A Review of Psalms and NT from Baronius Press

This review was posted today on the website New Liturgical Movement concerning the compact Psalms and New Testament (Douay-Rheims) from Baronius Press.  I've actually never seen one of these in person, but this review, and its pictures, has piqued my interest.  Although, to be honest, I could do without the condescending attitude of the reviewer to both the NAB or other more recent translations.

Cool Article of the Little Office

I have mentioned on this blog the wonderful Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary that our friends at Baronius Press have produced.  Well, with this being the month of Mary, it was nice to see an article concerning the Little Office on the Aleteia site yesterday by Joanne McPortland:

Do you pray some form of the Divine Office, the Liturgy of the Hours? This liturgical tradition is as old as the Church, built on the earliest Christian practice of praying the psalms and reading the Scriptures daily.

When I was a child, I would peer out the classroom window as the priests of our parish, their cassocks flapping in the Santa Ana winds, paced the schoolground with little black book in hand, their lips moving as they read the Office prescribed for all secular clergy. On rare visits from Father Peter, my dad’s cousin who was the Superior of the Columban Fathers, my sister and I would be cautioned to give him quiet time “to read his breviary” before he got back to astonishing us with coin tricks. In later life, I was privileged to join religious orders of women or men who chanted the canonical hours—Matins and Lauds, Prime, Tierce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline—in community, as all religious were required to do. The beloved Gregorian chant albums of monks like the Benedictines of Norcia, newly popular with listeners of all faiths, are the monastic Divine Office shared with the world.

The Prayer of Christians
Over the centuries, the Divine Office, with its sequence of psalms, antiphons, versicles, lessons, and prayers, has often been revised. (The word breviary, describing the book but also the practice of reciting the Liturgy of the Hours, actual means “a briefer version,” condensed a bit from the longer and far more ornate office once celebrated in Rome.) The revision with which most of us are familiar came about in the 1970s, as the Divine Office was simplified and universalized to encourage its use not only by priests and religious, but by the whole Church in communion.

I remember receiving my first copy of The Prayer of Christians, an early English edition of the revised Divine Office, from my husband as a Christmas gift. I was pregnant with our son. To begin the days as we did then, praying Morning Prayer in the car on the way to work, gave a richness of meaning to the words from the Canticle of Zechariah—“You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, and shall go before the Lord to prepare his way”—and united us with the whole praying Church.

Today, I try to find time to pray the daily office, but am more likely to settle for one of the “briefer breviaries”—the streamlined Morning, Evening, and Night Prayers provided by publishers of monthly missals like Magnificat or Give Us This Day. You may do this, too, perhaps without knowing what a long and glorious tradition we are weaving into our hours.

Mary and the Hours of the Laity

What does this have to do with Mary, and her “Little Office"? Read the rest to find out.  

Guest Post: A Divine Intimacy Offer

Hello everyone,

If you love Leonard rebinds and traditional Catholic spirituality today is your lucky day! 

Timothy has graciously allowed me offer this beautiful edition of “Divine Intimacy” on his blog (I’m getting married, need the money). 

Up for offer is a mint Leonard’s rebind of Baronius Press’ edition of the Carmelite classic “Divine Intimacy”. This is a true classic of Catholic/Carmelite spirituality and was even highly recommended by Pope St. John XXIII. 
Here’s how Baronius describes it:

“This Book of Meditations is a classic and is steeped in Carmelite spirituality. For every day it offers two meditations, in liturgical arrangement that enable the soul to enter the conscious presence of God and to reflect on the theme of the day. These are followed by a ‘Colloquy’ that helps the person at prayer to start a friendly conversation with God where acts of praise and love, petition and thanksgiving are made, together with good resolutions for the future. Here we are at the very heart of prayer, which is a heart-to-heart encounter in faith with the living God.”

Carmelite bishop Philip Boyce of Ireland said of this work: "This Book of Meditations on the interior life for every day of the liturgical year is a pearl of great price. For spiritual reading and personal prayer, it is a treasure, providing sound guidance on the journey of prayer, and a safe companion on the road to holiness and to intimate union with God."

