The Culture of the Soul

THE object the writer has in view in publishing this work is to help persons in the world to acquire Perfection. The subjects of the present little volume are selected because of their importance and because of their suitability to persons in every state and condition of life. While using every effort to make each treatise brief and plain, the author has, at the same time, striven to have his work as complete as possible and to omit nothing which is necessary or useful. It may strike many that this little book is simplicity itself, and so it is, but the writer has given it years of thought and has so condensed and arranged the matter that while it embraces all that he considers of utility it is not too diffuse. The Treatise on Prayer contains the substance of what the great Theologians and Spiritual writers have said on this all-important subject. The writer takes this opportunity of paying a tribute of praise to the memory of Fr. Rodriguez and Fr. Scaramelli, from whose well known works many of the Chapters in this volume are taken. These two great spiritual writers are not likely to be excelled for all time. Their works have great solidity, depth of thought, and a wonderful knowledge of the Spiritual life. While each of these writers treats his subjects in a most excellent manner, a careful student of their works will soon realize that these works are to a considerable extent mutually complementary. On this account the author has in various places combined what both have said so as to make his work more complete. In many places slight alterations are made, and portions which in the opinion of the writer do not suit the present age are entirely omitted. The works of these two writers are large and diffuse, and on this account are not suited for people living in the world. The object of the writer is to supply a short and complete work suited for ordinary minds, as well as for those who have devoted themselves to the religious life. The author thanks Catholics in all parts of the world for the favour with which they have received "Catholic Doctrines Explained and Proved," and the"Groundwork of Christian Perfection."