Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/12



"Half-Hours with  the Best  Authors,"  edited  by that  indefatigable  author  and  publisher,  Charles  Knight, suggested the  title  of  this  volume.

The perusal  of  "La  Bibliotheque  des  Predicateurs," par le  R.  P.  Vincent  Houdry,  S.J.,  18  vols,  demy  8vo, suggested the  contents;  from  this  storehouse  of  learning, and from  this  monument  of  persevering  industry,  very many extracts  have  been  translated  and  rendered  into English.

In the  "  Bibliotheque "  the  subject  matter  of  each  half-hour  is  in  alphabetical  order,  but  my  idea  was,  that  if the  contents  were  arranged  and  classified,  the  work would not  only  be  more  interesting,  but  better  adapted for spiritual  reading.

Care has  been  taken  to  select  those  authors  who  have made frequent  allusions  to  the  Saints,  and  greater  care has been  bestowed  on  the  translations  of  passages  which breathe a  spirit  of  devotion  and  piety,  so  that  the  volume may be  in  accordance  with  the  recommendatory  maxim