Lives of the Popes" with much pleasure. The period dealt with extends through nine Pontificates, that is, from the accession of Leo III. in 795 to the death of Benedict III. in 858. The next volume will begin with the glorious reign of St. Nicholas I. It was a period during which the influence of the Papacy upon the world advanced by leaps and bounds. As the learned author justly observes, we perceive through the energetic action of the Popes of those times how little the later False Decretals had to do with the establishment of the Papal jurisdiction. Nearly every problem which was to confront the Church and the Papacy during the Middle Ages is seen in germ during this Carolingian period. The relations, amicable and otherwise, between the Papacy and the new Empire founded by it, the unruly factions of the Roman nobility, fated to play so disturbing a part in the local history of Rome, the growing estrangement between the East and the West, soon to issue in the schism of the Greeks, the opening combat between the Cross and the Crescent on Italian soil, the long struggle of the Popes to uphold the inviolability of the marriage tie, are clearly seen, pointing out the lines along which the Church and society are destined to move. The name of Leo III., the founder of the Holy Roman Empire, occupies an important place in the history of the world, whilst the heroic figure of St. Leo IV., the victor of the Saracens in the land and sea fight at Ostia, has extorted the admiration of Voltaire and Gibbon. Gibbon's tribute is extraordinarily eloquent. "This Pontiff," he says, "was born a Roman; the courage of the first days of the Republic glowed in his breast; and, amidst the ruins of his country, he stood erect, like one of the firm and lofty columns that rear their heads above the fragments of the Roman forum." Though Father Mann disclaims any attempt at rhetoric, nevertheless we notice with satisfaction that there is a great improvement in his literary style. We feared, when we read his first volumes, that he was about to write the "Lives of the Popes" in a very dull way; and we, therefore, are much pleased to testify that he is warming up to his theme and that the present volume, whilst displaying the wide erudition of the former volumes and the author's scrupulous love of accuracy, has been made very readable. If Father Mann is not a Gregorovius, still a work like his is badly needed to correct the mistakes and exaggerations of that great historian of Rome. J. REUTER, S. J. NEO-CONFESSARIUS PRACTICE INSTRUCTUS. Editio nova, cura Augustini Lehmkuhl, S. J. Herder: Freiburg and St. Louis, Mo. Price, $1.35, net. The position of the young priest in the confessional is one of peculiar solemnity. Called upon, from the earliest days of his min istry, to exercise that "art of arts, the direction of souls," he would be exposed, through inexperience, to the danger of making fatal mistakes of judgment were it not for the solicitude of Holy Church to equip him with the wide experience of older heads. One of the most valuable of practical guides for young confessors is this little book of Father Reuter's, which has been a beacon light to thousands of priests for a century and a half, and which now reappears enlarged and brought down to date by no less a master of moral theology than the world-renowned Father Lehmkuhl. Out of reverence for the original writer the modern editor has taken care to distinguish carefully his own additions and the modifications made necessary by recent legislation through typographical signs. Needless to say, this little book, though written primarily for the benefit of young confessors, can be read and reread with advantage by every priest who has charge of souls. THE LIFE OF CHRIST. By Mgr. E. Le Camus. Bishop of La Rochelle, France. Translated by William A. Hickey, priest of the Diocese of Springfield. Vol. I., xxix. + 450. New York: The Cathedral Library Association, 534-536 Amsterdam avenue. Price, $1.50 per volume, net. In reviewing an earlier edition of this work we said: "This fruit of twelve years' constant labor is in every way a history so complete and so satisfying that it leaves nothing wanting either for the reader who seeks to criticize or for him who is in search of piety. To sum up our impression, this is a work destined to assume a very high rank, or rather a place of honor, among the most remarkable literary productions of our age." Now made accessible in English, we can but repeat our previous opinion. Father Hickey in the volume before us has accomplished well his aim. His translation is worthy of the original, the beauty of the latter not having suffered, its method followed and its eloquence preserved. The work will appear in three volumes, divided again into parts and books, to correspond with the main periods of the life of our Lord. In this, the first volume, is taken up "the earlier life of Jesus," the appearance of the Messiah in Israel, the immediate preparation of Jesus for His public life; the public life itself, His revelation of Himself to His disciples and the result thereof, and the gathering together of the first elements of the Church. A lengthy introduction treats of the necessity for the coming of the Saviour and adds a description of Palestine and its people. A wide circulation among the laity should be expected for the work. Written in an easy and attractive style and yet with all atten tion to scholarly finish, it should form, with the Imitation of Christ and the Holy Bible, a complete library for a devout Catholic family. GESCHICHTE DES DEUTSCHEN VOLKES vom dreizehnten Jahrhundert bis zum Zustände während des dreizehnten Jahrhunderts. Dritte, unveranderte Auflage. gr. 8vo. (XX. u. 368). Price, $2.00, net. Zweiter Band: Religiös-sittliche Zustände, Erziehung und Unterricht während des dreizehnten Jahrhunderts. Erste bis dritte Auflage. gr. 8vo. (XXXII. u. 450). Price, $2.25, net. Dritter Band: Deutsche Wissenschaft und deutsche Mystik während des dreizehnten Jahrhunderts. Erste bis dritte Auflage. gr. 8vo. (XXXII. u. 474). Price, $2.40, net. Vierter Band: Deutsche Dichtung und deutsche Musik während des dreizehnten Jahrhunderts. Erste bis dritte Auflage. gr. 8vo. (XXVIII u. 458). Price, $2.40, net. Herder, Freiburg and St. Louis. We purposely refrained from giving a mere book notice of Father Michael's great work on medieval Germany, confidently expecting that one or other of our contributors would before now have dealt with the important publication in an extended paper. We still hope that some one who has the time to digest the enormous mass of materials collected by the industry of the learned Jesuit will make it accessible to our readers. Meanwhile, with due apologies to author and publisher for our delay, we take pleasure in recommending the four volumes which have already appeared to all lovers of history. The work is inspired by Janssen and dedicated to that immortal investigator. It designs to do for the Germany of the Middle Ages that which he accomplished for the Reformation period. When we add that it is in every way worthy of a disciple of Janssen, we have pronounced an all-sufficient eulogy. It means not only that Father Michael has made an exhaustive study of all the materials and literature of his vast subject, but that, moreover, he has so well mastered it that he is able to present it in a facile, readable manner. The drudgery has been entirely his; to the reader is left the pleasure of following him step by step through all the phases of German mediæval life. One departure he has made from the customary writing of history, in that he presents the social life of the nation before treating of the political history. We do not regard this as a defect. The public history of the "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation" has often enough been written up, and there remains but little that is new to be said about it. Moreover, the Holy Roman Empire is a thing of the past, and interest in it is mainly antiquarian. As the author wisely remarks, it is social questions that occupy men's attention to-day; and the roots of all our social problems are to be sought in the Middle Ages. To show on how extended a scale the author has mapped out his work, we shall give a brief synopsis of the contents of the four |