Online ebook: “The Life and Works of the Venerable Don Bosco, Apostle of Youth”

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See this online ebook:

• A Sketch of the Life and Works of the Venerable Don Bosco, Apostle of Youth, Founder of the Society of St. Francis of Sales, by M.S. Pine (Philadelphia: Salesian Press, 1916). With Imprimatur. Available in pdf, epub, mobi/kindle etc. formats at Internet Archive; may be read online at Wikisource; and also available (but with some pages restricted to members) at Forgotten Books and Forgotten Books (2d copy).

On the Feast of St. John Bosco (Don Bosco). For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

Online text: “On the Doctrines of the Modernists”, by Pope St. Pius X

See this online text:

• Encyclical “Pascendi Dominici Gregis” on the Doctrines of the Modernists, by Pope St. Pius X, September 8, 1907. Available online (on this page) of Catholic Culture, at the Holy See, at Papal Encyclicals Online, and at Internet Archive. A facsimile of the printed text (London: Burns & Oates) is available in pdf, epub, mobi/kindle and other formats at Internet Archive.
• The content of the encyclical is arranged in question-and-answer form in this work: Catechism on Modernism according to the Encyclical ‘Pascendi dominici gregis’ of His Holiness Pius X, from the French of Jean Baptiste Lemius, translated by John Fitzpatrick (London, Glasgow: R. & T. Washbourne; New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1908). With Imprimatur. Available in pdf, epub, mobi/kindle and other formats at Internet Archive, Internet Archive; and in pdf format at Today’s Catholic World. [N.B., The last-mentioned website denies the hermeneutic of continuity and reform propounded by Pope Benedict XVI. Please approach its other contents with prayerful caution.]
• The Latin text and a different English translation is contained in this text, which does not use the incipit in its title: The Encyclical of His Holiness Pius X on the Doctrines on the Modernists: Latin Text and English Version, with Annotations by Thomas E. Judge. Available in pdf, epub, mobi/kindle and other formats at Internet Archive. The paperback is offered for sale at Amazon.com.
• See also these relevant essays:
  • “Under the Ban: Modernism, Then and Now”, by Russell Shaw, on this page of Crisis Magazine and on this page of Catholic Culture.
  • “The Centennial of Pascendi” by Luiz Sérgio Solimeo, at The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property.

The Three Holy Hierarchs. Image from Wikipedia

Posted on the Feast of the Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs, Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian, and Saint John Chrysostom, in the Eastern Catholic churches of the Byzantine Rite: in earnest prayer that, like them, we shall reverently study divine truth as preserved in sacred tradition, and resolutely uphold it against the errors, sins, and novelties of the world.

For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

“Do not forget those who have had charge of you, and preached God’s word to you; contemplate the happy issue of the life they lived, and imitate their faith. What Jesus Christ was yesterday, and is to-day, he remains for ever. Do not be carried aside from your course by a maze of new doctrines” (Hebrews xiii, 7-9)

“[K]eep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding the profane novelties of words and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called. Which some promising, have erred concerning the faith.” (I Timothy vi, 20-21)

Online ebook: “The Spirit of St. Francis de Sales”, by Bishop Jean-Pierre Camus

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See this online ebook:

• The Spirit of St. Francis de Sales, by His Friend, Jean-Pierre Camus, Bishop of Belley, translated by J.S., new and enlarged edition, with a Preface by His Grace the Archbishop of Westminster (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1925). With Imprimatur. Available in pdf, epub, mobi/kindle, etc. formats at Internet Archive. Also available in Internet Archive (2^nd copy), Project Gutenberg, and Full Text Archive.
• [The origin of this work is briefly discussed in the essay “On Re-reading St. Francis de Sales” by K. V. Turley at Crisis Magazine, which likens Bishop Camus’ relation to the Saint to that of Boswell to Johnson, or Plato to Socrates.]