I chose to have this edition rebound in a soft cover spindled goatskin leather. The spine has raised bands and there are two silk ribbons for markers. As always Leonard’s did a wonderful job and were even able to save the original marbled end pages. The book is smythe sewn. 
The book normally retails for about $60 and the rebind cost me about $200 (US funds). 

I’m willing to part with it for a very reasonable and fair price. 
If interested, please contact me at: andrewbourque(at)hotmail(dot)come

A Great Bible Resource by Michael Potemra

From National Review:

I got an e-mail today informing me of a delightful new resource available free of charge at the website of the Catholic publisher Baronius Press.  It’s a complete side-by-side text of the Latin Vulgate, the Douay-Rheims Catholic translation, and the mid-20th-century translation by Monsignor Ronald Knox. 

I have always had a soft spot for the Douay-Rheims translation, because it has the venerable old style of the King James Version (“thee” and “thou,” of course, plus a generally high diction), but – because the Douay-Rheims version currently most commonly printed is the 18th-century Challoner revision – it lacks some of the KJV phrasings that have come to sound clunky if not barbaric in the intervening centuries. (Among these latter, the one that grates on me most is when the KJV has St. Paul, St. Peter, and the Psalmist all use the phrase “to us-ward.” Ugh.)

Read the rest here 

New Online Vulgate-Douay-Knox Resource

This link will take you to a new site which has the Clementine Vulgate, Douay-Rheims, and Knox in parallel columns with possible search functions.  Looks like a great resource, which includes both the Douay and Knox notes.  I wonder if Baronius is involved in this?

UPDATE:
Yes, it appears that this page, which has the look of something Baronius would do, is indeed from them.  Copyright listed as: 2015 © CatholicBible.online, Baronius Press

Catholic Bible Online

Thanks to Charles for sharing this info with me!

Review: Sermon in a Sentence by Baronius Press

"Character is not revealed when life shows its best side, but when it shows its worst." -Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Sermon in a Sentence 63)

At the end of 2015, our friends at Baronius Press published a new series of books called Sermon in a Sentence.  Each volume seeks to provide a "treasury of quotations on the spiritual life"  in a compact, yet readable package for today's Catholic.  Baronius Press decided to inaugurate this new series by selecting three of the most influential and beloved Catholics of the 20th century: St. Faustina Kowalska, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, and St. John Paul II.  Each book, edited and arranged by John P. McClernon, contains "hundreds of direct quotes and short sayings arranged according to the Christian virtues and other spiritual topics, allowing the reader to encounter their thoughts about particular aspects of the Christian life."  There are truly hundreds of quotes in each volume for you to ponder and pray over.  These books are not haphazardly arranged like some of the "quote books" you may have encountered.  The amount of time that Mr. McClernon put into each volume must have been enormous.  The material from the St. John Paul II volume was gleaned from his various public talks, while the Fulton Sheen one comes from ten of his works.  The St. Faustina edition comes entirely from her Diary.

In each of these three books, the first fifteen chapters are arranged corresponding to the classical Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary.  There is an additional section in all three volumes for the Luminous Mysteries as well.  Other topics that are covered and found in all three books include prayer, the Mass, the Church, the priesthood, as well as topics unique to each person, like St. Faustina and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  Each quote ranges from 1-3 sentences in length and includes a reference to where you can find the quote in the particular author's body of writing or talks.  In our fast-paced world, these little volumes certainly meet an important need in the Church.  Many of us can easily get overwhelmed by the demands of each day, yet these small devotionals allow us to take a moment to reflect on various topics from these three spiritual masters.  

As usual with anything that comes from Baronius, these books are produced of the highest quality.  Like the various bibles, prayer books, and other volumes they produce these will last a lifetime.  Each hardcover edition measures around 4 5/8" X 6 3/4", which makes them incredibly portable.  The paper is thick and opaque, making reading a pleasure.  The binding is smythe sewn and contains a ribbon marker.  Head/tail bands and endpapers (which many of you know I adore) round out a wonderfully produced volume.  I can't say enough about the continued high standards that Baronius Press continues to meet with each of their releases.

