Most of these chapters were written originally for the "Mungret Annual," with a view to assist the apostolic students who are now, as priests, rendering such splendid service to the Church of God abroad. And it was the very generous reception accorded the articles in the ecclesiastical colleges that suggested the idea of presenting them in the more lasting form of a book. Sacred Heart College, Limerick, _March_ 17, 1909, Feast of St. Patrick. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION The rapid sale of the first edition of this work surprised no one more than the author. It was not addressed to the public in general, but to a limited section; the price, while moderate, could not be called cheap; yet within a little over two months the entire edition was exhausted. It is impossible to express my deep gratitude to the reviewers. From them the book met with a chorus of approving welcome, without even one jarring note. To all I now tender my grateful thanks; but the author of "My New Curate" has placed me under a special obligation for his thoughtful critique in the _Freeman's Journal_, and Ibh Maine for his friendly review in the _Leader_. Nor should I omit to thank the ecclesiastical colleges, that not only pardoned the blunt candour of some of the chapters, but gave the book a more than cordial reception. The present edition includes two entirely new chapters--the two last--extending over 45 pages. It is hoped that the added matter will prove of as much interest as those chapters of the first edition which received such a hearty welcome. College of the Sacred Heart, Limerick, _September_ 29, 1909, Feast of St. Michael. CONTENTS CHAPTER FIRST CULTURE: ITS NECESSITY TO A YOUNG PRIEST CHAPTER SECOND ENGLISH: ITS NECESSITY TO A YOUNG PRIEST CHAPTER THIRD SHOULD A YOUNG PRIEST WRITE HIS SERMONS? CHAPTER FOURTH HOW SHOULD THE YOUNG PRIEST PREPARE HIS SERMONS? CHAPTER FIFTH A SOPHISTRY EXPOSED--ADVICE GIVEN-- THEOLOGIAN AND PREACHER--THE DIFFERENCE CHAPTER SIXTH THE ART OF ELOCUTION CHAPTER SEVENTH THE DANGER OF THE HOUR. HOW TO MEET IT CHAPTER EIGHTH THE YOUNG PRIEST'S ACTIVITIES CHAPTER FIRST CULTURE: ITS NECESSITY TO A YOUNG PRIEST If you question any priest of experience and observation who has lived on the foreign mission, and ask him what constitutes the greatest drawbacks, what seriously impedes the efficiency of our young priests abroad, without hesitation he will answer--First, want of social culture; and, secondly, a defective English education. To the first of these this chapter will be exclusively devoted, while the subject of English will be dealt with in the chapter to follow. [Side note: The case stated]