Why Quod Scripsi, Scripsi?
It's about the love of old books.
I am a writer. Good. Very good. Not brilliant. I’m tired of writing critical articles or always responding to the crisis de jure. The other day it hit me: I have a lot of old Catholic books. I could write about them. So I am. Here are some of my founding principles:
Some of these books I have read, but many I have not. I scored three tremendous hauls of books in the past two years (parish book store, estate sale, etc.).
The year 1970 is somewhat arbitrary, though it does coincide with the imposition of the Novus Ordo Missae. There are many criticisms of what was happening in Catholicism leading up to the crisis of the 1960s and succeeding decades, but there was indisputably a significant body of worthwhile books. I want to showcase some of those books.
Some books deserve to be remembered; some deserve to be forgotten. Some of the books I will feature are not good books.
This is not really about buying or selling books. I used to be in that business but exited last year as I prepared to retire. (That’s not to say I will never consider selling any featured books….)
I don’t anticipate moving to paid subscriptions any time soon.
I reserve the right to change any of my parameters for including books here.
I hope this can become a place for sharing info and useful interchange of information and opinions. I’m absolutely not looking for insults and the too-common style of online combat.
I dislike most 21st century technology; I will slowly tweak this site as needed, but don’t look for top-flight production values.
I intend to post once a week.
Let’s get started. I am including what is likely to be a typical post.
The first book is Stories of Our Century by Catholic Authors, edited by John Gilland Brunini and Francis X. Connolly (Garden City, N.Y.: Image Books, 1955, pb). Love Image Books paperbacks. They are a long-lasting product. This is a January, 1959 printing of a revised edition first published in 1949. This would be a great intro to Catholic writers, especially because it includes brief biographical sketches of all the authors. I don’t remember where I found this one. I live in a formerly strongly-Catholic region (Diocese of Ogdensburg, N.Y.) so there are still quite a few Catholic artifacts and books floating around. I don’t see that it has been reprinted; here is a link to one for sale on Amazon. Picture:
Next up, The Ferial Gospels of Lent by Rev. Hercules H. Dominicis, trans. Rev. Clarence Tschippert, OFM, Cap. (N.Y.: Vatican City Religious Book Company, 1944). Amazon has this one listed as out-of-print. Hardcover book produced during WWII with yellowing paper. Imprimatur by Abp. Spellman. This is an example of a good and useful book. Caveat: It does not contain the actual Gospel readings, just commentary. These are pretty good sermons on the daily Gospels from Lent, Passiontide, and Holy Week. I got this from Philadelphia bookseller Steve Vranizan, who advertises in Catholic Family News. Pictures:
Next up is a lovely 1962 daily Mass missal, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Daily Missal (N.Y.: Benziger Brothers, 1962, hc). Cardinal Spellman imprimatur. This has some nice features, including the participation of noted Latin scholar Dr. Christine Mohrmann, who translated many of the prayers. (Fr. John Hunwicke sings her praises quite often.) There are some okay drawings and also color pictures. What I don’t like is that most of the readings are in English only, though the fixed parts of the Mass are given in both Latin and English. I don’t take this one to church but I do use it at home for readings and prayers. I purchased this on Ebay. The ribbons have quite a bit of wear, and yet there were still some uncut pages! It has not been reprinted to my knowledge. There are copies available, especially on Ebay. Pictures:
So far I’ve had positive things to say about the books I’m showing, but the next one might fall into the “Oh Dear” category: Love or Constraint? Some Psychological Aspects of Religious Education by Marc Oraison, D.D., M.D. (Glen Rock, NJ: Paulist, 1961, pb). Cdl. Spellman imprimatur. Translated from the French. The author early on asserts that Revelation begins with narcissism (29). Even a cursory glance shows this to be a modernistic book replete with psychologizing at the expense of traditional dogma. Copies available on Amazon. Picture:
Finally, I present an older edition of a book which has been reprinted (2014): A Retreat with St. Therese by Pere Liagre, C.S.Sp. (Westminster, MD: Newman Press, 1958, pb). 1947 imprimatur. It’s easy to think that St. Therese has been overdone, but I find there is a great depth to her thought—I look forward to putting this little book to use. Newman Press was another great producer of excellent Catholic material. Picture:
Etc.: Watching the eclipse today, the transferred Feast of the Annunciation.