Translator's Preface.
In translating the following pages from Pere St. Omer's French work, "Les plus belles Prieres de St. Alphonse," I have been largely indebted to the late Bishop Coffin, to Father Grimm, and to Father Muller, all of them sons of St. Alphonsus, from whose published works about one third of the following prayers have been taken.
By awaiting the appearance of the whole of Father Grimm's Centenary edition of St. Alphonsus' works, all, or nearly all, contained in this prayer-book might have been textually quoted from his pages ; but this would have necessitated too long a delay in giving to English-speaking Catholics the privilege of making constant use of the very words of "that sweet spirit St. Alphonsus."
