Growth in Holiness 1928 r.

Growth in Holiness 1928 r. - Frederick William Faber

I dare not presume that there will not be many contradic tions to so large a volume, in which every sentence, and fro quently each clause of a sentence, is a judgment on matters about which all pious Catholics have a more or less formed Opinion. But so generous a measure of indulgence has been dealt to me before, that I cannot persuade myself it will now be altogether withdrawn, especially as the book will not be found to contain one intentional word or unfavorable criticism either of men or things. This is my only boast. For the rest, I have done no more than try to harmonize the ancient and modern Spirituality of the Church, with somewhat perhaps of a propen sion to the first, and to put it before English Catholics in an English shape, translated into native thought and feeling, as well as language.

Mach of the material of the book has fully observed the Hora tian precept of Nonum prematur in annum, and the rest has been nine years growing. But it is a very easy thing for a man to go wrong in spiritual theology, and to stray into the shadow of condemned propositions. It will not therefore be conceitedly making much of a little thing, if I say that I retract beforehand in the amplest and most unqualified manner anything, whether of thought or of expression, which may be uncongenial, not only to the decisions of the Holy See, but also to the approved teaching of our Religious Orders and Theological Schools. May God be with my work where it speaks the mind of His Church without exaggeration and with sincerity!