Post 2
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Addenda & Errata: I forgot to mention that The Ferial Gospels of Lent has some editing problems and could have used some proofreading. Maybe proofreaders are hard to come by during war-time? Also: Another reason the JMJ Missal is not in my Mass rotation is that it does not have a kyriale.
Recommendations: Two publishers performing some great work by reprinting old Catholic books are Cluny and Os Justi. I also recommend Dr. Kwasniewski’s Substack.
Well, here are this week’s offerings: a nifty devotional prayer book, and three from Karl Rahner (with some help from another German theologian). Rahner is frequently a punching bag for trads, but he deserves to be taken seriously if only because of his influence. These three Rahner books came from a local church-run thrift store and I believe they once belonged to a (now-deceased) priest of the diocese.
First up: My Spiritual Guide: A Complete Book of Prayers and Devotions for Catholics with the Epistles and Gospels for Sundays, Rev. Wm. Carroll (ed.). 1947 imprimatur by Cdl. Spellman, 1949 publication, hc. I think this comes from an estate sale. It is a handy size (5” x 3.5 x 1) and surprisingly complete. In addition to the fixed portions of the Mass it has numerous devotions and prayers. I especially liked the “Psalter of Jesus” as a devotional aid. On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Rev-William-Editor-Carroll/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.+William+A.+Editor+Carroll I haven’t found it reprinted.
Next: The Church and the Sacraments by Karl Rahner (N.Y.: Herder and Herder, 1963, sc), 1963 imprimatur. This is a 1968 7th impression. This is part of the “Quaestiones Disputatae” series published by the German Herder and Herder in the early 1960s. I don’t think it has been reprinted. Here are a few bits from the introductory page written by editors: “The connection between the Church and the sacraments is not very clear in the minds of the faithful or even among theologians….Karl Rahner sees the question in a wholly new framework by seeing the Church as the enduring presence of Christ in the world and thus as truly the fundamental sacrament, the source of all the sacraments….He is also able to circumvent the historical difficulty of proving the particular institution by Christ of certain sacraments such as matrimony, holy orders, extreme unction and confirmation.” On Amazon (1974 printing): https://www.amazon.com/Church-Sacraments-Karl-Rahner/dp/0860120058/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3oPya77lZHTLenKcwVgDnAPDRq0pllT2UwbnENnkMBRQLkCdXXbpHBfOl5cwNuRFWsr6X5Bb57GwDvxHrAMXe7PyIXjggYsJRu1D9JP4eJjE00IBpD_y4e_R7e_yP7kLYkI9rl1yu9JmoqYl2XwYnUSQkuEsGSNaTLULzvenowdaxa0tbiLr7L77AfPUA72oMlTYRFW1_e74FvirHYyyUo1CD4IofxfB-izHCnNum-U.NgOiXYrxzXwluST1rkZ39X3o3WqzpC-GtNP4gutf9x8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Church+Sacraments&qid=1712666621&s=books&sr=1-1
Moving on: On the Theology of Death by Karl Rahner (N.Y.: Herder and Herder, 1961, sc), 1961 imprimatur, 1969 8th impression. From the introductory page: “”He [Rahner] is concerned with opening up new perspectives in older problems, striving to formulate new and more fruitful concepts for the penetration of one of the most important dimensions of Christian belief and experience.” On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Theology-Death-Karl-Rahner/dp/B0000CL4XJ
Lastly, The Episcopate and the Primacy by Rahner and Ratzinger (N.Y.: Herder and Herder, 1962, sc), 1962 imprimatur, 1963 3rd impression. This one is especially pertinent in light of many recent works on the limits of papal power and authority, such as John Joy’s book. From the introductory page: “It is widely expected that the Second Vatican Council will complete the work of the Ecumenical Council of 1870, and supplement the definition of Papal primacy and infallibility by a theological clarification of the meaning of episcopal office….Supported by Father Ratzinger’s outline of the Church’s traditional teaching on primacy and episcopacy, Father Rahner is able to shed new light on the nature of the episcopal office, its purpose and functions in the Church and in the world today.” On ABE: https://www.abebooks.com/9780223306325/Episcopate-Primacy-Rahner-Karl-Joseph-0223306320/plp Review: https://ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/ctsa/article/download/2573/2210
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to comments, inquiries, and questions.
Etc.: I have self-published two books of verse. Links here: Against the Alchemists; and, A Verse Companion to Romano Guardini’s ‘Sacred Signs’.