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Editorial Reviews

Vermeer’s Angel is Fr de Malleray’s brilliant debut novel in an intriguing genre that could accurately be called ‘Vatican Noir’. The author’s detailed knowledge of the ecclesiastical backdrop and the artistic foreground make for a convincing ‘high resolution’ world in which ambition, morality, psychology, espionage and high drama intersect.Pierpaolo Finaldi, Master of the Keys – The Catholic Writers Guild (UK)Armand de Malleray’s stunning prose draws the reader into a world of intrigue and uncertainty where nothing is quite as it seems. This is more than just a novel, it is a haunting meditation on the significance of memory, identity, betrayal, guilt and the insatiable human yearning for the Truth.Fiorella De Maria, author of The Father Gabriel Mysteries
Award-winning novelist De Maria studied Literature in Cambridge and has published nine books with Ignatius Press.Fr. Armand de Malleray is a priest with acute spiritual insight. He also has a rare gift of knowing how to read and vividly communicate the grand designs, and the riches half-hidden, in the paintings of the old masters, as those fortunate enough to have attended his celebrated talks at London's National Gallery will attest. Now this remarkable man has written a remarkable novel, a tale of Ostpolitik set in expertly orchestrated scenes alternating between the aftermath of Hiroshima and the collapse of Eastern European communism. Ingeniously interweaving the various strands of his fiction with real history, Japanese culture, Vatican diplomacy, Kim Philby's Soviet spy ring, and a penetrating analysis of art that makes painting come alive, this is not only a culturally sophisticated narrative, but a gripping read, full of human interest.Robert Asch, St Austin Review.
Writer, literary critic, and scholar, Robert Asch is co-editor of StAR and of the St Austin Press.Vermeer’s Angel is a triumph of a novel. It is a startlingly broad canvas that crosses several continents, cultures and decades, unfolding for the reader subtle readings of both artistic masterpieces and men’s souls. It is a novel about the loss of the self, caused by the atomic blast of modernity and the lingering radiation of older ills. It is a novel about memory and about self-betrayal, suffused with a gentle but persistent sense of the need to recover spiritual responsibility in a world of pragmatic compromise.Brian Sudlow, author of Catholic Literature and Secularisation in France and England (Manchester University Press)
Dr Brian Sudlow teaches at Aston University (Birmingham, UK) and has written extensively about Catholic literature and Catholic thought in France and England.

Amazon Readers' Reviews

MSO
5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
Verified PurchaseI fully agree with the reviewer who said the author is a deeply cultured man. Yes, a sophisticated and highly intellectual man. Yet, underneath all that and perhaps even arching above it, is a profound spirituality. A richly adorned Catholic faith that crowns everything, every word, every syllable. This is a story of redemption and salvation as has never before been written. It is quite simply, brilliant!This book is not an easy read. It cannot be eaten up in a few hours poolside. This book will challenge your memory and imagination! Inquiring minds will want to pause and look up certain historical facts pertinent to the plot. Art lovers who appreciate fine paintings but have limited knowledge, will take delight in learning not only about technical details but also how to view and interpret art. We learn that some beautiful art is sacred and sacred art holds secrets to be uncovered and meditated upon.For myself, I appreciated the psychology of the main character and how he was explained. Without giving the plot away, I will say that this suffering soul, this Japanese survivor, was treated very delicately and with great respect and dignity to his human frailty.Another wonderful thing - there was no foul language or anything vile or explicit on these pages. No shady shock tactics. Nothing repulsive. Proof that a good story can stand up on its own.I very much enjoyed reading this book! I will have to read it again though because in all honesty it is too clever for me. It is yards above the intellect that God gave me and so I must nibble away at it instead, and this is precisely what makes this work a rare achievement. It doesn't take anything from us, but gives! Almost as if the author would not permit us to idle away our time reading something that has no value.Someone, please do make this novel into a film! It is worth its weight in gold. Ave Maria!

Pablo Iglesias Alvarez
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful masterpiece
Reviewed in Mexico on September 11, 2023
Verified PurchaseThis book has everything, is it well written, has a great story, shows an incredible knowledge and depth about art. But above all it overflows with a grace and a sacramental vision that in my view makes it a masterpiece of our time. A miracle indeed.