So, if you are looking to add some wisdom from three great heroes of the faith to your daily recitation of the Rosary, the Sermon in a Sentence series is just what you need.  These make perfect gifts for birthdays, for teens receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, and those entering the Church at the Easter Vigil.  The price for each volume is $14.95, which is amazingly cheap for the quality of the book, itself, as well as the wisdom that is contained within it.  I truly look forward to future volumes.  I would love to see one focused on this blog's patron saint, Msgr. Ronald Knox.

I would like to thank Baronius Press for providing the review copies for this review.

More Hardback Classics from Baronius Press

I have made no secret of my love for Baronius Press.  In my mind, they are the only Catholic publisher that continues to make high quality, premium Catholic Bibles and other classics of the faith. These are the types of books that will not only last a lifetime, but the kind of books that feel great to read from and to hold in your hand.   The attention to quality is always a priority with Baronius Press.

So, this past summer, I was able to review their hardback classic edition of True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I decided to purchase it, since I had never owned any of their "hardback classic" books as well as the fact that I had lost a nice edition of True Devotion during the flood of August 2014.  It remains a beautiful edition, which I refer to often.  At the time, I concluded my review by encouraging you consider these hardback classics, since: "They sell-out quickly, so if there is something you like, I'd advise that you get it.  Some of them will be printed again, but which ones and how many is uncertain."  Fortunately, Baronius has reprinted some of their best editions in the hardback classic series, including the works of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Catherine of Sienna, as well as a few others.  Baronius gladly sent me two review copies to consider, The Rule of Saint Benedict and The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila.  

I will not spend any time discussing the content of these venerable works, since they are truly classics in the Catholic tradition.  My focus is on the quality of the actual book, which, once again, is very impressive.  Sometimes I wonder if my enthusiasm towards the books done by Baronius Press is due to the lack of quality in most other books coming from a majority of Catholic publishers or is it just that Baronius does a splendid job.  I think it is a little bit of both. 

 To start with, the covers are bound in bonded leather.  As the Baronius website points out, "the hardcover editions use the same (bonded) leather covered over 1/8" (1/12" for smaller titles) thick, stiff boards, to create strong and durable books that will last for generations."  In addition, all their hardback books, and Bibles, are sewn, which is always a must for me when I am deciding on purchasing any book that I plan to use often or give as a gift.  The quality of the cover and binding allows for a wonderful reading experience.  It just feels great to hold and the sewn binding allows you to open it flat without any issues.  When I am holding a Baronius book I have this feeling that this is how books were produced fifty or a hundred years ago.  I have a number of first edition books by Msgr. Knox, with a few of them being close to 80 years old.  They are sewn and are still in great condition.  (They even have that nice old smell to them.)  I can imagine that these Baronius editions will have the same look and feel a hundred years into the future.  (Perhaps even that same smell too!)


When you finally open up the book, you will find a page layout that is clear, easy on the eyes, and inviting to be read.  The paper is thick, not thin like their bibles.  The print is dark and well spaced.  They are not facsimiles of older editions, but rather each volume as been newly re-typset, which makes a world of difference. What all this means is that every page your read from is aesthetically beautiful and contains virtually no issues relating to ghosting or bleed through.  Although I wouldn't dream of doing it, one could probably safely write notes in these books with no worry of it being seen through on the next page.  I typically have time to read either early in morning or late at night, after my kids have gone to bed.  Never has there been a time when I couldn't read either of these books at any point in the day.  They read great at the beginning of the day, even now when the sun isn't up yet, or at the end of the day when I am sitting in my comfy chair next to a dimly lit lamp.  

