work, and consequently often in practice more of a striving and an aiming than a perfect doing. Yet it adds much to the chances of our work to know the way before us, for we can hardly expect to do what we do not know. It is hoped that the present volume may be of some small service to many, both towards the knowing and doing. And the words of our Blessed Lord will tell us the importance of both the one and the other: "If you know these things, you shall be blessed if you do them." (S. John xiii, 17.)

Contents-I, Introduction; II, The Knowledge of God; III, The Knowledge of Ourselves; IV, Our Ultimate End; V, Our Proximate End; VI, The Use of Time; VII, Avoidance of Sin; VIII, Tepidity; IX, The Formation of Habits; X, The Purification of the Soul: XI, Spiritual Progress; XII, The Religious Life; XIII, The Priestly Life; XIV, Mental Prayer; XV, Mortification: XVI, The Love of God: XVII, Love of Our Neighbor; XVIII, The Incarnation; XIX, Our Lord's Sacramental Life; XX, Our Blessed Lady, the Angels and Saints; XXI, The Divine Office; XXII, The Vows of Religious Life; XXIII, The Rules; XXIV, Ordinary Actions; XXV, Spirit and Discipline; XXVI, Knowing, Doing and Persevering.

GOOD NIGHT STORIES. By Mother M. Salome. Burns & Oates; Benziger Bros., American Agents. 12mo. pp. 184. Cloth, illustrated. Net 75 cents.

Mother Salome possesses the peculiar gift of writing in a manner that will interest the little ones. Her previous works, namely "The Life of Our Lord written for Little Ones" and "Some Little London Children," have proven this beyond the peradventure of a doubt. Her "Good Night Stories" are done in her happiest vein. They open an en

tirely new field in Catholic literature. They are intended for children younger than those whose interests are most commonly consulted. While there is an abundance of good Catholic juvenile literature in the market Catholic mothers and instructors of the infants have long felt the want of a collection of short stories, simple in language, inculcating a good Catholic moral. Manifestly, therefore, Mother Salome has filled a long felt want and has written a book which is bound to become popular and productive of much good.

HISTORY OF IRELAND - FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT DAY. By Rev. E. A. D'Alton, M. R. I. A. The first two volumes of this history are published; the third and last volume will be ready in the Fall. The first volume covers from the earliest times to the year 1547, the second from 1547 to 1782. Vol. I, 8vo. pp. 468, cloth, gilt top, $3.00 net. Vol. II, 8vo, pp. 576, cloth, gilt top, $3.00 net. Benziger Bros., publishers.

We find in this history a desire to be impartial, accurate and readable, together with a fulness of detail and a wealth of references to acknowledged authorities that cannot fail to impress the student. We find no gorgeous or fanciful coloring but a clear, well-defined narrative of facts as taken from native annalists, State papers and other reliable and original sources. In addition there is given at the end a valuable bibliography of works consulted in preparation of Volume II, as well as a number of maps and plans taken from Bagwell's and Gardiner's great works.

The student of Irish history can, with perfect confidence, take up the two volumes now accessible and glean therefrom a clear estimate of Ireland from the earliest times to the Era of the Volunteers.

T

HE month of the Rosary" is the title ascribed to October, for this month is essentially dedicated to Mary, Queen of the most holy Rosary. For this reason Catholics should be especially active this month, honoring Mary through an extraordinary devotion to her beads. Old and young should unite in paying homage to the great Mother of God. during this special season, blending their voices into one sweet unison of devotion to her who, after God, is the object of our deepest love. In the sanctuary of the home, especially, should entire families make it a duty of love to recite the Rosary in common every evening.

This ancient custom, which has come down to us as a sacred tradition, contains an act of piety at once both beautiful and salutary. Behold the father and mother, kneeling, surrounded by their children, the only sound breaking the solemn stillness being the sweet "Paters" and "Aves" ascending to heaven! During this impressive time what holy thoughts pass through the minds of these devoted children of Mary! Who can estimate the indelible impressions that are being

made on their hearts! Who can calculate the graces they are storing up for themselves, and the endearing ties they are strengthening between themselves and their heavenly advocate!

