Book Review: The Reign of Christ the King - Michael Davies

Book Review:

The Reign of Christ the King
By: Michael Davies

The Reign of Christ the King. Proves that Christ, being God, has an absolute right to reign in our social and political lives, as well as in our personal lives. This book is easy to read and important for our times, in which secularism and pluralism reign supreme. Provocative on every page!

$2.00

Order from TAN Books

Dear All:

This is an eye-opening booklet. I never did understand what the Church’s position was on Church and State relations. I had always heard Catholics uphold the democratic maxim of separation of Church and State. I never knew, until reading this book, and another of Davies’ books on Religious Liberty, that Leo XIII actually said that the separation of Church and State was a “pernicious error” in Vehementor Nos. This booklet argues that if we look at all the political trials that we are facing with the State today, namely the issues of homosexual “marriage” and abortion, that we have to understand that it is all rooted in one thing: the rejection of modern Catholics, whether traditional, conservative, moderate, or liberal, of the doctrine of the Social Kingship of Christ as explained in the powerful encyclical of Pius XII, Quas Primas.

Thus the empire of our Redeemer embraces all men. To use the words of Our immortal predecessor, Pope Leo XIII: "His empire includes not only Catholic nations, not only baptized persons who, though of right belonging to the Church, have been led astray by error, or have been cut off from her by schism, but also all those who are outside the Christian faith; so that truly the whole of mankind is subject to the power of Jesus Christ." Nor is there any difference in this matter between the individual and the family or the State; for all men, whether collectively or individually, are under the dominion of Christ. In him is the salvation of the individual, in him is the salvation of society. "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved." He is the author of happiness and true prosperity for every man and for every nation. "For a nation is happy when its citizens are happy. What else is a nation but a number of men living in concord?" If, therefore, the rulers of nations wish to preserve their authority, to promote and increase the prosperity of their countries, they will not neglect the public duty of reverence and obedience to the rule of Christ. What We said at the beginning of Our Pontificate concerning the decline of public authority, and the lack of respect for the same, is equally true at the present day. "With God and Jesus Christ," we said, "excluded from political life, with authority derived not from God but from man, the very basis of that authority has been taken away, because the chief reason of the distinction between ruler and subject has been eliminated. The result is that human society is tottering to its fall, because it has no longer a secure and solid foundation."

AMDG.

Laurence Gonzaga

Book Review: Saint Advice (Barnes & Noble)

Book Review:
Saintly Advice: A Prayer for Every Problem
by Staff of The Philip Lief Group, Inc. (Produced by), Judith Capodanno (Editor)

Product Details

                               ISBN: 0760757895

                               ISBN-13: 9780760757895

                               Format: Hardcover, 192pp

                               Publisher: Barnes & Noble

                               Pub. Date: April 2004

12/29/08

This is a good little book going through the Saints which corresponds with particular problems or issues one may be afflicted, or blessed with, depending on how you look at it. Most of the Saints have some sort of depiction of the Saint, their feast day, a short bio of their life, as well as a short prayer asking for the Saint’s intercession for the problem that one may be facing. It can certainly be used as a reference book, but I read through it as if it were a book or encyclopedia of the Saints. It was interesting to discover new Saints, and to find out what they are known to intercede for, as strange as some may be.

AMDG.

Laurence Gonzaga

Book Review: Preparation for Confirmation

Dear All,

This is a pretty good book to have if you are helping prepare and are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is based off of the questions found in the Baltimore Catechism. It also contains the rite of Confirmation, in its English translation, of course. I read it in less than an hour and it was very easy to understand. Based on the questions asked, it presents a challenge to those preparing teens for Confirmation in the new rite. I wish I had this book when I was a Confirmation Catechist.

AMDG,

Laurence

Book Review: Liturgical Shipwreck - Michael Davies

Book Review:

Liturgical Shipwreck
28 Years of the New Mass
By: Michael Davies

The world's foremost author on the liturgical changes documents the disaster to faith and Mass attendance caused by the Novus Ordo. Written with utmost respect, he says, nonetheless, "Facts cannot be loyal or disloyal, and the facts concerning the collapse of Mass attendance are, alas, only too true." Firm in its conclusion we must return to the traditional Mass. A must for all!

Price: $2.00

“The liturgical reform, welcomed with so much idealism and hope by so many priests and lay people alike, has turned out to be a liturgical destruction of startling proportions—a debacle worsening with each passing year. Instead of the hoped-for renewal of the Church and of Catholic life, we are now witnessing a dismantling of the traditional values and piety on which our faith rests. Instead of the fruitful renewal of the liturgy, what we see is a destruction of the forms of the Mass which had developed organically during the course of many centuries.”
~ Msgr. Klaus Gamber, The Reform of the Roman Liturgy (1993), p. 5,

quoted in Liturgical Shipwreck, p. 30

What a shocking indictment of the “development” of the Novus Ordo Missae. This is the strongest language I have read yet on the liturgical crisis that the Church has endured for the last 40 years. While maintaining that the Novus Ordo liturgy is a valid Mass, in which Jesus Christ is present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, Davies makes a case for the utter “shipwreck” the liturgical reform has suffered. Calling upon his right and duty according to Canon 212 (CIC, 1983), to bring to the attention of his pastors his opinions for the good of the Church, he makes a succinct and powerful case for the abrogation of the Novus Ordo Missae, and the restoration and primacy of the traditional Roman form of liturgy. I will hold off on my personal opinion on this matter. But I found his presentation of numerous liturgical scholars and theologians critiquing the form of the New Mass, and why it is dangerous, to be very compelling. I have my reservations with some of his defense of the Society of St. Pius X, however. I have more study to do with regard to Canon law on this matter.

AMDG.

Laurence Gonzaga

Book Review : For the Visitor At Mass - Fr. Richard Ginder

Intended primarily for new-comers (Catholic or not) to the Tridentine Mass. Forty-seven striking color photos accompany the explanations of every major part of the Mass.

Sections include:

• What is the Mass?

• Mass of the Catechumens

• The Introit

• The Gloria

• The Epistle

• The Gospel

• Sermon

• The Creed

• Mass of the Faithful

• Offertory

• The Preface

• The Canon

• The Consecration

• The Our Father

• Holy Communion

• Final Blessing and the Last Gospel

• Prayers after Mass

The photographs are mini-meditations in themselves, clearly evoking the nature of the liturgical actions taking place. The explanations are rich in concise spiritual, doctrinal, liturgical and historical insights.

Can be read before the Mass as a preparation or read at Mass as you follow along. Priced inexpensively so that they can be freely given to anyone new to this form of the Mass.

Most importantly, you will learn to unite yourself to the Sacrifice of the Altar. This is a form of active participation that is little understood today...consequently, this book will deepen the faith of all Catholics.

48pp, softcover

Dear All,

I picked up this book when I was on my trip to Little Rock, AR. It was provided for use in the back of the parish where there is a Fraternity of St. Peter Apostolate. The book is very well done, with beautiful photos and easy to understand explanation of the Sacred actions at Holy Mass. I have ordered 25 of these at my last order, and will be providing them for $3.00. I will also be offering them at the Una Voce San Bernardino table after the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass at San Secondo D’Asti, while supplies last.

AMDG.

Laurence Gonzaga