The Dublin Review (Volume 2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1896. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... A Memoir of Father Dignam, S.J., with some of his letters. Revised and with preface by Father Edward Ignatius Pcbbrick, S.J. Printed for the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, the Convent, Brentford, London. 8vo, pp. 472. HE above is a record of a saintly priest and devoted religious, to whom our gratitude is due for his strenuous work in propagating the Apostleship of Prayer among us, as well as for his share in founding the Congregation of Religious women, under whose auspices this memoir has been compiled. It is superfluous for us to praise Father Dignam, for the authentic voice of the General of the Society of Jesus has already pronounced his eulogium; while " his children rise up and call him blessed." His spiritual letters are the most valuable part of the book; they are saturated with the spirit of St. Ignatius, and are full of practical wisdom and holy teaching. Perhaps the most touching and beautiful side of this holy life was his relations with his elder sister, to whom he seems to have owed his vocation, and whom he afterwards repaid i hundredfold by guiding her soul towards spiritual perfection. One is, in fact, irresistibly reminded of the story of St. Benedict and his virgin sister and spiritual child, St. Scholastica. Some of Fr. Dignam's letters to this sister, in her cloister at Bruges, are wonderful instances of the way in which the servants of God know how to spiritualise human affection, and raise the tenderest earthly ties to a higher sphere. His life may be summed up in his intense devotion to the Holy Sacrifice--" Mass is my life, without Mass I must die," he would say: and in fact he lingered on for a very few days only after his last Mass. We cordially recommend to our readers this sympathetic presentment of a very beautiful l...