Among all the feasts of Our Blessed Lady the Church celebrates none more lovely than the feast of the Most Holy Rosary. The first Sunday of October is set aside as a day of honor to the Queen of the Rosary, and on this day Catholics throughout the world raise

their hymns of praise to her whose beads they love. Holy Mother Church. calls on her children to congregate and pay a special honor to Mary on this great feast. It is one of thanksgiving, of gratitude for the protection the Mother of God bestowed on the Church during its time of need, and she exhorts Catholics to make it a day of thanksgiving for the personal favors granted them by Mary through devotion to her Rosary.

In the words of Butler, the Rosary is a practice of devotion, in which, by fifteen Our Fathers, and one hundred and fifty Hail Marys, the faithful are taught to honor our divine Redeemer in the fifteen principal mysteries of His sacred. life, and that of His holy Mother. It is, therefore, an abridgment of the Gospel, a history of the life, sufferings, and triumphant victory of Jesus Christ, and an exposition of what He did in the flesh, which He assumed for our salvation. It ought certainly to be the principal object of the devotion of every Christian always to bear in mind these holy mysteries, to return to God a perpetual homage of love, praise, and thanksgiving for them, to implore His mercy through them, to make them the subject of his assiduous meditation, and to mould his affection, regulate his life, and form his spirit by the holy impressions which they make on his soul. The Rosary is a method of doing this, most easy in itself, and adapted to the slowest or meanest capacity; and, at the same time, most sublime and faithful in the exercise of all the highest acts of prayer, contemplation, and all interior virtues. These are admirably comprised in the divine prayer which our Lord Himself

vouchsafed to teach us, which pious persons, who penetrate the spirit of each word in those holy petitions, can never be weary in repeating, but must recite every time with new fervor, and with more ardent sentiments of love and piety. To obtain mercy and all graces, no prayer can certainly be offered to God more efficacious or pleasing than that which was indited, and is put into our hearts and mouths by His divine Son, our blessed Redeemer Himself. Neither can any acts of humility, compunction, love, or praise, be thought of more sublime. All other good prayers are but paraphrases or expositions of this. It is more especially agreeable and honorable to God, and beneficial to us, when it is offered in honor of the most holy mysteries of our redemption, to pay the homage of our love and thanksgiving for them, and to implore God's tender mercy, love, and compassion by the same. To honor explicitly each mystery, some express it in the prayer, adding to the name of Jesus in the Hail Mary, "Who was born for us,” "Who was crucified for us;" but this is better done by representing to God in our minds the mysteries implied in those words. Thus, in repeating the Our Father, we bear in mind by Whose decree His eternal Son was born in a stable, or sweat blood in His agony, etc.; at "hallowed be Thy name," we add the thought of His Son's nativity, crucifixion, etc.

The Angelical Salutation is often repeated in the Rosary, because, as it contains a form of praise for the Incarnation, it best suits devotion instituted to honor the principal parts of that great mystery. Though it be addressed to the Mother of God, with an invocation of her intercession, it is chiefly a praise and thanksgiving to the Son, for the divine mercy in each part of that wonderful mystery. The Holy Ghost is the principal author of this holy prayer, which the Archangel Gabriel, the ambassador

of the Blessed Trinity in the most wonderful of all mysteries, began: St. Elizabeth, another organ of the Holy Ghost, continued, and the Church finished. The first and second part consist of the sacred praises which were bestowed on the Blessed Virgin by the Archangel Gabriel, and by St. Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Ghost. The last part was added by the Church, and contains a petition of her intercession, styling her Mother of God, with the general council of Ephesus, against the blasphemies of Nestorius.

TWO RECENT INDULGENCES

Two indulgences granted recently to Rosarians deserve special attention. By a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences of June 12, 1907, Rosarians can gain a plenary indulgence, applicable to the souls in purgatory on any day of the year. The following are the conditions: First, confession and communion. Secondly, to visit any public church or oratory, which visit can be made after communion. Thirdly, to say the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary during the day for the welfare of the Church. The mysteries may be recited according to the convenience of the individuals. All that is required is to say at least one mystery at a time.

On the same day the Holy Father in an audience given to Cardinal Cretoni, Prefect of the Congregation of Indulgences, united the Crozier and Dominican indulgences, that is to say, the faithful can gain in one recitation both indulgences provided the beads blessed with the Crozier and Dominican blessings. All priests, through the Sacred Congregation, can receive faculties now to give the Crozier blessing, likewise to impart the Dominican indulgence. Application can be made directly to the Master General of the Friars Preachers or through the Apostolate of the Rosary, 869 Lexington Avenue, New York City.