Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Making out like a bandit

Yesterday I took in the Trinity College book sale, and managed to pick up half a dozen books for 16 dollars. My favourite is a copy of "the Rule, Constitutions, and Custumal of the Order of the Holy Cross" from the 40s, before they went all soft during the Vatican II era, and before they entered their current Benedictine Lite phase in the 80s. I think my director of associates at the Priory, who was instrumental in the reforms of the 1960s, will be bemused. This document is still clearly Anglo-Catholic (Benediction is to be held every Sunday!).

Other finds

*Man, Woman, & Priesthood, edited by Peter Moore (not the same as this book)
*Galley's Ceremonies of the Eucharist (purely for reference, you understand; Ritual Notes is my bible)
*Reconciliation: Preparing for Confession in the Episcopal Church by Fr Martin L. Smith, bound with Sex Money & Power: an Essay in Christian Social Ethics by Fr Philip Turner
*The Ceremonies of Holy Week: Solemn Rite and Simple Rite, a Commentary by J.B. O' Connell (1957)
*Holy Communion: Preparation and Companion by Bishop Walsham How, from 1901

All very cool, especially for sixteen dollars!

5 comments:

Davis said...

Yes, in the good old days Holy Cross was really something. It's improved in the current Benedictine scheme over the wild days after Vatican II I gather.

Paul Goings said...

Can I ask how large (how many pages) the Holy Cross Custumal is? Would it be possible for you to photocopy or scan it for me, if I sent you the money to do so?

Tay Moss said...

Keep in mind the Rule, Constitutions, and Custumal of the Order are all different documents that have undergone major revision over time. You can probably get a copy of the current documents from the Order directly. http://www.holycrossmonastery.com/

For those interested in the history of the Order you can also find "The Rule of James Otis Sargent Huntington and his sucessors" published in 1996.

I would also recommend the official history of the Order written by Adam McCoy, OHC. -t

Paul Goings said...

Father,

I'm actually more interested in the older custumal.

And I agree that Fr McCoy's book is fascinating, especially when read in the context of its predecessor, "An American Cloister."

G said...

I'll see what I can do.