erntcnavn Sïitfon. ΤΠΕ COMPLETE ASCETICAL WORKS OF ST ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI. 24 vols., Price, per vol., net, $1.25. Each hook is complete in itself, and any volume will be sold separately. Preparation for Death ; or, Considerations on the Eter­ nal Truths. Maxims of Eternity—Rule of Life. II. Wav of Salvation and of Perfection: Meditations. Pious Reflections. Spiritual Treatises. III. Great Means of Salvation and of Perfection: Prayer. Mental Prayer. The Exercises of a Retreat. Choice of a State of Life, and the Vocation to the Religious State and to the Priesthood. IV. Tm Incarnation, Birth and Infancy of Jesus Christ; or, The Mysteries of Faith. V. The Passion and the Death of Jesus Christ. VI. The Holy Eucharist. The Sacrifice, the Sacrament, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ. Practice of Love of Jesus Christ. Novena to the Holy Ghost. VIL, VIII. Glories of Marï: i. Explanation of the Salve /ie^ina, or Hail, Holy Queen. Discourses on the Feasts of Mary. 2 Her Dolors. Her Virtues. Practices. Examples Answers to Critics. — Devotion to the Holy Angels. Devotion to St. Joseph. Novena to St. Teresa. Novena for the Repose of the Souls in Purgatory’. IX. Victories of ΠΙΕ Martyrs; or, the Lives of the Most Celebrated Martyrs of the Church. X., XI. The Tri e Spouse of Ji sus Christ : I. The first sixteen Chapters 2. The last eight Chapters. Appendix ami various small Works. Spiritual Letters. XII. Dignity and Duties of the Priest; or, Selva, a „ collection of Material for Ecclesiastical Retreats. Rule of Life and Spiritual Rules. XIII. Till Η'Ί.Υ Ma*s: Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Ceremonies of the Mass. Preparation ami Thanksgiving. The Mass and the Office that are hurriedly said. XIV. Tin Divine Office: Explanation of the Psalms and Canticles. X\. Preaching ; The Exercises of the Missions. Various Counsels. Instructions on the Commandments and Sacraments. XVI. Sermons for Sundays. XVII. Miscfjlvnv. Historical Sketch of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. Rules ami Constitutions of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. Instructions about the Religious State. Lives of two Fathers and of a Liy Brother, C.SS. R. Discourses on Calamities Re­ flections useful for Bishops. Rules for Seminaries. XVIIL, XIX., X\ . XXL LETTERS. XXII. Letters vnd General Alphabetical Index XXIIL, XXIV. Life of St Alphonsus de Liguori. V olume “ “ “ “ " ** “ “ ·’ “ “ ·* “ “ “ I. Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago. èhc (Snitciuuy (ί-dition. THE COMPLETE WORKS . OE Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, Doctor of the Church, Bisho/ of Saini Agatha anti Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN. EDITED BY BEV. EUGENE GRIMM, Priest of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. THE ASCETICAL WORKS. Volume XXL Letters. Volume IV. PART II. Special (Lorresponbcncc. THE APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION. RÜDE PATER: Memoriam gloriosi Congregationis SS. Redemptoris Fundatoris, centesimo^ Sup. Prov. Baltimorensis, Baltimore, Nd,, October 27, Copyright, 1S96. by Eerd.nand Λ iZ PREFACE TO THE FRENCH EDITION. « The Special Correspondence of St. Alphonsus contains the letters written by the holy Doctor in support of his System of Moral, as also those which he wrote for the direction of the printing of his works ; under the same title are also included, the pastoral ordinances of the saintly Bishop and the princi­ pal documents relative to the government of his diocese. No longer is it the zealous Founder that speaks, no longer, the director of souls : but the writer, the theologian, the bishop. Scientific letters, pastoral letters, such is the nat­ ural division of this correspondence. The term scientific, in its strictest sense, applies to but a small number of letters ; we have thought fit, nevertheless, to designate by this title all those which relate to the writings of the saint. Very often, in fact, side by side with details of secondary value, these letters contain important remarks bearing on the very foundation of theology. The greater number of the letters are addressed to Remondini, a celebrated Venetian publisher, whose editions were much sought after in the last century. Almighty God had his own ends in establishing relations so intimate be­ tween the holy Doctor and the famous publisher. Sound teaching might thus more easily be disseminated through Europe, and thence throughout the whole world. The gov­ ernment of Naples watched with jealous severity over all writings published within its domain. Venice, on the con­ trary, had, through its extensive commercial relations, thrown aside all national barriers and showed itself more lenient toward writers. This was a source of joy to St. Alphonsus. VI Preface to the French Edition. Thanks to Remondini, the true doctrine crossed the Alps and went forth to combat innovators. Little by little, moral teaching, too lax or too severe, was replaced by doctrine more wise. The holy Doctor left nothing undone to secure for his books a revision which would enhance their value. Numberless and minute recommendations, frequent repeti­ tions, assurances calculated to encourage Remondini and to dissipate his fears, every possible means did the saint employ for this end, and all with incomparable patience and constancy. The reader will light upon many judgments on men and writings in the course of this correspondence. The literary life of the saintly Doctor is, we may say, portrayed therein under the form of ajournai the most precise. All the works of the indefatigable writer appear in turn, sometimes, in­ deed, in a confused mass, piled, as it were, one upon an­ other. The occasion that called them into existence, the time employed in their composition, the alterations and emendations introduced by the author, the attacks or the curious happenings to which they led, — all is re­ counted with simplicity and candor, and in the minutest detail. If the civil authority places the saint in embarrass­ ment, Remondini is warned; if a certain book may not pass the Neapolitan frontiers, the publisher receives instructions concerning the matter; and should Remondini himself in certain cases need reassurance, the holy Doctor encourages him. Curiously enough, he even states to the publisher his own estimation of the works confided to Remondini for printing. In these judgments so instructive, however, selflove never blinds the writer. The man of God understood full well why he had chosen this or that subject, and why he had treated it in this or that manner. He has ever in view the salvation of souls ; and for that reason he wishes to have his works read everywhere and by everyone. He varies his tone and his style according to the occasion, and learning is in his hands an instrument setting forth to advantage, not him who wields it, but the truth of which he is the humble servant. Preface to the French Edition. vii The reader of the scientific letters will, undoubtedly, seek therein the history of the Moral Theology of St. Alphonsus ; nor will he be disappointed. Indeed, no other work is so frequently mentioned. A11 the details relative to its compo­ sition, to its successive emendations, will be found treated most precisely in the correspondence. The letters on this subject, like all his correspondence, are written in the most simple style ; however, interesting details abound. One may see in them what labor it cost the holy Doctor to bring to a conclusion the composition of this Moral The­ ology, his masterpiece, as it is commonly called. One may also see the persistency and firmness with which he main­ tained the fundamental doctrine, we mean the golden mean between Rigorism and Laxism, which the Church has so highly extolled. The motive of St. Alphonsus in defending his System so valiantly is worthy of his great soul. “I sol­ emnly affirm,” he says in his Exposition of the Moral System, etc., “that all I have written on this matter, I have written, not to acquire a name for learning, but solely to procure the glory of God and the salvation of souls. If I have attacked authors who are too mild (and they have complained bitterly to me of the fact), my reason was that I could not bear to behold the barriers of Christian morality broken down by excessive liberty of opinion. If, on the other hand, I have written against authors that are too severe, it was because I could not bear to see consciences deceived and souls in danger of losing salvation by excessive severity. . . . My opinion, therefore, appears to me irrefutable.” These grave words should be ever borne in mind. They alone explain the immense labors of the holy Doctor in the field of Moral Theology. In conclusion: the perusal of the scientific letters will prove as edifying as that of the letters of spiritual guidance. We may even affirm, perhaps, that there exhales from them a perfume of sanctity and virtue more penetrating. Writers have, indeed, more than one stumbling-block to avoid, especially in their correspondence. But where find a sim­ plicity, a candor equal to that of St. Alphonsus? Ever at vin Preface to the French Edition. the breach, ever engaged in work, ever occupied with God, with souls, he gives no thought to himself. True, he endeavors to secure correct editions and such as will attract; though his sole purpose in attracting the reader is to win him to God. What does he care for his name or his portrait? His name he places at the head of his books, but merely from necessity; as for his portrait, the very mention of it fills him with horror. Humility and zeal run like a golden thread through this correspondence; love for the Church appears everywhere; reverence for the Pope shines forth with exceeding brilliancy; charity, that charity which occupies itself with the smallest details whenever there is question of a neighbor’s good, is ever conspicuous. May we not affirm that defenders of the Church will find in these letters most useful counsels? The war declared against our faith in the eighteenth century would never have ensnared so many victims, had it not pressed into service that most popular form of writing, the small brochure. St. Alphonsus under­ stood this perfectly well, and, in his apologetic writings, he aimed to condense in a small number of pages arguments the most unanswerable. Thus he pursued the enemy on every side, and, combating them with their own weapons, he was enabled more promptly to achieve the victory. Note.— Verità della Fede, the title of one of the works of St. Alphonsus, has been erroneously translated Faith, it should be Truth of Faith.—Tr. Truths of CONTENTS. PAGE APPROBATION, IV Preface, V LETTERS OE ST. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI. PART (I. SPE CIA L CORRESP ONIDENCE. Λ. D. 1746. LETTER 1. To λ Priest oe Naples.—Not blasphemy to curse the dead, [1746?],..................................................................................... 3 A. D. 1748. 2. To Mgr. Giuseppe Nicolai, Archbishop of Conza.— He dedicates to him the first edition of his Moral Theolo­ gy, [1748?],..................................................................................... 5 3. To the Reader.—Preface to the Moral Theology, . . 13 A. D. 1750. 4. To Don Giuseppe Sparano, Canon of the Cai hedral of Naples.—His opinion with regard to absolving a cleric.—Nocera, November 20, . . . . «14 Contents. PAGE LETTER A. D. 17535. To Pope Benedict XIV.—He dedicates to him the second edition of the Moral Theology.— [Nocera de’ Pagani, 1753?], 16 Λ. D. 1755. 6. To Cardinal Antonio Sersale, Archbishop of Na­ ples.—His opinion of a work submitted to him forexami­ nation, [1755?]............................................................................ 19 -, To Don Giuseppe Iorio, λ Priest of Naples.—He begs him to indicate any addition he would like to make to one of his works.—Nocera, April 9 [1755], . . .21 8. To Giuseppe Remondini, Publisher at Venice. —lie promises his assistance for a new edition of the Moral Theology.—Pagani [August, 1755?], .... .22 A. D. 1756. 9. Τθ·ΤΗΕ Same.—Some directions relating to the new edi­ tion.—Nocera, February 15, 24 jo. To the Same.—He sends the first volume of the Moral.— Recommendations with regard to the printing.—Naples, March 30,......................................................................... 28 U. To hie Same.—He again announces the sending of the Moral.— Recommendations.relative to the correction of the text.— Nocera, April 30, ..... To mi Sami..—He asks for news concerning the volume sent to Venice.—Nocera, June 4, To the. Sami He begs to be informed of the judgment passed on some of his opinions.— Nocera, June 12, To 'Hie Sami.— He sends him the Practice of Confessors, and speaks of the success he anticipates for the new Hon of the Moral Theology.—Nocera, June 16, T<> Till Same.— He informs him of the sending of the second volume of the Moral.—Nocera, July 7, 16. To THE Same.—Some additions to be made to the first volume.—He accepts the task of translating and enlarging the Practice of Confessors.— Naples, July 20, assistance for the 17· translation of the Practice. Contents. I ETTER ’ PAGE 18. To Giuseppe RemoNdini.—He promises to send the Latin translation.—Nocera, September 19, . . . .49 19. To the Same.—He sends him the Latin Practice, and makes some inquiries.—Nocera, October 1, . , .5° 20. To Giacomo Storti, at Foggia.— He asks him for some news of Remondini.—Nocera de' Pagani, October 4, . 52 21. To Giuseppe Remondini. — He complains of his long silence, and informs him of various shipments.—Nocera, October ir, ......... 53 22. To the Same.—Joy at hearing from him.—Matters per­ taining to the printing of his different works.—Nocera, October 22, ». ......... 54 23. To the Same.— He recommends him to make inquiries about a work sent him, and proposes to him to print some of his spiritual works.— Pagani, October 29, . . 56 24. To the Same.—He again speaks of the manuscript of the Praxis Confessnrii.— Nocera de’ Pagani, November 4, . 58 25. To the Same.—He promises to send some spiritual works for printing.—Nocera, December i8, . . . .60 A. D. 1757. 26. To the Same.—Recommendations relating to a Pontifical decision.—Various advices.—Nocera. January 20, . . 61 27. To THE Same.—He speaks of a modification to be intro­ duced into the preface of the Moral Theology.—Nocera, January 23, ......... 62 28. To the Same.—A correction to be made in the second volume of the Moral,—Nocera, [January] 27, . . .65 29. To the Same.—He speaks of some letters sent to the pub­ lisher, and urges the publication of a certain work.— Nocera, March 14, . . . . . . . .66 30. To the Same.—Joy at the completion of the Moral 'Theo­ logy.—Nocera, April 15, . . . . . .68 31. To the Same.—He asks for a number of copies of the above-mentioned work.—Nocera, April 25, . . . 70 32. To the Same.—He recommends to his charity a book­ seller who has met with a sudden loss.— Nocera, May 23, 71 33. To THE Same.—He promises to translate the large Prac­ tice into Latin.—Nocera, June 2, . . . . .72 34. To THE Same.—He acknowledges the receipt of some books.—Nocera, July 22, ....... 74 XII Contents. LETTER PA e 35, To Giuseppe Remondinl—He speaks of the Latin trans­ lation of the large Practice.—Naples, August 2S, . . -z- A. D. 1758. 36. To the Same.—He tells him not to send any copies of the Moral Theology to France.—Reasons for this.— Nocera, March 10, ......... -g 37. To the Same.— He endeavors to inculcate on the pub­ lisher the utility of printing spiritual books.—Nocera, April 14................................................................................................. So 38. To THE Same.—He makes inquiries about the Instruction and Practice sent him some time ago. — Naples, May iS, 82 39. To the Same.—He speaks of the merits of the new Prac­ tice^ and promises to send a number of additions for a new edition of the Moral Theology.—Nocera, lune 5, . S4 40. To the Same.—He gives some instructions concerning the Instruction and Practice, and urges the printing of two smaller works.—Nocera, July 2, SS 41. To THE Same.— He warns him against certain unfavorable talk that might come to his ears.—Nocera, July 16, . 9° 42. To the Same.—Joy at hearing that his spiritual works are being printed. — Some instructions concerning them. — Nocera, August,................................................................. 92 43. To THE Same.—His wishes concerning the printing of the Instruction and Practice.—The Latin translation of the same {Homo Apostolic us}.—Nocera, August 10, . .99 44· I θ the Same.—He laments over the delay to which their . letters are subjected.—Further directions for the arrange­ ment of the Instruction and Practice.—Nocera, September II...............................................................................................9S 45. To THE Same.—Directions for the edition of the Homo Apostolicus.—General instruction on the manner of mak­ ing corrections.—Nocera, October 7, , 100 46. To THE Same. — He proposes to print the Novena for Christmas and the Eternal Truths. — Nocera, October 15, 102 47. To THE Same.—The sending of the Homo Apostolicus.— [November]...................................................................................... 48. To THE Same.—He requests the immediate printing of the above-mentioned work.—Other works which he intends to have published.—Nocera, December 31, . , . 104 Contents. LETTER A. D. 1759. 49. To Giuseppe Remondini.—Reasons for not sending his works for the first printing.—Nola, February 10, 50. To THE Same.—Corrections to be made in a certain work. —Additions for the large Moral.—Nola, February 15, o the Same.—He speaks of the receipt of some books, of the large Moral and other works to be printed.—Naples, March 10, ......... . 52. To THE Same.—He sends the Great Means of Prayer.—Its importance.—Nocera, April 5, . 53· To ΓΗΕ Same.—His thanks for a present of some books.— Recommendations regarding the Homo Apostolicus.—No­ cera, April 12, . 54. To the Same.— He speaks of the printing and sale of some works.—Nocera, April 26, . . . . . H6 55. To THE Same.—He sends the Moral for the fourth edition. Recommendations concerning its arrangement.— [May], ug 56. To the Same.—He recommends the early publication of the Glories cf Mary.—Nocera de' Pagani, July 5, . . 121 57. To the Same.—A treatise to be inserted in the Moral.—Its importance.—Nocera, August 1, . . . . . I2^ 58. To THE Same.—He asks for an explanation of certain re­ marks, and gives an account of the sale of his works.— Nocera, October 8, . . . . . . . .124 59. To the Same.—He asks for some copies of the Homo Aposlolictis.—Advice regarding the reduction of the price.— Nocera, November 1, ··..... 126 60. To the Same.—Omissions to be made in the Moral.—He speaks of the sale and price of other works.—Nocera, November 14, ........ I2§ 61. To the Same.—His joy at the progress of the Moral.—His smaller works are reprinted by others without his knowl­ edge.—Nocera, December 12, . . . . . A. D. 1760. 62. To the Same.—Directions concerning the future sale of his works.—Nocera, [Januaiy] 17, .... . 63. To the Same.—He sends a copy of Selva, and asks for copies of the Latin Practice.—[End of January], XIV Conten ts. page letter 64. To Giuseppe Remondini.—Two important additions for the J fora I.—Nocera, February 6,...................................... 135 65. To THE Same.—He speaks of the arrival of the Latin In­ structions, and of the sale of his works.—Nocera, April 8, 136 66. To THE Same.— Λ letter of Father Ferrara, to which the saint adds that he has forwarded the Selva, and received the Latin Practices.—Nocera, April 27, . . . . 137 67. To THE Same.—Complaints concerning the poor work in the Jforno Apostolicus.—Nocera, May 24, . . . . 13g 68. To ΓΗΕ Same.—Various instructions.— His reasons for not sending the original manuscripts.—Nocera, June 19, . 142 69. To the Same.—Additions made to the Italian Practice.— Advice with regard to the selection of a good proof­ reader.—Nocera, July 2, ...... . 143 70. To I he Same.—He sends the Instruction and Practice.— Nocera, July 10,..................................................................... 144 71. To the Same.—He thanks the publisher for certain favors, and promises to send the Spouse of Christ as soon as it is published.—Nocera, July 24,.................................................. 145 72. To THE Same.— Reasons why the additions for the new reprint of the Homo Apostolicus cannot be prepared before the edition in the vernacular is published.—Nocera, Au­ gust 23................................................................................................. i47 73. To GiAMtiATTisi A Remondini.—He promises to send the above-mentioned work and the Spouse of Christ.—Na­ ples, October 4,..................................................................... 14S A. D. 1761. 74. To THE Sami .—He speaks of the sale of his works and the favor with which the Instruction and Practice is re­ ceived.—A description of the Neapolitan printers.— No­ cera, [January] 16, ....... . '50 75. To the Same.—Inquiries concerning the printing of the above-mentioned work.— Restrictions upon the Neapoli­ tan printers in favor of Remondini.— Nocera, May 7, 152 70. To 1111 Same.—He sends the second volume of the Spouse of Christ, and repeats the inquiries of the preceding let­ ter.·—Nocera, May 26, ...... 153 77. To the Same.—His joy at the completion of the Italian Practice.—Hi» Moral works fall under no censure.__ A Contents. xv LETTER PzVGE proposal for a complete edition of his ascetical writings. 7s. To Giambattista Remondini.—On the same subject.— 79· So. Si. 82. S3. 84. Nocera, June 5, ........ To the Same.—He asks for a copy of the Italian Practice to prepare the additions for the new Latin Practice.—No­ cera, [une 8, To the Same.—The opinion of the Sovereign Pontiff Bene­ dict XIV. on the saint’s teaching on Probabilism.—Noce­ ra, July 13...................................................................................... To the Same.— He speaks of the sending of several works, among them the Homo Apostolicus.—Special recommenda­ tions concerning this work.—Nocera, July 20, To the Same.—Two additions to be inserted in the abovementioned work.—His solicitude to make the complete edition of his ascetical works a perfect one.—Nocera, September 5,................................................................... To the Same.—Corrections to be made in the edition of the Instruction and Practice.—Nocera, Novembers, To THE Same.—Irregularity in the course of their corre­ spondence.—Nocera de’ Pagani, December 13, r5S ï59 160 163 166 169 A. D. 1762. 85. To THE SAME.— He requests him to defer the printing of the Homo Apostolicus, and, annoyed at not receiving any answers to his letters, he asks the reason of his silence.— Nocera, [January] 18, ....... 86. To the Same.—His joy on the receipt of letters from the publisher.—Recommendations concerning the printing of his works.—The mind of the saint with regard to having his portrait taken.—Nocera, [January] 21, . . . 87. To the Same.—Additions for the Homo Apostolicus.—No­ cera, [January] 26, ........ *78 88. To THE Same.—He insists on the appointment of a careful compositor and a good reviser.—Nocera, February 19, . 180 89. To the Sam F Directions concerning the edition of his ascetical works.—Nocera, February 24, 90. To the Same.—He informs him of his nomination to the episcopate.—Advice relative to their future correspond­ ence.—Nocera, March 26, ...... i85 B ■■■■■■■■i Contents. XVI page letter 91. To Giambattista Remondini.— He urges him to hasten the printing of the Homo Apostolicus.—Naples. April 10, 187 92. To the Same.—He sends the first two volumes of the asceti­ cal works.—Rome, April 27,...................................................18S 93. To the Same.—He thanks him for his congratulations, and repeats the recommendation and advice contained in the preceding.—Rome, May 22,...................................... ......... 1S9 94. To THE Same.—Arrival in his diocese. — Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, July 30,............................................................................ 1 Qj 95. To the Same.—Joy at hearing from him.—Directions to regulate their correspondence.—Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, September 6....................................................................................... 192 96. To THE Same.—He renews his request for the printing of the Homo Apostolic us and the ascetical works.— ant’Agala, October 5,............................................................................... 193 97. To the Same.—The same subject.—Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, October 15,.............................................................................. 194. 98. To THE Same.—He refuses to accept a copy of the Homo Apostolicus on account of the manner in which this edi­ tion was published.—Arienzo, November iS, . . . 196 99. To THE Same.—The same subject.—Arienzo, November 27».................................................................................................200 loo. To the Same.—He tells him he will send a very useful treatise recently composed, and refuses to listen to the proposition of placing his portrait at the beginning of his ascetical works.—Arienzo, December 27, . . . 202 A. D. 1763. 101. To THE Same.—He asks for information about the printing of the Homo Apostolicus.—Sant’ Agata, May 5, 205 102. To THE Same.—The elimination of Busenbaum from the Moral Theology projected.—Renewed inquiries concerning the Homo Apostolicus.—Arienzo, June 12, 206 103. To ΠΙΕ Same.—The same subject.—Arienzo, June 15, 209 104. To vue Same. — Additions for a new edition of the Moral to be made in conformity with the preceding ones. 211 10;. To i he Same He sends the rest of the ascetical works, and speaks of the projected edition of the Moral. —[July]........................................................................................... 214 To THE Same.—On his various works.— [July], 215 * Contents. letter XVII page 107· To G1AMBAT i ista Remondini.—The project of eliminat­ ing Busenbaum abandoned. — His reasons for this.— [Nocera, August],......................................................... 218 10S. To the Same.—The same subject.—Λ new work to be printed.—Nocera, August 26,......................................220 109. To the Same.—He inquires about a number of works sent him, and speaks again of the Moral Theology.—Nocera, September I,................................................................... 222 no. To the Same.— I he same subject.—Nocera, September 21, 225 z ill. To the Same.—He urges the printing of the Country Con­ fessor.—Recommendations relative to the future edition of the Moral.—[October],............................................226 112. To the Same.—He requests the insertion of the royal approbation in the Guide for Country Confessors, and al­ ludes to a eulogy bestowed on his work on Faith and the Dissertation on the Probable Opinion.—Arienzo, October 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 14.............................................................................................................. 230 To the Same.—His reasons for having his works printed at Venice rather than at Naples.—Arienzo, October 24, . 233 To THE Same.—He speaks of some additions to be made to the Moral.—Arienzo, October 25, . ... 234 To the Same.—Recommendations relative to the coming edition of the Moral and the complete edition of his ascetical works.—Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, November 13, 236 To the Same.—He urges him to print the Guide for Coun­ try Confessors, and to circulate the Homo Apostolicus.— Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, December 2, .... 238 To the Same.—He thanks him for a present, and sends some additions for the work mentioned in the previous letter.—Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, December 20, . . . 240 A. D. 1764. 118. To the Same. — An important addition for the Moral. —Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, January 19, .... 119. 7'0 THE Same.— He recommends the printing of the ascet­ ical works, and speaks of a Letter of Apology to be in­ serted in the Guide.—Sant’ Agata, [January] 29, . . 120. To THE Same. — He sends the Apologetic Rejoinder men­ tioned in the preceding.—Sant’ Agata, February 14, . 121. To THE Same.—A correction to be inserted in the Moral. —Sant’ Agata, February 17, ..... . 240 242 243 244 Contents. LETTER PAGE 122. To Giambattista Remondini.—a correction to be made in the Guide— His displeasure at the new edition of the Moral.—Sant’ Agata, March 1, . 245 To the Same.—He complains of the price of the Homo Apostolicus.—Sant' Agata, March 26, . To the Same.—Inquiries about a Reply to be made to his Dissertation.—The firmness of his position.—Sant’ Agata, March ........................................................................................... 125. To THE Same.—The difficulty of selling books at that season of the year. — A new edition of the Adoral. 253 126. To THE Same.—Sad ravages of the famine.—Favorable re­ ception of the Apologetic Rejoinder at Rome.—Sant’ Agata, May 21, 127. To the Same He complains of the manner in which an unnecessary Latin dissertation has been added to the Guide.—Sant’ Agata, June S, 256 128. To Ί he Same.—He asks for the folios of Father Patuzzi’s work.— Difficulty of selling the publisher’s books.—Sant’ Agata, June 8, ......... ................................................... . 259 The edition of the Moral in quar129. To the Same to.—[July], 261 130. To the Same. Weakness of Father Patuzzi’s arguments. Injustice of a Dominican reviser.—Frasso, July 13, 263 To the Same.— His anxiety to have the Reply of Father Patuzzi.—Arpaia, July 31, ...... 265 To THE Same. — Some additions for the Moral'. — Request to send the remaining folios of Father Patuzzi’s Reply.—Arpaia, August 14, ...... 266 133· To THE Same.—Proposal to print a Response to Father Pa­ tuzzi.—Arienzo, August 1S, ...... 67 134· To the Same.— He requests an answer to the preceding letter, and asks the publisher to procure some works of St. Thomas.—Arienzo, September 19, ... . 269 135· To the Same.- The Response to Father Patuzzi.—Arienzo, Scptember 23 > .... 136. To the Same.-—Care taken in preparing the Apology.— His opinion of it. Arienzo, September 28, 137. To the Same. Recommendations relative to the printing of the above-mentioned work. — Sant’ Agata, October . ......................... Con ten Is. XIX PAGE LETTER To Gianbattista Remondini.—Request to procure a cer­ tain work for him.—Sant’ Agata, November to,. . 278 139· I0 the Same.—Modification to be introduced into the title of the Apology.—Sant’ Agata, November 14, . . 279 140. To the Same.—He suggests a mode of forwarding two hundred copies of the Apology to Naples. — Sant’ Agata, November 30, ......... 280 Ï41. To the Same.—Recommendations relative to the transmis­ sion and circulation of the above-mentioned work.—Sant’ Agata, December 21,................................................282 138. A. D. 1765. 142. To the Same.—A correction to be made in the Apology.— Eagerness of the public for the work.—Sant' Agata, [January] 10.................................................................................................... 284 143. To the Same.—He requests the publisher to send copies of the Apology to Rome.—His hopes of its success.— Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, [January], 24, .... 286 144. To the Same.—Thanks for printing the Apology.—The royal approbation of the work.—Sant’ Agata, [January] 31»..................................................................................................... 287 145. To THE Same.—He requests the publisher to insert the Dedication to the Sovereign Pontiff at the beginning of the Apology.—Sant’ Agata, February 7, .... 289 146. To the Sovereign Pontiff Clement XIII.—He dedi­ cates the Apology to him, and declares his intention in publishing it.—[Sant’ Agata],.................................................... 290 147. To Giambattista Remondini.—He urges the publisher to correct an error in the Apology, and to hasten the publi­ cation of the Moral and the ascetical collection. — February 19, , 292 14S. To the Same. — Plan for disposing of copies of the Apology. — Hopes of obtaining the royal approba­ tion.—Sant’ Agata, March 15, . 294 U9· To the Same. — Joy at the immediate printing of the Moral and the ascetical collection. — A new Reply of Father Patuzzi’s to be answered.—Sant’ Agata, April 3, 295 150. To the Same.—The Apology allowed to enter the kingdom. —Weakness of Father Patuzzi’s new Reply.— Eagerness of the public for the Apology.—Sant' Agata, April 15, 298 Contents. LETTER PAGE 151. To Father Eusebius Amort.—He urges him to combat Father Patuzzi’s teaching.—Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, April I 3θθ 23......................... ......................................................... 151. To Giambattista Remondini.—He sends a very import­ er) ant Monitum on Probabilism.—Sant’ Agata, April 25, 30 τ 152. To the Same.—A repetition of preceding letters.— He asks for information about Father Patuzzâ.—Sant’ Agata, May 303 153. To THE Same.—He asks for the folios of Father Patuzzi’s new Reply.—[Sant’ Agata, May]................................. 305 154· To the Same.—An Appendix to the Apology against a new 306 work of the Rigorists.—Sant’ Agata, June 2, . To the Same.—Success of the Apology.—Urgent recom­ mendations to reprint the Moral.— Sant’ Agata, June 308 26,........................................................................................... 156. To THE Same.—Thanks for a service rendered.—Allusion to the new Reply of Father Patuzzi.—Airola, July 1, 157. To the Same.—He asks for two hundred copies of the Apology.—Request 10 procure a certain work.—Airola, July 2,................................................................................. To THE Same.—He urges the publisher to forward the 312 copies of the Apology.—Sant’ Agata, July 8. 159· To Father Don Niccolô Savio, of the Oratory. — Sentiments of Father Caldarera of the Oratory regarding the Probabilism of the saint.—Sant’ Agata, July 21, 160. To Giambattista Remondini.—He asks for information concerning the True Spouse of Jesus Christ.—Proposal to reprint the Italian Instruction.—Sant’ Agata, August 1, . 316 161. 1° T,IE Same.—All his writings on Probabilism to be printed in one volume.—Sant’ Agata, September 4, 162. To THE Same.—Promise to send the new Dissertation on Probabilism for the new edition of the Moral.— Sant’ Agata, September 15,.......................................... . 321 163. To Signor Don Iacopo Menchini.—He informs him of the publication of Father Patuzzi’s work on Moral, and al­ ludes to the appearance of his own work in the near future.—Sant' Agata, September 19, . . . . 324 164. To Giambattista Remondini.—He sends the new Disserta­ tion on Probabilism.— Its value.—A list of retracted opin­ ions.—Arienzo, November 6, ...... 165. To the Same.—Recommendations relative to the trans- Contents, LETTER XXI PAGE mission of books, and to the coming edition of the Moral.—Arienzo, November 17, • 329 166. To Giambattista Remondini. — Fears concerning the safety of the Dissertation.—Arienzo, December 12, . 330 167. To THE Same.—Joy at the safe arrival of the Dissertation. A work against atheists and deists in preparation.—Ari­ enzo, December 29, ........ 332 A. D. 1766. 16S. To Father N. Savio, of the Oratory. — The saint’s purity of intention in his theological controversies.—Per­ nicious influence of Jansenistic works.—Arienzo, [Janua­ ry] 7........................................................................................... 334 169. To Giambattista Remondini.—He sends a copy of a theo­ logical work, and asks the publisher to procure for him a certain work.—Arienzo, [January] iS, . . . . 337 170. To the Same.—He requests the publisher to purchase a work for him.—Arienzo, [January] 27, . . . . 339 171. To the Same.—Details concerning the Truth of Faith.— Arienzo, February 5, ....... 340 172. To the Same.—Plan for sending the work of Father Valsecchi.—Arienzo, February iS, ..... 342 173. To THE Same.—He forwards the Way of Salvation.— [Ari­ enzo, March], ......... 344 174. To THE Same.—lie requests a definite answer regarding the reprinting of the Moral.—Arienzo, March 19, . . 345 175. To the Same.—Same subject.—Arienzo, April S, . . 347 176. To THE Same.—Arrival of some books, for which he has been anxiously waiting.—Arienzo, May 12, . . . 348 177. To Canon Giuseppe Simioli.—Observations relative to the revision of a book.—Arienzo, May 18, . . . 349 178. To Giambattista Remondini. — Plan to be followed in sending the proof-sheets of the new edition of the Moral. —Sant’ Agata, June 22, ....... 351 179. To the Same. — He fears some misfortune, as he has received no letters for some time.—Sant’ Agata, Septem­ ber 12,........................................................................................... 353 180. To the Same.—He anticipates trouble with the censors of the volume against materialists.—Arienzo, November .................................................................................................................. 354 XXII Contents. letter PAGE î Si. To G.ambat, ,STA Remondini.—Intention of rewriting the index of .he Moral Theology..-Zeal in defence of the in fallibility of the Pope.—[December], 35b A. D. 1767. 152. To THE Same.—Inquiries about the receipt of a very im­ portant letter.— Arienzo, February 20, .... 35S 153. To the Same.— Inquiries concerning the Dissertation on Confirmation.—Arienzo, March 7, .... 35g 184. To the Same.—Some additions for the Moral.—Arienzo, March 18..............................................................................................360 185. To a Father of the Congregation.—Opinion concern­ ing Probabilism and the authority of the Pope.—Arienzo, March 28............................................................................................. 363 186. To Giambattista Remondini.— Recommendations relalive to the index of the .IZoraf.-Arienzo, April 8 187. 10 the Same.—Transmission of a necessary folio and hnal recommendations with regard to the new edition of the Moral.—Arienzo, May 17, . 3<>7 188. To Father Andrea Vii.i.ani.—Explanation of his System of Probabilism for the guidance of his Congregation.— Arienzo, May 25,.................................................... . 369 I 89. To Giambattista Remondini. — He sends the work against materialists.—Airol?, June 18.................................... 190. T<> the Same.—Same subject.—Airola, June 18, 191. To the Same.—Success of the work against unbelievers. Naples, July 21,............................. 372 192. To the Same.—A new work to be published.—Naples, August 18,........................................... . . 373 193· To THE Same.—Joy at the completion of the new edition of the Mora!.—Favorable reception of the Way of Salvation.—'S^es. September ........................................................ 374 194· To THE Same —The Instruction on the Ten Commandments. —The complete edition of the ascetical writings.— [Be­ ginning of November]...................................................... 3-5 195· To THE Same.—Proposal to reprint the Great Means of Prayer.—Arienzo, November 7, . 3»? 196. To ΠΙΕ Same.—Request to procure a new work of Father Patuzzi.—Arienzo, November 16, ... 3-3 Contents. letter xxin page A. D. 1768. 197. To Giambattista Remondini.—A new work in refutation of a Gallican publication, which he now proposes to re­ cast and direct against Febronius.—Arienzo, February i8, 3S0 19S. To the Same.—The same subject.—Arienzo, March 3, . 3S3 199. To the Same.—Details concerning the refutation of Fe­ bronius.—Dissertations to be inserted in a future edition of the Moral.—[March], ....... 385 200. To THE Same.—Seveial works to be printed.—Arienzo, April ii, ......... . 3S8 201. To the Same.—Elimination of a passage in the Morales, a precaution against suppression.—Arienzo, April 17, . 389 202. To Father Antonio Tannoia. — He asks for infor­ mation concerning certain propositions in the Moral, said to be condemnable.—Arienzo, April 17, . . . 390 203. To Giambattista Remondini.—Great care of the saint in the refutation of Febronius.—Arienzo, April 28, . . 392 204. To the Same.— Recommendations relative to the printing of the refutation of Febronius.—Arienzo, May 20, . . 394 205. To THE Same.—Precautions to keep the name of the author of the refutation of Febronius from becoming known.— Arienzo, May 28, ........ 396 206. To the Same.—Prohibition in Portugal of all works on Moral containing the Bull In Cœna Domini.—Arienzo, June I,........................................................................................... 398 207. To the Same.—A small number of copies of the \york against Febronius printed at Naples.—[June], . . 401 00S. To the Same.—Precautions to be taken with regard to the work against Febronius.—[June], ..... 403 209. To the Same.—Observations on the subject of Probabil­ ism.—Arienzo, June 30, ....... 404 210. To the Same.—Difficulties in connection with the work against Febronius.—Arienzo, July 6, 407 211. To the Same.— Important occurrence at Naples relative to the Moral.—Arienzo, July 8, ..... 40S 212. To the Same. — A hope that the Moral will not be prohibited in Portugal.—Arienzo, July 23, . . . 409 213. To the Same.— Reason for the delay in forwarding the work against Febronius.—Arienzo, August 3, . . .411 XXIV letter Contents. PAGE 214. To Giambattista Remondinl—Inquiries about certain works sent to the publisher.—Arienzo, September 2S, . 413 To THE Same.—Serious illness of the saint.— His work on the Mass-stipend. Arienzo, October g, . • 414 216. To Father A. Vh.lani.—Manner of defending his Moral Theology against the accusations raised in Sicily.—Ari­ enzo, November 6, ........ 416 217· To Father Pietro Paolo Blasucci.—Exposition of his Moral System.—[November],............................................ 41S 218. 219. 220. 221. 222. 223. 224. 225. 226. 227 228. A. D. 1769. To Father Stefano Longobardi, Pious· Worker. — He asks for an important work.—Details concerning the Dogmatic Work against the Reformers. — Arienzo, March 13..................................................................................... ‘422 To Father P. P. BLASUCCI.—On the Probable Opinion. Arienzo, August S,..................................................... To the Sovereign Pontiff Clement XIV. — He dedi­ cates to His Holiness the Dogmatic Work against the Re­ formers.—[Arienzo], ....... 9 To Giambattista Remo.ndini. — Transmission of the abovè-inentioned work.—Arienzo, August 20, 431 To THE Same.—Precautions necessary so as not to offend the civil authorities—His resolution to resign his bishop­ ric.—Arienzo, August 21.............................. 432 To Giant r wcesco Paci, a Printer at Naples.—Permission to publish the works of the saint. Arienzo, September 28,............................................... 435 To Giambattista Remondinl—Request for news con­ cerning the prohibition of the Moral in Portugal. — Passage to be suppressed in the Dogmatic H'orh oh the Council oj Trent.—Arienzo, October 15, . . . . 437 To THE Same.—Important additions to be introduced into the third edition of the Homo Apostolicus.—Arienzo, No­ vember 2, ......... . 441 To hie Same. — The saint’s affliction on account of the suppression of his Moral Theology in Portugal.—[Arienzo, November],........................................................................... 443 To 1HE Same.—Request to defer the printing of the Homo Apostolicus.—Arienzo, November 20, 445 To THE Same.—Despatch of the additions for the abovementioned work.—Arienzo, November 26, 447 Contents. xxv PAGE LETTER 229. To Giambattista Remondinl—Impossibility of disposing of the publisher’s books.—[Arienzo, November 26], , 230. To the Same.—Points of difference between the doctrine of the saint and that of the Jesuits.—Arienzo, December 9> ........... 231. To THE Same.—Recommendations relative to the printing of the Homo Apostolicus.—Arienzo, December 14, . . 232. To THE Same. —· The printing of the Homo Apostolicus deferred.—Various details.— Arienzo, December 24, . 448 450 452 453 A. D. 1770, 233. To the Same.—Additions for the above-mentioned work, —The History of the Heresies.—Arienzo [January], . 456 234. To the Same.—He asks for information concerning the ad­ ditions for the Homo Apostolicus.—His health.—Arienzo, February 15,................................................., . r 457 235· T° T1IE $AME-—The Sermons for Sundays.— Care of the saint in correcting this work.—Arienzo, March i6, . 45S 236. To THE Same.—Important addition to be inserted in the Homo Apostolicus.— Method pursued in the History of the Heresies.—Arienzo, April 8, ..... . 45g 237· I 0 Λ Religious.—He requests to have a reasonable cen­ sor for the History of the Heresies.—Arienzo, April 12, . 461 238. To Giambattista Remon ini.—The censorship of the Council of Trent.—Details concerning the History of the Heresies.—Arienzo, April 20, ...... 463 239. To a Religious.—He requests to have the appointment of the censor of the History of the Heresies changed.—Arienzo, May 3......................................................... . 465 240. To Giambattista Remondinl — The arrival of some books.—Works which he intends to send the publisher. —[Arienzo, end of November], ..... 466 241 To the Same.— Recommendations relative to the for­ warding of books.—Arienzo December 22, . . . 46S Special (Torrcsponbcnce. M I. SCIENTIFIC LETTER (1746 — 1771.) I LETTERS OF ST. ALPHONSUS MARIA DE LIGUORI. Special (Corrcsponbcntc. FIR ST SERIES.—SCIENTIFIC LETTERS. LETTER I. To a Priest of Naples. Reasons showing that it is not blasphemy to curse the dead.1 There can be no question here of the saints or of the souls in purgatory, since to curse these is always a mortal sin. But taking the words in their natural sense, they signify an imprecation uttered cither against the reprobate (who are, indeed, dead, being deprived of true life), or against the mortal remains of the deceased. Now, how it can be called a mortal sin to say : Curses on the dead 1 A curse against the dead, Afamiaggia i morti, very much in use in the kingdom of Naples, had been regarded by some theologians, as a mortal sin. St. Alphonsus consulted many eminent missionaries of Naples on this point, and submitted to them the reasons which led him to embrace the opposite opinion. Afterward he published a lengthy dissertation on the subject, which won all over to his opinion. This fragmentary letter belongs to the discussion. — PART II. 4 Special Correspondence, (part u. [Mannaggia i morti\, meaning thereby either of these classes, is a thing I cannot comprehend. 2. According to the more rigid opinion, if the words uttered are of doubtful meaning, then that signification is to be given them which people in general accord them, even if the person who uses them does not intend to utter a grievous blasphemy, or to offend God grievously. The words uttered are a blasphemy, if the people hold them to be such. In many cases, I asked my penitents what they meant by these words and whether they had intended them to apply to the holy souls in purgatory or in heaven. They all answered: “God forbid! I meant simply the dead.” This, then, is the meaning they attach to the words. All distinguish between the holy souls and the dead. 3. Blasphemies are blasphemies, either because everybody understands the expressions as such, or because they are intended as such bv* the one who utters them. But ask him who blasphemes the dead, if tie meant to curse the holy souls in heaven or in purgatory, and he will answer you promptly: “No.” Now, then, if the speaker and the hearer regard it in this light, where is the blasphemy? 4. All penitents express themselves clearly on the subject, and make a distinction between blaspheming the saints, blaspheming the souls in purgatory, and blaspheming the dead. For the penitent this last kind is altogether distinct from the other two; and 1 have learned from experience that those who have been guilty of blaspheming the souls in purgatory, accuse themselves of it with horror. After this, can any one say that this cursing of the dead is meant for the holy souls? 5. According to the opinion contrary to mine, there is no difference between these several curses in the Neapolitan dialect: A/annaggia san A’.; niannaggia le anime del pur­ gatorio , e niannaggia i morti tuoi! [Cursed be Saint N.! ser. 1.-1748.] 5 Letter 2. Cursed be the souls in purgatory! Cursed be thy dead ones!] Every one knows how far this assertion is from the truth; and, fora fact, all, whether those who use such ex­ pressions, or those who hear them, believe that this cursing of the dead is altogether different from the cursing of the saints and the souls in purgatory. 6. Very many people, as you will have observed, when they accuse themselves of having cursed the dead, immedi­ ately add, that they intended thereby to curse the souls in purgatory. 7. By following the contrary opinion, the number of sins will be increased ; for as soon as the idea that this cursing is a mortal sin, is fixed in the minds of the common people, they believe (as I have myself noticed) that it is a mortal sin to curse the dead, the animals, the rains, the winds, etc. 8. It is the duty of confessors to prevent sin. This they will do by following my opinion ; for since this blasphemy has become so general, how sin would be multiplied, if it is taught that such blasphemy be a mortal sin ! Why then should we not adopt and follow out in practice an opinion so much in accord with reason? After an old copy. LETTER 2. To Mgr. Giuseppe Nicolai, Archbishop of Conza. He dedicates the first edition of his Moral to this prelate.1 [*748.] Si forsan opus aliquod hominum ingenio laboratum inve­ niatur, cui ad viri omnium virtutum genere præstantis auspi­ cia, tanquam ad asylum, ut tute sustineatur, confugere opus 1 This dedication, which is equivalent to a real panegyric of the most worthy prelate, to whom it is directed, is found only at the beginning of this edition. We take pleasure in reproducing it here, because, being something pertaining to the saint, it should not be I* 6 Special Correspondence. [part h. sit; hoc certc hie liber, quern ego sum editurus, fore vide­ tur. Cum enim super Busenbaum adnotationes contineat, vili apud nonnullos haberi opinor, qui, ut est natura homi­ num, novitiatum cupidi, si quæ admodum graphice sint a multis antea pertractata sapientibus, fastidiunt eadem, si a quovis repetentur. Qua de re non benigne acceptum iri mihi animus suggerit, nisi sub alicujus tutamine, qui nedum suis splendoribus, quod deficit ei lumen reddat, sed etiam ab aliorum vindicet injuriis, munitis circumferatur. Ad cujus igitur, spe non fallaci innixus, confugiam, nisi ad tuum, Illustrissime Praesul, patrocinium? Tu enim tuis ornamentis, praecipuo quodam naturæ favore, et studii electione effecisti, ut iis, qui supersunt splendoribus, obscu­ ra quæque possis illustrare. Eo enim praeclara tuorum procerum, et gesta tua Te perduxerunt, ut ad ea, quæ natura et virtus conjuratae Tibi ministrarunt, nescirem quid laudis possit optari. Sive genus perquiratur tuum, sive Tu ipse in medium protraharis, tanto spectaberis honorum ge­ nere afflui, ut merito quisque ad Te, tanquam ad fontem concurrens, perenniter quid hauriat, invenisse gratuletur. Quis enim, sive in litteris versatus per annalium vetustatem, sive popularis et ex suffragatoribus, pervulgato praesentium fortunarum sermone, est qui nesciat tuæ familiæ perillustris amplitudinem ? Ea nimirum est Nicolai familia, fama cujus jam abhinc quingentis et amplius annis, reddita est nobis celeberrima, quo tempore a Delphinatu (ubi ditione civili Arfevillæ dominabatur Nicolaus Nicolai? a secretis, et geographiis insignis regis Galliae). Messanam, et inde Butuntum transvecta est, et diu inter Butuntinos nobiles tantis opibus valuit, quibus Carolum I Angio2 pecuniis mutuo lost ; and also as a just tribute to Nicolai, who exerted himself so much for the foundation of our house of Caposele, of which the saint makes grateful and laudatory mention. 1 Nicolaus Troppi de origine Trib. 8 Blasius Altom. de Fam. Petrarolo Molfetta, pag. 34. SER. I.-1748.] Letter 2. 7 locatis devinctum sibi reddere potuit. Tunc quoque tem­ poris, inter Molfett» primates feudorum dominus fuisse 1 Francisais Nicolai memoratur. At posterioribus sæculis non fortuna decidisse, imo instar fluminis incrementum ex itinere consecutos ad haec nostra usque tempora eos, a quibus originem tuam non interrup­ tam numeramus, inclytos legimus omnes vixisse. Hujus­ modi dignoscuntur Joannes pater,2 Joannes-Andreas filius, equites; et Joannes ille,3 qui, ob singularem jurisprudent!» laudem S. R. C. primariam gessit praeturam. Et ne quid splendoris ex omni parte desideraretur, Franciscus, JoannisAndreæ nepos,4 et Octavius, bellica virtute, si quid deerat, compararunt; ambo Philippi II arma secuti: hic,5 miles voluntarius, strenue cum certasset, ad proarchitalassi lau­ ream pervenit; ille ° ex primoribus militi» titulis fulgens insignibus ad stationes Apuli» littorum fuit destinatus. Emicuit fortunatus ille Petrus Paulus Soc. Jes., propatruus tuus,7 qui, praesentato sibi Teat» summo pestis discrimine, ægrotantium subsidio oblatus, victima factus caritatis se ipse Deo litavit, s»pe h»c repetens : dignum sane est pœnis ad cœlum pervenire. Hisce accedunt ecclesiastic» Dignitates,8 ob quas duo patrui tui D. Cataldus, et alter D. Franciscus-Paulus ce­ lebres posteritati facti sunt; quorum alter in Cardinalis Gasoni aula munere fungebatur auditoris, et omnes caus» civiles de Ferrari» legatione sibi, vices Eminentissimi in hoc gerenti, decidend» referebantur; posterior, postquam in romanis Academiis singulari eruditione et omnigena 1 2 3 1 5 *’ " 8 Franc. Lombardini in Historia Molfettic. pag. 34. Dux Guardiæ in Fum. Fiscalité Tremblai. Not. Ant. de Julianis Bitetti sub die 9 nov. 1502. Not. Ant. Ferri Bitetti sub die 3 septeinbr. 1529. Process. Benef. Nicolai dell' Olio in Archiv. Episc. Bitet. Not. Ant. de Leonibus Bitet in ann. 1607. Menolog. Patrign. sub die 11 octob. ex Alegambe. D. Joseph. Volpi, in Chronolog. Episc. Caputaij. n. 48. 8 Special Correspondence. [part ii. doctrina admirabilis evasit, ad insignes Ecclesiæ gradus (ubique tamen, rebus gestis, pastorali vigilantia scriptisque se dignis monumenta sui reliquit) nimirum ad Canusitensem praeposituram, hinc ad Caputaquensem episcopatum, et tandem ad Compsæ metropolim transcendit. Nec silentio praeteream propius consanguinitate Tibi con­ junctos, D. Carolum amplissimum patrem tuum, Canneti marchionem, qui prudentia, doctrina et titulis aeternitati nomen commendavit; et D. Dominicum, ornatissimum fratrem, praesentem Canneti marchionem, qui, nihil a ma­ joribus degenerans, sed omnia honoris ac pietatis ornamen­ ta in se uno colligens, conatus est ut, quanto honore ipse ex illorum dignitate afficeretur, non minora redderet ex sua laude; qua effecit, ut connubii vinculo D. Annæ-M. Federici ex nobilissimorum stirpe senatoria ac patricia genuensi, feminae spectatissimae se conjungendo, hujus familiae glori­ am et decora incremento suæ mancipasset. Et quamvis tui in tuam vixerint gloriam, et suis exemplis viam tibi ad virtutem paraverint, tamen, nisi animus Te fecisset nobilem, aliena non tua laudarentur: Dignitas enim originis (atte­ stante S. Hilar.) in ofterum consistit exemplis, et ftrosaftice gloria fideli imitatione retinetur. Neque tamen is es, qui natalium indiges suffragio, ut ad laudes proveharis. Nemi­ nem, qui Te noverit, morum integritas, irreprehensibilis actionum prudentia, liberalitas indicibilis, zelus ardens pos­ sunt fugere ; imo haec omnia omnibus comperta, et explora­ ta jam sunt. Nam, si cunctam tuæ ab adolescentia retro­ acta- vitæ seriem repetamus, nullam possumus invenire partem, quæ in ecclesiasticis stipendiis laboribusque assiduis non sit exercita. Siquidem etiamdum ephebus Romam petisti, bonam scientiarum palæstram inter florentissimos totius Orbis adolescentes edocendus, et cum in celebri Safticntiœ academia operam navares, omnia ad orthodoxae religionis præscriptum ita exegisti, ut totus litteris politiori­ bus, theologicis doctrinis, sacris Canonibus, cæterisque SER. I.-1748.] Letter 2. eruditioribus scientiis intentus, mente nunquam a cordis custodia abalienata, unice metuens et perhorrescens criminis labem, vitæ integritatem custodiveris. Inque patriam Te recepto, singulare illud fuit, cum in illa civitatis Petiliæ insigni Collegiata (ubi adhuc adolescens, licet invitus, primi­ ceriatus honore fulgebas decoratus) luctuosi circa res Ecclesiæ exciti fuissent tumultus, inter tot tantosque sacerdotes, Tu quamquam ætate inferior, virtute tamen et animi magni­ tudine maximus, de medio surrexisti, putans tua referre et ope et zelo pro Ecclesiæ tuenda immunitate, serpentis pru­ dentiam imitando, Te totum perditorum odiis tradere, modo Dei et Ecclesiæ jura sarta tecta servares. Hinc evangelicam Mnam gloriosius Te negotiatum, fel. rec. Clemens XII, hisce et multis aliis permotus meritis, ut vidit, super multas civitates Dei fore dignum potestate, de patruo tuo, jam longæva ætate non minus quam laboriosis archiepiscopatus curis confecto, et degravari quærente, in tuos humeros metropolis Compsæ onus sustinere valentes, duxit transfe­ rendum. Onus quippe angelicis humeris formidandum ; sed, quia non sine prudentiæ miraculo demandatum tibi officium mirabiliter exples, maxime ob incredibilem gravita­ tis cum mansuetudine moderationem, leve tibi succedit. Et quoniam ea mente natura Te donavit, qua in curarum tanto oceano veluti obrutus, sed nunquam deficiens, ad omnia non minus intentus videris, ac si unicum et facile negotium esset archidiœcesis difficilis gubernatio. Hoc vero non vocibus, sed factis plane clarescet. Si disciplina scilicet cleri spectetur, ad Religiosorum normam instituti videbuntur ecclesiastici : ab omnium illece­ brarum otio remoti, quotidianis psalmodiis frequentes, cultui divino assidui ; et, ut paucis comprehendam, aureum cleri sæculum advenisse credo. Hoc patefiat diligenti illa vigi­ lantia, qua ex neapolitanis Congregationibus, et novissime ex nostra quoque, non semel ac iterum, sed sæpe sæpius accitis missionibus, nihil intentatum relinquens ad populum io Special Correspondence, [part n. in officio retinendum, credito gregi non intermisse prospicis. Quid, in corrigendis vitiorum foeditate contaminatis, vindex constans non agis? Nulli fuit adeo effrenata vecordia, nulli tanta temeritas, nulli tanta audaciæ insolentia, qui virgam virtutis tuæ non sensisset. Et, ut ad omnem diuturnitatem futuri temporis, gregis tui custodiae provideres, nullis Te nostris moventibus meritis, dignatus es (ut ad rudes populos erudiendos oppida excurramus) domum nostrae Congrega­ tionis Caputsilere, uberrima census aureorum millium media donatione, maxima præter subsidia, quae in dies ad aedificii constructionem ministras, firmissime in posterum stabilien­ dam curare. Neque praetermittendam puto, quam adhibu­ isti consilii maturitatem, in Sanctimonialium reformando monasterio, ubi, ut regularem observantiam, temporum injuria prope collapsam, impensis multis de tuo suppeditatis, cum laudabili vita perfecte communi, restaurares, ad eas concordes (opus sane difficile) in unam sententiam flecten­ das, laborasti er perfecisti. Neque ulla aetas conticescet, sed linguis omnium loquetur templa omnia dioecesis per Te vel restaurata, vel de novo erecta, vel tuis munificentissimis supellectilium largitionibus amplificata. At præ cæteris Basilica cathedralis bonam sortita est fortunam; etenim, ac si sensum haberet, indigne ferens, jam talem assecuta spon­ sum, incomtam et non pari decore ornatam se Tibi exhibere, cum terræmotu in secundo tui præsulatus anno funditus eversa esset, de infortuniis veluti gavisa est, spem certam concipiens decorius instauratam esse surrecturam. Hoc certe in tuum nisi incidisset pectus, quemvis in tot tantisque subitis calamitatibus, si non exanimasset, exterruisset saltem omnino. Tu autem validior infortuniis factus, impensarum contemptor, in conficiendo celerior, ad operam illico para­ tus, paucorum spatio annorum erexisti, ornasti, amplificasti. Prætermitto hic pretiosissimas pontificalium vestes, argentea altaris ornamenta, marmoreas aras, duas procathed rales magnifice refectas, duo archiepiscopia, quorum unum pene SER.I.