As to the rendering of the sacred text, you may bear in mind that it is only the Vulgate in Latin, and not the phrasing of any translation published in English, which has been authenticated by the Church for the purpose of quotation. And, as to the labours of others, I have not only assigned the credit to where it is due for many fair thoughts impressed into service here, but also, in discarding opinions of another sort, I have taken pains to leave them at the doors of those who claim them. So, using that freedom of conversation to which your questions and objections invited, we may retrace in these pages our steps as on an evening stroll, the dialogue winding with the turns of many topics over the fields of many thoughts. THE AUTHOR Rome, May 31, 1923 |