The typical Baronius extras are also present in these volumes.  Each comes with a soft satin ribbon which is always better than using a paper bookmark.  When you are reading a volume as nicely crafted as these, it would be noticeable if there weren't a ribbon marker present.  Along with the ribbon you will also find head and tail bands.  (Headbands originated in Victorian England as a way of covering the unsightly spine sewing at the head and tail of the book block.)  Last, but not least, are one of my favorite features of the many books I own from Baronius: Endpapers!  Yeah, maybe you are wondering why I like them so much?  I can't really say, to be honest.  All I know is that when you regularly use books that do have them, you begin to notice which of your nicer books that don't have them.  Again, some of my more vintage books contain them, and I just feel like they add a bit of class to the volume.  Baronius explains: "The endpapers are made of thick heavy-weight paper, decoratively printed with traditional Catholic symbols, marble motives or other designs in wide array of colours according to the colour of the cover, complementing the overall design of the book."  When I had my Knox Bible rebound back in 2013, the one thing I realized after the fact was that those lovely Knox endpapers were going to be lost.  I still miss those endpapers!  I have even toyed with the idea of re-ordering another Knox hardcover from Baronius.  (That might be a bit too much, and I am not sure my wife would go for it.)  

Let me just say, in conclusion, that the hardback classic series from Baronius Press are well worth your time and money.  They are all reasonably priced, with none of the ones currently available listing for more than $30.  Actually, I think they are more than affordable considering the time, effort, and quality that goes into each edition.   (I recently purchased a paperback book for more than $30!) These are beautifully crafted editions from our Catholic tradition, which will indeed last a lifetime.  They also make great gifts for the coming Christmas season.  As I mentioned last time, I wouldn't recommend waiting too long to purchase anything Baronius Press produces.  They do not mass produce their books, bibles, or missals, rather they lovingly craft volumes in limited quality in a format that is fitting the author whose words are contained within.  

Again, I would like to thank Baronius Press for providing these two review copies for this post.

A Review: 2 Little Offices of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I have mentioned before on this blog that one of my favorite devotions is The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  There are a number of things that have attracted me to this liturgy of the Church over the years.  First, the history of this office goes back many centuries, some say even back to the 8th century.  Even though the Little Office has certainly changed over the years, I love the fact that there is this connection to the medieval Church.  Secondly, it is an office in honor of Our Lady.  Devotional to the Blessed Virgin has been an important part of my spiritual life since I started to take my faith seriously.  With my wife and I praying a family rosary every Sunday night, I have found that this office is a great aid during the rest of the week.  Those who have a strong devotion to Our Lady will find the Little Office to be quite powerful.  Third, I love praying the Psalms, in particular the gradual Psalms (or Psalms of Ascent).  The daytime Psalms for the Little Office are centered around those Psalms, which I always find a great comfort when I read them in the middle of the day.  Fourth, this office is simple and compact.  It fits easily in my bag for work or even into my pocket if necessary.  Because there isn't much in the way of variation each day, unlike the older full Breviary or even more so in the newer Liturgy of the Hours, many, including myself, enjoy the comfort of hearing the same prayers and Psalms each day.  I have prayed both of the full and shorter breviaries in the past, but I find myself attracted to the Little Office.  Perhaps that has to do with my state in life, married with two (soon to be three) children, as well as two teaching jobs.  Finally, I love having the Latin and the English side by side.  It is great to be able to pray in both languages.

Baronius Press, back in 2007, were the first to re-publish the Little Office.  Since then, it has gone through four different printings.  As usual, the quality of the edition is top-notch, with a blue leather "flexible" (with boards) cover and a sewn binding.  Two ribbons are added to make flipping through this small office quite easy.  It looks and feels great, and it will certainly last a lifetime.  Baronius recently sent me a review copy (4th printing), which thankfully will replace my older copy.  My original edition was used lovingly and often to the point that I had it outside while it was raining, which ended up marking up the gold gilding.  Yet, it remains quite readable and sturdy, with no issues with the binding or the leather cover.  (Although you can see some finger-print marks at the bottom of each page.)  This newer edition comes with a 2011 nihil obstat/imprimatur and is in conformity with Pope Emeritus Benedict's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.   There is a short introduction along with an over 50 page appendix with articles explaining the Little Office.  The appendix also includes the older liturgical calendar, various Marian prayers, and a short article on indulgences related to this prayer.  There are also commemorations of St. Joseph and the Saints, which can be added to Lauds and Vespers for additional variety on these feast days and solemnities. Content is the same between the four editions, although the earlier editions had some typos that have been fixed in subsequent editions.  The Baronius Little Office has the English and Latin on the same page, which makes it easy to pray using both languages.  In addition, this Little Office contains the complete Gregorian Chant for praying all the hours.  