-I748.] Letter 2. I I a fundamentis renovatum, alterum ad speciosiorem modum redactum. Hoc unum, quod tuum proprium est, et in quo comites recusas, decantandum æstimo, quod, Tridentini inhaerendo vestigiis, in Seminarii curam ea solertia incum­ bis, uti Tibi totam administrationem serves. Ducis enim, nihil Tibi gloriosius posse evenire, quam bonos adolescen­ tes rite informatos ad munia ecclesiastica obeunda institui. Et ut valetudinis eorum aequa haberetur ratio, duo Semina­ ria, hiemale unum Sancti Mennae, quod penitus terræmotu dirutum de novo magnis sumptibus erigi, et fines dilatari aggressus es; aestivum alterum Sancti Andreæ, quod ad formam quoque per Te est redactum, pro variis anni vicibus usui habes parata. Quid autem dicam de Seminarii disci­ plina? Si pietatem specto, ut exemplar multis, imo omni­ bus praeponerem ; si scientiarum palaestram, manifeste hoc convincit florentissimus ministrorum delectus, quos cum aliquando desiderio tuo pares non facile in dioecesi reperiebas, ex omni parte, stipendiis maximis operam compensan­ do, convocabas. Reliquus campus patens occurrit, nimirum profusa in pauperes liberalitas, de qua quidquid dici potest nunquam factorum exæquabit conditionem. Satis ostendet, quam sis hoc in genere virtutis immoderatus, factum illud annorum superiorum, quod narratur: cum fames per pro­ vincias multas grassaretur, et pauperes ad tuam patris bene­ ficentiam, ut tempestatibus vexati ad portum, concurrerent, ore tuo, ex praecordiis tamen eructatum, auditum fuit dici, venisse tempora, in quibus, si pecunia et quidquid annonae repositum erat, deficerent, argentum arte laboratum (copi­ am cujus non mediocrem de paterna domo tuo usui tradux­ isti) si venumdari opus esset, ne pauperes destituerentur, libenter Te fuisse facturum. Quod certe rei exitus appro­ bavit, cum singulis oppidis summam non modicam, tunc temporis distribuendam, quoquo locorum misisti, non ut ex importunis pauperum molestiis Te eximeres, sed potius ut alios arcesseres. Quapropter tibi gratulor, Compsae, quæ I2 Special Correspondence, [PART II. nihil quod invideas, habes, sed quod invidearis, multum ; vere felix, quæ Pastorem in sortem obtinuisti, cui non oves lanas portant, sed qui ovibus propemodum consumendus traditur. Quæ cum ita sint, quis mei facti rationem non laudabit? Sed ad hæc multo majora, et in me maxime præstantia accedunt, quæ jure merito hoc opus tuæ committendum fidei postulant. Namque sinceræ illæ humanitatis tuæ sig­ nificationes, quibus Institutum nostræ Congregationis (cui immeritus præsum) bullis approbantibus mirifice amplexus es, omnem dubitationis suspicionem removent, quin offici­ um observantiæ meæ sis accepturus; vel saltem hæc spes me consolabitur, quod, si ita nullam tuorum in me mcritorum potero assequi partem paribus, studio tainen Tibi indulgendi ingrati vitii liberabor. Accipe ergo, Ulme Præsul, si merito tuo non æquale donum, saltem officii mei fidele testimonium: accipe, et tua, quæ est animi benignitas, compenset, ad quod meæ vires pervenire non possunt: expleatur tui animi magnitudo non iis, quæ et Tu mereris et ego velim, sed his quæ præstandi facultas est: noli donum respicere, sed meum, qui certe digna rependere cupio, donantis animum. Itaque Tu, qui non tam Tibi, quam aliis natus es, tuo patrocinio me, meosque foveas, humanitate complectaris, et ut incepi­ sti protegas. Vale. Humillim., obsequentiss. ac addictim. famulus Alphonsus de Ligorio. z\fter the edition mentioned above. SER. I.-174S.] Leiter 3. 13 LETTER 3. To the Reader. Preface to the above-mentioned edition.1 Vivat Jesus, Maria, Joseph! [174s.] Pluribus abhinc annis excogitavi tradere tyronibus nostræ minimæ Congregationis SS. Salvatoris librum, quo brevius et ordinatim in scientia Theologiae Moralis tam difficili et animarum saluti necessaria sufficienter instituerentur. Plu­ rimos relegi et perpendi auctores, quorum alios nimis re­ dundantes, alios nimis contractos esse existimavi. Præ omnibus Busenbaum selegi, qui praeclara methodo paucis omnia magis scitu necessaria colligens, non modicam suppellectilem parat. Attamen alia explicanda, alia addenda censui ex diversis probatorum IJD. auctoritatibus, nimirum S. Thomæ, Lessii, Sanchez, Castropalai, Lugo, Layman, Bonacina, Viva, Croix, Roncaglia et aliorum; præsertim Salmanticensium, qui communi aestimatione moralem hanc scientiam diffuse et egregie pertractant ; quosque ipse inter cæteros frequentius familiares habui: ita ut fere omnia, quæ iidem tot libris latiore calamo in examen revocant, breviter concinnata hic invenias, et præcipue quæ ad praxim faci­ unt. Textus quoque tum canonicos, tum civiles suis locis diligenter adnotavi. Atque ut juvenibus juxta finem mihi propositum apposite prodessem, ad modum captu faciliorem meas adnotationes adjungere studui; in hoc enim maxime sedulam operam dedi, ut potius in claritate, quam in ser­ monis elegantia abundarem. Meo judicio, tanquam minus sapiens dico, qui hunc librum attente præ manibus habu1 We have thought fit to reproduce here this preface, which stands at the beginning of the first edition of the Moral Theology. It serves to acquaint us with the authors whom the saint selected for his guides in this difficult science. iq. Special Correspondence, [part ii. erit, brevi tempore et labore plus quam satis in hac scientia instructus evadet. Aggrediamur igitur opus ad honorem et laudem D. N. Jesu Christi, Salvatoris nostri, et B. Virginis Mariæ sine labe conceptae. Vale. After the above-mentioned edition. LETTER 4. To Don Giuseppe Sparano, Canon of the Cathedral of Naples. <· The saint gives his opinion with regard to absolving a cleric given to incontinence, who wishes to be promoted to Holy Orders. Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! Nocera, November 20 [1750]. My Dear Don Giuseppe: I have received your most gracious letter. It has always been my opinion that, when a candidate for Holy Orders gives signs of a sincere and resolute will to amend and to employ the means necessary for that purpose, so that he can reasonably (according to the words of the Council of Trent1) hope with the assistance of God to lead a continent life, he has sufficient dispositions to receive absolution, just as he has to receive Holy Orders. The confessor should, without doubt, admonish him to defer a little, that he may try his strength; but if his penitent wishes to be promoted to Holy Orders, he cannot be denied absolution. The arguments which Iorio2 brings forward for the contrary opinion do not convince me, nor have they brought conviction to many learned men with whom I have conversed on this subject, and who are of the same opinion, as myself. Moreover, I have found most cogent reasons in St. Thomas, which have confirmed me in my way of think1 Council of Trent: Speret, Deo auctore, posse sc continere. * Don Giuseppe Iorio, a celebrated missionary. Letter 4. SER. I.-1750 ] 15 ing. It would take too long to enumerate them here. I shall have sufficient opportunity of communicating them to you at Naples. The fear of relapse does not destroy the real hope which the candidate may have, that, with the assistance of divine grace and especially the grace of the sacrament, he will preserve the chastity. For the rest, if you now think differently from what you first told me, I do not hereby wish to influence or change your opinion. I only ask you to inform me in a genera! way of the authorities you have collected on this point, and especially of the teaching of St. Anselm which you men­ tioned to me, so that I may receive some light from them on the subject.1 Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! I beg you to do me this favor. Tell [some words are here missing in the copy\ when he can return to bring me the notes in question. I have the honor to be, Dear Sir, Your humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Most Holy Redeemer. [P. 6”.] Send me also the paper of Iorio about which you spoke to me. After an old copy. 1 Having devoted more study and research to the question, the saint did find light, and shortly afterwards published a dissertation on the obligation of denying absolution to all such candidates for Holy Orders; and in all the subsequent editions of his Moral Theolo­ gy he retracted his former opinion. 16 Special Correspondence. [PART II, LETTER 5. To the Sovereign Pontiff, Benedict XIV. He dedicates the second edition of his Moral to the Pope. [Nocera de’ Pagani, 1753.] Beatissimo ac Sanctissimo Patri Benedicto XIV Pontifici Maximo. Alphonsus de Ligorio. Tuæ dignitatis majestas, Beatissime Pater, doctrinæ atque eruditionis tuæ fastigium, ne Tibi hoc meum Opus morale, simpliciori ac prorsus humili stylo conscriptum, exhiberem, aut suadere me omnino, aut dubitantem deterrere magno­ pere debuissent ; summa vero Sanctitatis tuæ benignitas ac ferventissimus zelus, qui in Te semper enituit, prius ut optimi præsulis singularum ecclesiarum partes absolveres, et deinde ut Summi universalis Ecclesiæ Pastoris muneri vigilantissime satisfaceres, me impulerunt ut hos tenues labores meos, quos nonnisi pro animarum salute suscipere et in publicam edere lucem constitui, Tibi libentissime de­ dicarem. Cum enim fuissem Dei beneficio vocatus ad missionum ministerium pro adjuvandis populis per rura dispersis, iisque potissimum qui spiritualibus magis destitu­ untur auxiliis, visa mihi ad hoc fuit necessaria scientia plus quam mediocris rerum moralium, quæ tum ad instruendas, tum ad regendas animas esset accommodata. Qua de re tam pro mea, quam pro Juvenum nostræ Sodalitatis intelligentia, opportunum duxi opiniones probabiliores utilioresque ad animarum salutem seligere. Cumque plurimis, per plures annos, relectis auctoribus tam benignæ quam rigidæ senten­ tiae, alios nimium benignitati indulgentes, alios nimium austeritati addictos coni perissem, operæ pretium me factu­ rum credidi, si librum ederem qui, mediam viam tenens, sententias magis veritati consonas magisque scitu necessaifias ser. 1.-1753.1 Letter 5. 17 ad conscientias dirigendas exponeret, atque, hac accepta opportunitate, multa in eo ad praxim pertinentia, quæ sacrarum missionum exercitio didiceram, Fratribus meis committerem. Opus, Deo juvante, cœpi et absolvi, pro­ ponendo mihi pro doctrinarum exponendarum methodo Medullam P. Busenbai Soc. Jesu, et absolutum typis de­ mandavi: quod cum universe fuerit acceptum rursusque debuerit publici juris fieri, in meliorem ordinem redegi, diligentius quibusdam doctrinis enucleatis, compluribus aliis adjectis, additisque insuper aliquibus dissertationibus de infallibilitate definitionum Pontificiarum, et de earumdem supra Concilia superioritate. At quia libri omnes, qui ex Theologiae principiis Fidei ac morum controversias pertractant, Tibi soli debentur, qui et summus es Theologiae princeps unusque Ecclesiæ modera­ tor, divinae veritatis conservator et vindex, unusque contro­ versiarum judex ab ipso Deo, singulari providentia, ad hoc constitutus, prout dixit Maximianus episcopus Constantinopolitanus (Epistol. ad Orientales): “Omnes fines terrae, omnesque veram fidem profitentes in Romanorum Pontifi­ cum potentiam, tanquam in solem respicere, quem de cæteris mortalibus ex terrarum orbe Conditor orbis elegit, cui cathedram magisterii principaliter possidendam tenere perpetuo privilegii jure concessit, ut quisquis divinum ali­ quod, sive profundum nosse desiderat, ad hujus praeceptio­ nis oraculum doctrinamque recurrat.” Hinc juste hoc opus Tibi dicandum existimavi, eoque magis quod una ex praecipuis causis, quæ me ad illud edendum induxerunt, fuit, ut cognitas omnes haberent salu­ berrimas Bullas Epistolasque encyclicas tuas, quæ tantopere profuerunt et proderunt usque ad sæculorum consummatio­ nem universali morum reformationi cunctorum Fidelium ; quandoquidem in eisdem Sanctitas Tua summa prudentia, neque ad nimium rigorem, neque ad nimiam benignitatem 2 18 Special Correspondence. [part h. declinans, sed temporum defectui condescendens, mira sua­ vitate disposuit id quod cum ingenti animi fortitudine sibi proposuerat. Fuit præterea mihi consilium plurimas in medium doctri­ nas proferre, quas ex aureis tuis operibus sum edoctus, quibusque Sanctitas Tua non pauca immortali recordatione digna atque ediscenda universæ reipublicæ litterariæ tradi­ dit. Hæc enim tua grandis doctrinae eminentia non minus quam reliquæ, quae in Te elucent, virtutes, nempe morum integritas, admiranda a propinquis alienatio, prudentia sin­ gularis, incomparabilis salutis animarum zelus et Summo Sacerdotio apprime necessarius, Te Supremo Pontificatu dignissimum reddiderunt. . Demum, si librorum dedicationes solent testes esse grati animi ac non im memoris acceptorum ab aliquo magno prin­ cipe beneficiorum, cum unus ipse sim ex Fratribus Congre­ gationis SSmi Redemptoris, cui Tu nuper apostolicam aucto­ ritatem benignissime accommodasti,1 opportebat jure merito, ut Tibi uni hoc opus sisteretur, ac præterea nemini. Tu igitur, Beatissime Pater, per illam, qua genus huma­ num complecteris, caritatem; per curam illam, quam Chri­ stianis omnibus enixe et debes et præstas; per illum ipsum, cujus in terris vice fungeris, Jesum Christum, excipe pietate qua soles hoc qualecunque munusculum, quod Tibi sacro et præsento, ut modereris, corrigas, deleas, quidquid in eo veritati absonum visum fuerit, et si quid boni est, faveas et tuearis, paternaque ac apostolica benedictione tua prosequi non dedigneris tum opus ipsum, ut animarum prosit saluti, tum me sodalesque meos, ut in nostro ministerio divinæ gloriæ coopérantes, uberrimum in vinea Domini fructum reportare valeamus. Nostrum autem erit jugiter Deo fundere preces, ut uni­ verso christiano orbi Sanctitatem Tuam diu servet incolu­ mem, diuque in terris relinquat, quo tandem aliquando non 1 February 25, 1749· SER. I.-1755 ] Leiter 6. *9 sine omnipotentis Dei præsidio catholicæ religionis hostes, omnesque a vera Fide aberrantes ad ovile Christi fideliumque cœtum, ad unicum salutis portum felicissime deducan­ tur.1 After a printed page at the beginning of the second edition. LETTER 6. To Cardinal Antonio Sersale, Archbishop of Naples. He gives his judgment on a work which had been submit­ ted to him for examination. He praises the work highly. [1755·] Most Eminent and Most Reverend Sir: I thank your Eminence most sincerely for the honor you have done me in commanding me to express my opinion on the work entitled : The Bishop Consoled? Fearing that I would be unequal to the task on account of my inability, I associated with myself one or other Father of my Congregation. And since by reason of the importance of the matter in hand, I should have a positive scruple did I not freely and candidly declare my opinion, which is the same as that of my con­ frères, I shall say in all sincerity that this little work is as admirable for its simplicity as for the numerous practical points which it contains, points unknown, perhaps, to many prelates. It will, therefore, be a priceless boon to those who read 1 How highly the Sovereign Pontiff esteemed the work dedicated to him, appears from two letters of His Holiness to the saint, given in vol. i. of General Correspondence, pps. 314 and 369. 2 This work, published anonymously at Naples, in 1755, by Bene­ detto Gessari, is from the pen of Don Giuseppe Iorio, priest of the Congregation of Father Pavone, called also the Conference. Mention has been made of this zealous missionary in vol. i. of General Corres­ pondence, page 329 (where in a note it is said by mistake that he belonged to the Congregation of the Archiepiscopate). 20 Special Correspondence. [PART II it with humility ; for it is to the poor in spirit that the Lord communicates his greatest lights. He who, for his own high purposes, uses the lowly and retiring, has been pleased to act thus, also, with this unpretentious work. The wisest of the world, had they pondered ever so long, would not have found out so many ways of cultivating neglected dioceses as are suggested in this little book. It is evident, therefore, that the hand of God guided the author in his task for the encouragement of so many bishops who are disheartened by the innumerable obstacles they encounter. If many of the works that it suggests, cannot be carried out in some cities or countries, they may be done in others with the greatest facility. On reading this book, my com­ panions and I (and we have, indeed, a practical acquaint­ ance with dioceses) are of one mind in saying, that should any one contemn it, either on account of the simplicity of its style or the number of suggestions that it makes, and which may not be practicable for every locality, he would betray his little experience in apostolic work, as well as his meagre knowledge of the variety of style. But your Eminence, also, has read this work, and you must have seen that the proper style for such a work is the very one the author adopted. In regard to the matters dealt with, your prudence and experience, no less than your zeal, will have understood that they are all of practical value ; and that to the bishop it belongs to discern by his prudence what may be done in one place and what in an­ other. In conclusion, I feel bound to say that every bishop should look upon the present work as a treasure, for it is not a compilation from books, but the fruit of prayer and long experience. This, too, I understand, has been the opinion of the most enlightened and distinguished bathers oi the Congre­ gation of Pious W orkers oi Naples, who have unanimously SER I.-i755 ] Letter f. 2I accorded the highest praise to this little work, and have said what I myself here humbly express to your Eminence. Prostrate at your feet, 1 implore your paternal benedic­ tion. Your most humble, devoted, and obedient servant and subject, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Most Holy Redeemer. After a sheet printed at the beginning of the work. LETTER 7. To Don Giuseppe Iorio, a Priest of Naples. The saint begs him to indicate in detail any addition he would like to make to one of his works; he alludes, also, to a work against the Reformers by an English Catholic. Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! Nocera, April 9. [1755?] My Dear Don Giuseppe: 1 pray you, when you find leisure, to write to me all that you would wish to see added to the Practice;1 but do not speak in terms so general, as: this point needs more development; this is to dry, and the like ; because, if you write thus to me, I shall simply add nothing. λΛοιι must state in detail, but succinctly, any changes or additions you may wish to see made. Write everything on paper, even your former remarks; for during my absence, somebody mislaid the paper con­ taining your former observations, and I have been unable to find it. Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! For your remarks follow the order of the book. It will not be necessary to send me everything at once. It will suffice to remit a little now and then. Live Jesus and Mary! 1 The work entitled Practice of Confessors, etc. published for the first time in 1748. 2* 22 Special Correspondence. [part n. I have read the English work : Reply to the Friends, etc.1 It was purchased by Don Gaetano di Geronimo, and I have already returned it to him. It is a good book, but not to my purpose. It attacks the Reformers, whilst I am writing against those who do not believe in the Gospel. Live Jesus and Mary! \rour very humble servant, Alfonso, of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original in the possession of his Excellency, Count Louis John Baptist Parr, ambassador of his Apostolic Majesty to the Holy See. LETTER 8. To Signor Giuseppe Remondini, Publisher at Venice. This publisher being about to issue a new edition of the Moral Theology,* the saint promises his assistance. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Convent of S. Michele, Pagani. [August 1755 ?J Most Illustrious Sir: I have received your most esteemed letter. I am rejoiced to learn that you will print the work in folio and in clearer type. My companions and I shall do our utmost to make it a success; besides recommending it our­ selves, we shall have it recommended on the missions, and also during the spiritual exercises which are given many 1 “ Reply to the Friends of the so-called Reformation, by a Christian Gentleman, a Convert to the Catholic Faith.” Published in 1742, by Father Mainieri. a He alludes to a work he was then writing: “Refutation of the Errors of Modern Infidels, called nowadays Materialists anti Deists.” ·’ The two preceding editions had been published at Naples, the first in 1748. by Alessio Pellecchia. the second in 1753-1755, by Giovanni di Simoni. SER. 1.-1755.] Letter 8. times every year in our houses to a great number of ecclesi­ astics. In regard to my royalty, that will be entirely according to your good pleasure. Rest assured that your edition will be much more valu­ able than those published at Naples, since not only will all mistakes be rectified, but the subject-matter will be classified in its proper order, and many little additions will be made. I have already arranged a good part of the work, as I wrote to you, but I wish to look over the whole once more, to see if there is still anything to improve. This great task, however, I shall not be able to accomplish in a short time, nor can I possibly begin it at present, since the autumn missions are at hand, and my assistance will be especially required this year. In case, then, you should wish to begin the printing immediately, please let me know whether you would be satisfied were I to send you one half of the work in parts of, say, fifty sheets at a time. You would thus be enabled to go on with the printing, and I would have time to work more diligently in finishing the remainder of the book. Tendering you my best wishes and placing myself at your disposal for any further service I may be able to render.—Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I remain Your devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria de Liguori, Rector Major, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 24 Special Correspondence. [PART II. LETTER 9. To the Same. He announces to the publisher that he is about to send the first volume of the Moral Theology, together with some manuscript additions, gives him some hints as to type and paper, and mentions what kind of theologian he desires as reviser of the work. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! NOCERA, February 15, 1756. I take this opportunity of informing' you that I am about to send on the work. I have just finished all the necessary arrangements. I sent you a letter some time ago, which, I hope, you have received by this time. 1 pray you let me know immediately whether you have received it, as well as the present one together with the work. I should be very sorry were this latter to go astray, on account of the many iittle notes it contains, which cost me much trouble; for in them I have arranged in better form many opinions, be­ sides adding to the work much useful teaching and infor­ mation . I am sure that had not my own edition 1 already met with a good sale (most of the copies are now sold), every­ body would abandon mine and take yours. I again repeat my desire that you request the person who revises the work, not to omit or abbreviate the new notes, since they form, perhaps, the best part of it. I am no longer at Benevento. 1 wrote to you from that place, be­ cause, having accepted a new foundation 1 2 there, I had to go thither to give a mission. I have written to learn what kind of booksellers they have there. I think there are not 1 The Neapolitan edition. 2 S. Angelo a Cupolo. SER. I.-1756 ] Letter g. 25 many, for it is a poor place for books. Very soon I may ask you to send me a list of the works you publish. I may easily have occasion to sell some of them. 1 have already written to you (and I here repeat it in a lew words) that La Croix is most frequently quoted in my work, he being the author I had continually at hand. As regards the work of Father Mazzotta, I assure you it does not contain the one-tenth part of my book. Moreover, 1 have quoted not only La Croix, but very often also this same Father Mazzotta,1 At the end of this letter I have placed some important remarks for the reviser, proof-reader, and compositor. Again, I recommend you not to give my book for revision to any theologian of the Rigorist School (such as are now­ adays, for the most part, the Dominicans), for I am not of the opinion of that School. I hold a middle course. I would much prefer to have a Jesuit Father revise the work, if this could be done, for these Fathers are truly masters in Moral Theology. Indeed, the Jesuits of Naples are unani­ mous in publicly commending my book. Only a few have said that, in certain points, I am too rigorous. But, I repeat, the golden mean, or middle course, pleases me best. 1. Whatever is underlined, as quotations, etc., must be printed in italics. 2. It will be necessary to consult the notes I have added, and also to see that nothing is missing; for frequently the compositors take one line for another, and thus confusion arises. The quotations, also, must be verified by com­ parison with my manuscript. But if this comparing is not done by two persons, one reading the quotation itself, while another keeps the original before him, the mistakes in the numbers can never be discovered. This is of the utmost 1 Claude La Croix and Niccola Mazzotta, both of the Society of J esus. 26 Special Correspondence, [part ii. importance, as many books and publications have fallen into discredit for this very reason, that the citations were inex­ act. 1 laving myself observed this fault in many books, I have taken pains to verify the quotations from authorities at their sources; and in the work of correcting I have dis­ covered very many mistakes made by the compositor. Most earnestly do I recommend this matter to you. 3. You will observe that in the first index of general headings, as well as in the second of particular subjects, the pages of my book are frequently mentioned. Now, these pages, you will readily perceive, must all be changed so as to correspond with your edition. Of necessity, therefore, the indexes, the first as well as the second, will have to be printed last. There are, also, in the body of the work many references to preceding pages; these, too, must be made to correspond with your edition. 4. As to the punctuation, I beg you to request the reviser not to alter anything, because the changing or omit­ ting of even a single period or comma gives rise to contu­ sion, and the sense is not understood. On the other hand, some crowd their work with commas, and this, too, is a source of confusion. Besides, according to modern ortho­ graphy, such frequent use of the comma is abolished. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I have the honor to be, Sir, Your devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, Rector Major of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/’. Y.] After having written the above, I was informed that Signor Francesco Pitteri, while printing a French dic­ tionary, used to send a single proof-sheet weekly to the author, Abbé Antonino, at Naples. Should you think it a good idea, you might do in like manner with my book, SER. I.-1756 ] Letter 9. sending the proofs to Signor Stasi.1 I can recommend him to you ; he is an acquaintance of mine. He would see to it that they would reach me. The corrections, being made by myself, would be more perfect, and the work would give greater satisfaction to the public. I insist on this point, because, for the correcting of the work, it will be necessary to have the assistance of some learned and ex­ perienced person who would pay close attention to the notes and additions that are contained in it. Now, I think that in Venice you will not easily find one to do this tedious work, and who would use greater diligence and care than I. Besides, since the book is being printed from a former edition, the pages and the references to them must be changed, and if one does not pay the closest attention, he will easily make mistakes. It will not be necessary for you to send the original manuscripts of the notes, as I already possess copies of them. λζου need only send the proofs. It would be well were you to have the first correction made at your place. I could then make the second, and they would be perfect. However, do as you think best. In making these suggestions, my only wish has been to benefit the work, and to increase the good name of your establish­ ment as well as to win a greater sale for the book. I am even willing to pay the expenses incident to the carrying of the sheets you may send me. My work is completed and ready for you. I am only awaiting an opportunity when some of our booksellers will have occasion to send some packages of books to Venice; I will send mine with them. In all probability I shall despatch it with a package which the above-mentioned Signor Stasi has to send you. I would, moreover, advise you to use good paper and clear type; for I have heard much dissatisfaction expressed 1 A publisher «at Naples. !hi 28 Special Correspondence. [part ii. that the Theology of Father Zaccaria 1 appeared on poor paper. Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter, for I wrote another some time ago. [ Two sentences arc here missing, owing to the torn condition of the original letter.~\ .After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER IO. To the Same. Me acquaints him with the sending of the first volume of the Theology, and congratulates himself on the choice of a Jesuit for reviser.—Recommendations with regard to the printing of the work. Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! Naples, March 30, 1756. The letter that I received from you to-day has given me great joy; for, indeed, not having received any answer to the two I wrote you some time ago, I was indoubt whether I should send the book or not. Now I shall send it at once. 1 had given it to Signor Stasi that he might send it with his package; but he writes to me that you have directed him to forward it in a closed box to Signor Matteo Ernan- . 1 Francesco Antonio Zaccaria, of the Society of Jesus, was one of the most talented and industrious writers of the eighteenth century (1712-1786). Ills printed works number one hundred and six. . With admirable zeal he defended the prerogatives of the Holy See, and his Anti-Febronius was universally read, as was also his apology for it, entitled. Anti-Febronius vindicatus in 4 vols, octavo He waged relentless war against the Probabiliorists and Jansenists. We owe, also, to Father Zaccaria an edition of Busenbaum. of I.a Croix, a great number of Dissertationes and Opuscula, and several liturgical works of very high value. ser. 1.-1756.] Letter ίο. 29 dez in Manfredonia. I will obey your wishes in the matter, since your letter has arrived in time. For the present I send you the first volume only. You may put it up in whatever form appears best to you. Meantime, I shall give my attention to the arranging of the second volume, to which I shall add many important notes, taken mostly from Father Zaccaria’s recently published edition of La Croix. I hope that, through Signor Matteo Ernandez, the work will reach you safe. I beg you as soon as you receive it, to inform me of the fact through the above-mentioned Signor Stasi, for I should be very sorry did the book go astray, since, as you will perceive, it has caused me great trouble to arrange it. It has given me much pleasure to know that you will confide the revision to a Jesuit Father, for were you to choose one of the Dominican Fathers, who at present follow Father Concilia, he would censure as lax many opinions which I have advocated. You know that, as a general rule, I adhere to the teaching of the Jesuits (not of the Dominicans), and their opinions are neither lax nor rigor­ ous, but rather the golden mean. And if I do maintain one or the other rigorous opinion against some Jesuit, I hold it nearly always on the authority of other Jesuits. From this Society, I confess, I have learned what little I have in my books ; for they have always been (as I never cease to declare) and are yet the masters in Moral Theolo­ gy.1 It is false to say that the Jesuits have followed one 1 Of the writers of the Society of Jesus, whom our saint calls masters of Moral Theology, he gives, in the preface to the first edition of his work and in a letter of June 30, 1768, several names, as Lessius, Sanchez, Viva, Suarez, and, particularly, Cardinal I >e Lugo. The high eulogium which the saint (Moral. lib. iii. n. 552) be­ stows on the last-mentioned theologian deserves to be recorded here : Doctissimus Lugo qui, post I). Thomam, non temere inter alios theologos facile princeps dici potest, cum in dubiis discutiendis safe, nullo prœ- jo Special Correspondence. [part ii. another like sheep, as some Rigorists affirm. On the con­ trary, in many points which they discuss, one writer is diametrically opposed to the other. In giving a decision, my rule has ever been to follow that which my conscience dictated to me as the more just. Many opinions there are which, although I have not admitted as probable, I have, nevertheless, not expressly rejected. You will, therefore, be convinced that I am neither too strict nor too lax. Please let the reviser read this letter that he may know what system I hold. For I have ever maintained in the past and still maintain the system of Probabilism, and not that of Probabiliorism or Rigorism. Moreover, let some Jesuit see the work. It will in no way displease him. I should be very happy to have Father Zaccaria take a look at it, for I consider him (as I have gathered from his works) a man of much learning and equi­ ty in his opinions, a man who keeps at an equal distance between Laxism and Rigorism. Since you will provide that learned men be at hand for the printing, it will not be necessary to send me the proofs to Naples for revision, as I wrote you in my last. I enter­ tained a fear that some mistake might be made in regard to the notes I have added, which are, indeed, many and of great usefulness. It is true, all of them bear their marks of citation and reference, nevertheless, it will be necessary to have a very diligent person compare them page for page ; one page omitted, or not put in its proper place, will suffice to cause much confusion. For this reason the person em­ ployed for this work must be very watchful, especially so since the pages referred to in the body of the work must of necessity be changed, as the book is being published in an altogether different form and with the notes contained in the Neapolitan edition. cunte, falcem ita ad radicem ponit, nt rationes, quas ipse in medium adducit, difficulter solvi valeant. SER. I.-1756.] Letter 10. 31 Once more I recommend you to have the quotations from authors compared by two persons with the originals, for without this precaution the corrector will not be able to detect any errors; and if the quotations are incorrectly given (a fault of which compositors arc frequently guilty), the book will be of no utility, and will fall into discredit. The two indexes, as you will have observed, should be arranged after this first volume is printed, and then let them be added to it, otherwise the pages referred to cannot be inserted either in the first or in the second index. Again 1 beseech you to preserve this letter together with those I have hitherto written, that the compositor and re­ viser may read them. Pardon me if I am importunate in repeating the same things so many times. I have repeated them, because if these matters are disregarded in the print­ ing, there will be no after-remedy. Let the paper be better than that used for the work of La Croix. The type in that work is first-rate, but the paper is not, and, you know, the paper makes the type more prominent. The form you adopted for the work of La Croix appears to me rather unhandy for the reader. I should think it would be better to have the Theology appear in small folio, or in quarto, but in large quarto. For the rest do as seems best to you. Please inform me as soon as possible of the receipt of the book and of my letter. With sincere compliments,—Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! I am Your humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. Special Correspondence. [PART II. LETTER II. To the Same. The saint again announces to him the sending of the work on theology.—Recommendations relative to the correction of the text. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Nocera, April 30, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: I reply to your letter of the nth instant. I had hoped that by that date you would have received the package containing the book,1 and likewise the letter that accompanied it; but, as I learn, you have not received either. I beg you to inform me of the fact, when you receive the package, and thus relieve me of the great anxie­ ty 1 am in lest it should go astray. And this the more so, on account of the labor it cost me to put the work in the state in which it will, I trust, reach you, that is, enriched by many new notes. Be assured, Sir, that if I had not already sold all my edition (of which, indeed, a small number of copies were printed), all would forsake mine and avail themselves of your edition, and mainly on account of these now and important additions. Moreover, you need not doubt that I shall do what I can to promote the sale of Jyour works here. Again I recommend to you the work of correction, and urge you to employ therein a person of experience in Moral 'Fheology. It will suffice if he be a Jesuit, for these Fathers are masters in this science. Pardon me for bringing this ever before your mind; but if the person charged with this work be not learned and very watchful, mistakes will easily slip in, especially in the notes which are to be added. I am sure that the compositor will make many a blunder ; 1 The first volume of the Moral Theology. SER. I.-1756.] Letter /1. 33 and it will, therefore, be the business of the reviser to cor­ rect these, and to see that the notes are inserted in their entirety and in their proper places. Wherefore it would be well to tell the compositor not to remove the slips containing the notes I have written from the places in which I have arranged them ; for if he changes them, it will be a job for the unfortunate reviser to find out where they belong. I repeat my request that you have two persons verify the quotations and ascertain whether the references are num­ bered exactly; for, if the numbers are faulty, the reviser will be unable to detect the errors, and on account of this inex­ actness of the numbers, the whole work will be untrust­ worthy. I assure you, I have already perused the learned notes of Father Zaccaria, and I have used them to advantage in the first volume which I sent you. I am doing the same in the second volume, the revision of which I am busily engaged upon. Few copies of my own edition now remain ; these, too, will very soon be sold, as they are being con­ tinually sought for in all parts. No more at present. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Assuring you of my regard, I remain Your very devoted and humble servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/’. 6*.] During Passion week 1 was afflicted with a sickness that threatened my life; but our Lord has left me still some few days on this earth. If the Jesuit Fathers see any merit in my work,·! beg you to tell them from me that whatever little I know of Moral 1 heology (and it has been my constant study for thirty years and more), I have learned from them. Live Jesus and Mary! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 34 Special Correspondence. LETTER [PART II. 12. To the Same. He again asks for news concerning the volume sent to Venice, and begs the publisher to let him know what opinions in his Moral Theology have been pronounced too lax by a certain theologian. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, June 4, 1756. ' Most Illustrious Sir: I am, indeed, very uneasy; for now some months have passed since I sent you my book, and I have not as yet any news from you concerning it. Had you not directed me to forward it by way of Manfredonia, through Signor Ernandez, I would have seen that it had reached you by this time, if not long before. I beseech you to let me know, at least, what Signor Ernandez has written to you, and for what reason the book has not yet arrived. \\ ith regard to the letter of Eather Zaccaria that you sent me, I ask you to ascertain from him which are the opinions he considered lax. If he cannot remember all, let him indicate to you, at least, those which occur to him. As 1 wrote to you, these opinions will, in all likelihood, be found in the first edition of my work, the edition in one volume; for in the second edition I have retracted many former opinions. All these retracted opinions you will find in the printed catalogue 1 that I sent you with my letter. For the sake of my peace of mind, I pray you not to forget this, and I will add, do not fail to apprise me if you have 1 The catalogue bears the title. “Elenchus 99 quæstionum post primam editionem anni 174S reformatarum.” SER. I.-1756.] Letter 13. 35 received an answer from Signor Ernandez. I remain,— Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! [ The signature of the saint is wanting.] After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 13. To the Same. He asks anew to be informed of the judgment passed on some of his opinions, disapproves the form of index pro­ posed, and speaks of a minor work which he would like him to print. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Nocera, June 12, 1756. God be praised! The book has arrived, as I learn from your letter. I thank all those kind Jesuit Fathers who do me so much honor. But 1 expected that you would have ascertained from Father Zaccaria, as I requested yog, in my last, what were the lax opinions he found in my book. I speak of the edition in one volume, that is, the first, and not of the second edition which I sent you, for in this edition, as I informed you, I retracted many opinions admitted as probable in the first. Moreover, I sent you a list of these retracted opinions. Let me know whether you received that letter, and I again beg you, for the sake of conscience, to inform me of the opinions considered lax by Father Zaccaria. With regard to the compiling of an index after the manner of Father Colendall’s 1 there can be no question. To do this, 1 should have to begin a work of five or six months, whilst 1 Father Leonard Colendall, S. J., had appended to the Moral Theology of Father La Croix an alphabetical index so complete, as to present nearly all the teaching of the work itself. Special Correspondence. [part h. the arranging of the indexes as they stand in the book at present, will cost me two or three months of hard labor. Moreover, to make the new index and note all the pages, it would be necessary to have before me a copy of your new edition. Listen to me then : I think the index of Father Colendall is very fine; but it is useful for him only who possesses it separate from the work itself, as some have bought indexes. But he who already has the book, will, while consulting the index, always look to see what is in the body of the work ; for very often in the body of the work, as f ather Colendall himself has well remarked, there are notes to the teaching as well as limitations and restrictions, that are never found in the index. On that account, for him who possesses the work itself, an index which records the chief things, is sufficient. Besides, I have already made my index sufficiently minute, and it would appear to me superfluous to add the twenty or thirty pages more that would be required for this new one. In the second volume, which I am still arranging, and which 1 shall send you, I have inserted, at the end of the second Neapolitan edition, a small practical treatise, en­ titled: Practice of Confessors) I have written it in the ver­ nacular for the convenience of the confessors in countryJ places, who understand very little Latin. In it I have presented a summary of the teachings of my Moral re­ lating to practical work, and many useful hints are given. 1 had it printed separately, and it has been well received. 'I he Superior of the Mission Fathers of the Congrega­ tion ot Naples has written to me a very flattering letter about it. 1 shall take measures to have this little work reach you 1 The work which wc have elsewhere designated: “ Practice of the Confessor for the Worthy Exercise of his Ministry.” Later on, the holy Doctor translated it into Latin under the title : Praxis Confessant. ser. 1.-1756 ] Letter 13. 37 as soon as possible, either by way of Foggia, or via Rome through Signor Agazzi, as you direct me, so that you may examine it and have it examined by others. It would be advisable to print it separately, and you may be as­ sured that it would meet with a very good sale in Italy. I also add that, should you consent to publish it separately from the Moral, I shall enlarge it, for, at present, it is rather small. I repeat it, you could sell very many copies among those confessors in country places who cannot afford to spend much money, and who understand but little of Latin. Perhaps you are already aware that the little work pub­ lished at Naples, entitled : The Village Confessor, has had a great sale. It has gone through eight or nine editions, and has been printed even in Venice. But, be assured, my work is a much better one. It is clearer and con­ tains a greater amount of useful teaching and instruction bearing on the exercise of the ministry. It would be a still better work, if I were to enlarge it according to my idea. Enclosed you will find two sheets on which I have jotted down some emendations appertaining to the first volume, which I have already sent you. I send them on separate sheets, so that you may immediately insert them in their places, which I have marked very distinctly with the signs oi reference. Do this at once, that they may not go astray. Tendering you my humble respects, and assuring you of my regard,— Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I am \zour humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/Λ S’.] Live Jesus and Mary! I desired to let you know beforehand about the above-named work that you may think over it meanwhile, and that I myself may 3* Special Correspondence. [part ir. have time to improve on it, as I told you before. I can work but little at a time, since my head troubles me. Should you, however, deem it more expedient to pub­ lish the work separately, it will be time enough to do so after the Moral Theology ’’s finished. Live Jesus and Mary ! After the original in possession of Signor Hartwell, of the Swiss Guard, Chamberlain of Honor to His Holiness, Leo XIII. LETTER 14. To the Same. He sends him the work mentioned in the preceding letter, and speaks of the necessity of translating it into Latin, if it is intended to be sold outside of Italy. He alludes, also, to the success he anticipates for the edition of the Moral The­ ology. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, June 16, 1756. I have received your esteemed letter together with the news that the book has arrived. I sent you by post a long letter in which I spoke of the Practice to be inserted in large form in the second volume. But as 1 have had it published also in small form, I sent you a copy oi it by way of Rome, and another by way of Loggia, for 1 wished to see by which route it would reach you sooner. 9 My purpose in sending you this copy in advance has been that you might look it over. If you wish to sell the book in Germany, Spain, etc., as you give me to understand, it will be necessary to have it translated into easv Latin: for strangers would not welcome the Italian. This work has everywhere met with a good reception. 9 J SER. I.-1756.] Letter zy. 39 In my letter I said, also, that if you wished to publish it separately in Italian, I would enlarge it by adding many useful things in accordance with a certain plan I had laid out. Be assured that here in Italy this work will have an immense sale, especially among confessors in country places, who do not know much Latin, and who are not inclined to spend money on large volumes. I know for a fact that similar works, such as The New Confessor, The Confessor in Country and Village, have gone through many editions, just because they are written in Italian and are sold for a low price. I have been beforehand with you in the matter, for if you wish me to prepare this enlarged Practice, which is to con­ tain many new points not found in either of the abovementioned works, you must let me know soon, so that I may have more leisure to do it. I can do but little at a time, my head being a constant source of trouble to me since my last sickness. I say again, you may rest assured that thousands of copies of this work will be sold. As to the Prolegomena? which you mention in your let­ ter, do as you think best. In regard to the rigorous opinions, ‘do not think that on their account the book will not be acceptable; indeed, for this very reason it has received universal praise even from the authors who have criticised these opinions in their printed 1 Father Zaccaria, the reviser of the third edition of the Moral Theology, which was being published by Remondini, offered himself to write the Prolegomena, or Introduction, of which mention is here made. Having been composed with the approval of the saint, it was published in this and in nearly all subsequent editions, even to our own day, under the title: “ Francisci Antonii Zachariæ, e Socie­ tate Jesu theologi, Dissertatio ad Alphonsi de Ligorio Moralem Theologiam Prolegomena de causuisticæ theologiæ originibus, locis, atque pnestantia.” 40 Special Correspondence. [part h. works. You must know that nowadays, modern moralists, even though they be Probabilists, write with much more reserve than did the earlier ones. We must adhere to the golden mean. My work, it is needless to say, is entirely opposed to the school of Concina. I would like to have, at least, a half-folio of your edition, to see how it is being printed. I sincerely hope it will succeed, first for the glory of God, and then for your advantage. It is certainly a remarkable collection of much matter in small space. To a person who would now see the volume which I sent you, it would seem a curious jumble, on account of the many notes it contains; but when everything shall be set in order with that attention which such a work demands, and which I have constantly recommended, it will surely give universal satisfaction. When you write to me, direct your letters: Nocera via Naples. That is the shortest route. I have almost completed the second volume. I shall send it to you in a short while. I close this letter, tendering you my sincere respects. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! [ The signature of the saint is wanting.] After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. SER. I.-1756.] Letter /5. 41 LETTER 15. To the Same. He informs him of the sending of the second volume; speaks again of the other moral work to be added to it or printed separately, and describes the advantages of having it printed; he tells him of some minor works which Remondini may publish if he chooses. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, Jid y 7, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: I reply to your last letter of the 25th of June. There is no occasion to complain of Signor Michele Stasi, for he has been careful to have your letter reach me as quickly as possible. I did write him the letter you mention, and for the simple reason that for a long time I was unable to ascertain whether the first volume had reached you or not. But now I am in possession of three letters from you, in which you tell me that the book did arrive, and is at present well advanced in the printing. I sent you the second volume a week ago. On account of the persistency with which you urged me, I worked very hard to hasten its departure. I did not send it by way of Rome, but by way of Foggia; for I found there a friend of ours who has an uncle, a mer­ chant in Venice, to whom he is sending merchandise regu­ larly during these months. The merchant’s name is Filiasi. His Christian name has slipped my memory. You will receive another letter, which I sent you through Don Fran­ cesco Filiasi, a nephew of his, in which I asked you, in case you receive my letter without the book, to please send for it to the house of this merchant Filiasi, whose entire name you will find mentioned in the letter. I hope, how- 42 Special Correspondence. [part n. ever, that before you receive the letter in question, the book will be in your possession. Please let me know whether you received that letter of mine, which contained certain notes to be added to pages 324 and 401. Tell me, also, if you received them in time, that is, before those respective pages where printed ; for if not, you must place them a^ addenda at the end of the book, I mean at the end of the first volume, as they are very important. I again send you the same notes, that they may reach you in time, as I see your edition is advancing. By way of Rome, through Signor Giuseppe Agazzi, I sent you the book, entitled : Practice, together with a letter accompanying it. The same work I also sent to you by way of 1'oggia. You will, therefore, have time to consider what plan to adopt with regard to publishing this work, which belongs at the end of the second volume. You can determine also, whether you will have it translated into Latin, since it is your desire to sell it in transalpine coun­ tries. Lastly, you can decide whether you wish me to set to work at another larger Practice in the vernacular, for use in Italy only. It would not be well to join this latter to the Menai Theology, but print it separately, in about twentyfive or thirty folios. As I have stated in preceding letters, this would have a very large sale, especially among conlessors in country places, who are unwilling to incur great expense, and who understand but little Latin. With this Practice in the vernacular, they could easily render them­ selves sufficiently competent for the discharge of this duty of their ministry. I speak only of confessors in rural districts. hor the rest, do not forget the above-mentioned small Practice at the end of the larger work on Adoral. I say again, if you wish to send the work beyond the*Alps, you must have it translated into Latin. SER. I.-1756 ] Letter 75. This work I could do myself, but as I already told you, since my last severe attack of sickness, my head troubles me very much. I should, therefore, be obliged to do the work little by little, and for that reason the book would not be ready in time for your edition. You have also published, they tell me, a great number of smaller works. I have published several works of this kind, and they have met with general success. I have composed the Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, together with meditations (Considerations and Affections'} on the Passion of Jesus Christ, a book of about thirty folios. This has been printed nine times in Naples, and I know that it has been published also in Rome; but I have not learned that it has been issued at Venice. I have also written a small book on the Glories of Mary. which has gone through many editions. This book is of nearly the same size as the preceding. Finally, I have given to the press a work against modern infidels,1 that is to say, the Materialists and Deists, in which I have collected in a few pages what many authors have 1 “A Short Treatise against the Errors of Modern Iqfidels, now­ adays called Materialists and Deists." The saint, having sent a copy of this work to the Sovereign Pontiff, Benedict XIV., the latter thanked him for the same, in the following affectiona.e letter: “ To Our Beloved Son. Alphonsus de Liguori, Priest of the Congregation of the Most 1/oly Redeemer. Beloved Son. 1health and Apostolic Benediction. We have just received, from the hands of Cardinal Orsini, your treatise, and We thank you most sincerely for this gift. The subject treated could not have been belter adapted to the present needs, and since We are well acquainted with your ability, We doubt not that it has been handled as it ought. We shall read it at Our leisure, and even now We joyfully anticipate the pleasure We shall then experience. We have not lost sight of your business, or rather of the affair concerning your Congregation ; but in reality, things are not in such a state as you imagine. We assure you that the affair is Γ 44 Special Correspondence. [part n. said at length in a number of volumes. This book cost me much labor. All these small works I shall send to you that you may examine them and have them printed or not, as you think best. If you think it would be useful to publish and circulate them throughout Italy, well and good. If not, you will, at least, appreciate my good intention for the glory of Jesus Christ and the Most Holy Virgin Mary, as well as my desire to further your interests ; for frequently more profit is derived from such little works, just because they are so cheap, than from larger volumes. Do not put yourself to any trouble on account of what I have here said, for I do not wish to importune or trouble you about these works, if you have no intention of publishing them at Venice. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Believe me, Dear Sir, Your very humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/’. Live Jesus and Mary! I beseech you not to forget to ascertain from the esteemed Father Zaccaria which were the opinions in my first edition that he considered lax. I am desirous to know for the sake of my peace of mind. Live Jesus and Mary! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. not being neglected ; everything possible shall be done. In conclu­ sion We impart to you Our Apostolic benediction. Given at Manu-, at S. Maria Maggiore. July 17, 1756, in the sixteenth year of Our Pontificate'' SER. 1.-1756.] Letter 16. letter 45 i 6. To the Same. He speaks of some additions to be made to the first volume of the Theology, and accepts the task of translating and enlarging the Practice of Confessors. He also speaks of the Prolegomena (Introduction) to the Moral, and asks for information concerning the Compendium of Tournely's Dog­ matic Theology, which he counsels him to publish. Live Jesus and Mary! Na i les, July 20, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: I now reply to your letter of the 8th instant. I am, at present, in Naples on affairs of our Congregation, but you may continue to write to me to Nocera, for that is a sure way for me to receive all your letters. I was sorry to hear that the notes did not arrive in time, and that the pages to which they belonged, had already been printed. If you do not care to print these pages over, you must, at least, place the notes at the end of the volume, under the title: Advertenda, and indicate the pages at which they should have been inserted. The reviser will know how to arrange this little appendix, which is alto­ gether indispensable, as the notes contain matter of great importance. Moreover, I desire that your edition shall be so perfect as to be beyond criticism. On this account I have taken so much pains to review the questions from beginning to end. As regards the Practice to be added to this work, 1 clearly see that it ought to be in Latin. I had hoped that you would find some person at Venice to do the translating; but since you ask me, I shall translate it with the assistance 46 Special Correspondence. [part n. of some of my brethren,1 as I myself am too much occupied. Still you need not have any anxiety on the subject, for I shall review the translation myself. I will send you, a little later, the Practice in the ver­ nacular, but much enlarged. This work will certainly have a great sale in Italy, greater, indeed, than the larger one [Moral Theology]. I am engaged upon it at present, but I can do only a little at a time, on account of the numerous occupations that daily beset me. I am highly pleased, and esteem it quite an honor, that the Reverend Father Zaccaria has written the Prolegomena that he desired. I thank him very much for it. As regards the second volume, I wrote to you in several preceding letters that some weeks ago I sent it to you by the same route as that by which you received the Practice, I mean by way of Foggia; for I am of opinion that the route by Foggia is safer and quicker than by Rome. By the same route, I shall send you the Latin translation of the Practice when completed. This Latin Practice, however, is to be added to the second volume which is indeed more bulky than the first. Continue to address all letters thus: Nocera via Naples. The following I suggest in passing. There is a great demand at Naples for the Compendium, of the Dogmatic Theology of Tournely, and I can scarcely find a single copy of it in the house of the Congregation of the Fathers of the Mission. Please inform me whether this work is still in print at Venice, for I myself, as well as some of my friends would like to have a number of copies. But if it is no longer in print there, you would really be doing a good thing to send for a copy to F rance and print an 1 It was translated by Fathers Ferrarra and Caione in concert with the saint (as appears from the next letter), and was inserted in this edition under the title “ Praxis Confessarii ad bene excipiendas Confessiones." SER. 1.