On the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her spouse, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. (From Sancta Missa)

Online ebook: Catechism of the “Summa Theologica” of Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Use of the Faithful, by Rev. Thomas Pègues

Photo by Nheyob. Image from Wikipedia

See this online ebook:

• Catechism of the “Summa Theologica” of Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Use of the Faithful, by Rev. Thomas Pègues, O.P., adapted from the French by Aelred Whitacre, O.P. (New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1922). With Imprimatur, and with the Benediction of Pope Benedict XV. Available in pdf, epub, mobi/kindle, etc. formats at Internet Archive, with a 2^nd copy at Internet Archive, and a 3^rd copy at Internet Archive. Also available in pdf format (here) at Saints’ Books; and may be read online (on this page) at the library of the Jacques Maritain Center.
• [N.B.1, This work reproduces the arguments of the Summa in question-and-answer format, with references to the relevant sections of that work. We submit that it is best read after reading an introductory work like The Spirit of Thomism by Etienne Gilson or the essay “Faith and Reason in the Theology of St. Thomas” by Victor Flanagan, O.P.; and it should be read with a copy of the Summa on hand.]
• [N.B.2, This book appears to be in the public domain under the law of the United States. However, as we do not know the year of the passing of the translator, we do not know if it is in the public domain in other countries. Please check the relevant laws.]

On the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. See also our earlier posts “A Beginner’s Guide to Saint Thomas Aquinas” and “Free eBooks by (and about) Saint Thomas Aquinas“. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her spouse, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. (From Sancta Missa)

Online text: “On the Unity of Human Society”, by Pope Pius XII

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See this online text:

• Encyclical “Summi Pontificatus” on the Unity of Human Society, by Venerable Pope Pius XII, 20 October 1939. May be read online, and available in kindle/mobi and epub formats, at Papal Encyclicals Online; and also available at the Holy See.
• See also the articles: “On the 60th Anniversary of Summi Pontificatus” by Sr. Margherita Marchione at Catholic Culture; and “Pope Pius XII and the Jews” by Dr. Harry Schnitker at the Catholic News Agency.

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 2018. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject). From the text:

‘Among the many errors which derive from the poisoned source of religious and moral agnosticism… is the forgetfulness of that law of human solidarity and charity which is dictated and imposed by our common origin and by the equality of rational nature in all men, to whatever people they belong, and by the redeeming Sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ on the Altar of the Cross to His Heavenly Father on behalf of sinful mankind…

‘[Scripture] shows us besides how other men took their origin from the first couple, and then goes on, in unsurpassed vividness of language, to recount their division into different groups and their dispersion to various parts of the world…. The Apostle of the Gentiles later on makes himself the herald of this truth which associates men as brothers in one great family, when he proclaims to the Greek world that God “hath made of one, all mankind…” (Acts xvii. 26, 27).

‘A marvelous vision, which makes us see the human race in the unity of one common origin in God…; in the unity of nature which in every man is equally composed of material body and spiritual, immortal soul; in the unity of the immediate end and mission in the world; in the unity of dwelling place, the earth…; in the unity of the supernatural end, God Himself, to Whom all should tend; in the unity of means to secure that end.’

Online ebook: “The Pastoral Office”, by Cardinal Manning

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See this online ebook:

• The Pastoral Office, by Henry Edward [Manning], Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster (London: Printed for private use only, 1883). Available in various formats (pdf, epub, kindle/mobi, etc.) at Open Library and Internet Archive; and also available at Forgotten Books (with some pages limited to members) and at Google Books. [N.B., This treatise on the office and ministry of bishops is an excellent summation of the teaching of the Church on the episcopate.]

On the Feast of St. Timothy and St. Titus in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite; and of St. Polycarp in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. For more legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

“[O]nly the fullness of the faith can communicate the liberating power of the Gospel… [B]y proclaiming the Church’s doctrine in its entirety, you are carrying out your responsibility to ‘preach the word … in season and out of season … unfailing in patience and in teaching’ (2 Tim 4:2)”. (Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Irish Bishops)

Livre en ligne: “La Théologie de Saint Paul”, 1e partie, par F. Prat

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Voir ce livre en ligne:

• La Théologie de Saint Paul, 1e partie, 6e edition, par F. Prat, S.J. (Paris: Beauchesne, 1909). Avec Imprimatur. Disponible dans Internet Archive.

