Customer Reviews

Christ: The Ideal of the Priest

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This volume this seems to be a compiled book- i.e.not penned by Blessed Columba Marmion himself. It was compiled by a very thorough follower years after his death (1952) from notes the Abbot gave at retreats for priests/ seminarians. Even so, it bears the beatified Abbot's inimitable stamp- his singular focus on our patrimony in Jesus Christ.

The book lacks the complex organization and tight argumentation which characterized the other two volumes actually published during Marmion's lifetime under his own direction. However, it makes up for this in its very usefulness.

If you are a Catholic seminarian or priest, then this book will be a helpful addition to your bedside reading. In my experience, Marmion is always best when digested in small sections, mulled over at length.

If you like this volume, then you will probably also enjoy "Christ, the Life of the Soul" and "Christ, the Ideal of the Monk." Like this book, the former has been reprinted recently. The latter, however, has yet to be re-issued. I found my 1920's era copy in my monastery's library. I would suspect that you could find a copy (or several!) almost any place where monks hung out in the years between the two world wars.

The only disadvantage to these earlier printings, other than somewhat quaint churchly English, is that they lack the helpful notes of a modern translator. In the two re-issued works, the translator sometimes takes on the task of interpreting in footnotes some of Marmion's pre-Vatican II statements about theological/ doctrinal issues whose nuances have been clarified by developments subsequent to Marmion's seminal work. However, whether in modern translations or ancient, or in their original form, Marmion's words ring of Truth and Beauty and lead us to the Good.

I would recommend buying this as a gift for any Catholic priest or seminarian. Containing more than just a solid theology of the priesthood, it also has incredible advice and practical tips for growing in virtue and better carrying out our priestly duties (e.g. the excellent chapters on the Eucharist and The Divine Office). Abbot Marmion was Beatified on Sept. 3, 2000.

Excellent book. I highly recommend it to all Priests, particularly during this year of the priest.