THE LETTERS OF POPE CELESTINE VI

by Giovanni Papini ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 23, 1947

Don't sidetrack this in your religious book department, as both substance and the name of the tremendously popular Life of Christ, a generation ago, will lead to popular interest in this devout hoax. It purports to be the letters of one Celestine VI -- letters found in an abandoned convent, letters originally written in Latin from which ""an almost literal translation"" has been made by the discoverer, Papini. Of course, Pope Celestine VI is a non-existent prelate and the letters are Papini's own. The reading the MSS. is of absorbing interest, for it is the Christian imperative, together with an apologetic for all of the human family who have failed to bring to reality their divine commission to save the world. Papini spares no group among us- priests, monks, the rich, the poor, politicians, unbelievers and Protestants, women- and just plain people. Yet the strangely moving beauty of his words, his poet's imagination, have the added fire of great Christian humility and devotional zeal. The book is too frank in its condemnation of sin within the church to bear the ""nihil obstat"", but he has succeeded in stretching the reader's mind beyond the small limits of personal beliefs and prejudices, and issued a clarion call for Christian action in a desperate world situation.

Pub Date: Jan. 23, 1947

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1947

Categories: NONFICTION