Journal Of
pp. 97-98 · Read in the full issue
Holiness
From the age of 14 until hortly before his death at the ge of 82, Angelo Giuseppe \oncalli, known in the last four ears of his life as Pope John 'XIII, kept a “record of his r owth in holiness”. Jotted down i exercise books and on odd raps of paper, it forms the isis of “Journal of a Soul”, üblished in Italy in 1964 and in
r complete English translation,
st recently.
i LTHOUGH Angelo Roncalli is said to have come from peasant )ck, in the context of his village the north of Italy his family ight more accurately be described middle-class.
The child, who was spontaneously racted to the church and early lied “Angelino, the little Roncalli gel, the little priest” was greatly listed by his uncle and godfather, verio, the head of the family, who :ulcated in him all of his own igious fervour. rhe future Pope’s education began a village school but he learned ■rect Italian from a curate and tin from the parish priest, which ibled him to gain a place in a ninary school.
Served In The Army
'iis subsequent career in the church ►k him all over Europe and as east as Turkey; in 1901-02, lough already in holy orders, he s required to do his two years vice with the Army and in 1915, ing World War I, was called again for military service, fo the extent that the Journal ns so long a time in the life of : man, it is also a commentary a period that bridged two Juries, two world wars and a ial revolution.
Nonetheless, this large book can rcely be regarded as material for general reader, unless he be a te phenomenal Catholic layman, a person with an overwhelming iosity about other men’s minds; of course, an aspiring cleric, although the future Pope com its on matters that concern inary men and current events—
such as the visit of England’s Edward VII to Rome in 1903—most of the Journal is devoted to soul-searching for faults and sins by an individual who seems already more Saint than man, and to have none of either.
To the uninstructed non-Catholic and probably to most Catholics, as well, the book is, however, a revela
tion of what depths of character must go towards making a Pope in the mid-20th century.
The book is published by Geoffrey Chapman Ltd., London, Geoffrey Chapman being a still young Aus tralian who went to the UK about 12 years ago and gained a foothold in the precarious business of pub lishing books. He has specialised in religious works and his capture of the English-language publishing rights of this book that was sought by far larger organisations, is a notable triumph.—JT, (JOURNAL OF A SOUL. Geoffrey Chapman. 52/6).