Angelus Press recently published their own edition of the Little Office.  Like the Baronius edition, it comes in a very compact 4" x 5" size.  Unlike Baronius, it is a soft paperback cover, with glued binding.  Both editions are completely re-typeset, which means they are not facsimiles.  This edition, instead of having both the English and Latin on the same page, places the English and Latin on facing pages.  This may be more beneficial to those who need a larger print or prefer that type of format.  The great advantage to getting this edition is that it includes the Matins, Lauds, and Vespers for the Office of the Dead.  I prayed this a couple days back for All Souls and appreciated the different antiphons, Psalms, and collects which are absent in the Baronius edition, since it only has the Little Office.  Each office has the various seasonal antiphon options before and after their respective Psalm or the Benedictus/Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis, thus there is no need for ribbons or flipping through to a different section of the book.  (The Baronius has the different seasonal antiphons in collected together after the "ordinary time" office.)  I noticed that while the translation of the antiphons are similar between the two editions, the Psalms are slightly different.  They both come from a translation of the Vulgate, but there are some minor differences.   (Perhaps one was done from the New Latin Psalter?)

I really like both of these editions.  I have used the Baronius one for at least four years, so I am much more familiar with it.  The Angelus Press version, I think, would be a good option for those who are not sure if they want to commit to this devotion, but are more interested in trying it out.  I would also say that if you have bad vision, the Angelus Press one would be much easier to read.  One of its other great strengths is that it contains the Office for the Dead.  On the other hand, if you want a much fuller edition of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary and you plan on using it daily, the Baronius edition is probably the one you want to go with.  It has the look and feel of a book that will be your constant prayer companion for years to come.  It also has more information about the Little Office, itself, along with the added section of Gregorian Chant.  I will continue to use the Baronius Press Little Office on a daily basis, supplemented by the Angelus Press one on days I wish to pray the Office of the Dead.  Both editions are affordable, with the Angelus Press one listed for $19.95 and the one from Baronius Press for $29.95.

I would like to thank both Baronius Press and Angelus Press for each providing a review copy of their edition of the Little Office.  Please make sure to support both publishers.

True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin (Hardback Classic)

I

Those of you who have been readers of this blog for a while know that one of my favorite publishers is Baronius Press.  For finely crafted Bibles, prayer books, and hardcover classics, they are about as good as it get in the Catholic publishing world.  Over the years, I have been blessed to receive review copies from Baronius, mostly in the form of Bibles.  I decided, however, a few weeks back to order one of their hardback classic books.  I don't know about you, but as my desire to only purchase well-made Bibles has increased, the same thing is starting to happen for other spiritual books from the Catholic tradition.  Many of my favorite older, vintage books, for example from Msgr. Knox, are in great condition with a strong binding, even though a few of them are almost 100 years old.  So, I asked myself, why not start to slowly get some of the more important Catholic books in a good quality edition?    

So, I decided to first look for a new edition of one of my favorite books The True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin by St. Louis-Marie De Montfort.  I had a one volume complete collection of his works, which was really beautiful, but it, unfortunately, was a casualty in the great flood of August 11th, 2014.  So, I did a quick Amazon search for True Devotion and there popped up the Baronius edition.  I'll be honest, I had forgotten that they had re-published it.  So, I decided to order it, assuming it would be of high quality.  I was surprised to find he price was only a bit over $20.00.

When it arrived, I instantly fell in love with it, much like I did when I first opened up my Knox Bible.  The size is a very portable at 5 1/2" X 8 1/3".  The width is quite thin too, encompassing only 176 pages.  The binding is sewn and the hardcover is a blue bonded leather over 1/8" boards.  The blue color matches the one used for The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary that they offer.  The cover material makes them a match, as you will see below.  In addition to that similarity, they both use a thick paper.  By thick paper, I mean that it is noticeably thicker than what is used for their Bibles and prayer books.  This makes the print, which is dark and well-spaced, jump off the page.  This book is a delight to read from, which is in sharp contrast to a much smaller paperback edition of True Devotion that I have had for a number of years.  This volume is printed in India.

