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Preface.

N attempting to supply a want long felt by a vast number who revere the name and glory in the patronage of St. Augustine, on account of their association with his illustrious Order and with the Archconfraternity of the Sacred Cincture, the Compiler of this MANUAL has by no means confined himself to that consideration alone. While effecting this desideratum, as a primary object, he has also sought to meet the requirements of a still larger majority of English-speaking Christians who do not happen to be members of the Archconfraternity, by furnishing them with a practical and complete manual of prayer.

It may be conceded at once that, speaking generally, there is no such need; that we have in our days almost a surfeit of prayer-books and works for devotional purposes; and amongst them-ay, even occupying no mean place, too-the popular and favourite "Catholic Piety" of Dr. W. Gahan of our Order, a prayer-book which has seen over 50 editions, and 500,000 copies.

But despite this, when the reader examines the present MANUAL, and especially regards the Calendar and the numerous indulgences summarised thereupon; and, furthermore, when he considers the information concerning them conveyed by its pages, and the facility offered for gaining such a treasury of spiritual benefits, the Compiler trusts he will escape any note of censure for introducing to the general public another Prayerbook, or Manual of Devotion.

Moreover, he is encouraged in this belief when it is borne in mind that this new Manual, so far as it is a prayer-book, is but a revised edition of the well-known "Catholic Piety"; but, as far as it is a new publication, presents features altogether novel.

These special features will be manifest to the reader; (1.) when he finds that, by a daily glance at the Perpetual Calendar, on the first pages of this Manual, he can learn all the important indulgences to be gained every day for any approved or popular devotion; (2.) when he hears Holy Mass, or even performs his ordinary morning and evening devotions, he can gain by these very acts, and without extra labour, quite a little treasury of indulgences; and (3.) by the simple classification of a Christian's exercises in this Manual, he will not fail to find it a most ready Book of Prayer.

Feast of St. Monica,
May 4th, 1884.

The Compiler.

THE NEW EDITION.

THE rapid sale of the First Edition is the best proof of the general appreciation of this new Prayer Book; while the following extract from its review by the Editor of the Irish Ecclesiastical Record may be taken as a specimen of the particular eulogy bestowed upon it by literati.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MANUAL.

"The person who will not be satisfied with 'The Augustinian Manual, is one hard to please in a prayer-book. We have looked through its many pages with the view of finding some usual practice of devotion unprovided for, and we failed to find any omission. It is indeed a full book.

Feast of St. William, O.S.A.

February 10th, 1885.

&c."

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