THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH Edited by M. C. D'Arey",
S.J. •
This book, the, work of five Jesuit scholars (Sheed and Ward : 7s. 6d.) was first published- and widely read in France under the title, Christus. It is really a historical review of the development of Christendom, and especially of the Latin Church, from New Testament times to the present day ; designed to exhibit the unity in variety of that Church's life, and the fact that she is " a living body, not an artificial con- glomeration." Inevitably so condensed a survey, directed towards this special end, will contain some controversial statements and dubious generalizations exasperating to his- torical minds. Nevertheless, it gives in a readable form an amazingly large number of well-chosen facts • and has a living quality too often absent from more elaborate and well- documented histories of the Church. The account of the Reformation in particular treats this over-studied epoch with real freshness, and places it in correct relation with the im- portant movement of the Counter-reform. The greater part of the book is the work of Pere Ruby and Pere Rousselot. Father D'Arcy, who edits the English version,-contributes an interesting chapter "lathe present4lay situation of his_Church
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