C. C. Martindale, Fr.
rtincale, S.J.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SPIRITUAL LIFE, by Fr. H. R. Buckler, O.P. (Blackfriars Publications, Its.).
THESE chapters were published as " Spiritual Considerations" so long ago as 1911. But we are very glad that the sane, balanced work of a less hustled generation than our own should be preserved; and while we are grateful for simplicity such as Fr. Buckler's way Of writing possesses, making its meaning clear to anyone who reads with attention, we arc glad that he avoids "up to date" colloquialisms, for what is " up to date " almost at once becomes "dated " and jars upon us.
The old and the new titles of the hook are equally well chosen, so much does Fr. Buckler insist on the role of the Holy Spirit the Right Spirit within; the Spirit of our State; the liturgical and the apostolic spirit; " Abstract and Concrete Spirituality "; the "Governance of the Holy Ghost."
At the same time, he never forgets that we are men, living in a world of created things: we are not to try to escape them but to make sure of the " divine agency " within them, and so making use of God's wonderful creation that He Himself may be acting on us through all that is.
The book, certainly, is "serious"; it expects " earnestness" from its readers, but .is humane and asks for no impossibilities.