This little work so unpretending in appearance comes before us honoured with an approbation which the most splendid volumes might be proud to deserve. The preachers of the Lenten sermons in Rome are accustomed to assemble at the commencement of that season in one of the halls of the Vatican to receive from the Holy Father, together with his blessing, their commission to preach the Word of God. On occasion of this ceremony before the Lent of 1861, Pius IX. distributed with his own hand to each of the preachers a copy of the Italian translation of the work under notice, saying: "_This little book, which has come to us from France, has already done a great deal of good; it ought to be given to every child who makes his first communion. Every parish priest ought to have it, for it contains the true rules about communion, such as the Council of Trent understands them, and such as I wish to be put in practice_". Besides, in an Apostolic Brief, dated 29th September, 1860, the Holy Father approves of the doctrine which serves as the foundation of all the rules laid down by the author concerning frequent communion. The leading principle of the work is this: that Holy Communion is not a _recompense_ for sanctity already acquired, but a _means_ of preserving and of augmenting grace, and thereby of arriving at sanctity. Holy Communion, therefore, should be an ordinary and habitual act of the Christian life, and frequent communion should be the rule of the good Christian's conduct. There are, however, some important distinctions to be made. To go to communion every day, or almost every day, or three or four times a week, is frequent communion in its absolute sense, and frequent with respect to every class of person. To go to communion every Sunday and Holiday, a practice indirectly recommended _to all_ by the Council of Trent, is not frequent communion for priests, members of religious orders, ecclesiastical students, or in general for such as aim at perfection; but it is frequent communion for children and for the mass of the faithful, who have but scanty leisure to devote to pious exercises. To communicate every month and on the great festivals, is not frequent communion at all, even for the poor and the labouring class. It is, no doubt, an excellent practice, and to be recommended to all, but it cannot be called frequent communion.