The word of God; a series of short meditations on the Sunday gospels published in Rome by "The Society of Saint Jerome for the diffusion of the gospel."

Front matter

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Preface

These explanations of the Holy Gospel were first edited in weekly pamphlets which were published in Rome by "The Society of Saint Jerome for the Diffusion of the Gospel." They appeared from the first Sunday of Lent, 19 19, until Quinquagesima Sunday, 1920. They were then put forth in book form under the title of "The Word of God/'

One hundred and twenty thousand copies of this series of short sermons have already been published, and it is hoped that this English translation of them does not fall too far short in expressing the unction, the simplicity and the beauty of the original Italian.

It will be observed that the Gospel of a proximate feast day is occasionally substituted for the Gospel of the Sunday, as, for example, on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Gospel considered is that of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It may also be noted that on four of the Sundays during Lent, the Gospel proposed for meditation is not the Gospel of the Sunday, but one from a ferial Mass of the same week.

Grateful acknowledgment of helpful suggestions is made to Rev. Louis F. Kelleher, D. D., of Saint John's Ecclesiastical Seminary, Brighton, Mass. ; Reverend Laurence B. Killian, S. T. L., of St. Catherine's Church, Summerville, Mass.; and Rev. Henry A. McGarvey, S. J., of Boston College.

The Translator.

Introduction

"It gives me great pleasure to learn of the translation from Italian into English, of the volume of short meditations on the Gospels for every Sunday of the year, written by Monsignor Francis Borgongini-Duca, professor of dogmatic theology at the Propaganda, Rome, and secretary of the Tribunal of the Sacred Penitentiary.

"Knowing the author personally and admiring his qualities of mind and heart; his sound learning, his rare powers of exposition as a teacher, his priestly zeal and earnestness, I feel confident that his book will be helpful to many souls in this country."

John Bonzano,

Archbishop of Melitene.

Apostolic Delegate.