It's finally back!
One of us at Roman Catholic Books picked up this World War II-era prayer book from a used book dealer. It could have fit easily into a shirt pocket. There is a scribbled note inside the front cover, obviously written by a young Marine. It reads: "Friday, Confession, 1630-1900."
Cardinal Farley was archbishop of New York at the time, and his imprimatur appears, of course. So do all the familiar prayers and basic instructions, and naturally, the text of the old Mass is here, in Latin and English. Contents include:
- Morning, Evening and Daily Prayers
- Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity and Contrition
- Prayer for All in Trouble
- Prayers for the Dead; for the Dying
- A Rule of Life (one page summary)
- Instructions for A Good Confession
- The Last Gospel; Prayers after Mass
- Prayers after Confession; for Communion
- Benediction and the Divine Praises
- Three Great Hymns; key Litanies
- The Rosary; Way of the Cross
- The Sacraments, 10 Commandments, Commandments of the Church
- Prayers for: Fellow Soldiers, Unbelievers, Those at Sea
- Short Way to Truth (explains the Faith to non-believers in one page)
- Prayers for: Purity, Victory, Peace, Our Enemies, a Good Death
Buy a couple of copies for family, grandchildren, friends. A gem like this isn't only for Marines heading into battle. But what a comfort is must have been to millions of young Catholic men in the 1940s and 50s, many of whom were captured, wounded severly, or killed in action.
