Pius XI on Christian Marriage, in the Original Latin with English Translation

133 pp. One of 1000 thousand copies, of which only 580 were offered for sale. Leather spine and corners, marbled cloth over boards, gilt titles, top edge gilt. An interesting early twentieth century Catholic commentary on the institution of marriage, with the original Latin presented opposite the English translation. The papal encyclical is commonly referred to as 'Casti connubii', which translates as 'of chaste wedlock'. Its main themes were the sanctity of marriage, and the prohibition of birth control and abortion, with related moral commentaries. The 1920s and 30s were characterized by an outpouring of public support for the idea of birth control, so this condemnation of it, while in keeping with the Catholic Church's stance on the matter at the time, certainly appears to also be a reaction to the prevailing social current of the time. The English translation was prepared by Gerald Carr Treacy, who worked on several papal encyclicals during his career. According to a genealogical resource maintained by his family, "The Rev Gerald Carr Treacy, SJ, was a rector of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Ignatius, Rogers Ave and Carroll St, and widely known Jesuit teacher, author and lecturer, and retreat master at Mount Manresa, Staten Island. He received his education at the College of St. Francis Xavier, Manhattan. He entered the Jesuit order in 1898, and his first assignment was as a teacher at Holy Cross College. As a scholar, he was one of the first group of young Jesuits when he came to Brooklyn College, Carroll St in 1908. He taught the senior high school class for three years. Father Treacy was ordained to the priesthood in August, 1914, and since then has devoted most of his time to mission work and to writing. Father Treacy as a scholar was one of the first group of young Jesuits at Brooklyn Prep in Carroll St near Rogers Ave where he taught from 1908 to 1911. Later in June 1937, he returned as rector of the for a six year term. After his ordination in 1914, Father Treacy taught at Boston College, and considered the most popular, teacher in the history of that institution. Father Treacy is well known in Brooklyn and has preached at several, of the churches in this borough. A number of his sermons have appeared on The Brooklyn Eagle's Sermon Page. He then taught at Fordham University for four years when he was assigned as superior at the Staten Island retreat house. He was a regular contributor to 'America' the Jesuit magazine and served as an associate editor, before becoming president of American Press. In 1917, he was among the eighteen Catholic priests selected by Cardinal Farley to be chaplains in the Army, He served with the rank of first lieutenant with the 39th Infantry at Camp Greene Charlotte NC and Camp Mills NY. In December 1930, he went to Mount Manresa-on-the-Severn, Md., until the following June, when he was named procurator at St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia. From there he went to Fordham as minister and vice president for a year before been appointed as head of Brooklyn Prep in 1937. Father Treacy was appointed rector of the Church of Our Lady of Martyrs Tertianship Ayresville N.Y. in 1943, where he served until named vice-rector of Campion Hall headquarters of the staff of 'America' the Jesuit magazine. Father Treacy observed his golden jubilee of his entrance into the Society of Jesus in 1948."