There is a lovely yellow ribbon included, which makes it very suitable to daily devotional reading.  As with the majority of the volumes Baronius publishes, there are head and tail bands as well as endpapers.  I love endpapers.  One of things I miss about my Knox Bible, which I had rebound in goatskin by Leonard's, is the missing endpapers that needed to come out.  The ones here in the True Devotion add a nice touch of class and elegance to this book.  

Along with the text, itself, there is a preface from Baronius Press, as well as one from the translator Fr. Faber.  Also, there is a Letter to the Clergy (1883) from Herbert, the bishop of Salford.  In the appendix, there is a supplement on How to Practise this Devotion in Holy Communion and an act of Consecration to Jesus by the hands of Mary.  

Overall, I really admire the work and craftsmanship that went into this volume.  The price for this lovely volume is remarkable as well.  I would think it would easily be sold for over $30.00.  I have been using it everyday since it arrived and plan on getting some of their other editions in the future. You can check their website to see which ones are currently available.   They sell-out quickly, so if there is something you like, I'd advise that you get it.  Some of them will be printed again, but which ones and how many is uncertain.  

Bible Review: Baronius Press Standard and Large Douay-Rheims Editions

I know that many of you love the venerable Douay-Rheims Bible.  I have a deep appreciation for it as well, and think, like many Protestants do about the KJV, that every Catholic should own a copy of the Douay-Rheims.  It is an important part of our English-speaking Catholic heritage.  Occasionally, people have emailed me in the past with the question as to where should one go to purchase a Douay-Rheims edition?  That may be the easiest question I regularly receive since starting this blog.  For my money, nothing compares to the work Baronius Press does with their classic Catholic Bibles.  Their bibles, missals, breviaries, and books are the finest in the Catholic publishing world and show a commitment to producing literary treasures that can be read and prayed with for a lifetime.  They are not a large publisher, so there is never a guarantee that their products will be in stock for long, like the traditional breviary or some of their Douay editions.  So, if you want one of these Douay-Rheims Bibles, I wouldn't wait too long to purchase one.  (Don't forget about the Knox Bible either, which is, in my humble opinion, the gem of their entire catalogue.) 

Almost two years ago, I gave a glowing review of their pocket Douay-Rheims.  There is so much packed into that little Bible, yet without any lack of the quality.  Again, this is something I have come to expect from Baronius Press.  Since then I have been eager to examine, and re-examine, some of their other Douay editions.  I know that for some of you a pocket edition may have too small of a print.  Fortunately, I recently received a copy of both their standard and large edition Douay-Rheims Bibles and, once again, I was not disappointed.  Both of them are in black, with the standard being in the leather "flexible" and the large being in the leather hardcover.

Both Bibles contain the exact same features, which are:

*1898 Edition of the Douay-Rheims

*1,512 Pages

*Leather bound cover with stitched edges

*Gold gilt edged pages and 2 ribbons.

*Completely retypeset to reproduce the original 1899 edition.

*Eleven coloured maps digitally redrawn by hand and fully coloured

*32 beautiful engravings that recreate key moments in Biblical History

*Family Register section

*Printed in India

*Three Papal encyclicals regarding the importance of the Holy Bible:

       PROVIDENTISSIMUS DEUS 

       SPIRITUS PARACLITUS

       DIVINO AFFLANTE SPIRITU 

Both editions come in sewn bindings, which, if you really care about using a Bible any longer than a couple years, is a must.  The standard edition is in the flexible leather, which Baronius describes as being "leather, hand covered over flexible boards, which are specially designed to flex many times without breaking. The corners are rounded and the edges are then meticulously stitched to create an elegant and durable appearance."  Yes, it is of high quality, but it is not really flexible.  In comparison to the hardcovers it is, but don't expect anything resembling the supple covers of most leather or even bonded leather covers.  The size of the standard edition is 6" x 8 1/4" which makes it perfect for prayerful reading and for taking to Bible studies.  