-1756.] Letter 77. 47 edition of the Dogmatic part. The Compendium of Moral Theology which, in France, is published together with the Dogmatic Theology, is not much sought after. This is not the case, however, with the Dogmatic work, which is printed in two small volumes. All this only in passing. Believe me, Illustrious Sir, Azour very humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original in possession of Don Carlo Abbasini, Rector of S. Bartolomeo, Verona. LETTER 17. To Father Don Gasparo Caione, Rector of the House at Caposele. He asks his assistance for the above-mentioned translation, and tells him what kind of style is required. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Naples, July 24, 1756. [ This letter was duplicated, and sent by different routes.] My Dear Don Gasparo: The publisher 1 at Venice writes to me that the printing of the work is going on ; the first volume is nearly completed. He tells me, also, that the Tractice of Confessors ought to be translated into Latin, and desires to have this Latin translation by an early date. At present I have very much to do. Have the kindness, then, to assist me. Father Ferrara will do a part of the work, and your Reverence another part. Commence to translate, not from the beginning, but from chap, viii., On the Prudence of the Confessor, which in the small Practice is at page 112. What precedes will be done partly by Father Ferrara, partly by myself. 1 Giuseppe Remondini. 4« Special Correspondence. [PART II. The principal thing is to adopt for the translation that simple style in which my Moral Theology is written, and this I beg your Reverence to do. Being a work altogether practical, it should, above all, be written with the greatest possible simplicity, and avoid all useless verbiage. I beg you to leave everything else aside, and do me this favor; for the publisher is very instant in asking for it. Send it to me copied by a good hand. Use copying paper in quarto, and leave a respectable margin, so that I may add anything that may be needed. I am busy at Naples, trying to obtain the approbation; 1 but I am meeting with many difficulties. May God come to our assistance! Have a novena made by the people, and one also by the Community, together with discipline every evening. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! As soon as you come to the Appendix, page 161, of the Practice, just after the Rule of Life of a Religious, please send me what you have finished. Then omit all that follows and translate the Method of Assisting the Dying, in the body oi the work. I beseech your Reverence to use the greatest possible diligence. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Brother Alfonso, of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the Neapolitan edition of 1848. 1 I he royal approbation of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. SER. I.-1756.] Letter 18. LETTER 49 18. To Signor Giuseppe Remondini. He awaits some news from the publisher, on the arrival of which, he says, he will send him the Latin translation. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, September 19, 1756· My Dear Don Giuseppe: From week to week I am anxiously expecting some news from you. I send to the post-office regularly, but as yet I have received no answer to the many letters which I have written. I have even been unable to find out whether or not the second volume has reached you. In truth, I do not know what to think. The Practice 1 is already finished, but I am hesitating to send it on account of the uncertainty caused by my not having had any letter from you for so long a time. I beg you to have the kindness to write yourself or through some one else, to rid me of this suspense. Direct your letters: Nocera via Naples, for by that way I shall surely receive them as in the past. When I receive some news from you, I shall send you the Practice through Signor Giuseppe Agazzi ; I have made this arrangement with him. I remain,—Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Most Illustrious Sir, Your humble and devoted servant, Alfonso Maria de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 1 The Latin translation, of which mention has been made. 5° Special Correspondence. [part II. LETTER 19. To the Same. He sends him the promised work together with another useful little treatise; and being anxious on account of not having an answer to former letters, he asks the reason. Live’Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, October 1, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: I send you the translation of the Practice, which has cost me nearly three months of labor; but I send it with anxiety, for now two months have elapsed since you have written to me in answer to the many letters I have sent you, and I know not what to think. 1 wrote to Signor Giuseppe Agazzi that in case this translation will not be printed, he should see that it be returned to me to Naples, for I would not like to lose it. I cannot imagine, however, that after printing the first volume, you would be willing to give the public a faulty and im­ perfect work. 1 hope that by this time you have received the second volume. I have not been able to obtain the least tidings of it. You will notice that accompanying the manuscript of the Practice, there is another little work, entitled : Examination of Candidates for Ordination,1 which will fill two or three folios. This little work has been very urgently requested of me, even from distant places, for example, from Brescia, if I mistake not, and it is much desired by the young men. For that reason I composed it. It is short, but complete. It does not exactly belong to the larger work; still, I think many will probably purchase the complete Theology, just for this little addition. Should you, however, choose not 1 It was printed under the title: Examen Ordinandorum. ser. 1.-1756.] Letter 19. 51 to print it, I beg you to return it to me by the same route through Signor Agazzi. I shall then have it printed else­ where. Lastly, 1 pray you, tell me why I have had no news from you for so long a time, not one word in answer to the many letters I sent you ; and especially to one letter that contained a recent decision of the reigning Pontiff on the subject of fasting. Let me know whether you received the second volume by way of Foggia through Signor Filiasi. If this unfortunate second volume should have gone astray, inform me; and I shall send you another copy together with the same additions. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Believe me, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/< S.] Together with this letter I send you two copies of a short Reply 1 which I was obliged to make to an anonymous author who has written against Father Piazza, and who has, at the end of his work, devoted one chapter to an attack on myself, and another against Father Zacca­ ria. You will please give one of these pamphlets to Father 1 “ Reply to an Author who has Censured a work of P. D. Alfonso de Liguori on the Blessed Virgin, entitled: The Glories of Mary, and also the Moral Theology of the same,” The anonymous work, published in Venice in 1755 from the press of Giovanni Battista Pasquali, bore the title: “ Lamindi Pritanii redivivi epistola paranetica ad P. Bened. Piazza.” Father Benedetto Piazza was a Jesuit of Sicily, much distinguished for his learning and virtue. He had a number of disputes with the celebrated Muratori and with Father Concilia on some important theological questions. Lamindo Pritanio was the pseudonym of Muratori. This learned man having died in the year 1750, the anonymous author, just spoken of, shielded himself under the name of Lamindo Pritanio returned to life. Special Correspondence. [part ii. Zaccaria, to whom I have announced that he would receive it from you. Live Jesus and Mary! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 20. To Signor Giacomo Storti, at Foggia. He asks him for some news of Remondini, from whom he has so long been vainly expecting an answer. Live Jesus and Mary ! Nocera de’ Pagani, October 4, 1756. Illustrious Sir: This morning your note from Foggia, came to hand, in which you state that you have received from Francesco Tiorro, master of the Neapolitan bark, a package containing my Moral Theology. I hope you sent the package without delay to Signor Giuseppe Remondini. I really do not know what is the matter ; for although I have written many letters to him, it is now about two months since he has sent me a word. He had urgently requested me to send him the Practice of Confessors, translated into Latin, which was to appear at the end of the work, of which he had already printed the first volume. After three months oi hard labor, I had it completed, but hesitated to send it, not having had any communication from Venice for so long a time. At last, as I had to leave home to go on a mission, I sent it in a package to Signor Giuseppe Agazzi in Rome that he might forward it to Remondini, as the latter had himself directed. I pray you, therefore, let Remondini know that the work has been sent on to Rome to the said Signor Giuseppe Agazzi, so that the publisher may write to him to forward it at once. In the meantime, to relieve me of this worry, I ask you to let me know what is the matter with Signor Remondini, and why he no longer answers the many letters SER. I.-1756.] Letter 21. 53 I have written him, letters which contain very important points for the work he is printing. Write to me as soon as possible, so that I may know how to act. Direct yonr letter to me personally, and address it: Nocera de' Pagani via Naples. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, Rector Major, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 21. To Signor Giuseppe Remondini, He complains of his long silence, and again acquaints the publisher of the shipments made according to his directions. Nocera, October 11, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: To tell you the truth, I have become weary of writing to you ; for to the many letters which I sent you, asking you whether you had received the second volume of the 7 hcology, and also to others which contained important matter, I see not even the shadow’ of an answer. One would think the plague had broken out between Naples and Venice. I w’ish to inform you that I have already sent to Signor Giuseppe Agazzi in Rome, the translation of the Practice, which you so urgently requested of me. I laid everything else aside and worked at it nearly three months, in order to have it finished in time; and then, full of uncertainty, I had to send it off at the risk of losing it, as I had received from you no answer to my many letters. I did send it off, at 4* 54 Special Correspondence. [PART IF. length, because you had directed me to forward the manu­ script through the aforesaid Signor Agazzi ; and I wrote to him inquiring about you, as I am unable to receive such information in any other way. With the translation, I enclosed in the package another work, entitled: Examination of Candidates for Ordination, which will cover two or three folios. It is a very useful little work, and has been asked for by many, especially by the young men. After writing the above, I received a note this .very morning from Signor Giacomo Storti (who claims to be your agent at Foggia), in which he tells me that he has received the second volume from the master of the bark. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [P. A] I again remind you to direct your letters thus: Nocera dc' Pagani via Naples. After a copy. LETTER 22. To the Same. He rejoices at having, at length, received the desired letters, tells him how to send them for the future, and speaks of other matters pertaining to the printing of his different works. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! NOCERA, October 22, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: Gloria Patri! After more than two months of suspense on account of your inexplicable silence, I have, at length, received your latest letters. SER. I.-1756.] Letter 22. I have not failed to make inquiries in different places, even in .Naples, and I do not know how this mistake could have occurred : that you should have received my letters, while I was unable to receive yours. In future, therefore J for security’s sake, send me your answers enclosed in your letters to Signor Stasi, and in the same way I shall send you my letters. The translation of the Practice was completed some weeks ago, and has been sent to Signor Agazzi in Rome. I beg you to write to him immediately to forward it to you. I assure you, it is translated with all due attention. I understand from what you write in what form the work will appear. It is all right. I thank Father Zaccaria for having deigned to honor my work with his Prolegomena. I am just finishing the read­ ing of his printed Letters, which evidence great genius and learning. As soon as you receive the Practice from Signor Agazzi, please, for my peace of mind, inform me of it without delay. If you should so desire, I will send you some time later through the same Signor Agazzi, my spiritual works, which have had a great sale here. I trust that they will meet with the same reception in the whole of Italy. I am engaged upon the Italian Compendium of the Moral Theologyp but considerable time will be required, as I have to steal the moments here and there to work at it. 1 The Compendium was published in three small volumes with the title: “Introduction and Practice for Confessors.” Later on it was translated into Latin under the title: Homo Apostolicus. The saint usually calls it the large Practice, to distinguish it from the “ Prac­ tice of the Confessor for the worthy Exercise of his Ministry” (Praxis Confessarii ad bene excipiendas Confessiones). , 56 Special Correspondence. [part π. Accept, Illustrious Sir, my sincere compliments, and believe me, \zour very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. s • LETTER 23. To the Same. He recommends him to take steps to trace up a work already sent him, asks him whether or not he desires to print some of his spiritual works, and endeavors to incite him thereto. He asks, also, for information on other mat­ ters. Pagani, October 29, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: In a preceding letter I told you that 1 had received two letters from you, together with the note informing me that the second volume had reached you. At present I have but two items to write to you. In the first place, it is now many weeks since I sent the Latin translation of the Practice by the ordinary courier to Signor Giuseppe Agazzi at Rome. The manuscript was enclosed in a small box and, for greater security, I paid beforehand at Naples the entire cost of sending it to Rome. But with all this, I have not yet received a single line from Signor Agazzi, although 1 had already arranged with him to forward the Practice in this way. I do not know the reason of his silence. Please let me know whether he has, perhaps, already sent the manuscript to you. If he has not, write to him and see what is the matter. After working three months at this translation, I should not like to begin it anew. , i | ' I | ! I , Ser. 1.-1756.] Letter 23. 57 My second request is this: some time ago I wrote to you that for the glory of God and for your own interest, I wished to have you print my spiritual works, namely: the little book on the Blessed Sacrament, the work on our Lady, and some other small works, such as the one I have recently composed against Materialists and Deists. I said also that I desired you to print the large Practice in the vernacular, a compendium of Moral Theology, having reference to practical matter. This work I am at present engaged upon, but much time will be required to complete it, as it is a very tedious task. I wish to have from you a clear and precise statement whether you intend to print and republish these works; for as far as the spiritual works are concerned, I could send them to you at once. Bor your guidance in the matter, I shall inform you that these smaller works have received much commendation, and had a great sale. They have been published many times, even here in Naples, where there is not such traffic with all parts of Italy, as in Venice. The Compendium of Moral I shall send you as soon as I have finished it. I mention these things because this very week I have had a letter from Venice recommending to me a certain publisher who would like to print some of my works. 1 replied that I had already spoken to you about the printing of these works, and that, consequently, it was not proper for me to give them to another. I said, however, that in case you should write to me that you did not wish to publish them, I would send them to him. Let me know then, I pray you, whether you desire me to send first the above-mentioned spiritual works, and after­ wards the Compendium of Moral when it shall be com­ pleted. Remember that the book on our Lady will be of about thirty folios; that on the Blessed Sacrament, to which are joined several other little spiritual treatises together with 5« Special Correspondence. [PART II. my hymns, is of nearly twenty folios. The remaining works are much smaller. The Compendium will require about thirty folios. If you wish to have these books, let me know by what route I should send them, and I shall forward them at once. I would send them through Signor Agazzi, if that way were not, for the present, insecure. To be brief, let me have your directions, and I will do as you desire. In another letter I told you that, accompanying the Practice, I sent you an extra little treatise, entitled : Exam­ ination of Candidates for Ordination. It is a work much desired by the young men. If you should choose to print a number of copies of it separately from the Moral, I think you would sell very many. This, however, is a matter of no great moment. Act as seems best to you. I have the honor to be, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/’. S’.] I had intended to send you the Compendium of Tournely to print, but I learned that it has already been printed in Venice, and I expect it in a few days. Let me know whether you have printed the letters of Father Barra. If not, who has printed them? After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 24. To the Same. He again speaks of the manuscript of the Praxis Confessarii. Nocera de Pagani, November 4, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: Last week I wrote to you that I had already sent by the ordinary courier a package addressed SER I.-1756.] Letter 24. to Signor Agazzi in Rome, containing the manuscript of the Latin translation of the Practice. But now the Brother informs me that the courier refused to take it, as manuscripts belong to the letter-post. This being the case, I have sent the package to Rome by water, directing it to the Pious Workers of S. Maria de’ Monti. You can, therefore, either write to Signor Agazzi to go for it, or else send him this letter. I have written a number of letters to the said Signor Agazzi ; but I have received no answer. Do you, therefore, write to him ; perhaps he never goes to the post-office to get my letters. This very morning I have received another letter from you. I see that everything has now reached you, except that unfortunate Practice, which causes me so great anxie­ ty. I should very much regret to have it go astray, for it has cost me three months of hard labor, and I should be very sorry to be obliged to do the same work over again. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I am, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [P. A.] One word, and I have finished. I beg you to continue to write through Signor Stasi, for thus your letters will always come safe to hand. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 6o Special Correspondence. LETTER (part n 25. To the Same. He promises to send him some spiritual works for printing, and speaks of the Instruction and Practice, which he is engaged upon and for which he requests some folios of the printed work. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, December 18, 1756. Most Illustrious Sir: I have received your letter of November 20. We shall arrange matters thus : as soon as the large work [Moral Theology} is finished, I shall send you my spiritual works. Rest assured, I will not send them to others. I shall see, also, that they are sent via Manfredonia, as you advise. At present, I am working at the large Practice, or Com­ pendium of Moral Theology; but it is a very tedious task, and much time will be required to complete it. But I am not wasting a moment. In my last letter I told you that to abbreviate certain points more exactly, it would be an immense help to me to have a copy of all the folios of your new edition of the Moral 'Theology, for th’.s latter contains many things not to be found in the first edition. I asked you, therefore, to send me a copy through Signor Stasi, remarking, at the same time, that it did not matter if the indexes, Prolego­ mena, etc., were wanting. 1 remain,—Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Your humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rqme. SER. I.-1757.] Letter 26. LETTER 26. To the Same. Recommendations relative to a Pontifical decision.—Some advice concerning the printing of the Compendium of Tournely.—A word about the large Practice. Nocera, January 20, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir: To-day, the 20th of January, I re­ ceived a letter of yours, dated the 9th of September of the past year. Indeed, one cannot help losing patience with this miserable post-office business. In this letter you tell me two things: first, that you will put the decision of the Pope relative to fasting in its proper place. It seems to me, you will not be able to do this without reprinting the sheet, for the first volume, to which the treatise on fasting belongs, is already printed ; and as to the second volume, since the subject of fasting is not treated therein, this addition would be out of place in it, and you would have to insert it at the end of the volume in the form of a special appendix. However, I presume the matter is already arranged. As regards the Compendium of Tournely, you ask me whether it would be better to print the entire work, or only the Dogmatic part. I answer, as I have told you before, that my advice is to print the Dogmatic part only; for I do not know what sort of sale the Moral would have, but I do know that the Dogma is everywhere in demand. There is no doubt that this work of Tournely and of his continuator, who composed the Moral, has met with suc­ cess. Why not, then, reprint the whole work, and afterward print the Dogma separately? But I have learned that the Dogmatic part is already printed separately, and for the present I have ordered twelve copies of it for our Congrega- ί i 62 Special Correspondence. [part il tion from Signor Stasi. If, as I am of the opinion, you have printed it, please send them to me without delay. I hope that the second volume [of the Theology'} is now finished. I thank Father Zaccaria for the services you mentioned to me. As soon as the work is finished, inform me of it, for many in this locality have asked me for it. I again make known to you, as I have done once before, that I am now putting the finishing strokes to the large Italian Practice; but I am unable to make it altogether uniform and perfect, unless I have before my eyes your new edition of the Moral; for thus only could I make use of the emendations that I have introduced into the latter. For this reason I asked you to send me a copy of all the printed sheets, even if you had not yet finished printing the entire work. However, if the work is very near completion, I can wait. Assuring you of my sincere regard, I remain,—Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! \ our very humble and devoted servant, ; j I 1 I i ’ j I Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 27. To the Same. He speaks of a modification to be introduced into the preface of the Moral Theology, and asks by what route he should send his works. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, January’ 23, 1757, Most Illustrious Sir: I received to-day your letter of the Sth oi January, in which you declare to me that you ή® ser. I.-I757.J Letter 27. 63 have been unable to find the Elenchus mentioned in the preface. I must needs explain myself. In the second Neapolitan edition, I inserted this Elenchus (or rather I inserted two: one in the first volume, the other in the second), of all the questions in which I retracted opinions held in the first edition. In preparing this third edition, namely yours, I did not deem it necessary to insert this Elenchus; therefore, I eliminated it from the two volumes that I sent you ; but it never entered my mind to rectify the passage in which I had referred to it. A still greater reason induced me to withhold these Elenchi, namely, that if they were inserted, several things would have to be changed. I now see that you must do one of two things: either change the following passage in the preface: Tibi suadere poterit Elenchus, with the three lines that follow, to the words : utriusque tomi, and replace them with these words, beginning a little higher up: Quod satis, benevole lector, tibi stcadere poterit quod non erubuei im me retractare in pluribus opinionibus, quas in prima hujus libri editione approbavi;λ or else (and this, I believe, will be preferable) let the preface stand as it is, and insert the two Elenchi, one in the first volume, the other in the second. I have given them their proper form, and am sending them to you. This will be preferable, I say, because in the edition you are publishing, the third, I have amended and corrected many points contained in the second edition, that is to say, in the two volumes printed at Naples that I sent to you. 1 It was thus arranged. In the preface to the second edition, we read : Quod satis, benevole lector, tibi suadere poterit Elenchus quœstionum in quibus sententias, quas in priore editione tenueram mutavi. In the preface to the third edition, the foregoing lines were replaced by the following: Quod satis, benevole lector, ex eo cognoscere poteris, quod ego non paucas sententias, quas in prima et secunda hujus operis editione tenueram, in hac tertia mutare non dubitavi. 64 Special Correspondence, [part n. These corrections I marked down in the two Elenchi, as you will perceive, and they are, indeed, very important. For the rest, do as yon think best; however, if you could arrange the matter as I have told you, I would be more satisfied. I see from your letter that you will send me the printed sheets. I am waiting for them and hope they will soon arrive; for I have been obliged to suspend my labors on the large Practice in many points. In fact, I cannot settle things definitively, until I see how matters are arranged in your edition. This large Practice, which occupies my attention at present, will be, I assure you, an excellent work. Nor am I alone in saying this. All who have read one or the other treatise, say the same thing. You will, I trust, sell thousands of copies, and what is more, the person that reads this Practice, will certainly conceive a desire to procure the larger work on Moral, also. I never dreamed that the labor entailed would be so considerable. I am plodding away at the work, however, with much diligence, and am now well advanced in it. As to my spiritual works, I am ready to send them to you : but I think that just now the Manfredonia route will oiler some difficulties as the present is no time for travelling. Should a favorable opportunity for sending them to Rome to Signor Agazzi present itself, would you like me to send them that way? If you say no, I shall await some chance to send them via Manfredonia. Please write me an answer on this point. Be persuaded that these spiritual works of mine will meet with a great sale wherever you send them, as has been the case in this kingdom. I need only tell you that thev have gone through several editions. And I again repeat that my sole design in all this is to promote first of all the glory of God, and then your personal interests. I 1 j | I I i · , SER. 1.-1757 ] I sent to you a short time ago a reply concerning the Compendium of Tour nety, I trust that, by this time, you have received it. 1 am waiting for these compendiums of the Dogma, for they are already printed, I am told, and I am of the opinion that you, also, have published them. Tendering you my most humble salutations, I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. To the Same. About a correction to be made in the second volume of the Moral. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! NOCERA [January] 27, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir : Pardon me for so quickly sending you another letter, but for two days past my mind has been troubled on account oi a change that must be made in the second volume. At first I was in doubt, but now I am fully persuaded the change must be made. I am sorry that the sheet has already been printed. But it is a good thing that I remarked the error before the work was published, for otherwise it stood in danger of being prohibited, on account of a bad explanation of a certain teaching with reference to a Bull of the present Pope, who is very touchy on the subject of his Bulls. And it could easily hap­ pen that some evil-minded person would denounce this passage to the Pope and thus have the work prohibited. It is on this account that I write to you in such haste, and 3 i 7 Special Correspondence. [part n. I beg you, if you receive the enclosed slip, to inform me of it without delay. Pardon me for giving you the trouble of changing this sheet. We are men, and cannot think of everything at the right time. I hesitated about inflicting on you the trouble of making this change; but in the end I judged it necessa­ ry for fear the book might be prohibited, and all the money it cost you to issue the work would be lost. I have nothing further to add. I beg you to accept my humble salutations.—Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph'. I sub­ scribe myself, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de I I j | I i ' Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/Λ .S’.] One word more. Please let me know whether you have the book entitled: “Sanctity and Duties oi Monastic Life, by Father Rancé, Trappist.” This work has met with great success in France, but I do not know whether it has been translated into Italian. One thing is certain, if it were translated, it would have a great sale. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. ^9 LETTER 29. To the Same. He speaks of some letters sent to the publisher, and requests him to hasten the publication of the Compendium of Ίournely. He makes, also, a remark concerning the Italian Compendium of Moral. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! NOCERA, March 14, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir: I have sent my ascetical works to you via 1-oggia and Manfredonia. You may make what­ ever use of them you please. Together with these works SER. I.-1757.] Letter 2y. 6/ you will receive a letter from me in which you will read my sentiments on the matter. I have written to you several letters, also, concerning the Elenchus, and likewise an important letter relative to the Moral, but as yet 1 have received no answer to them. I am of the opinion that your letters have been inter­ cepted, as happened to them on a previous occasion, for I am fully aware it is not a want of attention on your part. I beg you, therefore^ to let me have another reply, as the one you sent me is, without doubt, detained on some pontoon. Please advise me whether you have commenced to print separately the Compendium of Tourncly, as 1 requested. I have need of a number of copies of this work. Therefore, as soon as you have finished printing it, be so kind as to send me at least fifteen copies through Signor Stasi. I shall give every one of them to our students who have to begin their course of theology in May. However, should the printing be delayed too long, I am afraid the professors will be constrained to take some other text-book. Tell me, then, distinctly whether the printing of this Dogma has been begun, and by what time it will be completed. As regards the Italian Compendium of Moral, I have already written to you that certain persons have troubled and disconcerted my mind, by telling me that, if I should publish this book in the vernacular, it might be prohibited. Another cause for apprehension has been added to this, namely, that, being printed at such a distance as to render it impossible for me to revise the work, it will surely con­ tain a great number of errors and defects, on account of the multiplicity ol references and correction signs found therein. Moreover, in the work of revision, I should be obliged to make many additions and arrangements, all of which I cannot at present indicate. Pray to God that he may give me light and deliver me from my embarrassment. 68 Special Coi respondence. (PART II. For my consolation, tell me when the Moral will be completed. Another word about the Compendium of Tournely. I was of the opinion that this compendium of Dogma had already been printed, information having been given me to that effect. But when the work arrived at Naples, I found it to be not the compendium of theology I was looking for, namely, the compendium of the continuator, but a work composed by Honoré Tournely himself, treat­ ing of the sacraments. This latter is of no use to me. 1 beg you, then, to finish as soon as possible the printing of the separate compendium of Dogma. Lastly, do not fail to send a good number of copies of my Moral to Stasi or to other booksellers, as I myself have received very many requests to purchase copies from you. I remain, subscribing myself, \zour very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 30. To the Same. He expresses his joy at hearing of the completion of the printing of the Moral. He particularly recommends two of his ascetical works for printing, and after giving his reasons for writing the Instruction and Practice in the vernacular, he tells the publisher he will take time to consider his pro­ posal to translate this work into Latin. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph'. Nocera, April 15, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir: After long waiting I have at last received the information from your much esteemed letter SER. I -1757 1 Letter 30. 69 that the work is completed and that you are sending me a dozen copies. I thank you most sincerely for this gift, and await the copies with impatience. On my part, I have despatched to you via Manfredonia (as I wrote you in a previous letter) the box containing my ascetical works. You may do with them what you please ; but, I can assure you, that if you print the Visits and thework on our Lady, you will sell an immense number. I conclude this from the sale I have witnessed of these two books in the kingdom of Naples and Sicily, where not a day passes without their being in constant demand. As regards the compendium [Instruction and Practice} of which you write to me, I have already informed you that my purpose in composing this work was to help those unlearned confessors who do not understand the Latin tongue well. It is written in Italian. I should, therefore, be obliged to translate the entire work. You now declare to me that this compendium must of necessity be written in Latin. The translation into Latin of the Practice 1 cost me six months of labor, whilst for this compendium a year and a half would hardly be suf­ ficient. You must not imagine that it is a short work. Your letter has quite embarrassed me. But I shall consult with my companions and then resolve on what to do in the matter. Meanwhile, I beg you, in order to relieve my anxiety, to write to me as soon as you receive the ascetical works. I care to reap no other advantage from them than the glory of God. I repeat once more, if you print the I-7sits and the work on our Lady, as also the other works, you will never repent of it, especially now that the publication of my Moral has made my miserable name more known. On 1 1 he smaller Practice of which mention is made in Letters 7, 13, I?· Special Correspondence. [PART If. this account, these other works of mine will sell more easily. I shall not fail to do all in my power to further the sale of your copies of my Moral. A great number has already been asked for. Those which you are sending to Naples will arrive soon, I trust, and immediately I shall take care to have them circulated. I am pleased that you have informed me to whom you are forwarding them, to Signor Stasi, namely, and to Aiello. Other booksellers, also, in Naples will, I understand, send you orders. As regards the Tournelys, I am informed that Pezzana is printing them. I place myself at your disposal for any service I can render you, and remain, Illustrious Sir,—Live Jesus, Ma­ ry, and Joseph ! Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 31. To the Same. He asks for a certain number of copies of the Moral. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, April 25, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir: Last week I wrote a letter to you thanking you for the twelve copies you were so kind as to present to me. But as you are aware, we possess many houses in this king­ dom, and my companions, desiring to study Moral from this new Venetian edition on account of the numerous additions and emendations it contains, wish to have more copies of ser. 1.-1757 ] Letter 32. ηi the same. Please, then, have the goodness to send me fifteen, or, at least, ten more copies, not as a gift, but at cost price. Let me know whether you will accord me this favor. Tendering you my most humble salutations, I remain, Illustrious Sir,—Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 32. To the Same. He recommends to his charity a bookseller who has met with a sudden loss, and renews his request for the copies of the Moral. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! NoceR/\, May 23, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir: I have learned that the vessel which carried the books you sent to Signor Michele Stasi has fallen into the hands of the Turks. I come, then, at the solicitation of Signor Michele, to ask you to grant to this bookseller a delay of payment, on account of the loss he has sustained by this misfortune, which loss, he tells me, amounts altogether to seven hundred ducats, as the books sent to him by Pezzana were on the same vessel. I ask you to be as lenient with him as possible. I expect very soon to receive the twelve copies you presented to me. My companions are impatient to receive them for purposes of study, enriched as they are by so many additions and emendations. They are continually importuning me with their requests for the books. In my last letter I asked you to please favor me, if pos­ 9 η2 Special Correspondence. [partu. sible, with ten more copies, not as a present, but at cost price, so that I may distribute them among my other houses. They are all anxiously waiting to receive them. But if the thing is not possible, I do not wish to be im­ portunate. I shall content myself with the above-mentioned twelve copies. I say once more, please send them to me as soon as possible. Inform me whether you have, as yet, received my spiritual works which I sent through Filiasi. Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 33. To the Same. He promises to translate the large Practice into Latin and speaks of the success which a new edition of his ascetical works would obtain. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, June 2, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir: I received your most esteemed letter of the 20th of May, and I thank you very much for the additional donation of twenty copies. I await the same with great eagerness. Such generosity on your part has forced me, so to speak, to concede to your request to send you the Com­ pendium translated into Latin.1 But you must have a little 1 I he /Como Apostolicus, of which mention has already been made. SER. I.-I757-] Letter 33. 73 patience, for the work was composed entirely in Italian and some time will be required for the translation, as also tor the recopying of it in a legible hand. You need not have any misgivings. I shall send to you for publication all my works as well as those of my com­ panions. With God’s help, I hope to compose several additional works which I shall transmit to you. You have not yet informed me whether you received the small box containing my ascetical works which I despatched to Foggia. The fact of your not telling me anything of them, is proof to me, that you have not yet received them. I intend to write to Signor Filiasi of Foggia and tell him to forward them to you with as much speed as possible. Should you give them to print, I believe you will reap a great profit from them, for I am told that the works com­ posed by my miserable self arc in demand, not only in the kingdom of Naples and Sicily, but throughout all Italy. This will be more the case now that the large Moral has ap­ peared. These works are, in truth, short, but they are at the same time very elaborate and richly stored with matter, as I am no friend of verbosity. To compose these little works, I read hundreds of books from which I culled the best flowers. Of the same stamp, will be the other works I purpose to write. Once more, I thank you for your offer of a reduc­ tion of twenty-five per cent on your books. I shall se­ cretly notify my companions in every one of our houses of the same, and forbid them to speak of it to outsiders. But I should like very much to have you send me a list of the books published by you. We could then regulate our purchases accordingly. I beg you to accept the expression of my most profound 74 Special Correspondence. ÎPArt η. respect, and remain, Illustrious Sir,— Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso Liguori, de of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 34. To the Same. He acknowledges the receipt of the copies of the Moral, gives some details concerning the large Practice, and praises the Prolegomena of Father Zaccaria. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, July 22, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir: To my great consolation, I have received your very generous gift of the thirty-two copies of the Moral and the twenty-two Practices. 1 have the pleasure of informing you that the Latin translation of the Compendium, or large Practice, is being hastened. An estimate has been made, and it will consti­ tute a work of two volumes of thirty folios each. As I already informed you, I first composed this book in Italian, because I was requested to do so, and many have asked me for copies of the same. But as you wish, by all means, to have this Practice in Latin, it is being translated, λ our generosity to me has constrained me to comply. I could not bring myself to say no. 1 am now having printed, at my own expense, a certain number of copies in Italian for those who asked me for J ser.i.-1757.I Letter 34. -- them. As soon as they are printed, I shall send you a copy, so that you may publish this Practice in the vernac­ ular, also, should you think fit, and then have it circulated throughout Italy. My copies will be disposed of imme­ diately on their appearance, but they will not go beyond the limits of the kingdom. Your edition, on the other hand, may be scattered broadcast from Venice through the length and breadth of the country. In the meantime, active work is being done on the Latin translation of the same. I beg you not to forget to notify me as soon as you receive the little box containing my ascetical works. I have received word that it has by this time left Manfredonia. Please inform me, also, whether you are resolved to print some of these works. Your reply will serve to regulate my conduct; for those which you print, I shall not have reprinted. Indeed, my edition of several of them is almost completely sold. I must tell you, your edition of the Moral is excellent; the paper is good, and the printing'exquisite. I under­ stand many have procured a copy, and many more are asking for one. The Prolegomena of Lather Zaccaria in particular is very beautiful, as learned as it is useful. This good Father has honored me very much by the dedi­ catory letter prefacing his work. I must needs thank him for this, but as I know not to what address I should send my letter, I ask you to see that it reaches him. This will be an easy matter for you. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, 9 Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/’. .S’.] Please inform me by what route you desire me to send you the Latin translation of the Practice. This work is an important one, and I should hardly have the Spec i a I Correspon den ce. [PART II courage to commence it anew, should it go astray me, then, which route you believe to be the safest. Live Jesus and Mary! Tell After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 35. To the Same. He speaks of the Latin translation of the large Practice and tells why he had printed a number of copies of the Italian edition. He also informs him of the precautions taken to avoid the placing of this latter on the Index. Naples, August 28, 1757. Most Illustrious Sir; This letter is a response to your most esteemed lavor of the 13th of August. 1 am rejoiced to hear that you have received the small box. If you print these little works, especially the one on our Lady and that on the Blessed Sacrament and the Passion, you will realize great profit therefrom, I trust; in fact, I am sure of it. A guarantee of this is the success these latter and other works of mine obtained in the king­ dom of Naples. Now a few words concerning the Practice. You certain­ ly remember having written to me that it was your desire to have this Practice by all means in Latin, and J answered you immediately that 1 did not think I was able to under­ take the new labor of translating it. Since that time, your generosity in my regard has constrained me, as it were, to recall my decision, and send you the work translated into Latin. However, for this translation 1 need the assistance of others; I cannot do it alone on account of the fatigue caused by dictating. The translation is already com­ menced, and as soon as it is completed, I shall send it to you. i I I I I I SER.I -1757·] As regards the Italian Practice, I am not having it published by any printer of Naples. I am simply printing a small number of copies at my own expense. This print­ ing has already been begun. I repeat again what I believe I told you on another occasion, namely, taking everything into consideration, it would be impossible for me to allow the first copies of this Practice to be printed at Venice without my being able to correct the proof-sheets; for this volume is a most intricately arranged work, and to dispose all the different matter in clear and succinct order, is a very difficult task. Now that I have begun to review the proof-sheets, I find that I must change many things— nay, that I shall have to make even a third correc­ tion. You need have no doubt but that the Latin edition of the Italian Practice now being printed, will be an excellent one. As for the Italian edition, remember, I am having only a small number of copies printed. Now, if you ex­ clude those copies, which I must of necessity present to my friends and to my ministers, very few will remain, and those few will be quickly disposed of. I have received innumerable requests for them, so that, even if I were to print two or three thousand copies, they would all dis­ appear in an instant. But, as I said before, I shall have very few copies to sell. I shall, therefore, send you both works, that is, the Italian edition in print, and the Latin edition in manuscript. As regards the danger of the work being prohibited by Rome, I can assure you that this is altogether imaginary. However, I have taken precautions. I wrote to Rome on the subject, and the Congregation of the Index answered me that I need have no anxiety, and that I can safely publish the work in the manner indicated by me, namely, using the Latin language when treating of the Sixth Com­ mandment, the dcbitiim, etc. Spcci a I Correspoii den ce. [PART II As soon as the two works are completed, I shall, in compliance with your instructions, forward them to you through Signor Agazzi. However, I have not yet finished the work. At this moment I am engaged on the treatise on the sacraments. But I repeat, in a short time I shall send you both editions. Tendering you my most humble salutations,— Live [esus, Mary, and Joseph! I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 36. To the Same. He asks him when he will be able to print the Instruction and Practice, and alludes to the great success it will meet with. He also recommends to the publisher not to send any copies of the Moral to France, and gives his reasons for this. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera, March to, 175S. Most Illustrious Sir: The Italian Compendium, entitled: Instruction and Practice for a Confessor, has appeared. There has been here in Naples quite a contest to get the copies 1 have had printed, and in a short time not a single one will remain. Please let me know when you will be able to reprint this book, and I shall send you a copy. If 1 mistake not, you wrote to me to forward it to you by way of Rome through Signor Giuseppe Agazzi. You must, however, first inform me whether you have sent word to Signor Giuseppe. Should you, on the other hand, desire me to transmit it to you via Manfredonia, let me know. The Latin translation of the Compendium is well under way, but is not yet completed. Quite an amount of labor is required for the translating and copying. Tell me, also, whether you wish me to defer sending the Italian edition until the Latin one is completed, and then have both sent at the same time. You may feel certain that this edition in the vernacular will have an immense sale. Here in the kingdom it has met with great success, and, as I mentioned to you, people are snatching the copies from my hands. To have the first printing at Venice without my being able to look after it continually, was an impossibility. God knows what an assiduous watch I have kept over this edition and to what extent I was obliged to modify and eliminate in the proof-sheets; for things appear altogether different in print from what they do in manuscript. I hear that in France the work of La Croix, annotated by Father Zaccaria, and likewise all the Busenbaums, have been burnt, on account of a certain proposition found in Busenbaum, namely, licet occidere principem si vult injuste auferre vitam) However, with the limitation which Bu­ senbaum attaches to it: nisi timeantur majora incom­ moda (these are his words, or, at least, very similar to 1 On the 5th of January, 1757, a certain François Robert Damiens stabbed Louis XV. as the latter was leaving the Castle of Versailles. The wound inflicted was not mortal, but Damiens was condemned to death for attempted regicide. This man had at one lime been in the service of the Jesuits. This, then, was a fine opportunity for the Jansenists to throw the blame of the attack on the Jesuits, and they called the attention of the Parliaments of Toulouse and Paris to this proposition of Busenbaum: Ad defensionem vitee et integritatis membrorum licet, etiam fdio, religioso et subdito se tueri, si opus sit, cum occisione contra ipsum parentem, abbatem, principem : nisi forte propter mortem hujus secutura essent nimis magna incommoda, ut bella etc. (lib. iii. dub. iii. n. 8). The work of Busenbaum and those of his commentators were then condemned to be burnt, as if by teach­ ing this proposition they had fomented regicide. So Special Correspondence, [PART Π them ), the proposition is not at all condemnable. For this very thing, I hear they have burnt the work of La Croix; and for the same reason, they will also burn my book. Take care, then, not to send any copies of it into France. Please acknowledge the receipt of all that I have written to you. I remain, Illustrious Sir,— Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary ! Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Moly Redeemer. [/< Λ'.] Send some Morals to Naples, for I know cer­ tain persons have sought for a copy and could not find any. The Compendium forms a work of three volumes octavo. The price, binding included, is nine carlini. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 37. To the Same. The saint continues his correspondence on the Instruction and Practice; and, seeing him little inclined thereto, en­ deavors to inculcate on the bookseller the immense utility of printing spiritual books. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, April 14, 175S. Most Illustrious Sir: I received your most esteemed favor, and I shall at once set about arranging many little points in the Practice that need such arrangement. In a very short time, the work will be on its way to you via Rome; for to send it by way of Manfredonia, would take too long, seeing that you wish to have it immediately on account of the copyright, for the rest, 1 beg of you (after you have obtained the copyright) to wait a little before publishing the book. However, I shall be content with SER. 1.-175«.] this, that you do not send it into the kingdom of Naples till I authorize it, a thing you promised me in a former letter. I am working continually at the Latin version of the Practice. You do not say one word about the publication of those other little works I sent you. I am, indeed, astonished that you have not as yet printed the work on our Lady, nor that on the Eucharist, that is, the Visits together with the Considerations on the Passion. Here in Naples the book on our Lady has been given to press a number of times, and has been received with universal favor; whilst that on the Eucharist and the Passion, along with other small treatises, has gone through nine editions in Naples, of more than a thousand copies each. The same work has been printed, also, at Rome in two volumes. I do not pretend to make any profit out of these books ; but I should like to have a single copy of each, in order to see how they are printed. For the rest, I wish for nothing else than the glory of Jesus Christ and Mary. I repeat here what I have so many times written to you : these works will have an immense sale with all classes of people, especially in religious houses. The printer of the Visits in Naples has obtained the copyright. If you see fit to print these works, I beg of you to do it on good paper; it matters little that the price may be somewhat higher. I have written to you many times about these books, and have received not a single word in answer. I entreat you, to answer, at least, this time; if not, I shall see about giving the charge of publishing them to some one else in Venice. As regards the large work on Moral, I am grieved that I am detained outside of Naples ; but for that, I should sell many copies. Do this then for the present: send me thirty 82 Special Correspondence, (PART IJ copies, and according as I shall have an opportunity to sell them, I shall send you the money, if this arrangement suits you. You must inform me of the sending of these copies, so that I can make application at the custom house in Naples. I am at present busily engaged with a work on the Incarnation1 and the Heart of Jesus. The book seems to me to be an excellent one. I shall not send it to you, however, unless you assure me that you wish to publish it; for I see full well that you are not much inclined to print these spiritual works. The works on Moral can be sold only to religious and priests; the spiritual works, however, are bought by every class of people. I really do not understand why you dislike to print them. Tendering you my most humble respects and recom­ mending myself to your prayers, I remain, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 38. To the Same. He asks the publisher to make inquiries about the Instruc­ tion and Practice, which the saint bad sent to him a long time before, but which he fears may have gone astray. Naples, May 18, 1758. Most Illustrious Sir: Quite a while ago, I sent my new Italian work enclosed in a small box, by the letter-carrier to Signor Agazzi in Rome. But, notwithstanding that I 1 Novena for the Feast of Christmas. SER.I.-I758 J Letter 38. 83 have written many letters to him, I have received no response. I fear that he is dead, or else resides somewhere outside the city. I am afraid the box containing the book has gone astray, a thing which would grieve me very much, for in the work I sent, there are many corrections and many important additions, which have' cost me great labor. I beg you, therefore, to have a letter written to one of your correspondents at Rome, and see what has become of the said Agazzi. If his whereabouts cannot be discovered, will *vou have the kindness to see to it that some one of your correspondents gets possession of the box, and for­ wards it to you? Then inform me of the fact. The box is marked No. 12, and above this number stands written (if I mistake not): To Sig, Giuseppe Agazzi. I await an answer about the matters of which I wrote in my preceding letters. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. S4 Special Correspondence. [PART II. LETTER 39. To the Same. The saint speaks of the merits of his new Practice, and again inculcates on the publisher the printing of the ascetical works, likewise the publishing of a small dogmatic work. He promises to send a number of additions for a new edition of the Moral Theology, and concludes with a few plans for the better regulating of their correspondence. · Nocera, June 5, 1758. Most Illustrious Sir: I received your last lavor of the 20th of May, and I must needs answer many things con­ tained therein. I will take the fifty copies of the Moral Theology and the copies of the Practice, as you wrote to me. 1 have received the beginning of the Manual for those about to be ordained,1 together with the preface by our good Father Zaccaria, who always makes it a point to praise me to excess. The Manual, however, which I have added to the new Practice is more copious and better arranged than the earlier work. If you had written to me sooner, I should have asked you to print the later work. A certain bishop has caused his seminarians to purchase the Practice, precisely on account of this Manual being in it. However, what is done, is done; and I thank you for the one hundred copies you intend to send me. The paper is excellent, and the printing could not be better. I should like to have the Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and the book on our Lady printed in the same style; but, as 1 clearly perceive, you always give our Lady and Jesus Christ the last place. For my part, I hold it for certain that these two works would sell a hundred times better than the Manual and the Practice. I know this by experience, 1 Published under the title Examen Ordinandorum. Letter ycy SER I.-175S.] *5 from the mimerons editions issued by the Neapolitan book­ sellers. The I isits has up to the present date reached its eleventh edition. Should you, however, desire to print the 1 isits, since you have waited so long, you can wait a little longer; for I wish to send the latest edition, now being printed, in which 1 have added many things not found in other editions. You must not think little of that small work against Materialists and Deists.1 It may be short, but it is replete with matter ; the fact that it can be read very easily, will increase the demand for it. Besides, it has the approbation of distinguished men. Now we come to what you have written to me. In your letter you say : I renew my repeated reqnests to you to make the prope) additions and emendations to your The­ ology, and especially to the propositions condemned in France. I shall transmit to you the corrections now being made by Father Zaccaria. I make answer, first, that 1 have never before received any such request of yours about improvements in the 1'heology ; perhaps, your letter on the subject never reached me. For the rest, I assure you, Sir, that I have made some excellent additions which it would be well to send you. And for that reason I have thought of taking one of the copies of the Theology which you sent me, and inserting at the proper places the additions that belong to them, besides other little points, a good number of which 1 composed whilst working at the Practice. It is true, many of these I have already introduced into the Practice; but it would be very good to insert the same also in the large work of Theology, lor I see you are thinking of issuing a new edition of the Moral Theology with the propositions, condemned in Prance, corrected. 