En la Fête de la Conversion de Saint Paul. Pour plus de livres gratuits, vous pouvez accéder à la liste des eBooks gratuits (par titres) et la liste des eBooks gratuits (regroupées par sujet).

“Si l’on considère attentivement l’expérience de saint Paul, on comprend que la transformation qu’il a connue… trouve son fondement dans la participation au mystère de la Mort et de la Résurrection de Jésus Christ, et se présente comme un chemin graduel de configuration à Lui.” (Pape Benoît XVI)

[And if the grammar is wrong, please correct me. Merci!]

Online ebook: “How to be a Catholic Author”, by Dominic De Souza

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See this online ebook:

• How to be a Catholic Author: A Mental Reboot for the Modern Fiction Writer, by Dominic De Souza. May be read online on a single page and as a Flipbook though this page at Catholic Author.

On the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

“O Creator of the universe… instruct my tongue and guide my pen to convey the wonderful glory of the Gospel. Make my intellect sharp, my memory clear, and my words eloquent, so that I may faithfully interpret the mysteries which you have revealed.” (Excerpt of Prayer before Writing or Preaching by St. Thomas Aquinas, from A Catholic Prayer Book on CatholiCity).

Online text: “Doctrine, Law and Practice in Light of Mitis Iudex and Amoris Laetitia”, by Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki

See this online text:

• “Doctrine, Law and Practice in Light of Mitis Iudex and Amoris Laetitia”, by Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki (Diocese of Springfield, IL, May 2, 2017). Keynote Address at the North West Regional Canon Law Convention held in Portland, OR on May 2, 2017. May be read online (on this page) at Catholic Culture.

Cropped from photo by www.dominicos.net, available on Wikimedia

On the Feast of St. Raymund of Peñafort in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

“How many there are who have the temerity to come to the Holy Table with sins unconfessed or disguised in Confession. How many have not the contrition that the good God demands of them, and keep a secret will to commit sin again and not to make every effort to correct themselves… If ever you have been in these dispositions when going to Holy Communion, you have been guilty of sacrilege…

“The unworthy communicant is a traitor and a hypocrite… The unworthy communicant is an ungrateful person… The unworthy communicant is a parricide.” (St. John Vianney)

Online address: “I Served a Saint,” by Dr. Mario Enzler, formerly of the Swiss Guard

See this online address:

• “I Served a Saint,” by Dr. Mario Enzler. The version of the address delivered at Thomas Aquinas College on 17 November 2017 may be listened to and downloaded in mp3 format through this page at Thomas Aquinas College, and at SoundCloud. [N.B., This version has better audio than that uploaded to Youtube.]
• The version of the address delivered at Portsmouth Abbey School on 3 November 2014 may be watched (on this page) at the Youtube channel of Portsmouth Abbey, which states:
  • “Dr. Mario Enzler’s talk… recollected his life in the Apostolic Palace with Pope John Paul II and how the Pope helped to deepen his faith and his appreciation for the priesthood./ Prior to working in education and having a successful career in corporate finance and international tax law, Mr. Enzler was a member for four years of the famed Swiss Guard, a branch of the Swiss Army whose sole responsibility is to guard and protect the Pope. He served in the Swiss Guard from 1989 to 1992 for Pope John Paul II, who was recently canonized.”
• One may also read the article “Swiss Guard’s faith deepened as he served” at the Catholic News Agency.

Photo by Paul Ronga, image from Wikipedia

On the Feast of St. Anastasius of Persia in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite; and on the anniversary of the establishment of the Pontifical Swiss Guard (22 January 1506). For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).  

‘Ultimately, the Lord calls you to holiness, to be his disciples, always ready to listen to his voice, to do his will and to accomplish it in the daily fulfilment of your duties. This will contribute to make you “good Christians” and at the same time “exemplary soldiers”, animated by that evangelical spirit which makes each baptized person “yeast” able to ferment the mass and “light” that illuminates and warms the environment where you live and work.’ (Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Pontifical Swiss Guards, 5 May 2007)