Annus Sanctus: Hymns of the Church for the Ecclesiastical Year Translated from the Sacred Offices By Various Authors, With Modern, Original and Other Hymns, and an Appendix, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint)

Preface, Twenty years ago and amongst his first efforts in literature, the compiler of this volume, by the kindness of many friends which is gratefully remembered, was enabled to publish three volumes of religious poetry under a common title of Lyra Eucharistica Messianica, and Mystica, respectively. After a varied amount of success, these three collections of hymns and verses have long been forgotten and will not be reprinted. The Lyra were compiled on no other principle than that of producing, or printing for the first time, the best translations of ancient and mediaeval hymns, or the best original specimens of sacred verse, which at that date were attainable. Nor was the principle a bad one from a literary stand-point: and Catholic contributions, by the liberality of their authors, in those days freely accorded toP rotestant editors, stood side by side with those that came from non-C atholic sources. But this literary principle, if so it may be called, becomes no principle at all, or rather becomes a false principle, when a similar compilation is made on behalf of children of the Church. Intellectual gratification is not to be secured at the cost of spiritual edification. For the use of faithful Catholics one requires, in a book for devotional purposes, in the first and foremost place, unity of belief in writer and reader. This condition is essential. But, whether or not, in such a book as this, poetical talent be superadded to the gift of faith, is a point of secondary moment; a question of taste indeed, in which none would be consciously and wilfully deficient, but one which may safely be decided between the editor, his critics and his readers.(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology. Read more