1 “ A short Dissertation against the Errors of Modern I nbelievers, now-a-days called Materialists and Deists.” 6* <8 6 Special Cod'espondence. [part ii. I hese corrections I am waiting to make according as bather Zaccaria shall indicate them; for I myself do not see very well how many and of what kind these propositions are. I wo of them have been pointed out to me, and I must say they are really sound doctrine. But we must needs suppress them, since France will have it so. As regards the Practice, I can inform you that the Latin translation is approaching completion. The Italian edition I sent some time ago to Rome to Signor Agazzi ; but up to the present I have received no news from him. Fearing that the copy might go astray in the hands of the postman, I have charged some' friends of mine to see whether Signor Agazzi is dead or alive. In case he does not care to pro­ cure it from the postman, I told them to get it themselves and keep it in safe custody. I renew my request to you to write to Rome and see what has become of the Practice which was confided to the letter-carrier, in a small box, marked No. 12, on which was the address, if I mistake not, To Sig. Giuseppe Agazzi. Moreover, I beg you to write and inform me whom I should charge with the duty of sending the box from Rome to you, in case Signor Agazzi will not take upon himself the charge of sending it ; for to three letters I have written, I have not received from him a single response. For the same reason advise me at the proper time by what way you desire me to despatch to you the Theology with correctionsand additions; for transmission through Signor Agazzi seems to be a failure. On the other hand, there is a great risk of losing anything 1 should send via Manfredo­ nia. But enough on the matter. Consider yourself how the business may be best accomplished. Pardon me if I make a suggestion concerning your edition of the Theology. The print is excellent, but the large form of the folio does not please me. The division into three volumes makes them too cramped. I should say SER. I.-1758.] that, if you print the work in three volumes quarto, it would look much better and be much more handy to study from. Who knows but one or the other person has not purchased a copy, because he sees it in three volumes of such immense size and at the same time so cramped. For the rest, do as you think best. I have mentioned the above solely for the sake of giving the book a greater sale; not to speak of the fact that the book, if published in quarto would cost, at least, two carlini less. The copies you sent me, I have had made into one volume, and I find the same very handy. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation ol the Most Holy Redeemer. [Λ Λ'.] Let me add a word. Just this morning I re­ ceived information that Signor Agazzi had obtained the little box containing the book, and that he had already sent it to you. I am now inclined to think that the reason Signor Agazzi sent no answer to my many letters, is, because he never goes to the Naples post-office to get them. But I have now discovered a means of having my letters reach him, namely, by sending them to Signor Agazzi’s brother, a member oi the Society of Pious Work­ ers. This, then, is my arrangement: everything that I may have to send, I shall continue to transmit through the same Signor Agazzi. But do you take care to instruct him to send on to you without delay all messages I shall despatch. 1 beg you to wait a little before printing the Practice which will presently reach you. 1 have another very important addition to make. Live Jesus and Mary! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 88 Special Correspondence. [part ii. letter 40. To the Same. The saint thanks him for a work sent to him, and com­ mends the same. He gives an account of some copies of the Moral Theology sent to him to be sold, requests certain corrections for the Moral Theology, and, having given some instructions concerning the Instruction and Practice, he urges the printing of the two smaller works. Nocera, July 2, 1758. Illustrious Sir: I begin this letter by presenting you my most heartfelt thanks for the work of Father Petavius which you sent me. With print so clear, paper so fine, and with so many excellent additions by Father Zaccaria, it is, indeed, a unique work. I repeat it, I thank you a thousand times for sending it to me. I have received the fifty copies of the Moral Theology, and have begun to sell them. When the profits from the sale shall have reached a good sum, I shall send it to you, after having deducted therefrom the amount you directed. At the same time I have told the lay-brother 1 whom we retain at Naples, to see that the copies be quickly sold. The Brother, however, writes to me that the bundle containing the books, has met with an accident, and many leaves have been damaged beyond repair. He has sent me a list of the damaged leaves. Here it is, as it was drawn up by a bookbinder. In volume i.—folios //and K2. In volume ii.—folios Aa 2 and LI2 are missing. In volume iii.—folio R is missing;, o In the same volume iii.—folio Aa is missing in eighteen copies. And again in volume iii.—folio Bb is missing in four copies. 1 Brother Francesco Tartaglione. SER. I.-I75s-1 Letter 40. 89 The two last-mentioned parts arc the most damaged. It will, therefore, be necessary to reprint the pages of these two parts, so as not to have the entire copies spoiled. The injured works I shall lay aside. I am waiting for the corrections of Father Zaccaria, about which you wrote to me, so that I can have them ready for the new edition you intend to give out. At the same time, I shall send you a number of emendations for the work, which I have already arranged in order; to these I shall join a number of small additions which should find a place in the work. But enough for the present. At the proper time 1 shall write to you everything minutely, so that you may resolve upon making whatever arrangements you think fit. The Latin version of the Practice is on the road to completion. As regards the Italian Practice, I hope that you have received it ere this. Wait a little, however, before giving it to the press, for 1 must send you various emenda­ tions as well as some small additions, which 1 am busy setting in order. I repeat it, wait a little before printing the work ; for if this edition, so much improved and enlarged, should now come out at Venice, I should have great difficulty in selling the copies of the Neapolitan edi­ tion that are yet unsold, and which I have had printed at the expense of the Congregation. 1 have not, however, many copies left to sell, for in a few months I have sold more than I ever expected. I tell you for a fact that I have had not more than fifteen hundred printed. When will you give me the consolation of being informed that you are printing the work on the Eucharist and Pas­ sion, as also the Glories of Mary? I remain, Illustrious Sir,— Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. 9° Speci al Correspondence. [PART II. [/'· 3*.] I have been backward in thanking you for the work ofPetavius; but I had not noticed the announcement that you were going to send it, as it was written on the back of your letter. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 41. To the Same. He warns the publisher against certain unfavorable talk that might come to his ears, and returns to the topic of the emendations, likewise of the publishing of the two ascetical works. He gives notice, also, of some ascetical works he had composed or was composing. These latter he wishes the publisher to have printed. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, July 16, 1758. Most Illustrious Sir: I write to inform you that two or three years ago, when you wrote to me that you desired to have the Compendium of Moral, but in Latin, I wrote to Signor Don Bartolomeo Carminati, Rector of S. Paolo, to have some firm print the Italian edition. To-day I have received a letter from Signor Antonio Zatta, who writes to me to send him the Compendium for publication. I have answered him that, in the interim you had ordered me to send you not only the Latin Compen­ dium, but also the Italian one; and that, as I had al­ ready forwarded it to you, I was unable to do anything for him. I have made it a point to write all this, so that in case you chance to hear some talk of my Compendium's being printed by others, you will know what has been done about the matter and what precaution 1 have taken. My second reason is, to warn you to hasten with the copyright, ser. 1.-1758·] Letter 41. 91 knowing that others have the intention of printing the work. I pray you, however, to delay printing it for some time; for I am putting together many points, partly emendations, partly additional matter, for the work. They are all very useful and important. As regards the Latin translation, I am working at it all along. Not much remains to be done. I am waiting for the corrections of Lather Zaccaria on Busenbaum, that is to say, on the large Moral work. I shall arrange them in order, as you direct me, and with them I shall send some other points to be added. But I have written to you many letters, and have not received a word in answer to them. 1 entreat you to send me an answer. I especially beg you to send me word whether you intend to give to press the work on our Lady, that 1 sent you, as likewise the small book of the I'tsils and Passion. At least, signify to me your intentions in this matter; for if you do not propose to print them, 1 shall send them to Signor Zatta, who has written to me concerning them. This, however, I should not like to do without your permission. Once more, I repeat, I feel it my duty to have these two small works printed, for the glory of Jesus Christ and his Most Holy Mother Mary. And I know for certain, they will everywhere be received with great favor and have a ready sale. Anything further I do not desire. I remain Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/J. .S’.] I am at present engaged in the composition ol two other works, one on the Infant Jesus, which includes Discourses for the Novena [and the Feast of Christmas'], besides Meditations for the whole of Advent to the Octave g2 Special Correspondence. [part π. of the Epiphany. To these are added the Novena to the Heart of Jesus, the Septenary of St. Joseph) and a little treatise for priests, entitled: “Preparation for Mass and Thanksgiving, for Every Day in the Week.” The second work consists of forty considerations, or, if yon like, sermons on the eternal truths,2 together with “ Nine Discourses for the Time of Public Calamity.” Both books are now being printed. Inform me, if you desire to have them; I shall send them to you, but not before I have sold a good number of copies. However, I have had only a few printed. But I say it once more, I see that you have very little attraction for my spiritual works. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 42. To the Same. In this letter the saint repeats many things already written to the publisher, having received from the latter a reply in which no mention had been made of these things. Me then congratulates himself that, at last, his cherished spiritual works are being printed, and gives some instruction about them. He closes by informing the publisher of several other works. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, August, 1758. Most Illustrious Sir: I received your favor of the 15th of Inly, together with the catalogue oi the works printed at 1 “ Meditations in Honor of St. Joseph, for the Seven Wednes­ days preceding his Feast.” Preparation for Death, or Considerations on the Eternal Truths, Useful for All as Meditations and Serviceable to Priests for Sermons.” SER. I -1758·] Letter 42. your establishment. You may rest assured I shall let my friends sec it, in order that they may inform themselves of the books they desire. I have read the entire letter. I See with astonishment not a single word of answer to the three other letters that I wrote to you, nor do you say anything as to whether you have received the three volumes of the Compendium, otherwise called Practice. And still I informed you some time ago that Signor Agazzi had sent them to you. At the same time I wrote to you that Signor Zatta had pressed me to send him the said Compendium for publica­ tion; but I answered him that I had already sent it to you, and that I could not go back on my word. 1 wrote also that I was waiting for Father Zaccaria’s corrections of the large work of Moral, and that I had already marked down many useful points to be added to the Moral Theology, as well as to the Compendium. I asked you, moreover, whether you intended to publish the Visits and the work on our Lady, both of which I sent you. If you had no such intention, I said I would give them to Signor Zatta for publication. The Latin translation of the Practice is now approaching completion. I am now condensing as succinctly as possible, all that I wrote at length in the three above-mentioned letters. I beg you to give me an answer to each particular point, so as not to leave me in perplexity. As I wrote in a preceding letter, I would have you tell me if it is your desire that I send the Latin Compendium, and the additions I have for the Italian Compendium, through Signor Agazzi via Rome (for I have discovered a secure means of having my messages delivered to the said Signor Agazzi), or whether you wish me to send them by another route. For these works are of such a nature that I could not undertake them again without extreme difficulty, in case they should go astray. What I have to send being ! 94 Special Correspondence» [part ii manuscript, I must needs send by water, for the mail­ carrier will not take manuscripts. Meantime, I beg you to write immediately to Signor Agazzi, and tell him that, as soon as he receives my manuscripts, he should forward them to you. I am just now engaged in putting together the addi­ tions that I had marked down for the Italian Practice; and this, because on reading the catalogue you sent me, I perceived that work in the list of books in press. Seeing this, I feared that you might have it printed before I sent these additions. But I pray God that this may not be the case, since these additions treat of most important points. I hope for this the more on account of the fact that in the catalogue it is announced that your addition will be considerably augmented. The additions to the Latin Practice I shall join to the manuscript I have to send you, and, as soon as completed, I shall despatch them to you through the same medium of Agazzi. Gloria Patri! I have, at last, read in the catalogue that the Glories of Mary and the IGsits are in press. I have received great consolation from this news on account of the glory which will accrue therefrom to Jesus Christ and to Mary. These two books once printed, I shall not ask lor more than a single copy of each to see how they are done. You will use, I trust, good paper for them. It does not matter that they shall cost a little more; for these small books have as ready a sale when good paper is used, even though they may be a little more expensive. I see, also, in your catalogue that you make mention of the I 7sils only, and not a word is said of the other little treatises belonging to it, which treatises have, perhaps, been more favorably received by the public; I mean The Passion, The Will oj God and Prayer. I am inclined to think that your intention was to indicate the contents of the Letter 42. 95 first part only. But do not omit those of the second part; for in Naples, Rome, and Sicily, this little work was printed entire, the second part included. The book against Materialists and Deists is, indeed, of small compass; but you must know that it has met with great success, being the very quintessence of many larger volumes that I have read. That other work of mine on Christmas, and the Heart of Jesus, together with the Preparation for Mass for the I sc of Priests, will soon appear. As soon as it is printed > I shall send it to you. 1 shall do in like manner with my other work on the Eternal Truths, which is now in press. This latter is a work that cost me much labor. Once more, I entreat you to put off for some time the printing of the Practice, until I send you the abovementioned additions, as also a leaf printed lately, which must be added to the work. I wish to see in what manner, and by what route I can send them. I shall then despatch them without delay. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most devoted and very obliged servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the edition published at Bassano in the year 1S79, on the occasion of the installation of the Very Rev. Pietro Colbachini as Archpriest of Cereda. 90 Special Correspondence, letter [part π. 43. To the Same. He informs the publisher of the despatch of the addi­ tions, and makes known his wishes concerning the printing of the Instruction and Practice. He speaks, also, about the Latin translation of the same {Homo Apostolicus), and about another work that he recommends for publication. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, August 10, 1758. Most Illustrious Sir: In my last letter I wrote to you of my perplexity as to how to send you the additions to the Italian Practice. I finally determined on sending them by post. I beg you, as soon as you receive them, to inform me of the fact, so as to free me from anxiety, and that I may not be obliged to send a second copy of the same. They are really most useful points, I may even say neces­ sary, having come to my mind after my own edition had been already finished. I entreat you not to set to work at the Practice till I shall tell you. I am not so particular as to whether you print it now, if only you do not send it (until I say so) into the kingdom of Naples and Sicily; for only in Naples and Sicily can I sell the copies I have had printed. But if your edition should appear with so many additions, every­ body would buy your copies, whilst mine would lie on my hands. Therefore, if you do print the work, send it every­ where but to Naples and Sicily. The Latin translation is, as I said in a preceding letter, on the road to completion. It costs us much labor and time, since everything must be copied by hand ; besides, all the additions that I am sending to you, must be in­ serted, each in its proper place. In a preceding letter I also wrote to you how rejoiced I felt w hen 1 read in the catalogue, that you were printing SER. I.-1758.] Letter 43. 97 the Glories of Mary, and the Visits to the Blessed Sacra­ ment; but by no means neglect to print the second part, also, of the Visits, that is to say, The Passion, The Will of God, and Prayer, as they are excellent little treatises. At the same time I asked you not to omit publishing the work against Materialists and Deists; for this book has received great commendation here, and but few copies remain to me. In regard to the additions that I sent, it will be necessa­ ry for the compositor and the reviser to take great pains to put everything where it belongs; the more so, as they are written in very minute character, in order to diminish the expense of transmission, which is, indeed, quite consider­ able. As to the little treatise on the Casing of the Dead, lately composed by me, I have marked the place where it should be inserted. Leave out the old one that stands at the end of the first volume of the Practice. This new dissertation on the subject is short, but it has cost me no little labor. Let me know whether you have received the Italian Practice; for 1 have read the catalogue very carefully, and up to the present I have not received any indication from you as to whether it has reached you or not. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and truly devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. Special Correspondence. [PART II. LETTER 44. To the Same. He laments over the delay to which their letters and messages are subjected, and gives further instructions for the better arrangement of the edition of the Instruction and Practice, as well as of the ascetical works. < Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! NOCERA, September TT, 1758. Most Illustrious Sir: I received your favor of the 26th of August, in which I am inforrfied that you had written quite a number of letters to me though at the time that I wrote my last, I had not received a single one of them. Our correspondence must be detained in some unknown corner, for I sec that you do not receive my letters, whilst many months usually elapse before I receive those you send me. 1 do not understand this, for very often I receive your let­ ters immediately. Your letters to me seem to have the J worse fortune. Having discovered from the letter preceding your last that you had commenced to print the Instructioni I at once despatched the additions destined for the work, enclos­ ing them in a letter, as they were not much of a package. They could, indeed, be enclosed in one envelope, but they arc none the less important. I also joined to them a little dissertation on the Cursing of the Dead which I composed and had printed only recently. I am sorry that up to the 26th of August, on which date you wrote to me, you had not yet received the letter. I hope that by the time this letter reaches you, you will have received it. Seeing that you had already set to work at 1 I hc saint here speaks of the Italian work, entitled “ Instruc­ tion and Practice for Confessors,” which he often refers to as the lar£e /’hk/ua SER. 1.-175*·! Letter 44. 99 the printing, I hastened to send you the additions enclosed in a letter, nor did I mind the expense of postage (which here in Naples is considerable), provided they might quickly and securely reach their destination. I did not forward them to Signor Agazzi, for our mail-carrier refuses to take manuscripts. Hence I should have been obliged to send them by a sailing-vessel ; but to wait for it much precious time would have been lost. In the same letter, I also wrote that in case you should have printed the pages to which the additions belong, you should, at least, have them printed at the end of the volume, with a note telling where they should have been placed. The places for them were marked very distinctly by myself. This arrangement will be the more necessary from the fact that a few additions belong to the first volume, though these are of greater length than the others; no inconvenience, therefore, will be caused by having them placed as notes at the end of the volume. The greater number, on the other hand, belong to the second volume. I hope that this second volume has not as yet been printed ; but in case it has, the only thing left is to put the additions at the end. I entreat you to write at once when you receive this, and inform me whether you have received the letter of which I just spoke, together with the additions it contained. For if it has gone astray, I shall have a new copy of the additions made, as they are all very important. Meantime, you have certainly begun to print the work and make use of the copyright; you can, therefore, suspend the printing until you receive these additions. As regards the Latin Compendium, I am working steadily at it. 1 am grieved that Father Don Girolamo [Ferrara], the companion who assists me (for you must know I am an old man and my head gives me much trouble), has fallen sick, but at present he is much better. I am continually ΙΟΟ Special Correspondence. [PART If. urging him to hurry up and finish this work. I have in readiness the other additions to the large work on Moral, for the time when you will send me the corrections of Father Zaccaria. 1 received the title-pages; but in the one of The Passion, I do not see any indication of the treatise on The Will of God, or of that other on Prayer, though these very treatises are, perhaps, the more useful, as well as the more sought after. I beg you by all means to have the titles of these two added. Yes, for the future I shall send my other small works to you through Signor Agazzi. Accept my most humble respects. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and truly devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original belonging to the Gamba Collection in the municipal library of Bassano (Venice). LETTER 45. To the Same. He informs the publisher that he will soon send the Latin translation of the Practice {Homo Af>ostolicus}, and gives some points for the edition of this work, as well as some general instructions on the mode of making corrections. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera, October 7, 1758. Most Illustrious Sir: I write to tell you that in a few days 1 shall send to Rome, to Signor Agazzi, the Latin transla- SER. I.-175S I Her 45. IOI tion. It is now nearly completed, and I am making all haste to finish it as soon as possible, so as to be able to despatch it by the sailing-vessel before winter sets in. I tell you of this beforehand, that you may instruct Signor Agazzi to forward to you the box containing my manuscript as soon as it comes into his hands. I will make another remark in advance. As you will have observed, the Manual for Those about io be Ordained, found in the third volume (appendix iii.) of the Italian Practice which I have already sent you, is in Latin. It would, then, be a good thing if you would print the pages destined for the Italian edition at the same time as those destined for the Latin, since they are both written in the same manner. I say this to save you the trouble of setting up the type twice. There is one difficulty, however, connected with this plan. I refer to the paging. The pages of the Italian edition do not correspond to those of the Latin. It would be necessary, then, before printing the pages of the Manual belonging to the third volume, to wait until you are printing the Latin edition ; after all, it is only a matter of about eight folios. I make this observation that you may regulate the matter as seems best to you. In making the corrections, I beg you to take pains to verify very carefully the numbering of the citations; for if this is not done, the reviser will never be able to detect the errors that have crept in. Your last favor contained a note from the reviser. He asked me, and rightly, about two passages in the Italian Practice which he did not find correctly indicated in the leaf of additions. I confess, the marking was inexact. In my last letter I pointed out the proper places for the two 7* 102 Special Correspondence. [part n. notes in question; but to make sure, in case that letter did not reach you, I add the enclosed note. I remain, Illustrious Sir, \7our most devoted and very obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 46. To the Same. He notifies him by what way he will send the Homo Afrostolicus. He proposes to him to print the Novena for Christmas and the Eternal Truths. •Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera, October 15, 1758. {Another letter, the counterpart of this, has already been sent to you by post.) Most Illustrious Sir: To-morrow, without fail, I shall forward the Latin Practice to Rome to Signor Agazzi, for 1 have just received word that the vessel destined for Rome will leave in a very short time. I beg you to send word to Signor Agazzi at once, to forward the box containing the manuscripts as soon as he receives it. You will find in the box the Novena for Christmas, which 1 published recently. If you desire to print it, I beg you to delay sending it into the kingdom of Naples for some lime, until I have sold my own copies, which are not many. 1 sell them at twenty-four grains, about two lire of your money. Signor Antonio Zatta lately wrote, asking me to send him this work, that he might print it as also the Eternal Truths. This latter is in press, and is now nearing com­ pletion. But I begged to be excused, saying that I had ’ · SER. I.-1758.] 103 Letter pledged myself to send these two works to you. If, how­ ever, you do not intend to publish them, I wish you would let me know; since in that case, I shall have to send them to Signor Zatta. 1 beg you to print the above-mentioned Latin Practice as soon as possible, both because it is in greater demand at Naples than the Italian edition, as only this Latin edi­ tion can be used by the young men in the seminaries, and also because some bishops are already waiting for It. I beg you, in order to set my mind at rest, to send me word as soon as you have received the above-mentioned Latin translation, for this is a work which I could hardly undertake a second time. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and grateful servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 47. To *the Same. Also pertaining to the sending of the Homo Afiostolicus, of which he asks him to acknowledge .the receipt in due time. [November 175S.] Most Illustrious Sir: This morning I received a letter from Signor Giuseppe Agazzi. He informs me that he has already received the manuscript of the Compendium together with the Novena for Christmas, which I sent you. He requests me to inform ybu immediately of the fact, since, as he says, he despatched it to you promptly by mail. 104 Special Correspondence, (PART II. I beg of you, for my greater peace of mind, to send me word as soon as you receive the box. I have already written many letters to you on this point, but until now I have received no answer. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 48. To the Same. He asks him to print the Homo Apostolicus without delay, and, after thanking him for the present of several small books, promises him other works for the press. He mentions a few of them, briefly touching upon the importance of each, and concludes with some remarks on the notes to be added to the Moral. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera, December 31, 1758. Most Illustrious Sir: After long waiting, I have been comforted to-day by the receipt of your esteemed letter, from which I sec that you have received the package con­ taining the Compendium. I beg you to print it soon. It will have a rapid sale even at Naples, where it is in demand for the seminaries which want the Latin and not the Italian edition. As I wrote before, I hope the reviser will be careful, for the manuscript is not in good handwriting. You will, also, tell him to keep before his eyes the Compendium in the vernacular lately published by you. In this way, he can the more easily clear up the difficulties he may find in the manuscript. SER. 1.-1758.] Letter 48. 105 I thank yon very much for the present you make me of the small works and of the Directory.1 Truly, I am over­ come by your great generosity. I am sorry that I am now approaching the end of my days, and that my head is giving out, for 1 should wish to devote myself to writing other works, it it were only to second your desires. But enough. Il I ever undertake another work, I shall not fail to send it to you. For the present I have finished the book on Death, otherwise called the Eternal Truths, a work useful to seculars for meditations and serviceable to priests for preaching.- At the end of the book there are nine Dis­ courses for 'Dimes o] Calamity. This work has been very favorably received, so much so that it hardly made its appearance, when it already passed out of my hands. I had, however, but a small number of copies printed, be­ cause I have very little money. I do not send it to you as yet, for 1 intend to forward it with the book [ The Great Means} of Prayer, which has not yet been printed, but is now in press. This work on Prayer is a unique and most useful book. It is not only an ascetical work, a book of spirituality, but it is a theological work, one to which 1 devoted a great deal of labor, for in it I refute the system of Father Berti, against whom Reverend Father Zaccaria has written so well. Father Zaccaria urged me very much to publish this work, and now, thanks be to God, I have finished it. 1 hope it will be well received by all, save the partisans of Berti. By this time you will have received, together with the Latin Compendium, the Novena for Christmas and the other smaller works that accompany it. This Novena has1 2 1 “Directory, or, Manual for Those about to be Ordained.” 2 The title is as follows: “Preparation for Death, or, Considera­ tions on the Eternal Truths, Useful for All as Meditations, and Serviceable to Priests for Sermons. ιοό Special Correspondence. [PART π. had a rapid sale here, and I have received orders from Sicily for many copies. But I have had only a few printed. As regards the large work on theology, I am waiting for the corrections which, you wrote me, arc to be made by Father Zaccaria. For the rest, my additions are all in readiness. 1 have already written to you to find out which you would prefer: that I take one of the copies of your edition . and insert therein the additions in their respective places, that thus the reviser might have less trouble, or that I send them all to you in a separate book. Let me know which you prefer. To send the additions in one of your copies, would make it more easy for reprinting; but it would entail greater expense. The books I have already spoken of, I shall send to you by the courier through Signor Agazzi. As re­ gards your letters to me, send them to Signor Michele Stasi. By passing through his hands, I shall, perhaps, receive them with greater security. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! I remain, Illustrious Sir, λ’our most humble and very grateful servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. Alter a copy printed at Bassano in the year 1879, on the occasion of the solemn installation of the X’ery Rev. Pietro Colbachini as Archpriest of Cereda. SER. I.-I759-1 Letter 49. LETTER 107 49. To the Same. He tells him why he does not wish to send his works for the first print, and speaks of those works that are to be reprinted, or are already in press. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! From the Mission at Νοϊ.λ, February io, 1759. Most Illustrious Sir: I now answer your favor of January 27. As to sending my works to your establishment for the first press, I say : Would to God that we were nearer to each other and that the thing could be done! But it is impossible. I am very exact in my work. I am never satisfied with what I have written. It is for this reason, that I make numberless corrections in the proofs. It is, indeed, quite a different thing to read the matter in manuscript and to read it in print. If I submit my original manuscript to many revisions, I am compelled to make numerous and lengthy corrections in the proofs. I am wont to change entire periods. In .some parts, I often change more than I leave. I have not as yet sent the book on Death, printed a short time ago, since I expect to forward it to you to­ gether with the work on Prayer, which is shorter, though more elaborate. At present I am reviewing the last pages. I shall complete the work during the coming week. I am now writing to Signor Agazzi, that, for the future, he may be more careful about the mail and courier at Rome. I beg you, also, to write to him that he may show greater anxiety about these things. I have written to him several times, but have not received a single answer. I think he is wont to give little attention to the mail from Naples. With regard to the reprinting of the large Moral, I shall, i o<8 Special Correspondence. Ipart ii. as you suggest, write the additions in one of the copies printed by you, and be careful to add the notes on the propositions proscribed in France. I am not, however, perfectly acquainted with all these propositions. I know but two of them, namely; that on self-defence at the price of the death of a prince (which occurs in Busenbaum, I. 5, tract, iv. cap. i. dub. 3, n. 8\ and that on proscribed exiles. If you ascertain from your censors the nature and number of these propositions condemned in France, please notify me at once. I shall do my utmost to learn them from the Jesuit Fathers in Naples. I am anxiously waiting for the news that the Compendiums of Moral have been printed ; but those which I am more anxiously expecting, are the Latin Compendiums. If you make me a present of a few of them, I shall be very grate­ ful. But if need be, I am ready to purchase them as soon as they are printed, since I want them for the students of our Congregation, who will be pleased to make their studies from this Latin Compendium. I hope' to be able to sell many copies of it in Naples among the seminaries, in which the Latin edition is preferred to the vernacular. I send you enclosed a small note, or addition, to be appended to the Italian Compendium, in case appendix iii. (Manualfor '/'hose about to be Ordained} has not yet been printed. If, however, the printing of the Italian Com­ pendium is already finished, you will, at least, insert the note in the Latin edition, as it would prove very useful, at least for the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily. W hen 1 come home from the missions, I shall devote myself to the work oi arranging all the additions I have prepared for the larger work on theology, and send them to you by Signor Agazzi. But you must inform him of this, as well as of that other matter I referred to above. SER. I.-1759.] Letter 50. 109 I wish to know whether you have printed the Glories of Maty. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [Λ .S'.] I add in conclusion, that I have decided to send you at once the Preparation for Death, without waiting for the completion of the work on Prayer. This work on Death has been received with great favor at Naples. Hardly was it published, but without the protec­ tion of the copyright, as I am told, when a Neapolitan house wished to reprint it. I shall try to prevent this, and, therefore, I shall send it at once to Rome. Notify Agazzi of the fact without cfelay. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 50. To the Same. He speaks of some corrections to be made in a certain book, of the additions for the large Moral, and asks informa­ tion about two works he desires to have printed without delay. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! From the Mission at NOLA, February 15, 1759. Most Illustrious Sir: Last week I wrote to you that in answer to your urgent solicitation, 1 had despatched to you through Signor Agazzi the woik on Death. I addiessed a similar letter to that gentleman. I have discovered that I could not deliver the box con­ taining the book to the courier last week, since he had already departed. This week, however, it shall certainly I ΙΟ Special Correspondence. [PART II. be sent. Please inform Signor Agazzi of the fact, that he may transmit it to you at once. At the end of the book, after the Discourses on Public Calamities and certain teaching pertaining to the same subject, you will find, on page 523, a list of the works published by me. Then follow the Acts for Each Day of the Week and the Protestation for a Good Death; at the end is an additional sheet on the Rule of Life. In regard to these things, I desire you to put them into better order. Place the Rule of Life first, then the Acts and the Protestation, and, at the end, the list of my works. Once I return home from the missions, I shall work at the additions for the large Moral and annotate the proposi­ tions condemned in France; but as I am not acquainted with all these propositions, I have sent to Naples lor the necessary information. If you can get it yourself where you are, send it to me. I again ask you to send me word as soon as you have printed the Italian and, more especially, the Latin Com­ pendiums; because, as I wrote in my last letter, I am anxiously waiting for them, both 4br the students of my Congregation and, also, for others. I expect to sell a great number in the seminaries in this kingdom alone, not to speak of other places. These Compendiums are much better than those printed at Naples. Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa’. Accept, Illustrious Sir, my most humble salutations. Your very devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [Λ5.] Address your letters to me, as usual: Nocera ~ia Naples; but. perhaps, it would be better to send them to me through Signor Stasi. After an old copy. SER. 1.-1759-1 Letter 5z. LETTER 51. To the Same. He speaks of some books received, of the new edition of the large Moral, and of other works to be printed. ΙΟ, 1759Most Illustrious Sir·: I hope by this time you have re­ ceived the Preparation for Meath, as I sent it to Signor Agazzi quite a while ago, that he might forward it to you as soon as possible. I have not yet been able to receive the package contain­ ing the one hundred copies of the Visits, which you were so kind as to send me. They tell me the vessel has not yet reached Manfredonia. I am now arranging the large Moral. It will, however, require some time to finish the work, there are so many additions to be made. I have obtained here at Naples the propositions of Busenbaum condemned by the Parliaments ol France. We came to the same conclusion as Father Zaccaria (whom I lately consulted), that it would be better to exclude these propositions of Busenbaum altogether from the text. We shall thus rid ourselves entirely of all fear of seeing the work prohibited.1 I am selling the remaining copies of the large Moral which you sent me some time ago. If the first volume of the Latin Practice has not yet been printed, insert at the end the little slip here enclosed. I beg you to send me word when you intend to begin the reprinting of the large Moral, that I may regulate myself accordingly. If you do not intend to begin soon, it will be Naples, March I These propositions were, in fact, eliminated. In all subse­ quent editions we can find no trace of them. 1 he first of these propositions we have already touched upon in a note to Letter 3b, page 79. The other two the reader will find hinted at further on in the letter of November 14, 1759· Letter 60, page 12S. 4 I 112 Special Correspondence. [partii. better for me to send you the book with additions only when the reprinting is about to commence, since I shall always find something new to add. I have just received your letter of the 3d of March. I thank you very much for the fifty copies of the Italian Practice that you sent me. Would you be so kind as to inform me by what route I am to receive them. I am very glad that the Latin Practice, which I, as well as many others, am anxiously expecting, is now in press. I am spending a few days at Naples, and have had an opportunity of speaking at length with Father Zaccaria. I shall visit him once more, and tender him your regards. The book [ The Great Means} of Prayer will come from the press this week, and next Saturday, without fail, I shall despatch it by the courier to Signor Agazzi. I have already sent him the other work, the Preparation for Death; but he has not yet informed me whether he has received it. I beg you to tell him this yourself, as he has written to me that you have sent him no information on the matter. I see that this Practice in cpiarto will turn out to be an excellent edition, and one very handy for the reader. As regards the copies of my edition, I have sold nearly all in a very short time. I remain A’our humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [A 5.] I should be mucji pleased if you would let me know who is the author of the anonymous Parenetic Letter against Father Piazza, which was printed by you. I ha\e had a little time at my disposal and have made use oi it to arrange in the large Moral almost all the addi­ tions 1 had marked out for it, inserting each in its proper SER. 1.-1759-1 Letter ^2. I I place. I shall send it to you as soon as I have finished, without waiting for an answer. I beg you again, and it is the wish of others also, to see that it be printed in quarto, as it would be far more handy for the reader. It might be arranged in three or four volumes. Live Jesus and Mary! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 52. To the Same. Me sends the work entitled : The Great Means of Prayer, and explains to him its importance. He also communicates a secret appertaining to him. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, April 5, 1759. Most Illustrious Sir: I send you my book on Prayer, the last work I have composed. It is more theological than ascetical. The second part especially is theological, and has cost me many months of labor. I am sending it by the courier to Signor Giuseppe Agazzi, whom I have already informed of its departure. 1 have almost finished the additions and other emenda­ tions destined for the large Moral; only a few things are still left to arrange. I expect to be able to send it to you about the beginning of May, through a friend who has to go to Rome, and who will deliver it to Signor Agazzi. I have had several conversations with Father Zaccaria at Naples. He is truly a man of great distinction. He harbors a suspicion that you give very little attention to his affairs, and this, perhaps, at the instigation ol Father Berti. I tell you this in confidence, and I beg you, there­ fore, not to use my name in connection with this subject 8 ii4 Special Correspondence. (part π. before any one. As a true friend and servant, I have your interests at heart, and I do not think it will turn out to your advantage to neglect Father Zaccaria. When I have finished arranging the large Moral, I shall send you another letter, already begun, with further in­ structions concerning the additions for this work. I hear that the package containing the books which you have had the kindness to send me, has already arrived at Rome; but I have received nothing as yet, neither the Visits, nor the Italian Practices. Let me know how the Latin Practice is progressing, since we arc waiting for it here with impatience. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and very grateful servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 53. To the Same. He thanks him for the present of some books, informs him of an opportunity to sell the Italian Practice at Naples, and recommends him to print the Homo Apostolicus without delay and on good paper. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera. April 12 [1759]. Most Illustrious Sir: Last week I received all the books you had the kindness to present to me. I again thank you very much for your generosity. As regards the Practices, you may now send them to Naples lor sale, as the number oi my copies is fast diminish­ ing. If you desire to send me some copies, do so; for I — Λ. SER.I.-1759 1 Letter SJ, 115 shall endeavor to sell them in onr houses, whither a great number of priests betake themselves for the spiritual exer­ cises. Let me know the price. This morning I received another order for the Latin Practice from a seminary. I again beg you to hasten with it as much as possible, since, as I wrote to you, the seminaries have no use for the Italian Practice. I beg you, in case the printing is not yet begun, to use good paper for the work. It matters little that the price be raised. The type you use is excellent, and when the paper is white, you know the type will stand out with great clear­ ness, and the purchasers will not mind paying a higher price. Send me word as to when the Latin Practice will be finished, that I may be able to give an answer to the semi­ naries that have asked me for the work. The large Moral, with its additions and emendations, is almost completed, and about the month of July I shall send it to you through Signor Agazzi. Please inform him of this. I have already sent you the book on Prayer through the same medium. Let me know whether you have received it. I am at present composing a book for priests’retreats. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. —.. 116 Special Correspondence. letter (part ii. 54. To the Same. de speaks again of the printing and sale of some works, and gives him a proof of great respect and affection. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! NOCERA, April 26, 1759. Most Illustrious Sir: Your esteemed letter, which I re­ ceived this morning, found me working at the additions for the Moral. Rest assured, these additions are new and useful. Since you tell me to arrange the work at my leisure, and that you are in no hurry to reprint it, I shall send it to you about the month of July or August, as I do not wish to wait until the bad weather sets in. I shall, however, send it sooner if *you so desire. You say nothing about the Latin Practice, how it is progressing, though, as I have already written to you, many are anxiously awaiting it here in this kingdom, especially in the seminaries, in which the Practice in the vernacular is not permitted to be used. I beg you to push the printing as much as possible. As regards the size of the Moral, do as you please. But 1 repeat, all prefer it in quarto, since in folio it is very unhandy for reading. You might make four volumes quarto, which would be very handy, and then raise the price. As regards the copies of the other Moral printed by you, 1 am selling them here, but very slowly. I am away from Naples, and besides I understand very little of such busi­ ness. I thank you very· much for the books which, as I see from your letter, you sent me. According to your advice. Letter 54. SER. 1--X759-] 117 I shall come to an understanding about them with Signor Matteo Ernandez, of Manfredonia. The work on Prayer, I have already sent you through Signor Agazzi. Let me know whether you have received it. In case you have not, I shall send you another copy. This book on Prayer was read by Father Zaccaria, and pleased him very much, especially the second part, which is entirely theological. It is selling well here at Naples. As to the Preparation for Death, I have sold so many copies in a short time that I have not many remaining. I am desirous to have you reprint it, and I thank you for your promise to send me some copies. I shall do my utmost to further the sale of your editions of my works. It was for this reason that I gave no ear to publishers in Venice who desired to print my books. As regards the anonymous work against Father Piazza, Father Zaccaria has spoken to me about it. Speaking of Father Zaccaria, 1 again tell you that he complains of your attending rather to the works of Father Berti than to his. I beg you not to cause him any more displeasure. Accept, Illustrious Sir, my most sincere regards. Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/’. S.] One word more in reference to the sale of my works. Let me sell off the remaining copies of those on Death and Prayer which I have still on hand. I shall then ask you to send me a good number of copies, at the same price as that for which you will give them to Stasi. I shall have them sold during the retreats we give in our houses. As to the large Moral, we can sell but few copies in the country places in which we reside, since our people do not care to lay out much money. But the smaller works, of S* i is Speci al Correspondence. (PART If. which I have spoken, as also the Practice, or Compendium, arc being bought by everybody. I beg you, therefore, to send me a good number of the Compendiums, as I shall soon begin to sell them; moreover, I shall, perhaps, sell for you a still greater number of the Latin Practices, for which reason, I again entreat you to hasten the printing. The book on Prayer (since you desire to know the prices fixed by me) I have fixed at fifteen grains; but some tell me this is too little and, in truth, it is so. However, I chose this price purposely, because it was my wish to give the book a rapid and extensive circulation, with which end in view, I have sent many copies to Rome and Sicily. Live Jesus and Mary! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 55. To the Same. He sends him the large Moral for the fourth edition, and gives some points and rules for the arranging of the additions as well as of the volume itself. He speaks, also, of other works. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! [May 1759.] Most Illustrious Sir: Yesterday evening I received two letters from you at the same time. 1 shall send you the large Moral this week. I did not send it sooner for the reason that, in your first let­ ter, you did not urge me to do so. No time, however, has been lost, for in the interim, I added some very useful matter. I now hasten to send it to you, and for that purpose I shall despatch it to his Eminence, Cardinal J SER. 1.-1759·) Letter yy. 119 Priuli.1 I shall write to his Eminence, and, meanwhile, you can do the same. I delayed sending the Moral to you, because I am just now finishing a short, but very elaborate dissertation on the prohibition of books by the Church, a prohibition most necessary in our days. It is impossible for me to finish this work so soon ; but as soon as I have finished it, I shall send it to you, that you may insert it in its proper place, in case that part of the book has not yet been printed. If, how­ ever, it has already been printed, it matters little, as you can insert it at the end. At the place in which it should have been inserted, that is, in the second treatise de Legibns, I shall add a note to the effect that the reader will find this dissertation at the end of the book. When you have received the book with the additions, look at the beginning where the title-page stands. There you will find a long list of remarks to be taken into account for this new edition. I thank you very much for the fifty copies of the Prepa­ ration for Death. I shall have all the copies sold that you send me, and of which you give me the list. You did well to send me the prices. I shall forward the money to you according as I sell the books. But we must now wait until the time for the spiritual exercises given in our houses. I shall then have an opportunity of selling them. The exercises commence about November or December, but you have done well to send the books in advance. It is true, Signor Stasi printed the Visits, but it was quite a while ago, and on poor paper. I hear that he has also printed the Glories of Mary, equally on poor paper and with poor type. I wish you to know that he is not printing these works on any order from me, but ol his own accoid, and 1 cannot 1 Cardinal Priuli was Bishop of Vicenza. I 20 Special Correspondence, [PART II. prevent him from doing so. I am even displeased that he is printing them, since his editions are miserable on account of the paper and the type. It is a shame. On the other hand, I wish to inform you that after I have once printed a work, I never issue a second edition of the same myself; but I must have the first edition printed here, as I make innumerable corrections and changes while it is in the press. I am glad that you have commenced printing the Latin Practice, since, as I told you, everybody here is waiting for it. I beg you to hasten it as much as possible. As soon as it is finished, send me a large number of copies, and indicate the price. You must not begin to print the large Moral until you receive my copy, that is, the annotated work which I shall send you. From the very title-page, there is much need of correction. I am equally pleased to hear that you have received the book on Prayer. The work has met with much praise from the learned. As regards the new edition of the Moral, reflect whether it would not be well to print it in quarto. It could be put up in four volumes, and would thus be much more con­ venient to read. Do as seems best to you. I conclude, tendering you my most sincere regards. Let me know whether you have printed the Glories of Mary. I saw it announced in the catalogue you sent me. To relieve my anxiety, tell me whether it has appeared or not. I am, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. SER. I.-I759-1 Letter §6. I2i LETTER 56. To the Same. After saying a few things of his larger work on Moral, and of the sale of other books, he recommends the early reprint of a work most dear to him. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera de’ Pagani, July 5, 1759- Most Illustrious Sir: Very recently I received two more letters from you, and in one of them I found the invoice of the books. I have already sent to Naples by a Brother the large Moral Theology with the numerous additions belonging to it. I have given directions to the Brother to send it by water to Rome to his Eminence, Cardinal Friuli, to whom, as a matter of politeness, I have also written. See that the work be procured from the said Lord Cardinal, in Rome, where the ship will arrive within a few days after leaving Naples. You need have no anxiety concerning the propositions condemned in France; I have arranged them in the book in a suitable manner. Regarding the books which you sent to me to have sold, I shall regulate myself according to what you wrote me in a former letter, that is, I shall dispose of them at a discount of twenty-five per cent. If I mistake, let me know, for I shall be guided by your wishes. You will have to wait some time for the sale, as we shall have no retreats before winter sets in, and, besides, I have still on hand some copies of my edition of the Preparation for Death which must first be disposed of. I told you in my last letter, and I now repeat, that I hear you are printing every one of my books except the Glories of Mary, though that little work is the most elab­ 122 Special Correspondence, [PART II. orate, and, perhaps, the most popular of all. As I men­ tioned before, three successive editions have alreadyappeared at Naples. It is for the glory of our Lady and for no other reason, that I wish you to print this work first, and, I assure you, it will meet with favor everywhere. Let the nuns of Venice see the little book of Visits. Here in the kingdom, there is hardly a nun who does not possess it. Rest assured, I shall not send my smaller works to any other publisher than yourself. But I am very old and death is drawing nigh. Even the smallest work costs me far greater labor than it would others, since I make it a point to examine all the authors I can get hold of, and, as every reader may see, I say- much in a few words, being a lover of something substantial, rather than of empty periods. Certain friends have informed me that in Venice there is a demand for a work printed here in Naples, entitled : ‘'History- of Nola, by- F. Remondini, of the Congregation of Somasca.” They write that I should let you know about it, and prepare you for the demand that may be made for the work. There are three volumes folio bound. The price, they tell me, is nine ducats ; buta reduction could be secured. I mention this to you, solely to oblige my friends. You may avail yourself of the information, if it be of any- use to you. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! I remain Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. SER I.-1759Ί Letter $γ. I23 LETTER 57, To the Same. He sends him a little treatise to be inserted in the Moral. —Importance of this treatise. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, August 1, 1759· Most Illustrious Sir: I am sending you the little work I have recently composed on prohibited books.1 It is to be inserted in the Moral, as I wrote to you, at the end of the treatise de Legibus. You will find the place marked at the end of the said treatise in the copy of the Moral that 1 forwarded to you some months ago. In accordance with your wish, I sent it to you via Rome, through the medium of his Eminence, Cardinal Priuli. In case the pages following the above-mentioned treatise de Legibus should already be printed, this little work on forbidden books may, as I have told you, be placed at the end of the volume. I would request you not to omit the insertion of this little dissertation, together with the other additions that I sent you with the copy. It is a very elaborate work and, in these days, may contribute greatly to the good of the Church, inasmuch as many books tainted with heresy are everywhere in circulation, and the opinion is current among libertines that forbidden books may be read. It seems to me, I have already informed you that I received all the copies of the Preparation for Death, of the 1 “ Dissertatio de justa prohibitione et abolitione librorum nocuæ lectionis.” 