Practical Ascetics
For Use of Seminarians, Novices, Religious, Priests, and the Laity by Rev. Matthew J.W. Smith.
Impr, 1928.
The need of a short practical guide for priests, seminarians, novices, religious, and laymen in the practice of ascetics has been felt for some time. Until a better work appears, this little book may serve the purpose. There is a vast literature on ascetics. But we have needed a compendium which would prove a guide valuable even to those who had done no previous studying in the sacred science, and that would lack the bulk and terrifying erudition which mark some works. Nearly everything in this book has been drawn from the canonized saints, except for a chapter or two from therapeutic science and applied psychology. The volume will probably be found of value not only for private reading, but also for public use in seminaries and retreats.
193 page book.