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A tour de force
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2023
Verified PurchaseA tremendously fascinating and absorbing book. The author is a deeply cultured man, and directs the reader towards a deep appreciation of many works of art — on one level. The book is so much more than that, but I feel imparting more information would do the book a disservice. I encourage potential readers to prepare for a wonderful adventure and be prepared for sustained and very rewarding intellectual effort too. I would not have missed this book for the world! It’s incredible that it is the author’s first novel…

Media Reviews

Elizabeth Walker
Mass of Ages - Autumn 2023
https://issuu.com/latinmasssociety/docs/autumn23finalcorrectedproof31july/s/32940725This is no ordinary novel. In the process of brilliantly interweaving two distinct, but closely linked narratives, it explores many separate themes and, unlike most modern novels, leaves the reader with much to think about.The story itself is fairly straightforward: a dead art expert suddenly reappears. Priestly diplomats fear someone has stolen his identity. Will the ‘art expert’ subvert Ch urch policy? The answer may be hidden in Vermeer’s paintings – hence the title of the novel.Despite spies, evil adversaries and Vatican plots, it is an antidote to the many Dan Brown lookalikes: this is essentially a truly Catholic novel. It is a gripping spy story with a contemporary relevance, although set in the relatively recent past. While the story offers insights into the workings of the Vatican, it also defines a process of conversion in the hidden workings of the human soul: a meditation on a spiritual coming of age with all its culpabilities.The Prologue, introducing two key characters, Bishop Dorf and Monsignor Altemps – both closely in touch with the Vatican but for different reasons – sets out a scheme of diverging clerical ambitions and machinations which hold the attention right to the dramatic end of the narrative. The outgoing, likeable Dorf subsequently offers amusing perspectives on a clerical love of luxury that dates back to Chaucer, but the ambition to see a lifetime’s efforts rewarded by a cardinal’s hat is his motivation. In contrast, the terminally ill Altemps apparently longs for the seclusion and secrecy of a cloister in which to die, while his old friend is desperate to persuade him to fall in with his plans for the cardinalate. As their story develops it becomes evident that nothing is quite as it seems. Dorf’s unexpected connection with an unidentified communist spy calls into question his eligibility as cardinal, and the search for this spy’s identity is the plot which holds the entire novel together.Interleaved with Dorf’s story is the closely linked memoir of enigmatic Japanese art critic Ken Kokura. In the gripping opening to Part One of the novel, Kokura suffers a total memory loss in the trauma of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, clearly based on contemporary accounts of the disaster and echoing the miraculous survival of Jesuits in the target zone of the first bomb. Kokura’s search for his identity – indeed for his soul - runs concurrently with his role as a spy; in the process of rehabilitation, he is apparently recruited by a Moscow agent and agrees to pass on information in exchange for an education, which leads to a career in the authentication of paintings. Despite, or perhaps because of, his gradual recovery of memory, he proves to be an unreliable narrator, and it is for the reader to try to unravel his true role.This is a novel with a wide perspective, covering a period of five decades or so, with scenes set in Europe, Japan, China, and America. The observation of differences in lifestyle, values, modes of expression is acute and illuminating, and the prose style reflects these, contrasting for example Kokura’s careful narrative with the clichéd businessspeak of advertisers who are without conscience.There is humour in the depiction of some of the clerics, but as the title hints, this is a serious book about the role of art in the spiritual life of man. The works of art closely observed and knowledgably analysed in their relevance to the plot include a selection of well-known paintings by Catholic artists, but others less famous are alluded to, well worth an internet search: Ricci’s astonishing portrait of Tsunenaga Hasekura – key to Kokura’s story – is just one. To adapt the author’s own words elsewhere, we look at the paintings ‘as a divine world, helping us men to learn, and dwell, serve, grow and be saved.’Vermeer’s Angel by Fr Armand de Malleray is published by Arouca Press and is available from the LMS online shop at £17.50 (paperback) plus P&P.