124 Special Correspondence. [PART 11. Practice, and of the other works that you sent me. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Live Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [A .S’.] The little work on forbidden books, I am sending you through Signor Giuseppe Agazzi. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 58. To the Same. Me asks for an explanation of some remarks which he does not understand, and gives an account of the sale of the books printed at Venice. Nocera, October 8, 1759. Your esteemed letter of the 15th of September lies before me, but your remarks are altogether too succinct. I do not well understand them. You write that his Eminence, Cardinal Priuli, has been so kind as to send you the package. I hope, then, that you have already received the large Moral with its addi­ tions. 1 beg you, however, to explain to me more clearly in your next letter, whether you have really received it, and also the little treatise on Forbidden Books. A’ou say : I renew my solicitations with regard to the Latin Practice. I believe you are here alluding to the sale of this work. But you do not inform me whether you are sending me a package or a letter advising me of its con­ tents. I have, meanwhile, been impatiently waiting for these same Latin Practices. At this very moment, I have an opportunity to sell them. SER I -1759·] Letter 58. !25 I shall have inquiries made of Signor Aurisicchio to ascertain whether you have already sent the packages containing the Practices. In your letter of August you wrote that at the first opportunity, you would despatch to me two hundred copies for sale; but in to-day’s letter you do not say a single word about having sent them. I now send you through Signor Aurisicchio forty-six ducats and one carlino. the proceeds of the sale of your books. As to the large Morat, I have only a few copies remain­ ing, and I expect to dispose of them soon. Among them, however, there are some, as the Brother writes to me from Naples, incomplete, several sheets being missing. Apropos, it seems to me that I wrote to you some time ago, o 1 to send me the missing sheets that the defective Morals might not remain useless; but I do not clearly remember the details. I shall instruct the Brother to write to you himself from Naples, stating how many pages are wanting and which they are. Again I repeat that very few of these Morals are now left over, at least that is what the Brother has told me. As for myself, I am too much occupied with the affairs of our Congregation. They leave me not a moment of time to think of aught else. Regarding the Preparation for Heath, you must have a little patience, for I cannot sell them before I have disposed of my own edition. I have sold but few copies of the little book of Visits, for here in Naples there have been so many editions of it that we are at our wit’s end what to do. I tell you once more, with regard to these editions, that I have no part in them. I speak of my own works. The booksellers are the cause. Seeing that my works have good sale, they print them again and again. 1 cannot help this. I have no copyright on my books, nor can I procure one. aai 126 Special Correspondence. [part 11. Here in Naples it is not granted in favor of smaller works. For the rest, I shall not fail to have your edition sold when the retreats are being conducted in our houses. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, 9 Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [A 5.] I am expecting the Latin Practices. Regarding the Glories of Mary., I hear they have again issued a new edition at Naples. You wrote to me that you allow me a reduction of forty per cent. I thank you for this. But you must know that, in order to dispose of your books quickly, I sell them for what I can get; consequently, in some cases, perhaps, I sacrificed something myself, in order to be able to send you the full amount. Indeed, I am far from being a merchant. I have scarcely a chance to dispose of the books at the season of the retreats. Live Jesus and Mary ! One word more. I send you to-day seventeen ducats for ten copies of the Moral that have been sold. The small remittance of sixteen ducats forwarded to yoti lately, was from the sale of those same copies. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 59. To the Same. He asks for some copies of the Homo Apostolicus^ and, speaking of the sale of some smaller works, he advises a reduction in the price. Nocera, November i, 1759. Most Illustrious Sir: It is a very long time since I have had a letter from you, and I know not whether the Moral SER 1.-1759·] Letter 59. and its additions have reached you. Nor do I behold the arrival ol the Latin Practices, which I and many others with me have been so anxiously expecting. It is now fully a month since I forwarded to you, through Signor Aurisicchio, a remittance of forty-six ducats, the proceeds of the sale of your books. I have disposed of eight more copies of the large Moral. I expect to collect some money from the sale of other books, and then I shall send the whole amount. I wish to make a remark to you regarding the little book of Visits, and the Manual for Those about to be Ordained. namely, that they might, perhaps, have a better sale, if . you were to reduce the price. You have rated them at a lire and a half apiece, that is, at eighteen grains, so that with the binding they cost about twenty-one grains. On the other hand, the little book of Visits, for which there is a very great demand, is sold here by the booksellers (1 speak of the copies they issue from their press'), at from twelve to thirteen grains. Consider, then, whether it is not advisable for you to reduce your price. Above all, I beg you to see that the Latin Practice come to hand soon. Let me know, also, whether you have received the large Moral. \rour copies of the Moral are exhausted. Twenty-eight have been sold. I have sent one with the additions, and in another some pages are missing. I think, however, that the Brother at Naples has already written to you which they are, that you may send them on. Live Jesus and Mary ! I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 128 Special Correspondence, [PART π. LETTER 6o. To the Same. The fourth edition of the Moral having been begun, he asks the publisher to have certain passages struck out, and states his reasons. lie again speaks of the sale and price of other books, and gives notice that he will soon finish another new work. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera, November 14, 1759. Most Illustrious Sir: I rejoiced exceedingly at the news that the Moral came to hand, and is now in press. I hope you are still only at the beginning. I pray you, therefore, to look at page 8 of my work, immediately after the Prole­ gomena of Father Zaccaria (I refer, you see, to page 8 of the first book). Remark the marginal number 42 which begins: Quccres indc [an liceat occidere invasorem fames vcl honoris'] 1 and ends: Vide dicenda /.3, n. 38/. I beg you to eliminate this entire paragraph, and prefix the said marginal number 42 to the small paragraph following, which begins: Sic pariter. I also beg you to refer to /. j, n. 381. pag. 132, to the line commencing with the words: Queer itur igitur [zzz/ liceat viro honorato occidere invasorem . injustum sui honoris in re gravi] 2 after the text of Busenbaum. This entire paragraph with the two following, as far as n. 382, I beg you to strike out; for the question is therein treated, whether it is lawful to kill one who attacks our honor. The opinion we follow in this passage is the common and most probable one. Nevertheless, as you are aware, -a 1 The question is asked [whether it is lawful to kill the person that attacks our reputation or our honor.] 2 The question is. therefore, asked [whether it is lawful for a man of quality to kill the person that unjustly attacks his honor in a çrave matter], SER. I -1759.] Leiter 60. i 29 great storm bas arisen in Portugal against the Jesuits. The people are saying that the Jesuits made use of this opinion to advise a conspiracy against the king. It is well, there­ fore, to eliminate this entire passage.1 1 The case here alluded to is very similar to that already men­ tioned in Letter 36, p. 79. On the night of September 3, 1758, Joseph Emmanuele I., King of Portugal, while returning incognito to his palace from the house of the Marquis Tavora, where he had been engaged in a love intrigue with the young marchioness, was assailed by a party of ruffians with arquebuses lying in ambush. The king was in the carriage of his favorite chamberlain, Texeira, who accompanied him. It was at Texeira, as was afterwards ascer­ tained, and not at the king, of whose presence they were entirely ignorant, that the assassins had directed their attack, wishing to punish him for having outrageously offended the Duke of Aveiro. But, as may easily be understood, the cry of a conspiracy against the life of the sovereign soon went up on all sides. Many seemed to look upon the Tavoras as the instigators of this unsuccessful attempt, who, they alleged, sought in this manner to defend and vindicate the honor of their fanirly sullied by the licentiousness of the king. Pombal, the Prime Minister, an avowed enemy of the marquis and his house, not only strove to encourage and magnify these false rumors, but took occasion of them to ruin at one stroke all his enemies, namely, the first personages of the court, Mascarenhas, the Duke of Aveiro, the Marquis Tavora, his mother Eleanora, and all his family and friends. Without lawful trial he had them all condemned to a most cruel death. Profiting of the same occasion he now resolved to give the death­ blow to the Jesuits whom long before he had sworn to drive out of the kingdom. lie did everything in his power to throw upon them the odium of the attack upon the king, alleging among other pre­ texts that the conspiracy originated in their doctrines regarding regicide, homicide, the defence of a person’s honor, etc. It is not our intention to record here either the odious measures taken against the Society of Jesus, or the account of its expulsion from Portugal. (We have seen, vol. i., General Correspondence, p. 546, how grieved St. Alphonsus was at this event.) But we must remark that the opinion in Moral Theology, which was used as a pretext for such execrable deeds, is precisely the one of which the saint is speaking to Remondini, and which he wishes to have eliminated from his 9 13° Special Correspondence. [PART II. I am anxiously awaiting the Latin Practices. I shall send word at once to the Brother at Naples to be on the alert for their arrival, so as to procure them as soon as possible, and sell them. I thank you for the gift of fifty copies. One thing, however, I do not find indicated, the price. Perhaps, the correspondent forgot it. But enough of this. I shall be guided by the size of the work and by the price of the Italian Practice. In regard to your other books, I shall regulate mysell according to the prices at which they are sold at Naples. I must make one remark concerning the other seventeen ducats I sent you (seventeen or eighteen, I do not clearly remember). I forwarded them to you many months ago, and I am surprised that Signor Aurisicchio has given you no account of them. Please let me know whether you have a copy of Corne­ lius à Lapide, and inform me of the price. 1 am almost at the end of the work, entitled : Selva [Collection of Material] for Retreats to Priests. As soon as I have finished it, 1 shall send it to you through Signor Agazzi. If the Latin Practices had arrived here sooner, I should have had a fine chance to dispose of a large number. As it is, 1 shall try to do all I can to sell them. Live Jesus and Mary! Most Illustrious Sir, \zour very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/’. N.] In case the sheet containing the first-mentioned work. Though the common and most probable one, this opinion could, in fact, provoke tyrannical conduct on the part of a mischief­ making authority, too prone to view on all sides and in everything, conspiracy against temporal sovereigns. SER. I.-1759·] Letter 61. passage be already printed, at least omit printing the second quotation (as given above) of the third book. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 6l. To the Same. He is consoled at the progress of the printing of the Moral, asks for some books, acknowledges the receipt of others, and says that his smaller works are being re-printed without his knowledge, and without his being able to prevent it. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, December 12, 1759. Most Illustrious Sir: I am consoled at the progress of the printing of the Moral, There is a general demand for it here. It would be a good thing could you send me a number of the Italian Practices, of the edition in three volumes. They are much sought after here. I have received your note informing me of the despatch of five hundred Latin instructions to Signor Ernandez, of Man­ fredonia, and I thank you for the fifty copies you have pre­ sented me. I shall make use of them for my young men. As soon as I receive the others, I shall make it known. 1 have received information concerning the price, and I shall be guided accordingly. Yes, it is true, the Italian Practice is being printed here, though not by any order of mine. As soon as it is pub­ lished, I shall buy a copy and send it to you, for these people do not present me with a single copy ; nor do they even give it to me to review, and God knows how many mistakes it will contain. What can I do? I am unable to Special Correspondence. [part n prevent it. for here in Naples it is very difficult to obtain a copyright on small works. It is true that I have made some additions to it, but they are few and trifling. Signor Stasi is printing it. Enough about this. As soon as it appears, you shall receive a copy through Signor Agazzi. Be pleased to inform him of the fact. Regarding the sale of your books, I shall attend to it as much as I can. I send you on the enclosed sheet a small note or addition to be inserted in the second volume of the large Moral. I have marked everything, the page and the number to which it belongs. Live Jesus and Mary! Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 02. To the Same. He signifies to whom he should address himself in future for the sale of the books. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, [January] 17, T760. Most Illustrious Sir: I have learned that the Latin Practices reached Manfredonia some time ago; however, they have not yet arrived at Naples, owing, perhaps, to the bad weather. In reference to the selling of your books, I have given it in charge to one of our Fathers who is with me at Nocera, bather Ferrara. It became impossible for me to attend to it. as the government of the Congregation and the direction of the missions occupy all my attention. For that reason, 1 beg you to conduct all future correspondence on this subject with this Father. Direct your letters to Nocera as hitherto, but with this address: To Father Don Girolamo SER. I.-1760. ] Letter 62. 133 Ferrara, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Re­ deemer. He intends to write to you soon. I le tells me that in the letters you wrote me, he has found a difficulty in regard to the deduction to be made. Whenever you have anything to write to me, you may enclose it in the letters you send to Father Ferrara. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [A S.] After having written this letter, I received one from you. Yes, Stasi is printing the Practice. He is now at the second volume. I have had no part in this matter, have breathed not a single word toward having the work printed. But seeing that he was already printing it, I added a few trifling points. As soon as it is finished, I shall buy a copy and send it to you through Signor Agazzi. I am now putting the last touches to the Selva? which will be published, I hope, within a month. It is a very elaborate work and somewhat bulky, divided into three parts. As soon as it is published, I shall send it to you through Signor Agazzi. When you have printed it, please be so kind as not to send it cither to this place or to Sicily, until I shall have disposed of the edition of two thousand copies printed at my expense. For the rest, be assured I shall forward it to you without delay. I am sending you two little notes to be added to the second and third volume. But if the page to which they belong is already printed, you need not print a separate 1 “Selva, or Collection of Material for Sermons and Instructions for Retreats to Priests, and Useful to the Same as Spiritual Read­ ing.” 9* Special Correspondence. [PiXRT 11. sheet for them, as the matter treated is of no great import­ ance. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 63. To the Same. He sends him a copy of the Selva, and repeats his remarks concerning the sale of the books. He again begs for the copies of the Latin Practice. Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! [End of January, 1760.] Most Illustrious Sir: My work for priests [Selva] has made its appearance in print. I send it to you through Signor Agazzi. 1 pray you, however, if you should have it printed, not to send it to Naples until you hear from me, for I am only now commencing to sell the copies I had printed. 1 have already written to you that, with regard to the sale of the books, you should come to an understanding with Father Don Girolamo Ferrara, of our Congregation. To him I have confided the entire charge of this matter. On account of my affairs, I can do little to further the sale; this Father can attend to it much better. We are impatiently awaiting the Latin Instructions, or Practices [Homo Apostolicus]. As yet we do not see any sign of them. I pray you to send them as soon as possible. I counted on the seminaries for a good sale ; but I fear that this long SER. I.-1760.] Letter 64. 135 delay has induced them to adopt some other work. send them to me as soon as possible. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble servant, Alfonso de Still, Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original in the possession of Father Gottardo, Ο. M. Cap., in Rome. LETTER 64. To the Same. He sends two important additions for the Moral, and re­ iterates his pressing demands for the long-desired copies of the Homo Apostolicus. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! NoceR/X, February 6, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir: I now send you two additions. They are very important, especially the first, inasmuch as it is a Bull recently published by the reigning Pontiff. This has to be inserted at the end of the first volume as a separate Moni­ tum, that it may not be necessary to print a special sheet for it. The second addition is destined for the second volume at the passage marked in the treatise de Eucharistia. It is, likewise, of great importance, for it treats of a matter re­ voked by the same Pope Benedict XIV. With all my efforts, 1 have not as yet been able to obtain the Latin Practice. From what I hear, the books have not yet arrived at Manfredonia. We are still waiting 'j6 Special Correspondence. [PART II. for them with impatience. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 65. To the Same. He tells him that he has been informed of the speedy arrival of the Latin Instructions, and speaks of the sale of the books and of two other works. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, April S, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir: I reply to your esteemed letter. I hear that the Instructions have arrived at Manfredonia. I am, therefore, expecting them from day to day. I thank you most sincerely for the fifty copies and the other little works donated to me. As to the other volumes, I shall give the charge of selling them to our Father Ferrara. He has already on hand, he tells me, some money for books sold. I think he will soon forward it to you through Signor Aurisicchio. You tell me, moreover, that you have already explained to bather Ferrara the mistake regarding the price, but he says that he has not received your letter. I pray you, therefore, in your answer to this, to add in a postscript what should be communicated to Father Ferrara. The Selva for priests has made its appearance. I have sent it to Rome, to Signor Agazzi that he may forward it to vou. SER-1.-1760 ] Letter 66. The Instruction in the vernacular, which is being printed at Naples, has not yet appeared. As soon as it is pub­ lished, I shall purchase a copy and send it to you through Signor Agazzi. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Most Holy Redeemer. [A 0*.] Please inform me at what stage the Moral is at present. Here in Naples it is anxiously looked for. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 66. To the Same. To a letter of Father Ferrara, which is here given, the saint adds that he has forwarded the Selva, that he has received the Latin Practices, and undertaken the printing of a new book which he will eventually send him. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Nocera, April 27, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir : I have just sent eighty-five ducats and eighty-five grains of our money to Signor Aurisicchio, with the request that he forward them to you. This amount is the proceeds of the sale of the books. 'The details are indicated below, I must tell you that it was impossible to dispose of them at the price fixed. I availed myself, therefore, of the liberty you gave our Father Rector Major, and sold the Practice for Confessors, some at eight carUni, some at seven, binding included, that is, a carlino apiece. The ascetical works were with difficulty disposed of for fifteen grains, binding included, which, I think, is a tin qui­ na, that is to say, two and a half grains a volume. Of the Manuals [for Those about to be Ordained\, 1 have not been able to sell a single copy, as no one is disposed to purchase the rubrics of Cabrino 138 Special Correspondence. [part ii. I beg to inform you that I have on hand two incomplete copies of the Practice in duodecimo, the second volume being wanting in both ; and in one of the ascetical works, some pages are missing. Besides, I have to tell you that from thé sale of these books 1 have retained nothing, but have transmitted to you the entire amount. 1 did not receive the letter which you spoke of to our Most Rev. Rector Major, in which, you say, you have explained to me how I should proceed with re­ gard to the deduction. In the meantime, I await more precise information, so that this deduction may be made with regard to the books that remain to be sold. I have sold 43 Italian Practices @ 8 carlini (deducting 43 carlini for binding),................................................................... 30.10 50 copies of the same @ 7 carlini (deducting 50 car­ lini for binding), ........................................................ 30.00 190 Visits to the Blessed Sacrament (deducting cost of binding)................................................................................. 25.75 1 have sold more copies of your edition of the Visits than of the Neapolitan edition. The latter were sold first at thirteen, then at twelve grains, and I have had many hun­ dreds of them to give away on missions and retreats. To dispose of them, 1 exchanged many for Mass intentions. The Visits are all disposed of. Only one hundred and ninety-one were handed over to me (one of which lacked some pages), and I do not know whether any others were sold at Naples. There are some more Italian Practices to be bound, but I know not how many. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble servant, Girolamo Ferrara, of the Most Holy Redeemer. Live Jesus and Mary I I, your humble servant, Alfonso de Liguori, add that I have received notice from Signor Giuseppe Agazzi, that he SER. I -1760.1 Letter 6γ. 139 has already forwarded to you, from Rome, the two small volumes of my last work : Selva for Retreats to Priests. Moreover, I inform you that I have received the one hundred and fifty Latin Instructions. I thank you once more for the fifty donated. The remaining one hundred I have commissioned Father Ferrara to have sold. Contrary to what you wrote to me in your letter, the other two smaller works were not contained in the package. I have now begun to print the book for nuns.1 When it is finished, I shall send it to you. The Italian Practice, which is being printed at Naples, has not yet been published. When it appears, I shall send a copy to you, as I promised. Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! I remain, Illustrious Sir, as ever, Your most humble servant, Alfonso, of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original in the possession of Mgr. Andrea Scot­ ton. LETTER 67. To the Same. He complains of the large number of typographical errors in the Homo Afiostolicus, thanks him for several volumes sent him, and speaks of the large work on Moral Theology, as also of the Instruction and Practice. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, May 24, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir: I have received your highly es­ teemed letter of the 3d of May. If I mistake not, I in­ formed you in my last letter that I had received one 1 I he 1 rue Spouse of Jesus Christ, or the Religious Sanctified by the Practice of the Virtues of her State." 140 Special Correspondence. [partii. hundred and fifty copies of the Latin Practice. I find the print good, but the reviser whom you have engaged, has not shown much ability, for the book is full of errors. It is clear that he did not understand the sense of certain passages and, consequently, allowed many typographical blunders to pass uncorrected. It appears to me that I have cautioned you to employ a very careful reviser for the cor­ recting of this work. I received with great pleasure your gift of several copies of the Glories of Mary, and I thank you for your kindness. I hope that by this time, you have received the Selva for Priests, for I sent it to you as soon as I finished it. Signor Agazzi wrote to me that he had already received it to for­ ward to you. With regard to the first edition of my works, it is always necessary for me to revise it myself; for, as I think I have already informed you, I change many things while the work is in press. For this reason the printers here must have patience with me when I change and recast the matter. I am never satisfied with myself. I, as well as others who desire to have it, am anxiously awaiting the appearance of the large work on Moral The­ ology which, with the additions that have been made to it, ought, it seems to me, to be a very thorough work. I shall soon send you the Instruction in the vernacular. I think it is nearly finished and will be issued in a short time. Before sending it, I intend to make a few slight additions, and whatever changes may increase its usefulness. I have given a copy of your letter to Father Ferrara. 1 le will answer it. With regard to the deduction. Father Ferrara tells me that he, too, is puzzled. But enough, he will write to you. On account of my position in the Congregation, it was impossible for me to attend to the sale of the books. This bather is better able to do so than myself. He increases SER. I.-1760.] Letter 67. the sale by exchanging your books for Mass stipends ; otherwise, few would be sold. This burden I could not take upon myself. As for the Instruction in the vernacular, it is not necessa­ ry for me to send you one of your own copies with the additions in manuscript: first, because I have already given away these additions and have no longer a copy of them ; and secondly, because the new edition of Stasi and Migliaccio will appear shortly. I say, of Stasi and Migliaccio, because Stasi told me, if I mistake not, that on learning that Migliaccio was already engaged in reprinting the Practice, he joined him. I shall, therefore, send you a copy of this edition with the additions already made and with other useful matter that I may collect in the meanwhile. I have the honor to be Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [Λ ό*.] λΛοη told me in your last letter that I should receive with the Latin Practices one hundred copies of two smaller works, but they have not yet arrived. 1 should have been particularly pleased to get that little work, How to Assist the Dying. Live Jesus and Mary. Enclosed I send you the letter of Father Ferrara, in order to save postage. Live Jesus and Mary ! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. Special Correspondence. 142 [PART 11. LETTER 68. To the Same. Various instructions.—He explains why he does not send the original manuscripts. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, June 19, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir: I reply to your letter of the 3d of May. The Latin Instructions have been bound and are now being sold. I am awaiting the arrival of the copies of the Glories of Mary; I am very thankful to you for the gift· Saturday I expect to receive the new edition of the Moral Theology in Italian, and I shall immediately set to work to enrich it with numerous additions. They have already been marked, and I shall send them to you through Signor Agazzi in the copy which he will forward to you. I should like to know how far you are advanced with the reprint of the new edition of the Moral Theology. The work that I am writing for nuns is being printed. I am not, however, sending you the original manuscripts, because, as 1 wrote to you on another occasion, I change a great many things even while the work is in press. If I did not, I should afterwards feel very much dissatisfied with my works. Would to God that we were neighbors ! I should then send you all the originals, from first to last. However, J SER. I.-1760.] I43 for the future, I shall print very little, or nothing at all, for I am old and my head is very weak. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and humble servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 69. To the Same. He speaks of the additions he has made to the Italian Practice.—Advice with regard to trte selection of a good proof-reader. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, July 2, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir: The edition of the Practice by Signori Migliaccio and Stasi has appeared, and for some days passed I have been engaged in adding to it all the little notes that I had previously prepared. They are numerous, and will prove very useful. At the beginning of the first volume, I have made on a separate sheet a very useful, though somewhat lengthy addi­ tion, which is not found in any of my books on Moral Theology. As it is written in very small characters, I beg you to entrust it to a good reviser. Again, I wish to warn you for your own advantage, not to employ frequently the services of the man that revised the Latin Practice^ because innumerable mistakes are dis­ covered from day to day. It is clear that such a reviser is not at all fit for the work. Do not tell him what I have 144 Special Correspondence. [PART II said, because what is done, is done. I am calling your attention to this point for the honor of your establishment. As soon as I have finished the additions, I shall send you the Practice through Signor Agazzi. I have already made inquiries as to when the next boat leaves for Rome. Please inform Signor Agazzi and ask him to forward the work to you as soon as he receives it. I am expecting the Glories of Mary, as you had the kindness to write to me that I should soon receive some copies. I ask you again to inform me how you are pro­ gressing with the large work on Moral. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 70. To the Same. He sends the Instruction and Practice, and repeats his instructions. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Nocera, July 10, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir: 1 am sending you the Practice about which I wrote to you a few days ago, together with all the additions that 1 have prepared. I call your special attention to the addition to page 19, first volume, where 1 have already inserted it. Please con­ fide the revision of this addition to a competent person, for, I assure you, it is important and has cost me great labor. I am speaking of the addition written on a separate sheet. The handwriting is small, and there arc marginal notes together with much Latin ; hence it will be necessary to have SER. I.-1760.] Leiter 71. I45 a very able reviser. The points treated arc very delicate and, if an incompetent person revises them, the work will contain many mistakes even in important matters. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original in the possession of Don Luigi Ferrari of Bassano. LETTER 71. To the Same. The saint informs him that he has forwarded the Instruc­ tion and Practice^ thanks him for certain favors, promises to send him the Spouse of Christ as soon as it is published, and renews his advice relative to the choice of a reviser. Most Illustrious Sir: I reply to your letter of July 12. As soon as the Moral Theology in Italian was published at Naples, I laid aside everything else to devote myself to it. After several weeks’ labor (without speaking of the notes that I had prepared beforehand), I finished the work in a satisfactory manner. I then sent it to Naples to have it forwarded to Signor Agazzi at Rome, instructing the Brother to send it by sea, as 1 did not wish to incur the risk of losing a work that had cost me so much labor, by reason of numerous additions on new points which I had made to it. I am happy to say that I received a letter the day before yesterday informing me that the book had been forwarded with special care. The Lord only knows how many complaints I shall have to hear from Signori Migliaccio and Stasi for having sent you their late edition enriched with numerous additions. But they will have to be resigned. IO 14-6 Special Correspondence. [PART II. I am pleased to learn that the large Moral Theology is approaching completion. Everybody is awaiting it impa­ tiently. Many thanks for your kindness in my regard. You may be sure that, as soon as I have finished the work destined for nuns, I shall send it to you. It will make two volumes octavo. Of all my spiritual works, I should call this one the best. It has certainly cost me the most labor, for it is, so to speak, a compendium of all that other authors have written for the sanctification of nuns. I should certainly have sent you the work in the begin­ ning, in order to have it printed, but, as I have repeatedly said, it is necessary for me to correct with my own hand all that I publish. Even while the work is in press, I correct, strike out, change, and add a number of things. I am not, however, publishing this edition at my own expense. Stasi is doing it at his. 1 received, together with your letter, the title-page of the little work : How to Assist the Dying. I am expecting the copies of which you wrote to me quite recently. Live Jesus and Mary! I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/< ·$*.] Permit me to renew my advice: when you receive from Rome the Moral Theology in Italian, entrust the revision of the proofs to a competent person, and particularly the re­ vision of the separate sheet at the beginning of the volume, as it is the most important of all the additions and contains much Latin. It is, therefore, necessary * that the reviser be competent, otherwise mistakes will be found in important points, and every mistake will bring discredit on the work. Precisely for that reason, I fear that the Latin Practice has no great sale. It is so lull of errors that I am ashamed to SER. I.-1760 ] Letter 72. U? read it. One can clearly see that the reviser did not under­ stand the matter. Live Jesus and Mary! After the original preserved in the archives of Lather General at Rome. LETTER 72. To the Same. Reasons why the additions for the new reprint of the Latin Practice {Home Apostolicus} cannot be prepared before the edition in the vernacular is published. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, August 28, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir: As soon as the Neapolitan edition of the Practice was printed, as I wrote to you, I laid aside everything and began to work for you. When I had finished all the additions, which are numerous and for the most part short, I forwarded the work to Signor Agazzi by sea. I do not know’ how long it will take to have it delivered, but I hope you will receive it from Rome by the time this letter reaches you. Signor Agazzi wrote to me last week that he had already forwarded it to you. As for making the same additions to the Latin edition, I shall try to do so, but I must have time. I am at present overwhelmed with work and am obliged, moreover, to go to Naples on business affecting the Congregation. Since you desire me to point out the errors in the Latin edition, I shall begin to mark them in one of the copies ; and, when I have inserted all the additions that are found in the Italian edition, I shall send it to you. But to do this, I shall have to wait for the new’ edition of the Italian Practice, as I did not keep a copy of the additions that I made and, perhaps, I should not remember them. If you think fit, therefore, I shall wait until the new’ edition in Italian appears. 148 Special Correspondence. [PART II. I thank you again for your kindness. I expect to receive shortly the copies of the Glories of Mary and the other little works of which you spoke to me. I am very much pleased to learn that you have almost finished the large work on Moral Theology. When it is completed, do not fail to send a large number of copies to Naples immediately, as there is great demand for it. But. as I have already told you, write to Father Ferrara, fqr he has charge of the sale of the books. Father Ferrara has had the fever for several days. I do not think that he sold many of your books this summer. The time of the retreats in our houses is the only favorable opportunity for their sale, and these exercises are given only in the winter. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I remain Your very devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 73. To Signor Giambattista Remondini, in Venice. He promises to send him for publication the Homo Apostations, and the True Spouse of Christ. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Naples, October 4, 1760. Most Illustrious Sir: I am rejoiced to hear that you have received the Italian Practice together with the additions accompanying it. I have suggested to Father Ferrara to correct all the mistakes in the Latin edition. In this corrected copy I shall insert the additions of the Italian edition together with some others I have marked down; and then, as soon as SER. I.-1760.] Letter γj. 149 your edition makes its appearance, 1 shall send you the Latin one. It is true, I am continually besieged with demands for the large Practice} Please send copies of it, not only to Father Ferrara, but also to the booksellers. Outside of Naples, there is no opportunity for us to sell them, except at retreats; and as for Naples, the booksellers are the proper persons to dispose of them. I shall recommend to Father Ferrara to further, as much as possible, the sale of your books ; but, as I mentioned in a previous letter, we cannot sell them in summer, as it is not the season for retreats. I assure you, as soon as the work destined for nuns is printed, I shall send you a copy. And, since Stasi wishes to publish the first part, which I have now almost completed (on account of the numerous demands for it here in Naples by religious, he desires to publish the first part without waiting for the second), as soon as it makes its appearance, I shall send it to you through Signor Agazzi. Please notify him of this beforehand. Do not forget to send me in your next shipment of books those smaller works of which you wrote to me. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 1 The saint here alludes to the Italian Practice of which mention has so often been made. lie calls this the large Practice to distin­ guish it from another published by him, entitled: “Practice of the Confessor to aid him in the Exercise of his Ministry,’’ which was translated into Latin under the title: “Praxis confessarii ad bene excipiendas confessiones.’’ 10* 150 Special Correspondence, letter 1 part π 74. To the Same. lie speaks of the sale of the books, of the favor with which the Instruction and Practice is received, and of the work for nuns, concluding with a description of the sort of printers there were at that time in Naples. Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Teresa! NoCERA, [January] 16, 1761. Most Illustrious Sir: I have received your esteemed let­ ter announcing the despatch of the books, and I thank you most heartily for the munificent present you have had the kindness to make me. I have written to the Brother at Naples to go to the custom-house on the day the books arrive from Manfredo* ma, and I have also told Father Ferrara to attend to the sale. He assured me that he would use all possible dili­ gence, but that we must wait till there is a demand for them; for, in truth, we have no other opportunity of selling them here than during the time of the retreats. I le says,* also, that he has already mentioned this to you in a recent letter. At present, I am arranging together many important additions for the Latin Practice; but I am still waiting for the publication of the Practice in the vernacular, which I lately sent you. I shall then add to the Latin addition both sets of notes in one of the printed copies, which I shall afterwards send to you. W ere a hundred thousand copies of this Practice printed, they would all be sold. As soon as the second volume of the work for nuns of Chrisf] appears, I shall send it to you. Let me know whether you have received the first, for, if it has been lost, I shall send you another copy. Ser. 1.-1761.] Letter 74. 151 I am writing letters regularly to Signor Agazzi. But he seldom gives me any information as to the receipt oi my books. I am sorry that Signor Stasi printed but a lew folios of the second volume and then abandoned the work for lack of funds. Oh, that we were nearer to each other that I might do the correcting ! These printers of ours are nothing else than a set of beggars. Just now they have printed my works on common waste paper and are selling them for nothing. When you write to Father Mansi, remember me most kindly to that learned Father. I am delighted that his Epitome} taken from the works of Benedict XIV., accom­ panies my Moral. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, , Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [P. X] I send you the enclosed sheet, which contains another short, but important note to be added to the latest Italian Practice, printed at Naples, of which I sent you a copy. I beg you to insert it promptly in the place indi­ cated. I beg you not to delay printing the above-mentioned Practice, which contains very important additions not found in any edition hitherto published. I again declare that, if millions of copies of this work be printed, millions of copies will be sold. At this place there 1 The celebrated Father Giovanni Domenico Mansi, of the Con­ gregation of the Mother of God, created Archbishop of Lucca, in 1764, among other learned works, had written an “ Epitome doctrinæ moralis et canonicæ ex operibus Benedicti XIV. depromptae,” (Epitome of Moral and Canonical Teaching taken from the Works of Benedict XIV.), which was inserted as an appendix to the fourth edition of the Moral Theology of St. Alphonsus. It is of this work that the saint here speaks with such satisfaction. 152 Special Correspondence. [part n. is a continual demand for it, and I think it is the same elsewhere. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 75. To the Same. He says that, accompanying the second volume of the work for nuns, he is sending two other very useful treatises. He inquires about the printing of the Instruction and Practice, tells the publisher of the great demand for it, and explains to him with what restrictions in his favor he has given his consent to the printers at Naples to make use of the copy­ right. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera, May 7, 1761. Most Illustrious Sir: Only last week did I receive your books from Manfredonia, and again I most heartily thank you. I have entrusted the sale of them to Father Ferrara. Last week, also, the second volume of the Spouse of Christ appeared, but I have yet to receive it from the publisher, Signor Stasi. On the receipt of this work I shall transmit it to you without delay through Signor Agazzi at Rome, who, however, has not sent me a word of news concerning the first volume that I sent him. Still I hope he has already forwarded it to you. Let me know whether you have received it, and write again to Signor Agazzi; for it seems to me he is quite listless, and even careless, in despatching the books that I send him. Accompanying the second volume of the Spouse of Christ, 1 shall send you two other very useful treatises, which I have lately composed. Tell me whether the Practice, or Instruction in the ver- SER 1.-1761.] Letter 76. nacular, which I sent you together with some additions, has been reprinted. At this place there is a constant sale of the work, and I think this is the case, also, in other localities. They have begun to sell the Latin Practice, for which I have some short, but useful additions ready. I must first, however, have a copy of the new Italian edition of the Practice aug­ mented by the notes of which I have spoken. I can, then, join together both sets of notes. The booksellers in Naples wished to have my consent to enable them to acquire the copyright, and to have others prohibited from printing my works or from receiving them from abroad. I consented to having my works printed, but as to not admitting those printed abroad, I absolutely refused, and this on account of the editions you publish. This attention will, 1 trust, be pleasing to you. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. letter 76. To the Same. He sends him the second volume of the True Spouse of sus Christ, lie makes inquiries as to the progress of the Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, May 26, 1761. Most Illustrious Sir : The second volume of the Spouse of Christ has appeared, and I have already sent it to you through Signor Giuseppe Agazzi, your correspondent at U. 154 Special Correspondence, [part 11. Rome. Write to him immediately and tell him to forward it to you. I mention this, because he rarely writes to me. Let me know whether you received the first volume. In case it has gone astray, I shall send you another copy. Accompanying the second volume, you will receive two other very useful little works which I have recently com­ posed. Let me know how far advanced you are with the printing of the Italian Practice, enriched by the notes J sent you. I wish to make use of the additions in this work for the Latin edition, and to them I shall join many other short notes which I have ready. As regards the Italian Instructions already published, there is a constant sale of them here. I have received the books you presented to me, and the others which are to be sold, I have given to Father Ferra­ ra. Once more, I return you thanks. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. .After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. Letter γγ. SER. I.-1761.] LETTER 77. To the Same. He again alludes to the despatch of the two volumes of the Spouse of Christ, congratulates himself that the printing of the Italian Practice is completed, asks the publisher whether he intends to reprint the Latin Practice, assuring him that his moral works fall under no prohibition, and, lastly, proposes the printing of a complete edition of his ascetical works. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, June 4, 1761. Most Illustrious Sir: I write to you once more, although I have already written you two letters, and have sent you, through Signor Agazzi, the second volume of the Spouse of * Christ. In the preceding letters, I informed you that I received from Manfredonia all the books of which you had spoken to me. Again, I return thanks. As for Father Ferrara, I shall let him read your letter, and he will give you an account of the sale. I am very glad that the printing of the Practice is finished. I rej’oice, too, that you have published it in three volumes, for every one desires to have it in that form. I wrote to the Brother in Naples to send you, together with the Spouse of Christ, two other little works recently composed by me. They are quite small, but very useful. Yes, you may rest assured, if I ever publish other works, I shall straightway send them to you. But, my dear friend, you must bear in mind that I am an old man and my head is deserting me. I am expecting death from day to day. —■ 156 Special Correspondence. [part 11. I am pleased that you sent me a copy of the new edition of the Practice, for I intend to take the notes it contains and add them to the Latin edition, together with some other small additions which I have prepared. I shall then send you the Latin copy with all mistakes corrected. I have received from Naples a list of the condemned prop­ ositions1 which have caused Signor Stasi to fear that my moral works have been prohibited. But I have already written to him, as I now do to you, that his fear is un­ founded. My works are not at all prohibited, if they were, nearly all the books of the Probabilists, among whom I am one of the most rigid, would have to be forbidden. I add here that many persons have told me that it would be a good thing if all my spiritual works were published together in one complete edition. But I have not the means to incur the expense. Should this project meet your approbation, let me know, and I shall send you all my spiritual works that you have not yet received. All together they would make two volumes in quarto, or, perhaps, even • a single volume, though a very bulky one. I have mentioned this last in passing. However, I know 1 In the year 1760, the parish priest of Avisio, in the diocese of Trent, published a pamphlet of eleven theses on Probabilism which was condemned on January 3 of the following year, by the bishop of the diocese, and on February 26 by the Tribunal of the Sacred Office. This led some to fear that the teaching of our holy Doctor was included in the same condemnation, but it was not so. Father Vincenzo Patuzzi published somewhat later, under the pseudonym of Adelfo Dositeo, a book, entitled: “The Cause of Probabilism examined by Mgr. de Liguori and again convicted of Falsity.” In this work he wished to maintain that the decree, issued by the Holy Office, condemned he following proposition of the saint: licet sequi Opinion cm aque probabilem pro libertate, relicta ctque probabili pro leçe. But the holy Doctor splendidly refuted this rash assertion in his “Apology in Defence of the Dissertation (published in 1762) on the Moderate Use of Probabilism, against the Attacks of a Very Rever­ end Professor who styles himself Adelfo Dositeo.” SER. I -1761.] Letter γγ. for a fact that very many would like to have such an edition. From the closing words of your letter I learn that you have not yet received the first volume of the Spouse of Christ which I sent you some six or eight months ago. It was, therefore, hardly worth while to send you, as I informed you above, the second volume only. But it matters little. This very evening I shall write to the Brother in Naples to send you once more the first and second volumes, together with my two latest works. Do write to Signor Agazzi to forward them to you as soon as received. Do this, for I fear that gentleman is rather careless in sending you my works. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/< S.] Father Ferrara will write to you next week. I beg you to let me know whether you still hold to your intention of reprinting the Latin Practice. In case you do, I shall begin to insert in the work all the necessary addi­ tions, and finish the correction of the errors it contains from beginning to end. If, however, you have given up your intention of reprinting, I shall spare myself that labor, which, 1 assure you, would be no light one. Please write to me without delay about this matter. Live Jesus and Mary ! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 1*3 Special Correspondence, letter [part il 78. To the Same. A repetition of some things contained in the preceding letter. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera, June 5, 1761. Most Illustrious Sir: I sent you the second volume of the Spouse of Christ, but having learned from your last letter that you had not yet received the first volume (which, very likely, has been lost), I now send you the entire work, together with two others, both my own, which are quite small, though very useful. Yes, we have received the books sent us in the consign­ ment of last December, bather Ferrara is acquainted with everything. He will write to you later, as he is just now absent from home. 1 thank you once more for your kind­ ness. By this time you have certainly received a longer letter which 1 wrote to you lately. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary ! 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [/’. 5.] I ask you again to inform me whether you still adhere to your intention of reprinting the Latin instruction. If not, I shall spare myself the immense labor required to finish correcting all the mistakes in the work, and to arrange all the necessary additions. Please advise me without delay of your intention in the matter. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. SER. 1.-1761.) Letter γφ. I59 LETTER 79. He asks for a copy of the Italian Practice, so as to be able to prepare the additions for a new edition of the Latin Practice, e Jesus and Mary ! Nocera, June 8. Most Illustrious Sir: 1 reply to your letter of last Octoher, received at this late date, because you sent it directed to Naples. I pray you always to direct your letters to Nocera. Father Ferrara is absent from home at present, but expect him shortly, On his arrival, I shall tell him to write to you. J In my last letter, 1 asked you to inform me whether you wished me to begin immediately to arrange the Latin Instraction. Your letter proves to me that such is your desire. I shall, therefore, set to work at once, to finish the correction of mistakes and the insertion of all the adclitio'ns I have prepared. To make this Latin edition a perfect one, I must have a copy of the Italian Instruction which, you tell me in your last letter, you have recently published. See that one copy, at least, of this edition be forwarded to me as soon as possible. According to the usual run, it would arrive too late, I think, if sent via Manfredonia. It seems to me you could send it more expeditiously via Rome through our friend, Signor Agazzi. You might write to him to give the book to his brother, one of the Pious Workers at Rome, and he could forward it immediately to the Superior ot the Pious W orkers at Naples for me. This Superior would see that it reached me without delay. ι6ο Special Correspondence. [PART II. I again inform you that I received all the books sent via Manfredonia last December. As you did not receive the first volume of the Spouse of Christ (which was probably lost on the way), I have sent you through Signor Agazzi a copy of the entire work. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome·. LETTER So. To the Same. Having spoken of the despatch of some books, of a mistake that occurred in the sending of a letter, and of matters pertaining to the printing of the Latin Practice, he tells him of the opinion pronounced by the Sovereign Pontiff, Bene­ dict XIV., concerning his teaching on the subject of Probabilism. He alludes to the publishing of a complete edition of his ascetical works. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocf.ra, July 13, 1761. ) ost Illustrious Sir: I have received three letters from you, all at the same time. Do not say that 1 pay little attention to your affairs. The first \ ohime of the Spouse of Christ had hardly been printed, when 1 sent it to you; but seeing that after so many months you had not received it, I joined another copy to the second volume and forwarded both to you together with two other newly-composed works, through Signor Agazzi. 1 sent them to the latter not by the seamen, in whom 1 cannot any longer place much confidence, but by one of the Pious W orkers who was going to Rome. I Letter So. hope that by this time you have received them, Let me be informed of what Signor Agazzi writes you. I am writing to him myself to-day, to learn whether received the books from the Father above-mentioned ; lor should it happen that they, too, go astray, I shall send you other copies. The letter to which you refer was sent to Signor Agazzi. but by some mistake it bore your address. In all probabili­ ty, then, you will receive the other letter bearing the address of Agazzi. Do not hesitate to open it, as it is the one destined for you. Father Ferrara has been here, and 1 think he has written to you. At present, he is absent from home taking the baths at Barile. As soon as he returns, I shall give him vour letter. · I thank you for the fifty copies of the Italian Practice; 1 am waiting for the other books of which you spoke. Every day we sell many copies of the Practice^ as it is a very cheap work and is recognized as being a most useful one, also; indeed, with little trouble much knowledge can be gained from it. As regards the Latin Instruction^ 1 have been working at it for some months past, not myself alone, but others with me, rectifying the quotations and correcting the many errors it contains. I am, also, inserting the new additions, all very useful, which I had prepared. I am now near the end of my work. In two or three weeks it will probably be completed, and I shall send it to you through Signor Agazzi, not without the fear that it may eventually be lost, as happened to the first volume of the Spouse of Christ: however, I have no other way more secure than this. You will notice in particular at the beginning of the work, a rather lengthy note that cost me much labor. As to the propositions you mention, you must know thnt in manv opinions, I am considered and called J 162 Special Correspondence. [part 11, Rigorist by the Probabilists. In truth, I cannot bring my­ self to approve of their opinions on these points, and I have censured as lax many opinions held by the Jesuits. For the rest, I cannot induce myself to embrace the extreme Rigorism of certain modern writers who seek to lead souls to despair. The writer on Moral Theology who holds to the golden mean, must necessarily encounter contradiction. Benedict XIV., however, in the letter of eulogy that he wrote me, declared that my work would give universal satisfaction; and from another quarter, I learned that the Moly Father commended me for being so fair in my opinions. I thank you for the work Exposition of Doctrine, etc., which you tell me you sent, but I should like to know whether the corrections of Father Patuzzi were made before or after the prohibition of Rome.1 Since you propose publishing a complete edition of my 1 Of this book we read the following in the “ Dizionario di opere anonime e pseudonime di Melzi” (Melzi’s Dictionary of Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works): ‘“Exposition of Christian Doctrine,’ a work of Francesco Filippo Mezenguy, translated into Italian by Canon Domenico Cantagalli, Rector of the Collegio Bandinelli in Rome, at the instigation of Mons. Battari and Cardinal Passionei, and printed at Naples, in 1759. h was condemned by a Brief of Clement XIII., subscribed by this same Cardinal Passionei, then Secretary for Briefs. Father Patuzzi, a Dominican, corrected it, and changed it in such a manner that it might be regarded as with­ drawn from the censures of Rome. These censures had been com­ municated to Father Patuzzi by a fellow-religious, Father Ricchini. The work as corrected was printed at Venice, in 1761, and in 1788.” Father Patuzzi, whose name often occurs in the correspondence of St. Alphonsus, was born in the year 1700. In 1717, he entered the Order of St. Dominic. Hts remarkable talent soon showed itself, and he was named Professor of Philosophy, and afterwards of Theology at Venice. An ardent defender of Probabiliorism. he could not fail to have St. Alphonsus for an adversary. The holy Doctor, however, refuted him with as much moderation as clearness. He died at Vicenza, June 26. 