The large size edition comes in at 7" x 10", which should be appreciated by those who are in need of a large-print bible.  Or, perhaps, you love the Douay-Rheims and would like a Bible to serve as the Family Bible, this would be a great choice.  The cover is a very elegant black leather hardcover, much like my beloved Knox Bible.  According to Baronius, they "use the same leather covered over 1/8" (1/12" for smaller titles) thick, stiff boards, to create strong and durable books that will last for generations."  This will indeed last for generations.  

Each edition comes with two bible ribbons, red and yellow, and the paper is gold gilded.  This makes the overall look to this Bible simply amazing and classy, fitting the translation contained in it.

When you get to reading this text, you will find it to be very readable.  While the paper is a thin and bright white in tone, I don't thing ghosting is too much of an issue.  Included with the Douay translation are cross-references, occasional notes, and chapter headings that give an overview of the chapter. Like the pocket edition, maps and engravings are included and printed on a very thin glossy paper.  This adds a nice touch, without hindering page turning like in some other Bible editions which use a thicker glossy paper for their inserts.  For those of you who regularly attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, you will welcome the inclusion of the Mass readings for Sundays, Holy Days, and Saints Days.  In addition, there is a two-page Table of References which can serve as an aid to doing apologetics or study. 

So, yeah, I think these editions are wonderful in almost every way.  However, my biggest critique about the work Baronius does with their Bibles is that they haven't moved to having their Bibles covered in goatskin, calfskin, or any of the other premium leather possibilities.  I know that there is a great tradition in the Church of having beautifully bound hardcover Bibles and Missals, but it would be amazing to see the standard Douay-Rheims in a soft goatskin.  Even the flexible black leather cover of the standard edition is a bit misleading, since it simply isn't flexible in the way most people, who haven't handled one of these bibles, would expect.  These beautiful editions are begging to be wrapped in some soft premium leather options.  Perhaps, in the future, they should consider working with R. L. Allan's in providing them some of their best editions, including the Knox.  Hey, they are both located in London!

Thank you to the fine folks at Baronius Press for providing these review copies.

Bible Review: Douay-Rheims & Clementina Vulgata Parallel Bible from Baronius Press

As many of you know, I have been an advocate of parallel Bibles for a while now, particularly in Catholic translations.  We all know that there are so few of them available.  (I think a Knox/NRSV would be a dream parallel Bible, but I digress.)  Now, it is true that Oxford had printed an eight version parallel Catholic New Testament, as well as the Complete Parallel Bible, but both sadly are out of print.  Although I must admit that my particular edition of the parallel New Testament Bible basically fell apart, since the pages weren't properly sewn together.   To be sure, parallel bibles tend to be more popular in Protestant circles, where it seems that you can find pretty much any combination of translation, including a NKJV/Message Parallel Bible.  So those of us who are into unique Catholic Bible editions are, as usual, a bit envious.  Also, what would be the chances in finding a Catholic parallel Bible that is actually beautifully made?  Impossible?

I am happy to report that there is an edition out there for Catholics, The Douay-Rheims & Clementina Vulgata Parallel Bible from Baronius Press.  Before I make a few comments about this edition, here are some particulars from the Baronius site, supplemented by a few comments of my own:

*Clementine Vulgate

*1899 Challoner Edition of the Douay-Rheims

*Challoner's notes and cross-references

*3 and 4 Esdras and the prayer of Manasses (in Latin with an English translation).  These are placed after the Old Testament.

*Bound in black bonded leather (in hardcover) with ornate gold blocked cover and spine. 

*Gilded page edges, head and tail bands and two satin ribbons.

*Sewn Binding

*End pages

*8 1/2" X 11 1/2"

*1488 Pages

This is a beautiful Bible. The edition I have is the fourth impression, being printed in the Philippines in 2013.  The cover and spine are nicely ornate, fitting this august and historical edition of the Bible.  When you hold this edition, you just have the feeling that you are holding something quite unique and remarkable.  It looks and feels sacred, as if one is in possession of a liturgical book from a few centuries back.  Yet, it is new and inviting to a new generation of readers.  

