New Transcription Project: "The Priest's Way to God"

JMJA

Now in the process of transcribing...

The Priest's Way to God

Second Edition, 1945

by Fr. Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M.

Why this book is so sorely needed: "Priestly holiness is its aim..."

______For the benefit at least of myself, and those few who may read this, I have begun digitally transcribing The Priest's Way to God, by Fr. Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M., in the hope that its treasure trove of salutary wisdom may be preserved and propagated.

______In this work, Fr. Plassmann wonderfully combines three wellsprings into a single font, three ladders into a single stair, as a schema for Priestly sanctity: 1) the Holy Orders, both Minor and Major (through which, until recently, all Priests traditionally passed), are described (with their various duties and requisite virtues) according to the text of the Roman Pontifical (the Bishop's book of rituals); these he divides according to 2) the Three Stages of the spiritual life (the Purgative, Illuminative, and Unitive Ways); the entirety of which, Fr. Plassmann shows, is founded upon 3) the imitation of the life of Our Lord. In this excerpt from his Forward, Fr. Plassmann's describes the work in his own words: 

Priestly holiness is its aim: The Highpriest of the Scriptures is the Source and Pattern; Christian perfection, as set forth by His lips and propounded by the Holy Spirit through inspired or saintly men of the Church, is the way; the Pontifical, written by the hand of Mother Church, is the staff on the journey.

Tailored, as this book is, to instruct the aspirant and remind the Priest of what, precisely, Holy Mother Church expects of him and ordains him to be, this excellent work is well suited for our troubled age.

A Brief Note on the Notes:

______When I first read this extraordinary work, I knew absolutely no Latin (of which I am still quite ignorant) and was consequently unable to grasp much of this book's riches. That this may not be a hindrance to others, and in the interest of further edification, both academic and spiritual, notes have been added throughout the text to provide: citations for quotations, some references for further study, a few minor clarifications, and, most importantly, translations for the Latin phrases.

A Brief Note on Copyright

______It appears that the copyright for this work was renewed as recently as 1965, and I assume it is still in force. Admittedly, I do not understand the complexities of copyright law. This having been said, I have no interest in, or intention of, garnering any financial gain from this work, nor to defraud the copyright holder of any gain (especially considering the work is long out of print); I am transcribing this book in good faith, for the edification of the brethren, and to no other earthly profit. It is my hope – considering the change of medium and the addition of copious notes – that this project might fall under the Fair Use exception as a transformative reproduction for non-profit, educational use. However, if you are the holder of this work's copyright and would like this work removed, please inform me, and I will comply without protestation; if I do not reply, it may be assumed either that I have died or have entered religion.

A Brief Note on the Edition - Updated

______When I began this project, the copy which I had in hand was of the First Edition, from 1937. Shortly after, it came to my attention that a Second Edition had been published in 1945. After obtaining a copy and comparing the two, I was glad to find that the latter was, as it ought to be, a worthy successor to the former — constituting an expansion rather than a major revision. In this Second Edition, Fr. Plassmann incudes a Fifth Part, examining the Episcopacy in the same manner as the Orders. Accordingly, this project has been updated to conform with the Second Edition.

How the Project Will be Shared

______As this project of transcription progresses, the collected work will be available on a dedicated page of this blog.

Please pray an Ave for this poor worm of the earth.

Devotedly in Jesus and Mary,

Little Gualbert

 *      *      *

And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us:

and direct thou the works of our hands over us;

yea, the work of our hands do thou direct.

 Et sit splendor Domini Dei nostri super nos;

et opera manuum nostrarum dirige super nos,

et opus manuum nostrarum dirige.

Ps.lxxxix.17