1769. SER. I.-1761.] Letter 81. works, those on Moral excepted, write and tell me when you intend to commence it. Once clear on this point, I should set to work to revise all my works, many emendations being necessary. I mention this, because some time will be needed for a general revision; besides, I am old and in feeble health, and almost every year I am afflicted with a mortal sickness. I daily expect death. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [A S.] I have also received the catalogue of printed works. I shall give it to read to all whom I meet. Live Jesus and Mary ! As it has become known that the Latin Instruction is to be reprinted, I have already received a number of orders for it. I recommend you henceforth to have the quotations verified by two proof-readers working in concert. LETTER 8l. To the Same. He speaks of the despatch of the different books, among others the Latin Practice {Homo Apostolicus) with the addi­ tions destined for it, and makes some special recommenda­ tions concerning the work. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, July 20, 1761. Most Illustrious Sir: As mentioned in a previous letter I had already forwarded the Spouse of Christ to you by one of the Pious Workers via Naples; but for greater security and to let you see more clearly my attention 164 Special Correspondence. [PART II to your interests, I now send you another copy of both volumes of the work, together with in y two latest produc­ tions: The Mass Hurriedly Said? and The Method of Preaching* little pamphlets which have been very well received at Naples. I send you, also, two other books, a little larger in size, as you will perceive: the one a treatise on Prayer, the other a collection of Meditations and Reflections? The latter work is already embodied in the Spouse of Christ toward the end of the second volume; nevertheless as it is a work very useful for everybody, the secular as well as the ecclesiastic, I have had it printed separately, adding thereto some few points. The treatise on Prayer does not differ from the larger work on the same subject, which I sent you some time ago; but this time I have printed the first part only, as the second part is theological, and, consequently, not of general utility. The present little work, however, is useful for every class of people. 1 send you, also, the Latin Instruction which, as I wrote you some time since, has cost me months of labor, as well on account of the innumerable corrections that had to be made, as on account of the many valuable additions I have inserted. These additions are, for the most part, quite short; but there are a few rather long, since, by reason of the matter treated, I could not cut them down any more. The longest you will find at the beginning. It cost me more labor than the others, and the corrector will have to take special pains in revising it. 1 have had it copied twice; but, for all that, it still con1 " t he Mass and the Office that are Hurriedly Said.” - ·· \ l etter to a Religious on the Manner of Preaching of the Apollo, « uh Simplicity and Avoiding a Too Lofty and Florid Style." ’* ·· Meditation* for a Private Retreat of Eight Days.” ♦ · · SER. I.-1761 ] Letter 81. tains many erasures and references. When, therefore, the proof-reader revises the printed sheet, he must keep the original manuscript before him, or else many mistakes will creep in. It will be specially necessary to have the quotations com­ pared by two persons at the same time, the one reading, the other verifying. If this is not done, many quotations will be mutilated, to the disgust of the reader and the injury of the book. Arou will notice that the book, from much handling and turning of leaves, has become pretty well battered. As soon as you receive it, please write and inform me of the fact. As regards the work for nuns, if that should be lost, it would matter little, as I would send you a fresh copy. But it is only with extreme repugnance that I should begin anew the labor I have had with this Latin Instruction. I have already given orders to those at Naples to be on the watch for the arrival from Manfredonia of the latest copies of the Italian Practice, of which you recently wrote to me. I have the honor to be. [ The signature of the saint is wanting.'} [A S,] I am sending you the books in question by way of Castellamare. I hope they will arrive safe. The main thing is that Signor Agazzi forward them to you iront Rome as soon as possible. I beg you to write to him, that he may not forget to send them to you. Live Jesus and Mary ! The corrector should be a person versed in Moral The­ ology, or else it will be impossible for him to make the corrections properly. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. JBb I 166 Special Correspondence. letter (part π. 82. To the Same. He sends him two additions to be introduced into the Homo Apostolicus, and gives some details as to how this is to be done. He again speaks of sending the work for nuns, and tells him what he will do to make the complete edition of his works a perfect one. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Nocera, September 5, 1761. Most Illustrious Sir: From what I learn from Rome, I trust that by this time you have received the Latin Instruction, or, at least, that you will shortly receive it. I fancied it would be an easy task to insert the notes I had prepared; but two months of hard labor have disabused me of that idea. Moreover, having had occasion to read certain teaching, 1 have found it necessary to change entirely one addition inserted in the work, which is not altogether correct, and substitute this other which I send Jvou—an addition 1 that has cost me three more weeks of continual labor. This latter addition is much shorter. Its insertion will necessitate the elimination of two notes that arc in the first volume, one at page 30, the other at page 96. On the latter page you will find a very long addition, which must now he entirely J omitted. 1 beg you carefully to preserve the present letter, that it may be attentively studied by the compositor and reviser while the book is printing. They will bear in mind the fol­ lowing remarks : 1 This addition which, toward the end of the letter, the saint c ills the lar^, , C, respectively. The other quotations will then follow in order according to the letters in the said paragraph begin­ ning : Prceterea ad hoc, on page 30, first column. I send you another little note also referring to the first volume, page 96. It would be well to have these notes 1 168 Special Correspondence. [PART II attached to their respective places, so that they may not be lost. I hope you have received the work for nuns, of which I have sent you two sets, in order that one, at least, might reach you without delay. These I forwarded to you to­ gether with some of my smaller works. The day before yesterday 1 received news from Rome that my package had arrived there. For pity’s sake, do not say any more that I pay little attention to your affairs. Distance is the cause of most of the delays. Two days ago, I had a letter from Signor Don Matteo I Crnandez, announcing to me that the bundle containing the Italian /'radices had arrived at Manfredonia. I have accordingly written to him to have them forwarded to Naples. Father Ferrara will himself write to you. Alter writing the foregoing, I got your letter, from which 1 learn that you have received the first volume only of the work for nuns. By this time, I trust, you have the second also, for 1 sent you two copies of the complete work, one some time ago, the other with the Homo ApoAolicus and its additions, which I only recently despatched to you through Signor Agazzi. When vou receive the Homo Apostolicus, and, likewise, when vou get this letter, please inform me immediately, for the long addition, which I now enclose, has cost me about three weeks’ labor. For this reason I have had several copies of it made that, in case you do not receive this lettei. 1 shall be able to send y ou another copy of the addi­ tion. \> soon as I became aware of your intention to issue a complete edition of all my works, the Moral excepted, I began immediately to revise them, and I have now almost finished two. 1 shall revise every one of them, little bv SER. I.-1761.] 169 Letter 83. little and, when finished, I shall send them all to you. This revision has become necessary, for I notice that many mistakes have slipped into the various editions. In order, therefore, that this edition may be a perfect one, I wish to examine the books, one by one, page by page. I shall notify you of the order in which they are to be printed, so that all confusion may be avoided, and that things already found in one work may not be repeated in another. I have spoken to Father Ferrara. He will write to you. Signor Don Matteo Ernandez wrote to me only a few days ago that the new Practices have arrived at Manfredonia. I expect them shortly. I remain, Illustrious Sir, \four most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso Liguori, de of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 83. To the Same. He sends him a printed half-folio for the correction of some mistakes in the edition of the instruction and Practice. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, November 8, 1761. Most Illustrious Sir: For a long time I have been ex­ pecting some news from you, as 1 am especially desirous to know whether, besides the first volume of the work for nuns, you have received the second also. I did, indeed, get a letter informing me that the first volume had come to hand ; but whether you got the complete work that I sent you on two different occasions through Signor Agazzi, 1 have as yet been unable to ascertain. I 170 Special Correspondence. [PART II. I earnestly request you to inform me whether you re­ ceived the Latin Instruction, the arrangement of which cost me considerable labor. I have still some copies remaining, should the original, which I sent you, be lost. 1 wrote to you that I had received the copies of the last edition of the Italian Instruction. It is, without dispute, the finest yet published. Please send some copies to Father Ferrara, tor he can easily dispose of them. Speaking of this latest edition, I have remarked inexact­ ness in one question of the first volume. Certain passages are not arranged in their proper places, and the points that follow are not well connected with the preceding. I have, therefore, had printed here in Naples, for folio /. the half­ folio which I send enclosed. I have had a number of copies printed, both for the copies you have already sent me and for those you will send in the future. I send you this half-folio, as I think it would be a very good thing for you also, to have it printed and inserted in the middle of folio /. of the first volume, page 247, as you will see it marked. The expense connected with it is but a trifle. On the other hand, the question treated is a well-known one nowa­ days, and, in accordance with certain researches I have made, should be as I have now arranged it, and not as it stood hitherto. Remark, moreover, it must be inserted in the middle of the folio, omitting what stands there at present. Father Ferrara is not at home, but, in all probability, he will write to you soon. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [A ό'.] I am engaged in revising my ascetical works for Letter 84. the complete edition, as you have advised me. Live Jesus After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 84. To the Same. He complains that he has received no answer for a long time, and earnestly begs him to write. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Most Illustrious Sir: For some months I have been awaiting a letter from you and, to my great astonishment. I see none forthcoming. I know not how to account for this silence. Fearful that some misfortune had happened you, I wrote to Signor Aurisicchio for information. He has sent me word that I need not fear, for he is constantly receiving letters from you. 1 was especially desirous to learn whether you had re­ ceived the Latin Instruction with my notes (which have cost me no little labor), and the two volumes of the work for nuns. 1 have, nevertheless, been in anxious suspense all these months, without so much as one line from you. Some time ago, your letter of August, il 1 mistake not, informed me that you bad received the first volume of the work for nuns. Since then I have been unable to get further information. Recently, that is, about a month ago, I sent you a half­ folio which I have had inserted in your edition of the Italian Practice. It treats of a very important question, and on that account I have had it inserted in all the copies you latelyJ sent me. 1 would have sent you another one of those sheets, but as you have not written for so long, 1 deferred 1/2 Special Correspondence, [partii. I earnestly beseech you to let me know, at least, whether you have received the Latin Instruction, and the entire work tor nuns, of which I sent you two sets to insure a safe arrival. I shall send this letter to the above-mentioned Signor Aurisicchio that it may reach you safe. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 85. To the Same. He asks him to defer the printing of the Homo Apostolicus, and annoyed at not receiving any answer to his letters, and suspecting some misunderstanding, he demands the reason of his silence. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Nocera, [January] iS, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: I would write many things to you, especially concerning the Latin Instruction which I sent you for republication: but I refrain from doing so, because 1 see that, notwithstanding my many letters, you will neither answer nor listen to me. I have not even been able to find out whether you received from Rome the Instruction in question, or the work for nuns. I cannot divine the cause of your silence. 1 shall say no more at present. If the said Instruction has not yet been reprinted, I beg you to delay the work; but, in case the printing has been begun, let me know how far it is advanced, as I have a number of emendations which, after mature consideration, I have thought fit to introduce into the work. SER. I -1762.I Letter 86. This is a matter that concerns not only my honor, but also your own interest; for this latest edition, so impatiently desired by many, ought to be faultless. Write, at least, to Father Ferrara or to Signor Aurisicchio why you do not answer my letters, a thing that has caused me much pain. Indeed, 1 suspect that some false­ hood has been written about my conduct toward you. If you would only investigate the matter, I am confident it would be quickly cleared up. I repeat, you can, at least, write to Father Ferrara, who desires you to send him some more copies of the Prepara­ tion for Death. Those he has are nearly all sold. I place myself altogether at your service and declare my­ self, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, ill Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the edition published at Modena, February 1876, on the occasion of the Mai vezzi-Hercolani nuptials. To the Same. I The saint gives vent to his joy at having, at last, received an answer. He gives some recommendations relative to the printing of the Homo Apostolicus and other works, and clearly expresses his mind with regard to the portrait re­ quested. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, [January] 21, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: Gloria Patri! After so many months waiting I have received through Signor Aurisicchio your letter of the 9th inst., enclosing a copy of another of October 10, which did not reach me till then. As I stated in my previous letter, your long silence was 174 Special Correspondence, [part π a source of great pain to me. I feared you had been led to believe, though without foundation, that I was guilty of ingratitude towards you. I think I now know the cause of my not receiving your letters. It was probably the work of a certain thief who is going around everywhere asking for alms in my name, and who, with this end in view, takes from the post-office all letters addressed to me.1 I have thought of giving a small sum of money to the postmaster to have my letters excluded from the list. Continue, however, to employ the usual address: Noccra via Naples. I am rejoiced to learn that you have received the work for nuns (which, I perceive from your letter, you have printed in all possible haste), as also the Latin Instruction. I should be sorry, however, had you · already begun to print the latter work, as after its departure I determined on making several remarks which will necessitate a few addi­ tions. Whether you have begun or not, I beg you to defer the printing, for next week I shall send you a copy of the additions. They are not many, but their importance is considerable. For one or the other, even should you have finished the printing, it will be necessary to make an ap­ pendix, in which you could place also the additions belong­ ing to passages already printed. You must not be surprised at this constant changing. For well nigh forty years I have been engaged in the study of Moral Theology, and I am always finding something new. I have no time at present to have these additions copied and sent to you. I shall forward them next week. If you have not yet begun to print the Latin Instruction. I would ask you to have it published in small volumes and 1 See vol. General Correspondence, page 564. Letter 86. in the same type as the last edition of the Italian Practice. In this shape, it will best please me and others also. But do as you think fit. With regard to the complete edition of my ascetical works, I have been working steadily for two months, arranging, correcting, expunging, and inserting many things. I think the whole will make a work most accept­ able to all, the subjects treated being as varied as they are useful and appropriate. For some time past I have been employed chiefly in disposing the works in their proper order, together with their general and particular indexes. They are now all arranged, each in its respective place. Let me know at what date it will be convenient for von to begin the printing, and I shall not fail to send them to you without delay through Signor Agazzi. Please acquaint him of it beforehand. I should prefer, however, to wait till finer weather sets in, lest the books, together with the manuscripts they contain, be destroyed by the rains. Do you wish me to send you, also, the Spouse of Christ and the Retreat for Priests? But you already have these works and there are no important additions to be made to them. By keeping them here, we should save the expense of transportation. In your letter to me you say: Will you please favor me with your portrait? Send the sketch of about the size of a folio page. Of the portrait, there can be no question. It would dis­ honor the work, which is an ascetical one, did the people see that its author had his portrait taken during his lifetime. When 1 am dead, they may do with my body whatever they please. Ί he best thing would be to bury me in some dunghill, as 1 deserve; but as long as I live I desiie that my name be not even mentioned. As to the woiks themJ i J 1*1 Specici l Correspon den ce. [PART II selves, I affixed my name to them simply to excite the curiosity of people to read them ; otherwise, I should have had them printed anonymously. But let us come to the other part of the passage, which reads Send me the sketch of about the size of a folio page. I beg of you, not to print the work in large folio. I am certain that of such an edition few copies will be sold. 1 entreat you to publish it either in small volumes, or at least, in quarto. According to the calculation I have made, and the order in which I have arranged the work, there should be three quarto volumes of average size. Let me add : use good paper and advance the price a little. Every one is willing to pay two or three carlini more to have the work printed, like the Italian Practice, on good paper. Once more, I beg of you not to think of printing it in folio, a size most unhandy for the reader. Some were quite angry with me for having the Moral Theology printed in folio rather than in quarto. 1 can only answer that the fault was not mine. When, however, there is question of ascetical works, which people read so frequently, they must necessarily be published cither in small volumes or in quarto. I remain, Illustrious Sir. [ The signature of the saint is wanting.'] [/’. .S'.] At the end oi the third volume I have placed the Lives of two of our companions,1 who died in the odor of sanctity. I hey arc quite short, making little more than a folio. They treat oi heroic virtue, not of things that arc mere gossip. I send them to you herewith. I should now like to make an inquiry. I have just finished a I likewise of small compass, of another 1 The Ven < ur/io. l-ather Gennaro Sarnelli. and the lay-brother Vito Letter 86. SER > -1762 1 Father,1 recently deceased. It is a much finer one than the two others, and will fill only two folios. I am a man of few words, and I write only facts that can be substantiated. I wish to learn whether yon would have me send it to you. If you do not wish it, I shall have it printed here in Naples, and not go to the trouble of having it copied. You say, also, in your letter: I shaft insert the long note which Ifound on the sheet you sent me, September 5. λζοιι refer, I presume, to the Latin sheet ; but I sent you another one besides, which I had printed for insertion in the Italian Practice. 1 have had it inserted in all the copies I have here. I should like to know whether you have received this latter sheet, and it would afford me much pleasure if you would have it printed and inserted in all the copies of the last edition of the Practice that you have on hand, as the subject treated in it is, like that of the Latin note, a very important one. I am working with all possible haste to be able to send you the additions for the Latin Instruction at the beginning of next week, as I promised. I remain, etc. [ The signature of the saint is again wanting.} After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 1 Father Paolo Cafaro i2 •7« Special Correspondence. [PART II LETTER 87. To the Same. He sends the publisher the additions destined for the Homo Afloslolicus, telling him how to insert them. He also men­ tions when he will send his ascetical writings. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Nocera, [January] 26, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: Last week I wrote that I would send you during the present week, some very important additions for the Homo Apostolicus. If, perchance, the work is already printed, I beg you to have the pages which I now send you, inserted at the end of the book. Indicate the passages herein marked, also the places to which they belong. It might be done in this wise : ADDENDA. For example:—Addendum in iomo i. tract, ii. num. 58, p. 22. “ Possunt etiam Episcopi.” All the notes beginning with the opening of a paragraph might be indicated in this manner. Some, however, begin in the middle of paragraphs already printed. With these you may proceed thus: Place at the beginning of the paragraph what is already printed and is to remain in the number in question ; then add the note belonging to the paragraph. The reviser will know how to arrange it. I would especially urge on you not to forget to insert the notes on the small slips, as they contain matters of great importance. I repeat here what I wrote in my last letter, you SER. I.-1762.] Leiter 87. 1 79 must not be surprised that, after having spent so much time in arranging the Latin Instruction, I have forgotten to insert in it the notes I now send. Moral Theology is an abyss whose depth we may never sound. I am constantly reading, and finding out something new. I pass over many things, but am accustomed to note those of great import­ ance. I should have sent you these additions long since, but receiving no letters from you for so many months, I refrained from doing so, not knowing what had happened. Encouraged by your letter of last week, in which you signi­ fied your intention of printing the Homo Apostolicus, I now send them. My purpose in doing so, is, to have the new edition as complete as possible. In another letter, the receipt of which, as well as of the present, 1 beseech you to inform me of, I wrote to you more at length, and 1 now repeat that 1 have all the ascet­ ical works collected and arranged, with their indexes, in the order in which they are to be printed. I have been occupied for many months with this arranging, correcting, supplementing, and expunging. Let me know when you desire me to forward them to you through Signor Agazzi, whom 1 beg you to advise before­ hand of these books I have to send him. For my part, I should prefer to wait for better weather, that the books might not run the risk of an accident on the way. Such an event would grieve me very much, because of the labor they cost me. I again ask you, to publish, at all hazards, this collection of my ascetical works in quarto, and not in folio. If it appears in folio, I can assure you, you will sell very few copies. i So Special Correspondence. [hart n. Send us some more copies of the Preparation for Death, as those you sent are nearly all exhausted. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 88. To the Same. He refers again to the additions sent to the publisher, also to the Homo Apostolicusy insisting on the appointment of a pains-taking compositor, and a good reviser. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Nocera, February 19, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: I have received your favor of the 4th instant. This is the second from you during the many months I have been deprived of your correspondence, having received only one letter through Aurisicchio. 1 am highly delighted that the Latin Instruction has not yet been sent to press; otherwise, it would have been necessary, either to insert little slips or to place at the end of the work the additions I am now sending you. They are all very important, being corrections made requisite by information acquired later. 1 trust that, by this time, you have received the letter in which I forwarded to you several additions. In them, as also in those 1 am sending to-day, 1 have endeavored to designate clearly the places to which these notes belong, also the manner of their insertion, since in some places a small portion of the printed matter is to be omitted. It has Ser. 1.-1762.] Letter 88. 181 been my endeavor to point ont everything as distinctly as possible. It will, however, be necessary to employ for the work a skilful compositor, one who does not confound things, and an attentive reviser, who can examine whether any errors have been committed. If the person chosen should be the same, which God forbid, that did the proof-reading of the Latin Instruction, there will certainly be another deluge of errors. But I trust, as you have assured me, it will not be the same person. Please let me know whether you have received all the notes that I forwarded to you in three letters and at three different times ; meanwhile I beg you to defer the printing, that the work may be made a thorough one. Send your letters to me directly to Nocera, that is: No­ cera via Naples, because, when they come through Signor Aurisicchio, they are always rather late. Be convinced of the fact that I have a high esteem of you, and that I mani­ fest great zeal for your interests. I now repeat what I have already written to you, namely, that I have finished the revision of all the works that are to constitute the new uniform edition of my ascetical writings. It has been the labor of two or three months, as I have amended many things, added new material, and done a considerable amount of expunging. It would be well to have all the sheets that 1 previously sent you, as well as the present ones, inserted in the places indicated that they may not be lost. Once more, 1 beseech you to let me know whether you have received the three letters to which 1 referred above, together with the notes they contained ; for if you have not,' I could send the notes to you again, as, on account of their great importance, I took care to have them copied. 12* 182 Special Correspondence. [part π. Anxiously awaiting your reply to all these matters, I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and devoted servant, Alfonso Liguori, de of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 89. To the Same. He sends him two more notes for the above-mentioned work, and expresses his joy that the printing has been de­ ferred. He tells him, also, howto regulate the edition of the ascetical works, and asks about the reception which his work The True Spouse of Jesus Christ met with from certain Cardinals. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! NOCERA, February 24, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: I have been consoled at receiving a third letter from you through Signor Aurisicchio. In my last, 1 told you that you might commence to write to me directly to Noccra; but now I say, it is better that you continue to send your letters through the said Signor Aurisic­ chio, as I perceive they reach me more securely by that route. I am greatly rejoiced that the printing of the Latin histruction has been postponed. Doo gratias! It would be to me a cause of great chagrin, had it been already printed, as the additional notes I sent you in my three letters, are of the utmost importance, so much so that, if the work had been printed, they would have to be added at the end. This new edition of the Instruction will, I trust, be an exquisite production, and I expect to see it adopted in many seminaries. SER. 1.-1762.1 , Letter 8 9. >83 1 send you herewith two new notes. Have them pre­ served with the others. It would be best to insert them at once in their respective places, attaching them with a piece of wafer. At any rate see that they are carefully preserved. Again I request you not to begin the printing before you have informed me whether you received all the notes I sent you in my letters. If you have not, I shall at once forward others. I have copies of them all, and I desire to make this edition a perfect one. Let me know, therefore, how many of my letters, containing these notes, you have re­ ceived. With regard to the complete edition of my ascetical works, I must tell you that I have determined not to send you the work for nuns or the Exercises for Priests. You must be careful to place at the end of each work the indexes of the chapters, thereby to be able to insert in the index of each single treatise, the number of the page of each chapter. In this way you can edit the whole collection in successive parts. On the other hand, if the tables of contents are placed at the beginning, as they now stand, you will not be able to insert the number of the page at which each chapter begins. I shall not send you at present all the works I have collectively arranged, but shall wait for better weather when the rains have ceased. I am, moreover, just now finishing another little book, entitled The Truths of Faith} which I shall send you in manuscript. It will not be large, but I think it will be a useful and valuable work. I shall also send you the three small Lives of our com­ panions, to which I am just now putting the finishing touches. To be brief, I am not losing any time. As soon 1 “ Evidences of Faith, or, The Truths of Faith Made Evident from the Motives of Credibility.” 184 Special Correspondence. [PART II as they are completed, I shall send them to you through Signor Agazzi. I read, toward the end of your letter, that you have received everything I sent you, but particularize, I beg of you. Relieve my anxiety, and tell me, how many of my letters, containing Latin notes, you have received. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso de Liguori, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. [Λ 0'.] For my consolation, please inform me whether their Eminences, the Cardinals, who so eagerly desired my work destined for nuns, have seen it and are pleased with it, and whether they are trying to have it adopted in the monasteries. One word more. With regard to the complete edition of my ascetical writings, I think that, before I finish the little treatise on Faith and the three small Lives, of which 1 spoke above, and which are all destined for the third volume, 1 could send you the works which make up the first and second volumes, so that you might begin the printing at once, should you be so inclined. However, if you do not intend to send them to press immediately, I shall wait until I can send them all together. That will be when I have completed the above-mentioned little works which terminate the collection. Let me know your wishes in the matter, and I shall conform to them. 1 send you, also, the following note of Father Ferrara, whom 1 have instructed to attend to the sale of the work for nuns. Father Don Girolamo Ferrara presents his compliments to Signor Don Giambattista, and informs him that he awaits his commands, and asks him to send , if possible, one hundred copies of the Moral Theology in folio, and to h’ve SER 1.-1762.] Letter 90. ■85 them deposited at Manfredonia, to be brought to Foggia and thence to one of our houses situated in the neighborhood. They willfthen be sold in all the hamlets of Puglia, as it will be easier to dispose of them there than in the vicinity of Naples, where there is every facility for procuring them. However, il it be impossible to have them deposited at Man­ fredonia, he need not put himself to the trouble of sending them to us, as we have enough copies here. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 90. To the Same. He tells him of his nomination to the episcopate.—Advice relative to their correspondence. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, March 26, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: I write to inform you that the Holy Father has nominated me to the episcopal See of Sant' Agata de’ Goti in this kingdom. 1 declined the honor, telling His Holiness that I could not accept on account of my advanced age and ill health; but His Holiness has sent me a formal command to accept, an event that has astounded Naples and Rome. I desired to inform you of this, and, at the same time, to ask you whenever you have anything to write to me, to send your letters to Rome during the months of April and May, but only till the middle of the latter month, not longer,1 as after that, you may write to me to Naples, and not to Nocera. 1 He was compelled lo remain at Rome till the 21st of June, to await the return of the Sovereign Pontiff from Civita Vecchia. ι86 Special Correspondence. [PART n Let me know whether you have received my three letters with the notes enclosed. After penning the foregoing, I received your esteemed letter of the 13th instant, in which you tell me to send you the works destined for the complete edition of my ascetical writings which I have already corrected. When I shall be at Rome, that is to say, in about twenty days, I shall send you the first and second volumes; the third I shall send later from Naples, as I have still some things to copy. With regard to the Latin Instruction, I was pleased with everything you settled ; but you do not tell me whether you received my three letters with the notes that accom­ panied them. If you have already received the three sets of notes, you may begin to print the work, as there is nothing more to be added. If, however, you have not received all three sets, let me know, and tell me, also, the dates of the let­ ters you have received, if you kept a note of them. No more, at present. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant. Alfonso de Liguori, Bishop-elect of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. Letter gi. SER I -1762 1 '8/ LETTER 91. To the Same. He recommends him to hasten the printing of the Homo Apostolicus. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Λ Naples, April to, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: I have already written to you that, by the command of the Pope, I have been obliged to accept the episcopate, and that, in a short time, I shall have to set out for Rome. Wherefore, if you have anything to write to me, direct your letters to Rome, and not to Naples or Nocera ; if, however, you desire to communicate with Father Ferrara, send your letters to Nocera. What I now ask of you is that you endeavor to have the printing of the Latin Instruction done as speedily as pos­ sible; for, as soon as I arrive in my diocese, I shall have it circulated among all my priests and seminarists. You told me in your last letter that you received the notes. You may, therefore, begin the printing at once. Again, 1 beseech you to select good revisers, who under­ stand well what they review, for the compositors cannot understand the text. Above all, I beg of you to use good paper, and advance the price. When the paper is good, every one is satisfied to pay a little extra. It will be my endeavor to have the book bought by the seminarists and priests of other dio­ ceses also. I remain, Illustrons Sir, Your most humble and grateful servant, Alfonso de Liguori, Bishop-elect of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 188 Special Correspondence, [PART II LETTER 92. To the Same. He sends him the first two volumes of the ascetical works, adding some remarks concerning the indexes. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Rome, April 27, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: I am now in Rome on business connected with the bishopric of Sant’ Agata, which I have had to accept by the command of the Pope, as I wrote to you in previous letters. From Rome, then, I am sending you the first two volumes of the complete edition of my ascetical works, together with a general index of the entire collection, and a special one of the works contained in the first volume. These two indexes are to be placed at the beginning of the first volume, immediately after the title-page. I send you, also, the index of the works contained in the second volume. It should be inserted at the beginning of the same. Observe that the indexes of the chapters of the several works should be placed at the end of their respective treatises, as you will perceive I have placed them at the end of the books I am now sending you. You will do the same, also, for the E icrcises for Fricsts and the Spouse of Christ. I do not send you these latter books, as you have them already. These indexes are to be placed at the end of every work, in order that you may be able to indicate the pages pre­ ceding. In a short time I shall send you the works that are to constitute the third volume, as I have still some things to finish. Meanwhile, you may commence to print the first SER. I.-1762.] Letter g and second volumes, and send me some information con­ cerning them. Again, I beg you to print as quickly as possible the Latin Instruction, as I asked you in a previous letter ; for I desire to have it circulated among the priests of my diocese as well as among other ecclesiastics. 1 recommend you to use good paper and to advance the price a little. Direct your letters to Rome where I shall probably reside during the whole month of June. I remain, Illustrious Sir, A'our most humble and obedient servant, Alfonso de Liguori, Bishop-elect of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the library of Bassano (Venice). LETTER 93. To the Same. He thanks the publisher for his congratulations, and re­ peats the recommendations and advice contained in the preceding. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Rome, May 22, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: 1 heartily thank you for your kind congratulations, but 1 must confess, the only consolation I have found in this whole transaction, has been the com­ mand of the Pope that obliged me to accept the burden. I feel quite consoled, also, in thinking that, perhaps, by this time, you have commenced the printing of the Latin Instruction. 1 wish to have it very soon so as to be able to place it in the hands of the clergy, not only of my own diocese, but of others also. For this reason it was, that 1 endeavored to have you print it correctly and on good paper. 190 Special Correspondeiice. [partii. I trust that by the time this letter reaches you, you will have received my ascetical writings arranged for the com­ plete edition. It is now some weeks since I sent them to you from here through Signor Giuseppe Agazzi. I sent only the works that are to make up the first and second volumes, together with their respective indexes. I shall send you from Naples the works destined for the third volume, as I have still to copy some manuscript notes which have to be added. When you will have begun to print the Latin Instruc­ tion. inform me of it, I pray you, so that I may know what to do. Write me also a line as soon as you have received the works destined for the complete edition of my spiritual writings. In all probability, I shall remain in Rome the whole of June, but not longer. I shall write to Father Ferrara about the sale of the books; but you may be assured that Father Ferrara has no need of being spurred on. He is doing all in his power to sell your books whenever a favorable occasion offers itself. Tendering you my most humble regards, I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso, Bishop-elect of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. SER I.-1762.] Letter 94. LETTER 94. To the Same. He informs him of his arrival in his diocese, and asks information on various matters. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant’ Agata de' Goti, July 30, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: Hire I am in my diocese of Sant' Agata, and I have not had any letters from you since the last received at Rome. I should like to know whether you have received the books that I sent you for the first and second volumes of the complete edition of my ascctical writings. The third part is almost ready. I shall forward it when I have finished another little treatise which is to complete this volume. Have you finished the printing of the Latin Instruction? I could begin to circulate it among the seminarists of mv diocese. For the future in writing to me, direct your letters to Naples. I shall see that they reach me from that place. When writing to Father Ferrara, direct your letters: Nocera via Naples, as I am no longer associated with him. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso Maria, 13ishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 192 Special Correspondence. [PART II LETTER 95. To the Same. Rejoiced at hearing from him, he urges the printing of the ascetical works, also the Homo slposto/icus, and instructs him how to send letters for the future. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant’ Agata de' Goti, September 6, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: At last, after so many months of waiting, I have had the happiness of getting a letter from you, without date however, in which you inform me that you have already received the first and second parts of the complete collection of my ascctical writings. I am just now putting the last touches to a little treatise destined for the third volume, and for this, I am stealing every moment 1 can find. The affairs of my diocese leave me scarcely time to breathe. However, with the first and second parts, which you have already received, you will have sufficient matter to begin the printing of the edition. I should be very much pleased to learn that its printing has been commenced, that I might hasten to tell the news to those that are eager to possess this collection of my ascetical writings. I was under the impression that by this time the Latin Instruction would have made its appearance. But from your letter 1 perceive it is still in press. I beg you to finish it without delay, as I ardently desire to place it in the hands of my clergy. I hope to have it received by the clergy of other dioceses, also, especially, by the semi­ narists. Father Ferrara has been here on a casual visit, and has read the note intended for him. Continue, however, to direct your letters to him to Nocera de' Pagani where he resides. In writing to me do not use this address: Sant' / — - SER. I.-1762.] *93 Agata via Naples, but simply Naples. In this way I shall receive your letters much more quickly, as I have charged a certain person to see all letters despatched to me without the least delay from Naples. I await with anxious expectation the news that the In­ struction has appeared, also that you have begun the printing of the complete edition. Be assured, I shall very soon send you the third part. I am, Illustrious Sir, [ The signature of the saint is wanting.] After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LEITER 96. To the Same. He renews his request for the printing of the two works in hand, and wishes certain words added to the title-page of the Homo Apostolicus. Li\e Jesus and Mary ! Sant’ Agata, October 5, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: Once again I repeat my request that vou let me know how far the printing ol the Latin Instruction is advanced. I am anxiously waiting for this work, to have it placed in the hands of my diocesans. 1 bad hopes of seeing it printed before this, but so far I have not learned that it has been. To all who ask me for it, 1 say: It will appear soon. But this soon is lasting a pretty long time, and its end has not come yet. At least, let me have some information on the subject. I am now engaged on the third part of the ascetical works, though I know not whether the first part has been sent to press. Demands for the work come to me from ‘1 194 Special Correspondence. [«‘ART 11 many. I tell,them : At this moment it is certainly in pre^ though I am not so sure whether it is or not. I remain Your most devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [l\ .S'.] If you have not yet printed the title-page of the Latin hitruction, add at the end of the present title these few words : Ad usum Seminarii Sanctagathcnsis. With regard to the name, arrange it thus: Auctore D. Aiphonso de Ligor io, Lpiscopo S. Agatine Gothorum ct Rectore Majore Congregationis SS. Redemptoris. When you write to me, direct your letters: Naples, without adding Sant' Agata. Live Jesus and Mary! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 97. To the Same. The same subject. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sam’ Agata de’ Goti, October 15, 1762. 1 am in receipt of your longed-for letter of the 2d inst. Notwithstanding that I am well-nigh overwhelmed with the business of my diocese, I do not neglect the little treatise [Evidences] oj Faith, which is, indeed, a very elaborate work. This treatise is needed to complete the third vol­ ume of the collection. 1'he other works destined for the third volume are already collected and arranged, the labor having been finished before my elevation to the episcopate. I beg you to let me hear shortly that the first and second volumes, SER. 1. ’95 which you received, have gone to press. Rely upon it, the third is coming quickly. With regard to the Latin Instruction, 1 had hoped that, by this time, I should be enabled to circulate it among my clergy; but I perceive you had other necessary work on hand. I entreat you to hasten it as quickly as possible. 1 shall again recommend to bather Ferrara the sale of your books, and he will send you an answer. When writing to me, it would be better for the present to direct your letters to Naples, and not to Nocera de’ Pagani; for just now it would take a much longer time to have them reach me via Nocera. As to other small works, which you desire me to send you, I have none to send. I have placed at the end of the Retreat for Priests two short treatises on the subject of the government of dioceses. One is entitled, Counsels for Bishops; 1 the other, Rule for the f se of Seminaries. As soon as the Latin Instruction is finished, have the kindness to inform me of it; also when you begin to print the complete edition. 1 shall hardly compose any other works, as the cares of my diocese leave me scarcely time to breathe. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop oj Sani' Agata de' Goti. [/< Λ.] When you begin the printing of the complete edition, I entreat you once more, for the love of God, not to publish it in large folio, for in that form it will not prove acceptable and will never meet with success. Being a work of spirituality, it should be printed at least in quarto, so as 1 '* Considerations Useful to Bishops for the Good Government of their Dioceses.” 196 Specta I Corresponden ce. [PART II to be convenient for the reader. Folio volumes, on the contrary, are very unhandy. People have complained of my having the Moral The­ ology printed in folio rather than in quarto. I answered them that this had been done independently of me. 1 should, however, regard it as a much greater mistake to have this edition of my spiritual works published in folio. [ Postscript of Father Don Girolamo Ferrara.} Happen­ ing to be here with Monsignor, our Father, I take this opportunity to inform you that on passing through Naples, 1 deposited with our Brother there one hundred ducats to be sent to Signor Aurisicchio, who will transmit them to you. Your verv humble servant, J J Girolamo Ferrara, oi the Most Holy Redeemer. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 98. To the Same. After thanking him for some books sent, he refuses to accept any cop\ of the publisher’s edition of the Homo Afiostolicus, the latter having made the first edition of the work worse, instead of giving out a second one more correct and better arranged. He speaks of the style in which he wishes him to print the edition of spiritual writings and the Moral Theology. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! ArH'SZO, Diocese of Sant' Agata, November iS, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: 1 thank you for the copies of the Meditations, etc., you sent me. With regard to the Latin Instruction, I was well pleased with the title-page. It is truly well done. 1 felt deep SER. I.-1762J Letter 98. 197 chagrin, however, on learning that the work has not been reprinted, but that to five hundred copies of the old edition my notes were simply appended, as your letter informs me, and that such pages only were reprinted as were absolutely necessary. I can easily understand bow the last notes I sent· you could have been inserted in this manner; But not how so many notes, large and small, that I made and attached to their respective places throughout the book, could be crowded in at the end. You must have omitted them alto­ gether, or, if you have really inserted them at the end, they will cause great confusion. Nor can I understand how only the necessary pages could have been reprinted, since it was necessary to reprint all the pages, every single page of the old edition being so filled with mistakes that it disgusts and sickens any one that reads it. If you choose to send the /nstruction patched up in this style to bather Ferrara, you may do so; but as far as I am concerned, you need not send me any copies. I could not bring myself to place in the hands of my clergy and semina­ rians a book so lull of errors that 1 myself am ashamed to read it. I am very glad that only a few copies of this first edition of the Instruction were printed. Such a work would bring me into disgrace everywhere, or, at least, cause me to be considered a very careless man to allow so incorrect a work to be published. It is now still more confused by the in­ sertion oi new notes, not one of which is in its proper place. The more anxiously I have been expecting this Latin Instruction for the good oi my own and other dioceses, the keener is the affliction it has caused me. 1 have been desiring the work from month to month, and now, 1 see, it As to the collection of ascetical works, I have already 198 Speci a I Correspondence. [PART II. finished the third volume. Just now I am having printed the treatise. The Truths of Faith, which belongs at the end of the third part, which I am soon to send you. You must not be surprised that I have had this work printed here, when I could have spared myself the extra expense by having you publish it at Venice. I think I have mentioned this to you on a former occasion. I must myself make the first correction of the proof-sheets of all the works I give to the press. In this correction, I alter many things. Sometimes I expunge entire passages, and again 1 add new matter; for things in print look different from the same in manuscript. As soon as this work is finished, I shall send it to you together with all the other treatises that are to constitute the third volume. Again, I beseech you, to give up the idea of printing the edition of ascetical works in folio. I declare to you (and you may be assured of the fact), if this edition is published in folio, very few will buy it. Such a size is altogether inconvenient for the reader. Spiritual works, especially, ought to be handy for reading. If the work is not printed either in quarto or duodecimo, it will have a poor sale. Many have told me the same thing. Indeed, all spiritual writings, even those embracing many volumes, are printed in smaller forms, for example, the works of Granata, Segncri, Zucconi, Nieremberg, Pinamouti, St. Francis de Sales, and a host of others. You have been very urgent with your requests for my portrait 1 for this edition, and yet you have not begun the printing. My portrait will be of little service, but this work 1 With regard to this portrait of the holy Doctor, it may be of in­ terest to relate the statement made by the priest, Don Salvatore Tramontane, in his juridical depositions during the process of bea­ tification. He says. “ As I already well knew the holiness of life of the servant of God. 1 was desirous of having near meatrue SER 1. 1762.] Letter (jS. I99 will do much good and is asked fur by many. But enough ! I fear, however, that this work may meet with the same misfortune as the Latin Instruction. picture of him, to remind me of him continually, and to incite me to invoke his mediation with Almighty God. Some Canons of the Cathedral [ofS. Agata] and other priests and seculars, full of the same idea, consulted together with me as to how we might carry out our design, as the portrait would have to be taken without the knowledge of the servant of God. An occasion soon offered. T h e celebrated painter, Bernardo Caraviello, happened to be doing some painting in the collegiate church and other places in Arienzo. Seven of us went to him and inquired whether he would undertake to paint for us a true picture of the servant of God without the latter’s being aware of it. lie promised to do so. lie discovered a means of carrying out his purpose and, in fact, succeeded in painting the portrait. To satisfy the desires of others, many copies were made. This happened while the servant of God was still at the head of his diocese [in the year 1771). As years rolled by and his appearance changed considerably, the portrait made by Caraviello no longer represented him faithfully. Prompted once more by the same desire to possess a picture of him true to life at his advanced age, I sent different painters from Naples to obtain the accomplish­ ment of my wish, but not one succeeded, Lastly, 1 called in a renowned portrait-painter, Tommaso Crosta, who with great tact and skill succeeded in painting a life-like picture without the of it. He made two copies of the picture, which I still preserve. Of one of these I had a copper engraving made, from which many copies were taken. Remondini, the Venetian publisher, desirous of having one of these engravings, from which to take copies to place at the beginning of the works of the servant of God, which he was republishing, asked me for it. 1 sent it to him, and he used it as intended, inserting copies of it in the works of the servant of God \f\foral Ί'/ieology, 9th edition]. Thus was fulfilled the desire of Remondini, to whom the servant of God would never consent to send his portrait, notwith­ standing his most urgent entreaties.” This we read in the Ordinary Process of Nocera, vol. iii. page 147Ô. Speaking further on of the high veneration in which the relics and pictures ol the saint were held, the same witness continues, as 200 Special Correspondence. [part h. I beg you, if you do not intend to publish it, to tell me so candidly. There will not be wanting others who will do it. and it is my ardent desire to see this collection published before my death, to which I am drawing nigh. Should it be necessary, I shall have it printed at my own expense. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sani' Aga ta. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General al Rome. LETTER 99. To the Same. The same subject. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! ARlENZO, November 27, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: I have sent your letter to Father Ferrara, who was sojourning with me for a time, but who has now returned to the Congregation. I received another letter from you telling me that you had on hand five hundred copies of the first edition of the Latin Instruction, and that you had added to them all my notes by way of appendix. In my last letter, I wrote that, if many copies of this edition were circulated, it would be sufficient to disgrace me everywhere, tor it is so full of mistakes that I myself am ashamed to read it. I say again, therefore, that I do not follows (page 1495): “The demand for little paper pictures of the servant of God was so great that, having had more copper engrav­ ings made at my own cost, I had about 18,000 copies taken, some of which 1 distributed gratis, and others to persons who gave me a commission. But a far greater number was taken by the Neapolitan publishers from the plates they had made by engravers, who copied the features of the servant of God from the engravings I possessed.” SER. I.-1762.] Letter çiçr 201 understand what value my notes, placed at the end and not where they belong, can give the book, since the errors that were committed, are allowed still to remain. And now this last letter of yours brings me still more afflicting news: it is that you will not begin the new edition until these five hundred copies are sold. I must, then, preserve my soul in peace, for it seems to me that it will prove a difficult thing to find a market for these books. It will hardly happen that, in my life-time, I shall see printed the Latin Instruction, which I so ardently desired to give to my clergy. I shall have to apply the best remedy I can, by giving them some other work for a text-book. With regard to the collection of ascetical writings, I wrote to you that I had finished the treatise on the Evi* denccs of Faith,x and that I am hurrying forward the print­ ing so as to be able to send it to you together with all the other works belonging to the third volume. But, as I mentioned to you some time ago, I expected that you would have already begun the printing of the first and second volumes, which you had received, and for the printing of which much time will be required. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and humble servant, Alfonso Maria, Fishofi of Sant' 4gata. [/’. A'.] One thing consoled me in your letter, namely, that you will publish the edition of the ascetical works in quarto, and not in folio. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 1 Evidences of Faith, or, The Truths of Faith made evident from the Motives of Credibility. 202 Special Correspondence. [part n IOO. L ETTER To the Same. He consoles himself that, at last, the printing of the Homo .Ipostolicus has been begun, as also that of the complete edition of his spiritual works, for which edition he promises to send, as soon as possible, the parts of the third volume, and amongst them the Life of Father Cafaro, the worth of which he indicates to the publisher. He announces also that he will send him a very useful treatise recently * composed. He refuses to listen to the proposition concerning his portrait. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Arienzo, December 27, 1762. Most Illustrious Sir: Your last letter has afforded me much consolation, as from it I learn that you have given the necessary orders for the printing of the Latin Instruc­ tion. I trust that, thanks to your care, this edition will be free from errors, and that all the additions will be inserted at their proper places. May this work prove a source of usefulness to many, and of profit to yourself! You give me also reason to hope that the collection of ascetical works will soon be sent to the press. I am just now finishing the Evidences of Faith. As soon as it is completed, I shall forward it to you, together with the other treatises that form the third volume of the collec­ tion. The work for nuns I shall not send, as you have it already. Among the works destined for the third volume I shall forward to you the Life oj Father Paolo Cafaro, of which I spoke to you some time ago, and which you told me to send. It is an account of the admirable life of a great apostolic worker and servant of God. Though short, it is replete with heroic virtues and apostolic labors, and will, SER I.-1762.I Letter 700. 203 therefore, please every one that reads it. 1 have composed it amid the labors of the episcopate, and now, thanks be to God, it is finished. I have recently had printed, also, a Dissertation on Probabilism} enriched with considerable new matter not found in other treatises on that subject. I shall send you two copies so that you may publish it if you think fit. I have had only a small number printed, but I would be very 1 This treatise, published for the first time in the year 1762, has special importance foi those who would know the mind of the saint on the subject of Probabilism. In it he explicitly unfolds his own system of Equiprobabilism. Twelve years later (1774) in his work, entitled: “Exposition of the Author's System with Regard to the Regulating of Moral Actions,” the saint wrote, a follows (n. 49) : “On this subject 1 have read during the space of about thirty years, innumerable authors, Rigorists and Laxists, and I have continually besought God for the necessary light to fix a system which I might hold to, and thus not stray into error. At last, as I have declared at the beginning of this little work, I settled on a system for myself.” lie does this precisely in the Dissertation of which mention is here made, and to it we refer the reader, contenting ourselves with the following extract: “There are two questions that we pro­ pose to examine in the present treatise. The first, whether it is permissible to follow the less probable opinion The second, whether in a case in which the two conflicting opinions are of equal or ap­ parently equal probability, it is allowable to follow the less safe. With regard to the first question we shall quickly despatch it, as the solution is certainly evident. We affirm that it is not allowed to fol­ low the less probable opinion when the opinion which is in favor of the law, is notably and surely more probable: for etc............ In answer to the second question, we affirm that when the opinion which is less safe, is equally probable, it may be licitly followed, for etc." These two propositions contain, properly speaking, the system of Equi­ probabilism taught and followed by the holy Doctor from that period. It would be beside the mark to bring forward against this, the fact that in the fifth edition of the Moral Theology, published in the year following (1763), we find a different treatise on /*.robabilism, the one that had been in the two preceding editions; for this inser­ tion, as we shall see later on, occurred through negligence on the part of Remondini, and was the cause of deep chagrin to the saint 204 Special Correspondence. [PART II. glad to see the work circulated, as it is really a new treat­ ment, much new material, not hitherto touched upon by other writers, being collected together in a special disserta­ tion. A part of this treatise is contained in the Latin Instruc­ tion, but not the whole.1 I shall send you two copies of the little work on Faith, and these corrected ones, should any corrections be neces­ sary. I am pleased that you have resolved to publish the edition in quarto; it will be an excellent thing. Lor pity’s sake, do not say another word to me about my portrait. What a shame would it not be for me, and what a disgrace to the collection, which is a spiritual one, to have it seen that in giving this work to the press, I had the vanity to have my portrait taken ! People wish to read something that will be profitable to them, and not to look at the portrait of a poor wretch like myself. Accept, Illustrious Sir, my most humble respects, and believe me, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso de Liguori, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. who had labored so hard to complete the new Dissertation for this fifth edition. 1 However, it is not so very small a part; for on comparing the second edition of the Homo Apostolic us with the first, we find that in the first the treatise De Conscientia Probabili contains only tS num­ bers, whilst in the second it contains 42. SER. I.-1763.] Letter ιοί. 205 LETTER 101. To the Same. He informs him of his reasons for delaying to send the third volume of the spiritual writings, and asks for informa­ tion about the printing of the Homo . Ifrostolicns. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Most Illustrious Sir: Lor a long time past I have not received a word of news from you. I have delayed sending you the rest of the works destined for the complete edition of my spiritual writings, for the following reason. Until now I have been waiting for the approbation of the work on Faith, and this was owing to a mistake of mine in believing that the memorial was with the ministers, whereas, in reality, it was in the hands of the reviser. But, thanks be to God, the memorial has been expedited. My desire to forward this work together with the others has been the cause of my delay. I pray you, let me know how far advanced the printing of the Latin Instruction is. People are continually asking me for it, and I do not know what answer to give them. I trust, however, it is now finished. I hope that, when I send the remainder of my spiritual writings, you will at once set to work at the printing of the edition. 1 beg you to accept my most humble respects. Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father 2O6 Spc cia I Correspondence, [PART II. LETTER 102. To the Same. Being constrained to make some changes in the Moral Theology. he asks the publisher whether he would, in that case, be satisfied to re-publish it. He makes also a few remarks pertaining to the edition of his spiritual writings, and again inquires about the Homo Apostolicus. expressing his surprise that, although nearly two years in press, it has not yet,been given to the public. Arienzo, June 12, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: As the name of Busenbaum has fallen into almost universal disrepute, and as I have had the misfortune of acting as commentator on this unlucky author, the very mention of whose name excites as much abhorrence as that of Luther, my confrères in the Congre­ gation have counselled me to eliminate from my Moral Theology the text of Busenbaum, and thus make the work entirely my own, adding to it, however, the definitions, distinctions, and fundamental propositions, or principles, that the work requires. They would leave intact my dis­ sertations at the end of the work, but would have me ex­ clude all the additions made by Bather Zaccaria, which additions were valuable at one time, but are now become as odious as the writings of Busenbaum.1 In short, the work would be entirely my own, as people would nowadays 1 Zaccaria and Busenbaum had become equally odious, and for the same reason as all the members of the Society of Jesus. Teach­ ings the most harmless and just served as pretexts for persecution to all those who had sworn to destroy this illustrious Institute. Jan­ senists and false philosophers, supported by the royalists, recog­ nized in its members the great obstacle to the triumph of their ideas, subversive of all order. Consequently, they had'recourse to every means to calumniate them and compass their destruction. In Portugal they were successful, as we have seen, in the year 1759. And continuing their furious warfare against the Society, at length. have it. They all praise the work, but at the same time censure me for having chosen to commentate Busenbaum. I desire now to find out whether you would publish the work, if the said alterations were made. Many emendations will be introduced, also many additions. These lat­ ter, though short, are numerous. in 1773» through the influence of the Bourbon courts, they succeeded by iniquitous means in obtaining its total suppression. What the feelings of St. Alphonsus were on this occasion, we may letters of the holy Doctor. The enemies of religion had completely succeeded in their design, and the name of Jesuit became a byword among the ill-informed. Hence the anxiety and endeavor of the the saint to avert from himself and his Moral Theology the least shadow that might serve as a pretext to the wicked to involve him in a like fate, and thus impede the good which his writings and his Institute might bring to the Church and to souls. At the same time, the fact cannot be denied, and the course of this Correspondence will demonstrate it clearly, that St. Alphonsus did not hold all the opinions, nor the system embraced by some, we will say, by many Jesuits. There is such a thing as disputable points, and the saint, as every other man, guided himself in these according to his own lights and according to the reasons which seemed to him the best ; never did he profess himself the absolute follower of any particular school or system. In all truth, therefore, could he and did he maintain that he was neither a Jesuit, nor a partisan of their teach­ ings. Attached as he was to the Society of Jesus, and filled with veneration for it, he did not wish by this manner of speech to cast the least dishonor upon it. In the t roublous condit ion in which things then were, the saint's whole endeavor was to guard his own Institute against the danger of suppression, and to have his writings, so thoroughly imbued with sound doctrine, in free circulation. No wonder, then, that he repelled the charge of being a J esu t or an ardent partisan of the Jesuits' Besides, the affair deeply concerned the conscience of the saint as it was for conscience' sake he had established and maintained his system of Moral. In conclusion, if we bear in mind that Remondini was in constant dread of seeing the works of the holy Doctor suppressed and himself suffer consider­ able loss therefrom, we may comprehend the reason of St. Alphonsu< frequent reassuring and encouraging letters on the subject. f 208 Special Correspondence. [part u How deeply do I repent ever having chosen Busenbaum for the text of my commentaries! But who could have foretold the storm that was to burst forth against the un­ fortunate Busenbaum ? Cheer up ! After so many delays I have, at last, ob­ tained the approbation of my work on the Evidences oj Faith. I had to do with a whimsical reviser, who has kept me waiting for nine months. I am now having the approbation and the index oi this little work printed. As soon as the printing is completed and the book bound, I shall forward it to you, together with my new Dissertation on Probabilism. This Disserta­ tion is, indeed, a new work, which has been very favorably received by the learned. At the same time, I shall send the rest of my ascctical works which belong to the third volume of the complete edition projected by you. All this time, however, I do not receive any news from you, not a single word, as to whether you have begun to print this complete edition or not. You have been importunate in your requests for my por­ trait, a thing of no value whatsoever; but of that which is of value and is so eagerly desired, the printing of this work, you do not speak a single word. Nor have you sent me any information concerning the Latin Compendium, or in other words, Latin Instruction. As you yourself wrote me some time ago, it will soon be two years since the work went to press. That press has a very slow motion, one revolution a year! People are continually asking me: J J'hen shall ve get it' II hen shall we get ill And I know not what to answer them. 1 pray you, let me know, at least, what reply 1 should give. SER. I .-1763.] 209 Letter 103. Yesterday I was speaking with some strangers from Sicily, who told me that my books are highly prized there. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER IO3. To the Same. He continues to speak on the subject of a new edition of Moral Theology. Live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! Arienzo, June 15, 1763. I wrote to you last week. The present is an answer to a letter of yours I received this morning. With regard to the Compendiinn [Ihomo Apostolicus}, I am expecting it as soon as possible, so as to give it to my seminarians. I spoke to you in my last letter of my project of making the Moral 'Theology a new work, which would preserve whatever was mine in the original, and which would, also, embody whatever new matter we may find necessary to introduce. I would omit Busenbaum entirely, not only the title-page, but also the text of this author, whose name is everywhere covered with opprobrium. Since you give your consent to this new edition, I beg you to have a little patience. In a few days I shall call to my assistance two Fathers of my Congregation, and we shall arrange the work in the manner proposed. 2 ΙΟ Specia I Correspan den ce. [PART Π. We shall have to compose this book with the aid of the work as it has hitherto been printed ; and as we are to expunge the text of Busenbaum, we must needs introduce a new order and system. I am receiving censure from every quarter for having followed Busenbaum, instead of making the work exclusive­ ly my own. It seems to me impossible to compose this new work alone, but I hope to be able to do it with the aid of a few companions. As to the additions, which vou desire to have immediately, I must say it is impossible for me to send them just now, as I have to select them from the Compendium, in which I inserted a great number, not to speak of those contained in the latest edition of the Theology. In poor health, and encompassed by the numerous cares of the episcopate, I am altogether unable to undertake the task of collecting these additions from the Compendium and other sources, so as to send them to you. Please let me know what you think of the matter. Should you desire to have the Theology entirely my own, as I indicated, with the complete omissions of the text and name of Busenbaum, I shall sec that this be done as soon as possible. If, on the contrary, you wish to have merely the additions, I shall have one or two companions come here and copy them for you ; but this cannot be done before I have looked over the printed Compendium. Rest assured of one thing: with the complete elimination of Busenbaum my work would have a considerably larger sale. That is my opinion. Awaiting a reply, I am, Illustrious Sir, Your very humble and obedient servant, 1 J Alfonso Maria, [/< Λ'.] Bishop of Sant' /4gafa. With regard to the little work on Faith, all is SER. I.-1763.] Letter 104. finished. During the coining week I shall forward it to you together with the rest of the ascetical works. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 104. To the Same. He sends some additions for a new edition of the Moral Theology to be made in conformity with the preceding edi­ tions. He replies also to some complaints of Remondini. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! [July, 1763]. Most Illustrious Sir: I am in receipt of your reply con­ cerning the re-editing of the Moral with Busenbaum omit­ ted. For the present I shall send you all the additions proper for the work, marking distinctly the place, page, and line of each ; but you must give me a little time for this, as I shall have to collect them and draw up a list of their respective places. You tell me that you have decided to omit the names of Busenbaum and Zaccaria from the work, and insert my name alone. Remark that, as long as the text of Busenbaum is in­ serted, you must add, at least in the title-page, as 1 have done in the last edition : juxta methodum Medulice R. P. Hermanni Busenbaum. '1'his is necessary, in order that the reader may understand that the text is from another author; otherwise, the edition of the work, as it is at present, would appear ridiculous. If you continue to employ the text of Busenbaum, you would do well, I think, not to omit the dissertations of Father Zaccaria, contained in the work, as they are very useful, indeed. However, do as you think best. As you will be obliged to insert the additions and other ——' 2 12 Special Correspondence. [part π modifications which I shall send, it would please me very much if, in the treatise on Conscience, you eliminate the dissertation on Probabilism and substitute for it the new one I have lately composed, in comparison with which the old one is of no account. I beg you to do me this lavor. I shall send you, therefore, the additions for the re­ printing of the Moral, as it has hitherto been published. In the meantime, 1 shall see that the work be composed and arranged in such a manner as to be entirely my own. You need have no anxiety concerning the method ; lor it will be the same as that pursued in the Italian Instruction, which is an excellent one. I shall presently send you through Signor Agazzi, the little work on Faith, as also the dissertation on Probab­ ilism I I do not know whether the printing of the latter is yet finished. At the same time I shall forward the rest of the works destined for the third volume of the ascetical writings. Some are very anxious to see this complete edition. I low much pain do you not cause me by complaining, as you did the other day (if I mistake not), that a new edition of the Italian Practice is being printed at Naples! My dear Don Giambattista, can I prevent the publishers from printing whatever books they choose? Am I the king? This work is in constant demand by the publishers. For that matter, if you have any more copies of the Practice, send them here. You may rest assured they will have a ready sale, as the demand for them is continual. For goodness’ sake, do not make this complaint again, as I am powerless to remedy it. It is not true that this Practice will contain the new dissertation of my companions on Communion.- This 1 "Short Dissertation on the Moderate Use of the Probable Opin­ ion.” 2 " Refutation of the Letter and Rejoinder of Don Cipriano Letter 104. SER. I.-1763·] 2I3 pamphlet is still undergoing revision. It will be printed separately, or, perhaps, not at all. I am exceedingly rejoiced to learn that the printing of the Latin Instruction is finished. Please send copies to Father Ferrara as soon as possible, so that my seminarians, at least, may procure this work, the priests having taken your Italian edition. There is, however, among the latter quite a number desirous of the Latin edition. You must know that, during the past month, I have been ailing with catarrh of the chest, which has caused the physicians some anxiety. During the current month of July when passing through the town of Airola, I had another attack, more grievous, perhaps, than the preceding; but, thanks be to God, I have recovered somewhat. I have, therefore, ventured to dictate this letter to you, though I am still confined to my bed which, may it please the Lord to enable me to leave within the next ten days. Your very humble and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. Aristasio to Mgr. de Liguori. An Examination as to the True Sentiments of Holy Church with regard to Frequent Communion. By a Priest of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer [Father Alessandro de Meo].” This work was published at Naples in the following year (i764) by Giuseppe di Domenico. 14* 2 14 Special Correspondence. [partii. letter 105. To the Same. He sends him the rest of the ascetical writings destined for the complete edition, and speaks of the projected edition ofhis Moral with Busenbaum eliminated. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! [July./763.] Most Illustrious Sir: I am sending you the rest of the spiritual writings destined for the third volume, and with them the index. The package contains also my new treatise on Faith, which is to have the third place in the volume. I send you enclosed a very important addition to be inserted in the book on Prayer) at the place indicated at the top of this sheet. The treatise on Prayer is to head the second volume of the collection, as is indicated in the second index which I have already sent you. 1 have given orders to my companions to collect, as soon as possible, all the additions destined for the Moral The­ ology and to send them to me, each one written separately, with the place to which it belongs indicated. As soon as I receive them, I shall forward them to you. I say: to my companions, for at present 1 am sick abed, not having yet recovered from my last severe attack. I cannot apply to work. 1 expect very soon the new edition of the Homo Aposto­ licus. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir. Your very* devoted and obedient servant. Alfonso Maria, [/< 0'.] Fishop of Sant' Agata. After writing the above, I received another 1 ·· Praver, the Great Means of Salvation.” SER. I.-1763.] Letter 106. letter from you in which you ask me to spur on my com­ panions to complete, as soon as possible, the projected Moral with Busenbam eliminated. This I shall do. Mean­ time, I shall defer sending the additions. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 106. To the Same. He continues to speak of the spiritual writings, of the Italian Instruction printed at Naples, and of the projected edition of the Moral Theology. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! [July, 1763.] Most Illustrious Sir: This morning I received your letter of July 2d, from the second part of which 1 learn that you have already received my reply. The works that belong to the third volume of the com­ plete edition, are all ready for forwardiiig, as is likewise the abridgment in manuscript of the Life of Father Cafaro, a wonderful life, indeed. Together with these I shall send the work on Faith and the Dissertation on Probabilism, The latter is being translated into Latin, to be inserted in the Moral Theology, instead of the one now contained in that work. This new Dissertation is altogether superior to the old one. I should be very much pleased if this Dissertation in Italian, which is a short one, were printed separately and extensively circulated. Once more, I beg you not to make complaints about Father Ferrara or me on the subject of the new edition of the Italian Instruction; for neither of us had the work re­ printed. The booksellers are the ones to blame. If I mis­ 2I6 Special Correspondence. [PART 11 take not, several of them were unanimous in the wish to re-edit it, and we were powerless to prevent them. Nor is it true that the Dissertation on Communion, com­ posed by my companions, has been added to this edition. It has not yet appeared, being still in the hands of the revisers. I am anxiously waiting to receive the Latin Instructions from you as soon as the opportunity offers of sending them by sea. To-day I shall write to Naples, to tell them to forward to you the work on Faith and the other treatises through Signor Agazzi ; however, I think they must first find a vessel sailing for Rome. I pray you, as soon as you receive these works for the third volume, give me the satisfaction of hearing at once that you have begun the printing of the complete edition, which I should like to see before I die. We now come to a more important point, I mean the large work on Moral. I had given orders to collect together the notes for a new edition preserving the text of Busenbaum ; but perceiving from your last letter that you desired to print the work as entirely my own, as was designed, I have written to my companions to use all haste to finish it. Meanwhile, I shall defer sending the additions. Should you, however, change your mind and wish to have these notes for a new edition of the work with Buscnbaum’s text, let me know, and I shall forward them to you. In my opinion, it would be better to have a little patience and wait till the work is arranged in the manner intended. And for this, my dear Giovanni Battista, no matter how diligently my companions may labor, some time will be required before everything is completed. Al­ SER. I.-1763.] Letter i ο 6). though I have selected three very able subjects for the task, the amount of work to be clone is considerable. Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [Λ S.] You will find my little treatise on Faith in the packet of the works destined for the third volume. 1 add a suggestion which has not yet received your approbation, and, I fear, will not receive it. I subjoin it, yet without any intention of importuning you thereby. You mention to me that the people now want to have books in the large folio style; but I tell you, and I can assure you, that all with whom I have spoken, would prefer to have the Moral Theology in quarto, as this size is the most convenient, both for reading and studying. A more unhandy form than the large folio can hardly be imagined. People would pay a higher price for the quarto edition, especially since it would be printed in small Roman characters. 1 am aware that money would be saved by using the large folio form, but, on the other hand, you could raise somewhat the price oi the quarto. All this is, I am afraid, idle talk, although the truth. Do, then, what seems best to you. The Epitome1 of Father Mansi is, indeed, a beautiful work, and I shall not omit to insert it in my book. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 1 “Joannis Dominici Mansi, Congregationis Matris Dei, Epitome doctrinæ moralis et canonicæ ex operibus Benedicti XIV.” This work was added to the Moral 'Theology of the saint. 2l8 Special Correspon dence. [PART II. LETTER IO7. To the Same. He abandons the project of eliminating the text of Busenbatirn from the Moral Theology.— His reasons for this. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! [Nocera, August, 1763.] Most Illustrious Sir: I have come here to Nocera for the sake of recuperating from my severe sickness. 1 had begun re-writing the Moral Theology omitting the text of Busenbaum. But it was not long before 1 perceived that this re-writing of the whole work together with the introduction of a new arrangement, made necessary by the suppression of the text of Busenbaum, is not the work of six months or a year. Indeed, I have employed three bathers at this work for several weeks. I have labored at it myself, sick as I am ; but in spite of all this, we have not been able to finish even the treatise on Conscience, to accomplish which twenty days more will scarcely suffice. Hence, I conclude that to compose and arrange all the other treatises, of which many are much larger than that on Conscience, two years would hardly be enough. For the present, therefore, I think it would be better for me to collect and arrange the many notes required for the new edition, and send them to you to be inserted in the yMoral,r as already published, clearly indicating the page, paragraph and line, to which each belongs. Then, I do not know whether, even after two years, I should be able to send you the work recast in the manner proposed. Indeed, I would not send this Moral excluding the text of Busen­ baum, before I had reviewed it thoroughly and arranged whatever I found in the work of others that did not please me. I have acted in this way with the above-mentioned SER. I.-1763.] Letter τογ. 219 treatise on Conscience, in which I changed many things that were not to my satisfaction. From the task I had in doing this I may judge how many points there would be in the completed work that would need alteration for the same reason. On the other hand 1 am now advanced in years, poor in health, and burdened, moreover, with the cares of the episcopate, which scarcely leave me time to breathe. Here 1 have been able to do something, because moment­ arily released from my charge. To send you the Moral Theology, therefore, composed as I would have it, appears to me impossible. I have wished to let you know of this beforehand. In the meanwhile 1 shall arrange my notes, and send them to you as soon as they are ready. For your greater con­ venience I shall send you first those of the first volume, and the others later on, as I see you have already begun to print the new edition. 1 pray you to let me have an answer very soon that 1 may know what to do. Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' . \gata. [/< Λ'.] There can be no doubt about the odium attach­ ing nowadays to the name of Buscnbaum. Certain it is, however, that till now he has been much praised and his method universally commended. La Croix has not been his only commentator; Franzoia, an author of the Rigorist School, has used his text; and my own book, though a commentary on Buscnbaum, found ready sale on all sides. As I have said, I could not trust myself to undertake the new Moral. My companions would have to do it; and I do not know whether the work, as composed by others, would be acceptable to you. 1 know that if others were to do it, I should find many defects, and many points needing 220 Special Correspondence. different arrangement. soon as possible. [part II. I expect an answer from you as After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER IO8. To the Same. The same subject.—He proposes to him to print a new work, The Country Confessor. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera, August 26, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: I am anxiously waiting to know whether you have received the books, or rather the small works that constitute the third volume of the complete edition of my ascetical writings, as also those two other small treatises, entitled : Dissertation on the Probable Opin­ ion, and, The Evidences of Faith? In the work, Evidences of Faith, a notable error must be corrected, one that has slipped in through the negli­ gence of the printer and which 1 discovered lately. At page <80, line 5, it reads: or the following Sunday. This is a error. It should be: and not the following Sun­ day. On that account I send the enclosed slip, and I beg you to insert the same at once, at page 80, so that you will not forget it. I am, at present, occupied with the arranging of all the additions destined for the large Moral; they are numerous and very useful. One or other treatise I worked over completely. A number of my companions are engaged with me in this work. 1 have already written to you that it is an impossibility to re-write the work with the text of Busenbaum omitted. For my part, I cannot see how I shall be able to do it. I am an old man and sickly, and this is a work that would SER. I.-1763 ] Letter 108. 221 require over two years to bring it to completion. Another thing that renders it impossible for me is my episcopal charge, which occupies all my time, and to which I am bound in conscience. I should have to confide the task to my companions; but, as far as I can judge, not one of them is able to do it as 1 should desire. We would, conse­ quently, have a work which would please neither you nor me. But enough of this subject. In my judgment, the addi­ tions with which the work is to be enriched, and the several treatises, which we have entirely re-written, will render the book much more valuable than it has hitherto been. I await a reply. I have not received a letter from you for a long time, and I desire to know how to act in this matter. I am waiting also for the copies oi the Homo Apostolicus. Whilst at home in my diocese, 1 composed a small work very useful for the confessors of country people.1 For it I had to steal every moment. It is on the same plan as a book now in circulation, entitled: “The Confessor in Hamlet and Village”,2 the work of a Neapolitan author, who does not publish his name. However, this anonymous work is too scant and insufficient for the confessors to whom it is ad­ dressed. My book is not limited to what concerns the practice of the confessor, but contains, besides, a summary in the vernacular of all the more important points of Moral Theology. It is not, indeed, an extensive work, but he who knows it thoroughly, will surely be able to hear con­ fessions in the country. It was with that end in view that I composed it for the benefit of my diocese. 1 “Guide for Country Confessors.” ~ The author of this work was Don Giuseppe Iorio, a priest of great learning and zeal, of whom St. Alphonsus speaks more than once in the course of this Correspondence. —-w 9 0 9 *»«**■» Special Correspondence. [PART II. Let me know whether you would like to publish it; I shall send it at once. I have had only a small number of copies printed for the use of my diocese, but I am sure that this work will have a larger circulation than the “Con­ fessor in Hamlet and Village”. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [ Postscripto/Bather Berrara. ] Girolamo Ferrara of Naples presents his compliments to you. He has to inform you, to his great regret, that the person to whom he had committed eighty ducats last May, neglected to give them to Aurisicchio. Don Girolamo has consigned one hundred ducats to the latter to transmit to you, and has been given a receipt for the same. He presumes that Signor Aurisicchio will send you notice of it to-day. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER IO9. To the Same. He asks for news about a number of works sent to the publisher, and requests him to send the Homo Apostolicus. He speaks again of the Moral Theology. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Nocera. September 1, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: Aresterday I received a letter from you announcing that my two latest works had arrived, but you do not inform me whether you have received the box containing the rest of the treatises destined for the large edition of my ascetical works. I am in ignorance, also, as to whether the new Dissertation on the Probable Opinion^ and the little work on Faith have arrived at their destina- SER. 1.-1763.1 Letter /oc). tion. I sent them to you quite a long time ago. I should regret very much to hear that these works have been lost, especially the ascetical ones, for the revision of them cost me much labor. As soon as you receive them, please send me word. I have warned you, and I do the same again, that there is an error to be corrected in the book on Faith. It is only a word, but the correction is an important one. I have marked it on the enclosed slip. I have already mentioned to you in several letters that, to eliminate Busenbaum, and rewrite the work entirely, is an impossibility. I should have to do it myself, but I would not attempt it; nor could I do so on account of my episcopal duties. Two years, at least, would be required for it; and not a single one of my companions could per­ form the work to my satisfaction. At present, as I wrote you before, I am engaged with three of my companions in inserting the additions where they belong. We are busy with the new Dissertation on the Probable Opinion also, translated into Latin, with a new treatise De Actibus Hu­ manis, and with numerous important additions. 1 have been laboring at them for a month past, though .my purpose in coming to Nocera was to recuperate after a severe attack of sickness. At present, however, thanks be to God, I feel better. If you have resolved to print this new edition in quarto, as you signified with regard to the • · · · edition with Busenbaum omitted, it will certainly improve the book and render it more acceptable to the reader. I would request you not to eliminate anything from it as it now stands ; for the Prolegomena of bather Zaccaria are beautiful, and the Epitome of Lather Mansi is very useful. I repeat, then, do not suppress a single word ; or some will assert that this edition is incomplete. I have been waiting impatiently for the copies of the Homo Apostolicus, but I have, as yet, seen none. Your 2 24 Special Correspondence. [part n. letter announces, to my great disappointment, that they are not yet ready for shipping. Meanwhile, precious time is being wasted, and we shall have to wait till next year. I return to the Moral Theology. Please let me know which of the two following propositions you prefer. Do you wish me to send you the additions for the first volume after they arc finished and arranged ? You could then begin the printing, the first volume being the largest since the greater part of the additions belong to it. Or would you prefer me to prepare the additions for the entire work, and then forward them to you ? I shall do as you desire. But if you are in a hurry, as you intimated in your first letter, then I think it would be better to send you the additions for the first volume, as the printing of it will require considerable time. 1 shall omit from the first volume the treatise on the Precepts of the Church, and add it to the second, which is less bulky. Tell me what you would like me to do. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [/< Λ'.] One word more. I mentioned to you already that I have had printed, for the use of my diocese, an abridgment 1 in the vernacular of the Homo Apostolicus. It forms a small volume, and will prove very useful, I think, for country confessors, containing, as it does, all the knowledge suitable for hearing confessions properly. I have had but a small number of copies printed. If you desire to have the book, let me know, and I shall send it at once. At page So of the work on Faith, line 5, it reads: or the « 1 ” Guide for Country Confessors.” SER I.-1763.] Letter no. following Sunday. This should be changed into : and not the following Sunday. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. let ter 110. To the Same. The same subject. Live Jesus and Mary ! Nocera, September 21, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: The additions for the first volume of the Moral are finished. Let me know whether you wish me to forward them at once, or whether you would rather 1 should wait and send all together, those of the second and third volumes in­ cluded. I would suggest that you commence the printing of the first volume immediately, as you intended, for the greater part of the additions and passages requiring correction,' belongs to this volume. The additions for the second and third volumes do not constitute a fifth part of those for the first. In fact, it is not so much the additions that make the last-named so large, man] shorter than the passages for which they were substituted ; There are many fine things in this volume, to hunt up and arrange which cost me much labor. You will, therefore, have a good deal of matter to print in the first volume. In case you do it at once, I shall send you the annotations and addi­ tions for the second and third volumes later on. Use your own good pleasure in the matter, but let me know to what conclusion *you come. Address your letters to Naples, and I shall sec that I get them. 220 Special Correspondence, [PART II I am still at Nocera, but in a few days I shall return to my diocese. Once more, I urge you to finish the little work 1 I sent you last week, with the request that you should print it as soon as possible. I am very anxious to get it soon. In case you arc unable to do it as quickly as I desire, inform inc of the fact, that I may take some other means of having it done. Still I trust you will do me this favor, seeing my earnest desire for it, and especially as the work is short. This you will sec bv the other sheets that I shall soon send. and which complete the volume. I beg for a speedy answer, as it is a long time since I received a letter from you. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, J Alfonso Maria, [/< 6*.] Bishop of Sant' Agata. I am eagerly awaiting the Homo Apostolicus. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER III. To the Same. He speaks of some books sent to the publisher, and urges him to hasten the printing of the Guide for Country Con­ fessors.— Recommendations relative to the coming edition of the large Moral. Live •Jesus and Mary! J [October, 1763.] Most Illustrious Sir: I have returned to my diocese. It is from there that I am now writing in reply to the two letters received from you. The works destined to complete the large edition have. 1 ** Guide for C ountrv Confessors,” SER. I -1763.) Letter in. 22 it seems, not yet reached yon, nor the Evidences oj Faith, nor the Dissertation on the Probable Opinion. I am not surprised at the news. After sending them to you so long ago, 1 learned that the skipper, who was to have taken them to Rome to Signor Agazzi, unable to do so, was obliged to send them back to Naples. We then charged another with the box, and I understand it is now at Rome in the hands of Signor Agazzi. Having these delays in mind, I sent the work for Confessors in Villages, or rather the greater part ol the folios, by post. At the same time I despatched a letter, begging you to print the book at once. I hope that, by the time this letter reaches you, you will have already received the folios of the said work. Have them revised immediately, I again entreat you, and print them at once, for I am very anxious to have the book appear as soon as possible with the approbation of Venice. In a few days I shall transmit to you the rest ol the folios, the title-page, and the manuscript introduction. I am thinking of sending all by post ; lor at this season, it is difficult to find an opportunity of sending them to Rome by water. This latter mode of forwarding them, would, be­ sides, take much time, and 1 earnestly desire to have the work, as soon as possible, to distribute it among my diocesans. It will, I trust, have an immense sale on all sides. I regret the expense you will incur by postage on the folios ; but I am prepared to defray it myself. You need only indicate the amount. 1 trust, I shall have the consolation of hearing that you have already begun the reprinting, or, I should say, the printing of this book, lor it has never yet been published. I have twice suggested to you, and I again repeat, do not forget to print it in small Roman type; otherwise I shall be dissatisfied with it. 1 should like to see it in the —β Special Correspondence. [PART IL same type as the large Moral, or, at least, in one sim­ ilar. Speaking of the large Moral, I take this occasion to inform yon that* I have finished all the additions. Nothingo remains but to copy into the blank book I have to send you a few that are not yet transcribed. My sickness has been sent me by Providence to enable me to finish this work ; for had I not gone to Nocera, it would have been very difficult for me to apply myself as I have done. Two years would not have been sufficient for its accomplishment, had I not quitted my diocese; besides, at Nocera, I had several companions to assist me, and the Lord granted me the strength to labor eight or nine hours a day. Do not eliminate from the Moral, I pray you, the Prolegomena of Father Zaccaria, as it is a learned work, which has received general approval. You might, therefore, continue the printing of all that precedes the first treatise of the Moral, I mean that on Conscience. But when *you come to it,9 ·/vou will have to stop, for it has been completely changed, as you will see wheri I send vou the additions. J I retract what I have just written in the last sentence, for I have concluded upon reflection that you cannot print the index before finishing the first volume, at least; otherwise, the pages could not be arranged, since, in the process of reprinting, many will be changed. I shall have the addi­ tions copied as soon as possible and send them to you via Rome. 1 remain, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Pishop of Sant' Agata. [Λ .S'] After writing the above, I yield to your pressing demand to forward the additions at once. I send vou all SER. I.-1763.I Letter iii. 229 belonging to the first volume. They are the most copious, those of the second and third volumes being much shorter. I act thus that you may be able to commence the re­ printing immediately. It will not be long before I transmit the additions to the second and third volumes. As, how­ ever, the affairs of my diocese need much attention on account of my absence, I do not know whether 1 shall be able to forward them as soon as I desire. Meantime, you have in the first volume abundant matter for printing, it being much larger than the other two. I shall send it next week. I have marked distinctly in the additions (I refer to those written on separate slips) the places to which they belong, and have indicated the pages, numbers, columns, and lines, together with the asterisks and references. I beg you to write to Signor Agazzi to be careful to forward to you without delay the things I am sending him. I fear that he performs this duty very reluctantly, for in spite of all that I write, he never sends me an answer. You must particularly recommend to him the writings I am now sending, 1 mean the additions; for should they be lost, I do not know whether I would have the time and strength to rewrite them. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 15* 2 30 Special Correspondence. [PART II. LETTER I I 2. To the Same. He requests him to insert in the Guide for Country Confessors the approbation of the king of Naples and alludes to a certain eulogy bestowed on his work on Faith and the Dissertation on the Probable Opinion. He speaks also of forwarding the additions for the Moral. Live Jesus and Mary ! Arienzo, October 14, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: Pardon me for sending you by letter the remaining sheets of my new work ; for, as I wrote to you before, I am extremely anxious to have it published as soon as possible. The needs of my diocese call for it, and I attach great importance to its publication. I received your last letter, dated September 24, from which 1 learn that you have received the box of books; but you do not say a word about the letter containing the first folios of the new work. I trust you will have received them before this reaches you, and commenced the print­ ing in accordance with my request. You signified such to be your intention in the letter you wrote me, de­ claring that you were waiting for them in order to print them as quickly as possible. Once more, 1 beg you, do not lose time, for, I repeat, I am very anxious for the publication of this work. On the first page insert the ecclesiastical approbation. After that 1 should like you to place the approbation of the king of Naples, in the manner indicated on the slip inserted at the beginning of the work. 1 his little book will be very* useful everywhere, though 1 have composed it especially for my own diocese. As the government is very strict here (they will not permit to be printed outside of Naples such books as have not been approved by the SER. I.-1763.I Letter 112. 23’ king), I deemed it necessary to insert the royal approba­ tion, thus to prevent the book from being interdicted at Naples. Be careful to insert it. 1 repeat a recommendation I have already made: use small Roman type similar to that employed for the iolios I am sending you. You need have no anxiety in regard to the sale. I hope to dispose of four or five hundred copies in my diocese alone. The rest I shall send to our houses, where our Fathers will attend to their sale. This book will sell more rapidly than other works of the kind, for it contains the very substance of Moral rheology, and is much cheaper. I rejoice to hear that the treatises destined for the third volume of my ascetical works have arrived safe. 1 was afraid they might be lost. Now that 1 am occupied with the government of my diocese, 1 have hardly time to breathe, and it would be very difficult for me to work at them and arrange them as I have done. 1 hope you will soon tell me that you have begun the printing of the complete edition. In regard to the two works: the Dissertation on the Probable Opinion, and the Evidences of Faith, I wish to tell you that yesterday 1 received a letter from a religious, one oi the most learned men of the day, the Abbot dell’ Aquila,1 Professor at the Royal University, informing me that in the Dictionary which he is publishing, he will speak in eulogy of the Evidences of Faith. “ This work has pleased me very much," he says, “because / find in it the most abstruse questions of religion explained with brevity and clearness.” As to the Dissertation on the Probable Opinion, he declares that he prefers it to any work that has appeared on this subject. A word now about the additions for the Moral. I told you last week that I would send you via Rome the addi­ tions belonging to the first volume. But they write me 1 Don Prospero dell’ Aquila, Abbot of Monte Vergine. 232 Special Correspondence. [part 11. from Naples that it is difficult just now to forward them to Rome by water, as was usually done. I have, therefore, resolved to transmit them by a more secure route, that is, to confide them to a friend of mine who is going to Rome in November. Meantime, I expect to prepare the addi­ tions destined for the second and third volumes, and send them all together, and, as I said, by a more secure route. I dread these additions being lost on the way, for it would be morally impossible for me to repeat the work I managed to accomplish with my companions, on the occasion of my sojourn at Nocera for my health. Meantime, please write to Signor Agazzi and instruct him to transmit to you the box containing these manuscripts as soon as he receives it. 1 am waiting for the copies of the Homo Apostolicus, also, for a letter from you acknowledging the receipt of the additions. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [/< 0'.] Please acknowledge at once the receipt of this letter. Accept me compliments. Live Jesus and Mary ! After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. SER. I.-1763.] To the Same. l ie speaks of the despatch of the additions for the Moral, and states his reason for having his works printed at Venice Live Jesus and Mary Arienzo, October 24, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: In my last letter, I wrote that I would yield to your solicitations and forward the additions belonging to the first volume. I was, however, unable to find a favorable opportunity to send them to Koine, and I am now thinking of sending them to you by a surer route, that is, through the medium of a friend. For some time past I have been occupied in preparing these additions, as also those of the second and third volumes. I completed the task to-day and prepared the writings for shipment. Next month, taking advantage of the opportunity to which I referred, I shall transmit them to you, via Rome, through Signor Agazzi. I beg you to write to Signor Agazzi to secure the little box. If these papers should go astray, I could not rewrite them. When you print the work, do not forget to insert the writings of bather Zaccaria and Father Mansi, as they are very useful. By this time, I trust, you have received not first, but also the second batch of folios of the new work, entitled : Guide for Country Confessors. Have it revised immediately, and print it in small Roman type. 1 repeat it : 1 am extremely anxious to see this work printed at Venice, for at Naples I have encountered a crotchety reviser, a man certainly little versed in Moral Theology who, from the very first, began to contradict me, without right or reason, in a Special Correspondence, [PART 11. number of points. For the sake of my peace of mind therefore, I desired to have the book published at Venice and that as soon as possible. 1 am waiting for the Homo Apostolicus. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER I 14. To the Same. He sends the additions spoken of in the last letter.— Various recommendations. Live Jesus and Mary ! Arienzo, October 25, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: I send you enclosed all the addi­ tions, those of the first, as well as those of the second and third volumes. For each addition, 1 was careful to indicate the exact page, number and line, a thing that cost me no little labor. Before commencing to print the book, it would be well, I think, to arrange each addition and attach it with a wafer at the place in which it belongs, as is marked at the beginning of every addition. You might use for this purpose a copy of the last edition, published at Bologna in 1760.1 W ithout this precaution, 1 am afraid the compositor might omit a number of additions, and the printing once finished, they could not be inserted. The compositor will, therefore, have before his eyes each addition as he comes to the place for which it is destined. 1 The fourth edition. SER. I.-1763.] Moreover, some one should mark with a pen the reference­ signs or asterisks corresponding to the wafered additions. I did this with the second edition. I sent you a complete copy with the additions attached to their respective places, and with the references properly indicated. For this, you will need a person experienced in such work, one who understands the printed text: otherwise, a great many errors may slip in ; the more so, as certain points will have to be enlarged, and others suppressed, as I have indicated in the manuscript. I entreat you to reflect attentively on what I have just written, and tell the person who will have charge of the printing, to read this letter before beginning the work, and not to fail to insert all the additions at their respective places. This person, I repeat, should be experienced and able to understand the printed text, else there will result numberless errors, for which you and I shall have to blush. Rest assured that, with the additions 1 am sending you, you will possess a Moral unequalled, at least for its numer­ ous citations and the new decrees that it contains. Certain­ ly, no other work has them. Please do not eliminate the Prolegomena of Father Zaccaria and the Epitome, of Father Mansi. Some writers disdain to insert in their works the compositions of others ; but for my part, 1 am not in the least opposed to it, as I Insert, likewise, the other printed appendix. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishofi of Sant' Agata. [/Λ Λ*.] The sending of the additions furnishes me an opportunity to transmit to you a second time my new book for country confessors. It is a long time since 1 sent you the folios of this work by post, but you have informed me 236 Special Correspondence. [PART II. lately that you never received them. Then I took the trouble to rewrite the work, and arranged everything that was necessary. I beg you once more to print it as quickly as possible, that I may be able soon to sell it in my diocese and else­ where, for many are asking for it. This little book will, I trust, do a great amount of good. That is the reason the devil has taken so much trouble to prevent its appearance. As soon as you receive the little box, please send me word. Till then I shall have no rest, through fear of losing this book, which I cannot again commence. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ! Please tell the compositor, also, the reviser, to insert the marginal numbers at the places in which they are wanting in the large Moral: for through the negligence of the com­ positor they have been frequently omitted. I speak of the last edition of the Moral. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER I 15. To the Same. He promises to send him a new copy of the Guide for Country Confessors. — Recommendations relative to the coming edition of the Moral and the complete edition of the ascetical works. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sani’ Agata de’ Goti, November j3) Most Illustrious Sir: I am pleased to learn froln yOur last letter that you have received the little works. But θ the other hand, I am sorry that the Guide for Country Confessors has not yet reached you. I sent it bv SER 1 -1763.I Letter z/5. one part at first, and the remainder on another occasion. God knows in what nook both are detained ! What causes me the most regret is the fact that I had revised the whole o copy sent, and introduced into it many slight emendations. But enough. I shall revise the work once more and o send it to you, not by post, but by the courier. For this I shall avail myself, as you advise me, of Signor Giovannantonio Moschini. I have already written to ascertain his address at Naples. You neglected to mention whether this friend-of yours is o * a bookseller or a merchant. Please let me know his busi­ ness at once. 1 have written to Naples to have inquiries made concerning him, especially among the booksellers, from whom, 1 trust, we shall receive some intelligence. I shall then transmit to you, through this Signor Moschini, the second copy. Should you, however, receive the first copy meanwhile, have it revised at once and printed, I pray you. Oh, how many are longing for this work ! With regard to the additions for the Morat, I inform you, I think I mentioned it before, that I have sent them to you through a friend of mine, who undertook to see that they reach Signor Agazzi at Rome. All the additions are together, those of the second and third volumes with those o of the first. Please write once more to Signor Agazzi to secure them. They have all been forwarded. Do not fail, 1 beg you, to insert the writings of Father Zaccaria and Father Mansi. They are very instructive and give an extra value to the work. I am waiting for the Homo Apostoticus. Send it to me at the first favorable opportunity. Tell me soon that you have begun the printing of the complete edition of my ascetical writings, so much desired by many. You now have all my ascetical works. I entreat you to afford me Specia I Correspon den ce. [PART II soon the consolation of seeing them published in one edi­ tion. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER I 16. To the Same. He recommends him to print the Guide for Country Con­ fessors, and to circulate the Homo Apostolicus. Live Jesus and Mary ! Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, December 2, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: 1 am in receipt of two esteemed letters from you. In reply I must state that last week I confided the packet to Signor I). Giovannantonio Moschini. It contains all the additions for the Moral. 1 had already sent it to be forwarded to Agazzi, but having received your letter in good time, I despatched to Naples to have the box returned; fortunately, it had not yet left Naples for Rome, and I had it transmitted to Signor Moschini who, by this date, I trust, has sent it to you. I put into the box also a second copy of the Guide for Country Confessors, in which I have inserted a number of small additions ; I took the trouble to correct and arrange the work again, so as to send it to you complete, divining, perhaps, what would occur and what, in fact, did occur, as you informed me, that you had received the second batch of folios, and not the first. God knows into what nook this latter may have fallen ! I repeat my request to you to have the book printed as s?:r ι -1763.] Letter J16. 239 soon as possible after the receipt of the folios. Do not omit to insert the royal approbation which, you will per­ ceive, is printed at the beginning·. Once more I beg you to print the work in small Roman type and in duodecimo, for thus it will be more handy. I expect to receive the Iloin 0 Apostolicus as soon as God supplies a vessel to bring them to me. If you have any copies of the Italian Instruction, send them to Father Ferrara: for here at Naples all the copies have been sold, and people are still asking for it. I hope to have the happiness of bearing that you have commenced printing the ascetical writings. I perceive you no longer say anything about it: but I can assure you. this edition will have a great sale, as the public is very anxious for it. 1 am afraid that death will overtake me before I shall have the consolation of beholding the collection printed. With regard to the Homo Apostolicus, 1 request you to circulate the work far and wide throughout the Christian world. If 1 mistake not, the book has been praised even in Germany; at least, so I am told. It is a work that can be used in seminaries for young men who arc beginning the study of Moral Theology. I know for a fact that the Jesuits, when preparing for the examination for jurisdiction, make use of the early edition of the Homo Apostolicus, though so full of mistakes, as to disgust the reader. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. ' After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. — 240 Spcci a I Correspon den ce. [PART 11. LETTER 11 7. To the Same. He thanks the publisher for some books presented to him, and sends some additions for the Guide for Country Con­ fessors. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant’ Agata de’ Goti, December 20, 1763. Most Illustrious Sir: I received lately your esteemed letter in which I learned of the generosity that prompted you to send me as a present the Bible commentated by Duhamel,1 fifty copies of the Homo Apostolicus, and one hundred Meditations, in 241110. 1 am extremly obliged to you for your kindness. I shall take care to secure these works from Signor Ernandez, and have the other copies of the Homo Apostolicus sold for you as quickly as possible. I learn from your letter that you have not yet received the first folios of the Guide for Country Confessors, which I sent to you in the beginning, under seven carlini postage. But it is useless to speak on that subject. Several weeks ago, I despatched to you through Signor Moschini a packet containing all the additions for the large Moral, and I also enclosed a second copy of the book in question, namely, the Guide, into which 1 introduced all necessary emenda­ tions. I hope that by this time everything will have reached you in safety. I send you the enclosed sheet containing two little addi­ tions to certain passages which should be arranged in better form in the book. Permit me to make a recommendation relative to these additions and to all those contained in the packet, of which there is a considerable number. Please 1 Jean Baptist du Hamel published, among other works, a Biblia Sacra, . . una cum selecti.· annotationibus .... Prokgomcnis, Tabulis . . . . illustrata. 241 Letter 7/8. SER. I.-1764.I attach with a wafer, in a copy of the work, each addition in its proper place. 1 have marked distinctly the respective places to which they belong. This should be done before you commence printing, else a great many necessary things will be omitted. Do not forget to begin, as soon as you can, the printing of the complete edition, otherwise called the Collection of Ascetical Writings. It is eagerly sought after. As soon as you receive the little box containing the addi­ tions, relieve my anxiety by letting me know, I beg you. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER I 18. 1 To the Same. l ie sends an important addition lor the Moral Theology. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant’ Agata de' Goti, January 19, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: For a long time past I have had no letter from you. At present 1 have nothing to write except to ask you to keep and insert at its proper place, the en1 According to the chronological order we are following, this would be the proper place for a very lengthy letter of January 16, 1764, entitled; ” Apology to a Letter of a Religious concerning the Use of the Equi-Probable Opinion.” But as this letter has been already published in a number of collections, we omit it here so as not to make the volume too bulky. We have acted in like manner with certain other important letters belonging to the Second Series of the Special Correspondence, such as the “ Letter to a Religious on the Apostolic Manner of Preaching”, and the “ Letter to a Bishop on the Great Utility of the Holy Missions”. 16 242 Special Correspondence. [part ii. closed addition for the Moral Theology. It is important, inas­ much as it is a retraction I have found necessary to make of an opinion contained in the work. I changed this opinion lately in consequence of a case that occurred in my diocese. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sani' Agata. [B. Λ'.] I trust that by this you have received the packet containing all the additions, as also a new copy of the Guide for Country Confessors, rearranged in a style similar to the first. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER I 19. To the Same. He again recommends the printing of the ascetical collec­ tion and speaks of a Letter of Apology to be inserted at the end of the Guide for Country Confessors. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant’ Aga va [January] 29, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir : Your letter has just come to hand and 1 see by it that you have not yet received the packet. I hope, however, that it will have arrived by the time you receive this; I beg you to inform me of the fact at once, and free me from anxiety. The copies of the Homo Apostolicus have arrived at Manfredonia. The \essel is, however, quarantined, 1 am told, and I have been unable as yet to get the books. Yes, it is true that we have no more copies of the Italian Instruction. Send some as soon as possible. Your letter leads me to hope that once you have finished SER. I -1764.1 Letter 120. 243 the printing oi the Moral, I may see you begin the complete edition of my ascctical writings. Do not forget: as soon as the Moral is completed, begin the ascetical collection. Let me sec it printed before 1 die. l· rom all that I hear, it will have an immense sale. I have written an Apologetic Rejoinder 1 to a letter oi a religious in which he takes me to task for not following in Moral, as 1 ought, the Rigorist System. The Rejoinder is short, but replete with matter. 1 hose who have read it, are much pleased with it. It should be inserted at the end of the Guide for Country Confessors. As soon as I have finished it, I shall forward it to you. It will require no more than a single folio or so. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 120. To the Same. He sends him the Apologetic Rejoinder mentioned in the preceding. Live Jesus and Mary! Sant’ Agata, February 14, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: I am very glad to hear that you have received the packet containing the additions, as also the little work for Country Confessors. I herewith send you a new sheet; it was not a thing to be put in the packet. It should be inserted at the end of the aforesaid work. As soon as you receive it, inform me of 1 Mention has been made of this in the note to the preceding letter. 244 Special Correspondence. [PART 11 the fact, for I am very anxious to have it inserted in the work. As regards the work itself, I hope that you have already begun to print it as you promised. I am daily expecting some news about the books sent to Manfredonia. I have even written twice to Signor D. Mat­ teo Ernandez, but as yet have received no answer. I think the quarantine is over, at least, so I am informed. But enough on this subject. As soon as the books arrive, your desire to have them circulated will be complied with. I retain ever the firm hope that as soon as the edition of the Moral is completed, you will begin work on the com­ plete edition, otherwise called Collection oj Ascetical I Tritings. When you have finished the Guide for Country Con­ fessors, send me some copies. 1 shall have them sold with­ out delay. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Aga ta. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 121. To the Same. A correction to be inserted in the Moral. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sam’ Agata, February 17, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: Last week I wrote you how happy I was to hear that you had received the packet. I now send you the enclosed little sheet to be inserted in the Moral at the place indicated. The first addition must be changed and this substituted for it. SER. I.-1764.] I trust that by this time you have received also the letter in which I enclosed a printed folio, to be added to the Guide for Country Confessors. It is a reply relative to the use of the probable opinion.1 As soon as you receive the letter containing the said folio, be so kind as to inform me; or let me know il you have not received it, even after the present letter reaches you. No more at present. remain Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Dishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. To the Same. He speaks of a correction to be made in the title-page of the Guide for Country Confessors. He expresses his re­ gret that the new edition of the Moral was very imperfect, and recommends to the publisher to substitute the new treat­ ise De Conscientia for the old one. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Most Illustrious Sir: Yesterday I received another letter from you, as also the three title-pages accompanying it. In that of the Guide, the following is not altogether cor­ rect: Devised and Enlarged by the Author, and containing al the End an Apologetic Dissertation. The latter is not a dissertation, but a reply in which I answer certain objections of a religious, which objections are not at all doctrinal. It should be, therefore, an Apologetic Rejoinder and not a Dis­ sertation, the more so, since it is very short. It has been 1 *· The Apologetic Rejoinder” mentioned in the preceding letters. r6* 246 Special Correspondence. [PART 11. already printed, and I sent it to you some weeks ago in a letter as it was not worth while forwarding it in the packet. I entreat you not to publish the book before you have inserted this Rejoinder. If, perchance, it has been lost on the way, let me know, and I shall send you another copy. We have written repeatedly to Signor Ernandez, but have received no answer. Only yesterday word came from Naples that the vessel with the books is at Manfredonia, but it must make the severe quarantine of forty days. Here, then, is another delay. But enough of this : as soon as the books arrive, I shall attend to their sale, and recom­ mend the same to Father Ferrara. I learn that you have already reprinted the Moral; but it is the old one. I imagine you must have placed at the end of the book the additions that were to be inserted; for in all likelihood they reached you only after the greater part of the printing was completed. Now, the best and most important additions are those belonging to the first volume, especially those destined for the first book.1 But it is idle to talk on this matter, what is done is done. To tell the truth, 1 could not help feeling grieved, for between the old edition and the new one, which I had hoped to see published, the difference is as great as between heaven and earth. Owing to the new additions, the entire Moral, and in particular the first book which is, so to speak, the foundation of the work, would have gained very much in clearness. Moreover, many important questions have been strengthened with additions, others have been corrected. And if. indeed, my work, as far as additions and corrections are concerned, is finished, it is none the 1 1'he saint alludes to the treatises !)e Conscientia and De Actibus /funium', composed at Nocera in the preceding year (see Letters 107 and io<)|, and to the “ holt Dissertation on the I se of the Probable Opinion** \s u ||| seen from the letter of Septetnl 15, 1765. he had translated this dissertation into Latin, and desired to have it inserted in the new edition of the Moral. SER. I.-1764.] Letter 122. 247 less true that to got them all in shape and proper order, I myself, together with the companions assisting me, was employed seven or eight hours every day for two months last summer. In doing this I have, I may say, even risked my life, for I underwent this labor when I had not yet fully recovered from an almost mortal sickness with which I had been afflicted only a short time previously. I hurried with the work, as I thought you were waiting lor it. Certainly, you would have had to wait only a few months. However, as I remarked before, what is done is done. I regret that these additions and corrections, the fruit of so much labor, will lie idle so long. I beg you to have them, at least, carefully preserved that they may not be lost. If this misfortune should happen, I cannot answer for myself to begin them anew. One remark 1 wish to make is this: it would be well to change the treatise De Conscientia, and substitute lor it the one I last wrote. The former is, 1 acknowledge, very confused. You might, therefore, have this new one printed and omit the old. It is not a bad idea to have informed me of this new edition ; for knowing this, those who may wish to purchase the Moral Theology according to my latest emendations, will not be deceived by buying the old work. Let me know how soon you will begin a new edition, that I may inform my subjects and friends. 1 see that on the title-page, the name of Busenbaum has been omitted. Now, anyone who will read the text in the body of the work and then see my comments thereon, il he is not aware that the text is from another author, will esteem me altogether stupid, thinking, as he must, that I am the author of both the text and the commentary. What harm would it be to mention Busenbaum, if it were only to prevent this confusion? At least you could insert the following on the title-page: Adest autem, in J 248 Special Correspondence, [PART II. corporc operis^ textus alterius antiqui professoris scientia moralis, cui ab initio Auctor suas adnotationes adnectcrc placuit; these or similar words.1 But do as you think best. I am, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and obedient servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 123. To the Same. lie complains of the high price of the Homo Apostolicus, and speaks of one or two works he would like to compose. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Sant’ Agata, March 26,1764. Most Illustrious Sir: I received your last letter from which 1 learn that you have nearly finished printing the Country Confessore I thank you for your present. As soon as the copies arrive, I shall have them sold among my clergy. 'l'he Homo Apostolicus, I have been informed, has ar­ rived at Naples, bather Ferrara, who is here on a casual visit, tells me that the price is too high. I regret this, for here in Naples, when people think the price somewhat dear, they will have nothing to do with the book ; and this they will do the more readily in the present case, as many will recall the old Homo Apostolicus which, I understand, was much cheaper. I Rcmondini failed to comply with the wishes of the saint. He made no addition or correction, either in the title-page or in the first book. Thus, through his fault, the old dissertation on Probabilism was retained. We have made this remark before, note I, Letter too, p. 203. - “Guide for Country0 Confessors." Μ· 249 1 thank you for the copies of the Moral Theology, also. But I hope that by July, as you promised me, you will have begun the printing of the newly-revised Moral. Cer­ tainly, the difference between this and the preceding editions, is as great as between heaven and earth. My time is altogether taken up with the duties of the episcopate. Were this not the case, I should write some new work. I have begun a compendium of the history of the Council of Trent according to Cardinal Pallavicino, restricting myself to what regards the definitions of dogma. I have begun, I say, but God knows when 1 shall finish.1 1 should like also to compose a Catechism or Series of Instructions on the commandments and confession, for the use of the missions. I am afraid, however, that I shall be unable to do so from lack of time.2 Once you have finished the works of Benedict XIV., you will, I hope, fulfil your promise by commencing to print the ascetical collection. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso Maria, ~T C·____ Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 1 This compendium appeared in 1767 under the title: Dogmatic Work against the Pretended Reformers”. - This work was completed and published in 1768, and bore the title: “ Instructions on the Commandments and Sacraments.” Special Correspondence. [ΙΆΚΤ Π. LETTER 124. To the Same. He points out the manner of inserting the additions in the fifth edition of the Moral, and in the edition about to he undertaken. He asks for information concerning a Reply that is to he made to his Dissertation, and declares that he will never retract the opinions contained in the latter, unless convinced of the contrary in essential points—a thing he believes impossible. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Saxi’ Agata, March 31, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: I am in receipt of your last letter. My sincere thanks for the many beautiful books you send me. As soon as the new course of Moral Theology begins at the seminary, I shall have your copies of the Homo Apostolicus put on sale. You are thinking, you tell me, of inserting my additions at the end of the Moral, and you request my opinion on the matter. 1 understand you to be speaking of the last edition, for in your letter you say: for a small number of copies. The idea is a good one. The reviser should, however, indicate at the beginning of each addition the place to which it belongs. With regard to the future edition, all these notes should certainly be inserted in their respective places; for many points have been developed, and numerous others amended ; many passages, too, are to be eliminated, and their places supplied by others. I am very much obliged to you for the news you send me, namely, that the esteemed Lather Patuzzi is composing a Reply to my Dissertation. SER. I.-1764.] Letter 124. 25* I am waiting with impatience for the work, and I beg you to send it to me as quickly as possible. Forward the sheets in your letters as soon as you print them.1 I have, indeed, promised in my Dissertation, as well as in my Letter* to retract publicly, whenever convinced of the truth of the opinion contrary to that which I maintain. I have consulted on this question many learned and impartial men, some belonging to the Order of which Father Patuzzi is a member, others to that to which Father Berti belongs. After a calm, unprejudiced perusal of my Dissertation, they have declared that what 1 teach is clear, nay, that it is not merely an opinion but a demonstration. More than one learned person, former adherents of the contrary opinion, have changed their mind after reading my Dissertation, which they declare unanswerable. If, however, any one wishes to reply to it merely for the sake of answering, he will certainly find matter enough even in the mere accessory details. But it is in essential points, as 1 have written both in my Dissertation and in my Letter, that I wish to be shown my error. If this is not donc, I cannot in conscience retract; and if it becomes necessary, I shall write a new Reply. I hold Father Patuzzi and Father Berti in high estima­ tion, for they are really learned men; but only God and the Church are infallible. To assert, then, that I have written in a passion or to follow the Jesuits, is to accuse me of a very great offence. In plain language, it means that I’ know the truth, but rather than abandon the Jesuits or my own pet opinion, I am obstinate in my defence of falsehood. This charge I repel. 1 hold the opinion in question, because I consider it the one to be followed in conscience. 1 Remondini was also the editor of Father Patuzzi’s works. - “ Apologetic Rejoinder concerning the Use of the Equi-Probable Opinion. ” a 252 Special Correspondence. (part 11. I am convinced that that coniessor is not acting with a good conscience who wishes to oblige a penitent in con­ fession to follow the more safe opinion when there is ques­ tion of opinions equally probable. To such as are followers of the rigid opinion, I do not believe 1 could, without scruple of conscience, give faculties to hear confessions. This is the truth, and 1 confess it before God. For the rest, let my accusers say what they will. I would ask you furthermore, if ever an opportunity presents itself, to have the Patriarch 1 read this last Let­ ter 2 which has been printed at the end of the Country Confessor. Once more I thank you for the many acts of kindness you have done me, for the affection you show me, and for the ardor with which you undertake my defence. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your most humble and devoted servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Sgata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. 1 The Patriarch of Venice, Mgr. Giovanni Bragadino. •2 He alludes to the “ Apologetic Rejoinder concerning the Use of the Equi-Probable Opinion”. SER. 1.-1761 ) To the Same. He informs him of the arrival of a package of books, and alludes to the difficulty of selling them at that season of the year. He recommends the printing of the new edition of the Moral Theology, and asks for the Reply of Father Patuzzi. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Most·Illustrious Sir: I have received your last letter, dated April 21, and at the same time information from Naples of the arrival of a package containing the works re­ cently printed, among them the Country Confessor. You may rest assured that I will attend to the sale of these books at the right time. I say: at the right time; for just now by reason of the very severe famine we have undergone in this part of the country, our people and clergy are so reduced that it would be out of the question, to ask them to buy books.1 We must wait till harvest-time. I shall give to Father Ferrara the instructions you send me. I am expecting to see you undertake, according to promise, the new edition of the Moral, as also that of the Ascetical Writings as soon as the works of Benedict XIV. are completed. Do not forget to send me the folios of Father Patuzzi’s Reply as soon as you print them. Assuring you of my most profound respect, I am, Illus­ trious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, [P. 0’.] Another word. Rishop of Sant' Agata. Father Ferrara declares that 254 Special Correspondence. [PART II. the price, seven lire ten grains, for the Homo Apostolicus is too high, for the simple reason that it is impossible to sell them in these parts for more than eight carlini apiece. On the other hand there is the expense of binding, and what is still greater, the shipping charges and custom tax, which have almost doubled on account of the quarantine. Deducting, then, four lire ten grains, the remainder is but a trifle. However, as I mentioned before, I shall tell Father Ferrara what you have written. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 126. To the Same. Sad results of the famine.—Recommendations relative to the printing of the Mora/.—Favorable reception accorded to the Apologetic Rejoinder at Rome. Live Jesus and Mary S\ni’ Agata, May 2j. 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: Your last letter came to hand, along with one from bather Ferrara. He tells me that it will be impossible to sell the books until the harvest, so great is the distress caused throughout the kingdom by the famine of this year. I myself must wait till this pitiable condition of things is over, before 1 can recommend the Homo Apo­ stolic us or the Country Confessor to my clergy. Two hundred thousand, I hear, have up to the present died of famine in the kingdom. 1 say, up to the present, for harvest-time is still one month off. Father Ferrara writes, also, that the price of the Country Confessor is too high. When bound, it will cost thirty- SER. I -1764.] four grains,1 he says, whereas no one will pay more than eighteen grains 2 for it, or, at most, two carlini* I am very much pleased to know that you will soon begin the new edition of my Moral enriched with all the additions. I learn, also, with satisfaction that the last edition is selling well. The new one will appear on that account so much the sooner. It will certainly be the last edition published in my life-time. I am, therefore, dcsirous that it should be a success in every respect, namely, that it be corrected by an able reviser and printed on good paper. Good paper, you know, makes the print clearer and renders the author’s words more pleasing; whilst, on the other hand, if the paper is poor, the print also suffers and what the author says appears, even to himself, half stupid. Please inform me as to the precise time that you intend to begin this new edition.1 I shall then send you some short additions pertaining to points of importance. I have them all prepared. I do not send them to you now,, but when the time comes I shall forward all the additions together; meantime, I shall collect other necessary emen­ dations which may J occur to me. I am waiting to receive from you the folios of Father Patuzzi’s Reply as soon as you print them. Some days * ago, <75 I received information J that my Leiter of Apology, which has been inserted in the Country Con­ fessor, had found its way into the hands of the Cardinals and even of the Pope. A friend of mine writing from Rome tells me that «three Cardinals assured him that the Pope enjoyed the work infinitely. These are his own words. I have commenced the perusal of the books of Father Patuzzi, that is, the Latin works you sent me. They are indeed very learned, but 1 sec that in regard to the ques­ 1 28 cents of our money. 2 *5 cents. 3 17 cents. 4 This edition, the sixth, which the saint thought so near at hand, appeared only in the year 176 256 Special Correspondence. [PART 11 tion about the Probable Opinion it will be a difficult thing for us to come to an agreement. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [/< .S'.] Once again I would call to your mind my recommendation in regard to the size of the new edition of the Moral. Publish it in quarto as this will certainly meet with more approval. Moreover, it is but proper that, as this new edition is unquestionably better than all preceding ones, it should have a special form. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 127. To the Same. He sends some additions for the Moral and acknowledges the receipt of the copies of the Country Confessor. He com­ plains that Remondini has added to the latter an unneces­ sary Latin dissertation which renders the sale of the book very difficult. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant’ Agata, June 3, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: I thought it necessary to send you some new additions which must be inserted in the coming edition of the Moral. Please see that they are carefully preserved along with the others. It would be well to insert them at once in their respective places. Be sure to inform me of their receipt, for in case they do not reach you, 1 shall forward to you another copy of them which 1 have had made for that purpose. Last week I received the bound copies of the Country Confessor. I am sorry that you have seen fit to add to it SER. 1 -1761.J he Latin Dissertation 1 which is altogether useless to the poorly instructed priests for whom this work is intended. It would have been more to the purpose to insert the Italian version. You could have printed a number of copies apart from the work, and have them sold separately. Demands for the latter have come to me from all sides, the Dissertation having been extolled even by some partisans . of the Kigorist School, whom it has caused to change their opinion on the point in question. To return to the work itself. There was no necessity for either the Latin or the Italian Dissertation, since at the very beginning of the first treatise, I took care to insert an abridgment of the entire Dissertation. That was certainly sufficient. Besides, this Latin version, which covers many pages, has increased the price of the book. I shall have difficulty in circulating it among my priests at the price Jyou ask for it. I do not want forty per cent, in fact I want nothing for selling these books. I am even willing to reimburse you for the expenses of freight and duty that you have been obliged to incur, and which this year have been twice as great as heretofore. 01 the copies I had printed at Naples, I have sold a few at the low price of seventeen grains 2 apiece. These con­ tain, besides, the Letter of Apology. The highest price, therefore, at which I could sell your copies, binding in­ cluded, would be two carlinip Were we to demand more, we should run the risk of having the copies on our hands, for my priests are many and poor, and to them an outlay of two cyrlini is a considerable expense. I shall endeavor to sell the work as best I can. What1 “ Dissertatio de usu moderato opinionis probabilis. - About 14 cents. 3 About 17 cents. 17 Ii 258 Special Correspondence. [part 11. ever accrues from the sale I shall forward to you, and, as 1 said, even reimburse the expense of transporta­ tion. What I have just said, regards myself. As to Father Ferrara, I told you on a previous occasion that he declared he could not attempt to sell the book for the price you ask. He would cither find no purchaser or would have to make up the deficit from his own pocket. I regret that things are in this condition, as the work,7 which would be of ogreat * usefulness to many country priests, will thus remain unsold. In this matter of the sale of the books, I would advise you to make some arrangement with Father Ferrara about the price, engaging him to sell them for the highest sum he can get. The Latin Dissertation, of which I spoke before, is more harmful than beneficial to the sale of the work. The priests who have need of the book, are not great friends of the Latin language, and, as soon as they see those pages, which are so much useless matter for them, they will refuse to buy it, especially when they find that they cannot get it at a reasonable price. I have written thus at length for your good. Now you may do as you think best. Send some copies to Signor Stasi or some other bookseller of Naples, that the work may become known in the capital, λ’ου will be able to sell quite a number of copies there. I know for a fact that “ The Confessor in Hamlet and Village”, the work of a Neapolitan priest, has had an im­ mense sale ; now mine surely surpasses it in abundance of doctrine and thoroughness. My book suffices for the coun­ try' confessor, but this one does not. 1 expect to hear shortly that you have begun work on the new edition of the Moral. Leiter 128. SER. I.-1764.] 259 I am reading the Latin works of Father Patuzzi tha( sent me; they are very beautiful. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Rishoj) of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. / LETTER 128. To the Same. He asks for the folios of Father Patuzzi’s work as they issue from the press. He again alludes to the difficulty of selling the books. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant’ Agata, June 8, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: I have just received your last letter, dated May 26, and from it I learn that Father Patuzzi has sent you the original oi the book he is writing against me.1 I request you to do me the favor of sending me by letter the printed sheets just as they come from the press. You need have no fear that the secret will be discovered, I shall take all necessary precaution. I regret that your letters will arrive during the time of the 1 This book was entitled: “ The Cause of Probabilism discussed by Mgr. 1). Alfonso de Liguori and once more Convicted of fal­ sity by Adclfo Dositeo, or, A Reply to the Short Dissertation on the Modera e Use of the Probable Opinion. Dedicated to His Grace, Mgr. Giuseppe Maria Saporiti, Archbishop of Genoa, Per­ petual Abbot of S. Siro, etc., etc.—Ferrara, 1764. Publisher, Ré­ mond ini.” 200 Specia I Correspon dence. [PART II. Pastoral Visitation, as I shall then be so occupied as hardly to have time to read the sheets. Do not send the sheets singly, for the perusal of them at separate intervals would prevent me from drawing the right conclusion therefrom. Such a manner of reading them would serve only to confuse my mind. A better plan would be to send three, or, at least, two folios at a time. Despatch them to me at once, just as they issue from the press. A word about the sale of the Homo Apostolicus and the Country Confessor. As far as I am concerned, I entreat you to leave me free to act as I think best. I have no desire to gain a single cent from the sale. All that I shall receive for the books, shall be forwarded to you, deduction being made for binding. But I repeat, for the present we must have patience and wait till September. My priests arc not in a condition just now to think of buying books. l'he time to pay the tax Pastor Bonus 1 is come, and I can­ not exact a thing from them. As regards the price, I shall sell the books as best I can. As far as Father Ferrara is concerned, he says that it is impossible for him to sell the books at the price fixed by you. Please arrange matters with him yourself. He is now at a distance from me. I see him but rarely and we have very little correspondence with each other. I am glad to hear that you intend to begin the Moral Theology as soon as you have finished the works of Bene­ dict XIV. Father Patuzzi starts out boldly from the very title of his 1 An annual tax which had to be contributed toward the support of the episcopal mcnsa. SER. I.-1764.] Letter 129. 261 book. He begins to speak of falsity before he even intro duces his subject. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. letter 129. To the Same. He thanks the publisher for issuing the new edition of the Moral in quarto, and refers again to the sale and price of the books. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Most Illustrious Sir: I am answering your favor of the 9th of June, from a place in my diocese in which I am holding C» Visitation. The new additions that I was to transmit before beginning the Visitation, have been sent to you. I hope you have received them by tins time; but if, unfortunately, they have gone astray, let me know. I shall send them to you once more, as I have retained copies of them. O what pleasure you have afforded me by giving me to understand that the new edition ol the Moral will be issued in quarto ! 1 had entertained misgivings as to your willing­ ness to satisfy me on this point. You may rest assured that in this form the book will have a much larger sale, as eryone wanted to have it thus. Besides, this edition 202 Special Correspondence. [part π. will certainly be the last, as it is the best arranged and most complete. ;? With regard to the price of the books, I repeat once more, 1 do not desire to gain the least profit from those that I sell in my diocese, namely, the Homo Apostolicus and the Guide for Country Conf essors. Whatever accrues from the sale, shall be forwarded to yon after deducting expenses. We must, however, practise a little patience. My priests are so impoverished that they have not even paid what they owe me. I cannot possibly sell the Confessor for more than two carlini; for the Latin Dissertation which accompanies it, will be, as 1 have already informed you, entirely useless to those priests who will buy the work. Nor can I sell the Homo Apostolicus for more than eight carlini. But enough. As f«ir as 1 am concerned, I shall send you all that accrues from the sale. I cannot say what Father Ferrara will do. The Con­ fessor already comes to two carlini, counting the cost of binding and transportation ; and if he sells the Homo Apo­ stolicus for eight, 1 do not see what profit he will make. But I have said enough on this subject. Come to some agreement with him yourself concerning the price of these books, as, being at a distance, I never see him, and we correspond but rarely. When the time comes, you will, I hope, let me know that you have begun work on the new edition of die Moral. 1 am anxiously awaiting this news. 1 remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. 203 SER. Ι.-1764.Ι [Λ S.] I am anxiously awaiting the sheets of Father Patuzzi’s work. Send them as soon as possible. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER I 30. To the Same. Weakness of the arguments of Father Patuzzi against the Dissertation of the saint.—Injustice of a Dominican reviser. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Frasso, July 13, 1764. A’ost Illustrious Sir: I have received the printed sheets of the Reply, and I am extremely thankful to yoti for sending them. As they arrived only this morning, I have not yet finished reading them. I have examined several observations of the author con­ cerning the principal point of my Dissertation, and I find not one of them conclusive. I shall wait for the rest of the sheets to sec if they contain anything more convincing. Meanwhile, I understand that my Dissertation has won over to my way of thinking quite a number formerly of the contrary opinion. To speak of one in particular, I learned this very morning that the Abbot dell’ Aquila of Monte Vergine, who at first held the opinion contrary to mine, has inserted a grand eulogy of my Dissertation and System, in the third volume of his “Dictionary of Theology’’, now being printed. Unfortunately, however, the reviser of the work happened to be a certain Dominican, who, forgetful of all justice, insisted that the whole paragraph in praise of my position should be omitted, because, forsooth, it is not in 264 Special Correspondence. [part h. conformity with the opinion maintained by the Domini­ cans. It is clear, then, that these Reverend Fathers are acting through passion and not according to reason, for they will not permit a person to say what he thinks. But God is on the side of truth. If I defend the Jesuits, it is not because I have relatives among them or because I have been their pupil. No, I am defending what I believe before God to be the truth. I am waiting with impatience for the folios.1 Once more, I am very thankful to you for sending them to me. I shall not forget your kindness. Send me word as soon as vou receive the new additions for the Moral. I repeat again, if they should go astray, I shall forward a second copy, as I have retained the orig­ inals. With regard to the Ch ide for Country Confessors. I do not at all regret, so far as I am concerned, that you added thereto the Latin Dissertation. I was speaking solely with a view to your interest, since this Dissertation has put you to some expense, and the priests for whom the work is intended, are not much in love with the Latin language. I will even go further, and say that there was no necessity for inserting the Italian Dissertation in the new edition, as I had placed a summary of it at the very beginning of the book. This summary will suffice for the priests for whom the work is intended. As regards the price, I declare again 1 shall forward to you whatever results from the sale. But we must have a little patience; for so much money left the kingdom during the famine that our people arc in very straightened circumstances. The loss entailed will hardly be repaired for twenty years to come. 1 Father Patuzzi’s A’r/Zj', | SER. I.-1764.] Letter iji. I shall commend your interests, to the best of my power, to Father Ferrara. Tendering you my most humble respects, I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, * Bishop of Sant' Agata. [Λ 3.] I am pleased that Father Patuzzi is writing against me. In this way the truth will be brought out the more clearly, and I desire nothing else. Still a word. I have given another look at the Reply of Father Patuzzi, and I am very glad that he has written against me! I see that he does not in the least overthrow either my System or my propositions. Such a reply, therefore, will result in setting my System in a clearer light. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 131. To the Same. Anxiety of the saint to have the Reply of Father Patuzzi. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Arpaia, July 31, 1764. I have received the new sheets of the Reply. Once more, thanks. I expect the others in a short time. I have nothing further to add, and remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [/< Λ'.] A friend of mine has charged me to ask you to forward the books designated on the enclosed slip. If you 206 Specia I Corrcspon den ce. (PART II. can procure them, please send them to me, and let me know the price. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome, LETTER 132. To the Same. He sends some additions for the Moral, and renews his request for the remaining pages of Father Patuzzi’s Reply. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Arpaia, August 14, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: I reply to your letter of the 14th of July, from which I learn that you have not received the additions. As they were only few, I did not think it worth while forwarding them through Signor Moschini, and I enclosed them in one of my letters. Besides, if what I am told be true, Signor Moschini has passed away to an­ other life, a victim of the pest raging at Naples. I am sending you the additions once more, and I beg you to have them inserted as soon as possible, in their respective places, that they may not be lost. 1 was disappointed at not finding in your letter the re­ maining pages of bather Patuzzi’s Reply, although you announced to me that thev* were enclosed, λ our secretary must have made a mistake, and sealed the letter before enclosing them. Please send me these pages as soon as possible. Ί hus far 1 have received two batches. I have, therefore, the entire collection down to the letter P inclusive. Folios 0 SER. I.-1764.I Letter 133. and the remaining are still wanting. 1 hope to receive them as soon as possible. I am, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishofi of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 133. To the Same. He again asks for the pages of Father Patuzzi’s work, and proposes to Remondini to print a Response to the same. Live Jesus and Mary! Am Enzo, August 18, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: Last week I acknowledged the receipt of a letter from you which contained, you said, the rest of the folios; but, by a mistake of your secretary, the folios were not enclosed, though the letter was carefully sealed. I hoped your secretary would this week rectify his mis­ take; but, to my great disappointment, I have received nothing, save the assurance that the sheets had been sent to me. I must, then, wait patiently another month for them. As likelyJ as not, 1 shall receive the work of Father 1’atuzzi from the booksellers of Naples before these last pages, which I so anxiously desire, come to hand. But enough on this subject. In case you have not received my last letter, 1 pray you, on the receipt of this to send me as quickly as possible the remaining folios from the letter O inclusive. 268 Special Correspondence. [PART 11. I have already sketched my Response to Father Patuzzi, and I am waiting for these folios to complete it. I am ready to retract, should these last convince me of error, though it will be quite a difficult thing; for if Father Patuz­ zi had any arguments decisive enough to prove my error, he would have brought them forward, or, at least, hinted at them ere now. 1 should like very much to know what class of people those were whom you mentioned in your letter, and who, after having read Father Patuzzi’s work, were not very loud in approving it. With regard to my Response, in case I resolve upon having it published, I shall not have it done at Naples, but at your establishment at Venice. If you wish to print it at your own expense, I shall be pleased : in that case, I shall pay for all the copies I need. If I publish it, I want to send it to many places, to Rome in particular, and especial­ ly to the Pope and Cardinals. I do not want you to present me with any copies. As I said before, all that I need I shall pay for. If, however, you are unwilling to print the work at your own expense, do so at mine. I do not want a great number of copies, only a few complimentary ones lor those I have just mentioned. In case I publish this Response, I shall first have a few copies printed at Naples. I say few, nay, very few, for I have good reasons for not wishing to have this work published here. I shall, therefore, have it printed secretly and without the requisite approbations. But you will say: 117/r this useless expense J I answer: I must incur this expense, first of all. that I may be able to make the correc­ tions to suit myself: for on the printed pages I correct not only expressions, but at times I change sentences and entire passages, a thing I cannot do on manuscript. In the second place, even if I were to make corrections on the SER. I.-1764 1 Letter zjy. 269 manuscript copy, I should be afraid to forward it to Venice and run the risk of losing it, as has happened to so many of the writings I sent you. But, if one printed copy goes astray, 1 can send another. Besides all this, my originals are entirely covered with marginal notes and erasures, as I am never contented, not even with myself. Now, with all these notes and erasures, your compositor would be very apt to commit many blunders, and upon me would devolve the task of correcting them. I believe my Response will not require more than seven or eight folios, perhaps less. Please let me have an answer in regard to the printing of this work which I shall in all probability give to the press. I shall then know how to act. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [/< .S’.] In my last letter I sent a new copy of the few additions that had gone astray. Let me know whether you received it. I shall then send you the other writ­ ings. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 134. To the Same. He requests an answer to the preceding letter, and sends an addition for the Moral. He asks the publisher to procure some works of St. Thomas. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Arienzo, September 19, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: I hoped by this time to have in my possession the remaining folios of Father Patuzzi’s work, 2~0 Special Correspondence. [part n. for your secretary committed the mistake (to which I have called attention a number of times), of not enclosing them in the letter. I have not yet received them, nor have I had a letter from you for a long time. I also wrote to you concerning the printing of my Response to the work of Father Patuzzi, and I requested you to inform me whether you would print it at your own expense or at mine. In the first case, I said, I would take several hundred copies, in proportion to the price, not indeed to sell, but to scatter in all directions. In the second case, I would tell you the exact number of copies I required. Please give me an answer as soon as possible, that 1 may know how to act. As I wrote to you before, I have very good reasons for not having this Response printed at Naples, but at Venice. I send you the enclosed addition which should be inserted at the beginning of the large Moral, namely, in the first chapter of my treatise (not that of Busenbaum) De Consci­ entia, at the 3d point, De Conscientia probabili, after number 32, in the place indicated in the accompanying sheet; I have marked everything careiully on this slip. 1 am, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. [/’. A.] A word more. In one ot the houses ol our Congregation we have the works ol St. I homas designated in the accompanying note. My companions desire you to procure for them the other works of St. I homas ol which no mention is therein made. [Enclosed note, written in another hand.] Of the works of St. Thomas, published at Venice, Giovanni Bettinelli, we have the following seventeen vol­ umes. 1. Commentaries on the Holy Scripture. 2. Commentaries on the Books of Sentences. 3. Other Short Commentaries. 4. De Potentia. 5. De Malo. 6. Two volumes De Virtutibus, De Veritate and De Quodlibcto. In all, 17 volumes in regular succession. The rest of the works of the holy Doctor are wanting. 7. Commentaries on the Epistles of St. Paul. 8. The Catena Aurea. . After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 135. To the Same. He again refers to the printing of his Apology, or Response to Father Patuzzi. Arienzo, September 23, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: Thanks be to God, I have at last received the remaining iolios of Father Patuzzi’s book. I have waited for them long and anxiously. I thank yon once more for your kindness. W ith regard to the printing of the Apology 1 which I am 1 We have seen before how Father Patuzzi, under the pseudonym of Adelfo Dositeo, had attacked the “Short Dissertation on the Moderate l’>e of the Probable Opinion” in a work entitled: “The ~i Δ Specia I Correspou den ce. [PART II composing in defence of my Dissertation, do not imagine that my commission to you for its publication is a divided contract. No, you alone are to do all the printing. As I wrote you from the very beginning, 1 have had printed, or rather I am having printed a few copies of this Apology, so as to be able to correct the work as I usually do, since on the printed sheet I change, add, and expunge many things. In fact, up to the present I have corrected three successive prints of these few pages, and some I shall have to revise a fourth time. But, as I mentioned to you, I have had this printing done secretly, for I do not care to have anything to do with the revisers here at Naples. I had a warm controversy with them over my book, the Guide for Country Confessors, and I have no desire to renew communications with them. 1 want to know which you would prefer: to publish at your own expense this Apolog y of mine, which will be quite short, six or at most seven folios being required, in which case 1 should purchase all the copies I need, not to sell, but to give away as presents; or would you rather do it on my account? If so, I shall tell you how many copies to print. I pray you, let me know which plan suits you better. Last week I sent you a letter containing a note to be added to the Moral, This edition of the work will certainly be the last. I expect to hear very’ soon that you have begun work on this last edition, which will, I trust, be received with univerCause of Probabilium, etc." The ftesjwnsi of the saint appeared under the title ·* Apology of His Lordship Mgr. Γ). Alfonso de Liguori, Bishop of Sant’ Agata de’ Goli, or a Defence of the Disser­ tation, etc against the Attacks of a Very Rev. F. Lector, who styles himself Adelfo Dositeo.” J SER I.-1764 ] Letter i36. sal favor. What a satisfaction for the public to learn that it will be issued in quarto ! I am now selling·, though slowly, the Guide for the Confessory When I have collected a respectable sum, 1 shall forward it to you. I have learned of the forwarding of the eight Cistercian Offices^ and their price. As soon as the books arrive, I shall have the bill collected at the monastery that has charged me to procure them. 1 have already indicated to them the price, twenty-four lire. I have nothing else to add. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop oj Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 136. To the Same. Care taken by the saint with regard to his Apology—His opinion of this work. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Arienzo, September 28, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: During the past week I received your letter and with it the remaining folios of Father Patuzzi’s book. Once more, 1 thank you. I had an idea that, perhaps, this last part of the work would contain the decisive arguments of Father Patuzzi, but I have discovered therein nothing that would necessitate 1 The “Guide for Country Confessors”. 18 Specia I Correspondence. [PART II. the addition of the least thing to the Response I have composed, I mean the Apology for my Dissertation. I thank you from the bottom ot my heart for the very kind letter you have written. I pray you, do not entertain a thought ol making me a present of the copies of my Apology that I may need ; for I shall require several hun­ dred, and I am unwilling to have you bear the expense. You have already given me sufficient proofs of your regard. I did incur the additional expense of having the original printed at Naples, but I was forced to do so, on account of the innumerable additions and changes that 1 had to make on the printed page. All this work had to be accomplished during the course of my Episcopal Visitation, and I was obliged to lay the work aside and resume it at every moment. My aim was to bring the work to perfection, to make it as complete as possible. Had I not accomplished this, I should still be engaged on it. I think, however, no further addition or emendation is required. 1 have given the work to a number of persons to read, and they are all immensely pleased with it. This . \pology sets my System in a clear light, much better than docs my Dissertation, since it exposes the weakness of the objections brought forward by Father Patuzzi. Next week most probably, or, at least, the following, I shall receive the sheets already printed. As I receive them, I shall forward a batch to you enclosed in a letter, with the margins cut away, just as you sent me the folios of 1'ather Patuzzi’s book. The latter amounted to about seventeen folios; mine will scarcely reach six or seven, perhaps a little more. 1 should be very much pleased if you would employ for this work the same type as that used for Father Patuzzi’s, which is, indeed, beautiful, quite large and neat. As regards the paper, let it be white. Good paper, you know, shows off the type to advantage and even enhances the matter treated. I remain, Illustrious Sir, [ The signature of the saint is wanting.'] [A ό'.] I have learned that but two copies of Father Patuzzi’s book have thus far arrived at Naples, one ad­ dressed to the Cardinal, the other to Count Grossi, of Turin. However, when my Apology makes its appearance, Father Patuzzi’s work will have a larger sale, for everyone will be desirous of reading both sides of the question. As you have not yet commenced the printing of the Moral, I send you the accompanying addition, destined for the first volume. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. To the Same. Recommendations relative to the printing of the — Importance of a good revision, good type, and good paper. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant’ Agata, October 31, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: A fortnight ago I sent you the other five folios of my Response to Father Patuzzi. I trust you have received them. Should they, however, have gone astray, as did those of the Country Confessor, it matters little, as I possess copies of them. copies, also, of the small additions I inserted in the work. You need only inform me that you have not received those sent, and I shall forward to you a second set. I have delayed a week longer in sending these remaining sheets to 2/6 Special Correspondence, [PART II. you, for the simple reason that I could not get them any sooner. \V ith these latter, I am sending also the Advice to the Reader, and the little index of paragraphs, both to be placed at the beginning of the book. The title-page I already sent you with the first folios. Please instruct the compositor to print this little index only after all the other pages are finished. He will then be able to indicate the number of the pages to which the respective paragraphs belong. See, also, that he takes care to insert at the top of each page the running-titles marked on my manuscript. Again I beg you to confide the correction of the work to some one of experience and ability. You might intrust it to the same one that revised Father Patuzzi’s book, for that is sufficiently well corrected. I recommend, if you think best, to have it printed in the same type as that used for the above-mentioned work. It is beautiful. Let the paper, also, be the same. Bad type and poor paper depreciate even the subject-matter of a book. Press forward the work as much as possible, bather Patuzzi’s volume is in circula­ tion, and everyone is curious to see my Response. Requests for it are being continually made to me. My reply is that we must wait till it comes from Venice, for I will have nothing to do with Naples. I hope to hear soon that you have begun the reprinting of the Moral. I send you for this work the accompanying little addition. It may& be that 1 sent it before; but as I do not remember having done so, I send it now, as it treats of an important matter. Have it attached to the place designated on the slip, as you have donc, I ti ust, \\ *th all the other additions. Unless this is done and the composi­ tor has before his eyes the additions arranged in their re­ spective places, it will be impossible for him to remember where they belong. SER. I.-1764 ] Letter 137. 1 ell the compositor to be sure to insert in my Response to bather Patuzzi all the little slips that accompany it. Should any of these be lost on the way, I have, as I told you, · preserved copies of them. Tell him, also, that in the folios I am sending, there is at page 156, folio 6', a long addition printed apart, which belongs at the end of the period that terminates about the middle of the page, after the words dalta legge. Phis addition commences: Dicono chc i Dottori antichi, etc. l ie will find it after ptjge 156 with the place to which it belongs distinctly marked. The last folio contains another printed addition. Its place is at the end of the last page, which begins: Aggiungo. With this slip the work finishes, so place it after it: I had two letters from you lately, from which I learn that you have not yet received the first five folios. 1 once more beg you to send me word as soon as you get them. I renew my request to you to caution the reviser to be very careful to compare the printed copy with the originals. They have cost me considerable trouble, as I corrected them thoroughly even in regard to punctuation. You will not, I trust, delay to commence work on the Moral. We are all wailing for this new edition, which, I hope, you will soon begin, also, the complete edition of my ascetical writings. They, too, are eagerly looked for. Many are asking me about them. In case you have not yet printed the folios of the Apology, be kind enough to add the few words con­ tained on the enclosed slip. They belong on page 85, fourth folio I). But if these folios are already printed, do not j)Ut yourself to any trouble. I he matter is not of much im­ portance. I am sending, also, the Advice to the header, and a small index to be placed at the beginning of the iS* Special Correspondence. [PART II. book. The title-page 1 forwarded to you with the first folio. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. I.ETTER 138. To the Same. He inquires about some folios sent to the publisher, and asks him to procure the supplement of a work printed at Naples. Live Jesus and Mary! Sant’ Agata, November ro, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: Last week I forwarded to you all the remaining folios of my Response to Father Patuzzi. The first sheets were sent two weeks before. I beg you to let me know immediately if you have not received them on receipt of this letter, and I shall send you a copy of the entire work. revised and containing the same additions as the first. 1 read in the Bibliotheca of Father Ferraris, reprinted a short time ago, in 1763. at Venice, by Signor Storti, that the critical, moral, and juridical notes, together with their answers have been printed in a separate volume. We have purchased the Roman edition of this work. I should like to have the supplement in question. Be so kind as to pro- SER. 1.-1764.] * 279 Letter Ijq. cure the same, and send it to me as soon as possible. Inform me, also, of the price. I remain, Illustrious Sir, Your very devoted and grateful servant, Alfonso Maria, Bishop of Sant' Agata. After the original preserved in the archives of Father General at Rome. LETTER 139. To the Same. Modification to be introduced into the title of the Apolgy. —Various recommendations. Live Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Sant' Agata, November 14, 1764. Most Illustrious Sir: A doubt which occurs to me with regard to my Response to Father Patuzzi necessitates my writing to you so soon again. In the Response printed at Naples, I had at first men­ tioned the name of Patuzzi; but finding that, in the title of bis book, he conceals his name and styles himself Adelfo Dositeo, J was obliged to change Patfizzi into Father Lector wherever the name of Patuzzi occurred. But now I am in doubt whether I changed the original title-page. Formerly it read : Apology .... against the Objections of the Very Rev. F. Lector, Fra (iiov. Vincen­ zo Patuzzi, of the Ven. Order of Preachers. This title must now be changed, so as to read: against the Objec­ tions of a Very Rev. F. Lector, who styles himself Adelfo Dositeo. 2