The text, itself, is dark and clear enough for reading and comparing the two translations.  What you will find on each page is that the Douay is on the left, while the Vulgate is on the right. At the bottom of each page you will find Challoner's notes and cross-references, as found in all other editions of Douay-Rheims published by Baronius Press.  I agree with Baronius when they say: "Having both Bibles side by side allows us to see exactly where the vernacular translation came from. Even those with limited Latin skills will be able to follow along, using the Douay Rheims translation as an aid. You'll see how the Douay Rheims is a literal translation of the classic Vulgate."  

This is not a compact or simple reading Bible by any means.  While it isn't quite the size of a family Bible, it isn't far off either.  Therefore, this will not likely be the kind of Bible you will drop in your backpack for daily use.  In the past I have expressed the hope that Baronius would consider publishing some of their Bibles in calfskin or goatskin.  In this instance, particularly due to the size of the volume, it really needs to remain in a hardcover format.  The bonded leather hardcover is perfect for this Bible.   

My one minor concern with this Bible is that the paper is quite thin.  I would imagine that this is because of a desire to not produce a Bible that would be the width of a family Bible.  So, if you are going to purchase this Bible, you need to be careful in how you turn the pages.  Now, I am not saying that it as fragile as tissue paper, but it isn't thick as some of you would be accustomed to.  In some ways, it does remind me of the paper used in the Oxford parallel Catholic New Testament.  

Overall, this is a beautifully made and immensely useful Bible.  If you are a devotee of the Clemetine Vulgate and/or the Douay-Rheims, and would like a reference Bible that includes both, this needs to be in your possession.  If you are studying Latin or just prefer the venerable Douay-Rheims, again, this needs to be in your possession.  This is a Bible, with care, that will last a lifetime.  This is also the kind of Bible the reminds you that Catholic publishers can make Bibles that are both exquisite in production and comparable in usefulness to those made by Protestant publishers.

I want to thank Baronius Press for providing me a review copy.

Some Excellent (and beautifully made) Catholic Bibles and Prayer Books

THE ROMAN BREVIARY A new edition of the Roman Breviary 1961 in English and Latin. An invaluable set of books for all those attached to the traditional Roman Breviary, in the form approved by Pope Benedict XVI in Summorum Pontificum. We hope and pray that this edition which has taken many years of work to complete, will help to bring about an increased use of the traditional liturgy in the praying of the Divine Office of the Church. Flexible cover, 3-Volume Set, 4.5"x 7", 6064 pages, $359.95

THE HOLY BIBLE - Knox Translation Msgr. Knox's translation of the Latin Vulgate into elegant, timeless English is one of the greatest treasures of the 20th century Church. His translation is spiritual and literary, graceful and lyrical, making it one of the most beautiful vernacular versions of the Holy Bible. Flexible cover, 6"x 8.25", 1472 pages, $54.95 Douay-Rheims & Clementina Vulgata Those familiar with the Douay-Rheims Bible will know that it is one of the most beautiful and accurate Bible translations available today Having both Bibles side by side allows us to see exactly where the vernacular translation came from. Even those with limited Latin skills will be able to follow along, using the Douay-Rheims translation as an aid. Flexible cover, 8.5"x 11.5", 1488 pages, $89.95 DIVINE INTIMACY One of the best and most loved resources for meditative prayer. This book is designed to assist the faithful in the quest for intimate union with God through the practice of meditating on holy truths. These Carmelite meditations are easy to fit into even the busiest schedule, giving you food for thought and inspiration every day of the liturgical year. Flexible cover, 6"x 8.25", 1216 pages, $59.95 CATENA AUREA Imagine a round-table discussion of the Gospels among the supreme theologians of the Church. The Catena Aurea is very close! St. Thomas Aquinas compiled this opus from sermons and commentaries on the Gospels written by the early Church Fathers. For each of the four Gospel writers, the Catena Aurea starts by indicating the verses to be analyzed, then taking each verse phrase-by-phrase, provides the early Fathers' insights into the passage. Leather Hardback, 4-Volume Set, 6"x 8.25", 2832 pages, $149.95 For all of these and more, you can go to our friends at Baronius Press and still get them in time for Christmas!  As I have mentioned before, Baronius makes the nicest books in the Catholic publishing world.  Their many books and Bibles will indeed last a lifetime.