28 APRIL 1877, Page 23

Three Phases of Christian Love. By Lady Herbert. (Bentley and

Son.)—The three sketches which form Lady Herbert's latest contribu- tion to popular Catholic literature, are derived from the Abbe Bougaud's " Histoire de Ste. Monique," and two anonymous biographies, the "Life of Mademoiselle Victorine de Galerd Terranbe," and the "Life of Mere Ihivos," Mother-Superior of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. The three lives are beautiful to contemplate, and will be found so by many on whom the exterior practices of devotion which they record will have a strange and unpleasing effect. The spirit which animated the mother of St. Augustine, the young French girl, in her highly-placed life, and the sister of charity whose whole existence was a heroic act of Christian service, is the same spirit which helps the weakest of us all. This book cannot fail to do good, and we think the picture of Victorine de Galerd Terranbe is especially calculated to make a much-needed impression on society. Lady Herbert has summed up the story in a few sentences, the best worth quoting in the volume :— "Our object has been to show how it is possible fora girl, in the midst of

the temptations and fascinations which surround her in the world, to lead an inner life of the greatest personal holiness, and of continual re- collection of the presence of God. In beauty, in cleverness, in know- ledge, Victorine surpassed most of those of her ago and sex. She was the light and life of her home, and neglected no study or employment

which could make her useful or agreeable to those around her. But the secret of her life lay in the motive which directed all her actions. The glory of God, and the good of His creatures, these were her sole end and aim.