Robert Lazu Kmita
The Remnant newspaper, December 31 AD 2024, Volume 57, Number 22, p. 15. (Print edition)A Priest-Novelist and His Debut: Father Armand de MallerayIf you’ve ever wondered which saints have written novels, the answer points unmistakably to English literature—specifically, the legendary Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–1890). Not only is he a brilliant Catholic apologist and theologian, but he is also the author of the autobiographical novel Loss and Gain (1848) and the historical fiction Callista (1855). With such a towering figure leading the pantheon of fiction writers, it’s no surprise that the same literary tradition includes highly gifted priest-writers like the renowned Father Robert Hugh Benson (1871–1914). Last year brought one of the most delightful surprises with the literary debut of another priest belonging to the world of Gregorian liturgical tradition, Father Armand de Malleray, FSSP. Mentioning that Father de Malleray earned a master’s degree in modern literature from the Sorbonne in Paris during his youth makes it clear that his work stems from a lifelong passion for the art of beautiful words.Titled Vermeer’s Angel (Arouca Press, 2023), the author’s first novel is undeniably a triumph. What amazed me from the very first pages was the mastery with which he wields the English language. For a Frenchman, this is both an act of humility and an extraordinarily rare achievement. It must be emphasized at the outset that the stylistic quality of Father de Malleray’s novel is exceptional.If I were to immediately answer the question, “What is the most striking feature of Vermeer’s Angel?” I would respond without hesitation: “refinement.” Beyond the refinement of style, the content itself and the intricate weave of ideas are equally characterized by this quality. Without wishing to spoil the plot, I’ll say that at first glance, we are dealing with a detective novel. Spies, intricate intrigues, chases, revelations, and doubts surrounding the identity of sophisticated characters—all the “arsenal” of the genre is present. If anyone might think this is one of the most common genres today, I hasten to assure you that what the author does with it is, in fact, a kind of ennobling.By setting the action in a universe of politico-ecclesiastical intrigues unfolding at the crossroads of multiple worlds and countries—among which a leading place is occupied by Japan—Father Armand de Malleray creates the perfect backdrop for a subtle exploration of universal masterpieces of visual arts, as well as the profound inner struggles of a servant of the altar. So, if you’re looking for an adventure novel where art, history, politics, Catholicism (i.e., religion), and literature itself are treated with the finesse of an English lord’s salon, Vermeer’s Angel is exactly what you need.I cannot conclude this brief note (which serves as an introduction to a longer review to be published soon) without adhering to the principal requirement set by T.S. Eliot regarding the purpose of literary criticism: uncovering the beauty of the written text. Here is a short excerpt that, I believe, will convince you:“In a meditative mood, the bishop looked successively at Fr. Xavier Hasekura’s grave in the distance, at the countless Buddhist tombs across the hilly grounds, and finally at the scattered groups of late visitors. It was getting cold as the afternoon was drawing to a close, and he tightened his purple cashmere scarf around his chest. By his watch it was past 5pm and he relished following the imperceptible descent of the sun upon the horizon.”As I read the above fragment, the internalized melancholy evoked by the twilight of the Japanese sun resurfaced from the deep waters of my memory, bringing to mind the paintings of masters like Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) and Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). Yet, unlike them, Father Armand de Malleray employs words instead of brushes. His mastery as a landscapist—both of nature and, more importantly, of the interior worlds of his characters—is beyond question.

Rorate Caeli post:He survived Hiroshima.
He escaped East-Germany.
Will he elude the Church?
Deceased art expert Ken Kokura seemingly reappears in Japan, upsetting the plans of priestly diplomats. They fear, lest a ruthless schemer may have stolen his identity. How far will that possible super spy dare to go to subvert Church policy? The answer may be hidden in Vermeer’s celebrated paintings.
Against a Cold War backdrop, friendship, religion, the fine arts, and ideology intertwine. Loyalties are tested, leaving the only alternatives of betrayal or sacrifice. In the Church under attack, the worst infiltration is sin. Safety then will start with repentance.“Vermeer’s Angel is Fr de Malleray’s brilliant debut novel in an intriguing genre that could accurately be called ‘Vatican Noir’. The author’s detailed knowledge of the ecclesiastical backdrop and the artistic foreground make for a convincing ‘high resolution’ world in which ambition, morality, psychology, espionage and high drama intersect.” (Pierpaolo Finaldi)

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Editorial Reviews

May the present book of Rev. Fr. de Malleray, FSSP, a beautiful and impressive ‘paper shrine to the Most Holy Eucharist,’ have a wide diffusion and be a practical spiritual aid in order to renew the Catholic Faith, the Catholic love, and the Catholic worship of the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist.+ Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in AstanaSometimes the language and concepts surrounding the Eucharistic Mystery can be difficult or impenetrable for many people. Fr. Armand de Malleray has a gift for explaining traditional doctrine and practice without losing anything in depth or precision. In a lively, innovative, and engaging style, Ego Eimi—It Is I passes on the timeless treasures of traditional Catholic Faith and is a great service to the ChurchFr. Marcus Holden, author of the Evangelium catechetical seriesThis highly readable, informative, and edifying treatise on the Holy Eucharist will enrich the understanding and devotion of Catholics regardless of their prior knowledge of the subject: I recommend it wholeheartedly.Dr. Joseph Shaw, Ph.D., Oxf, Chairman of the Latin Mass SocietyA very useful contribution to the people’s understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist.Most Rev. Malcolm McMahon, OP, Archbishop of LiverpoolI heartily recommend this book to all.Very Rev. John M. Berg, FSSP, Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of St. PeterThe Holy Eucharist is a sublime mystery before which it is often better to remain in silent adoration than to attempt to open one’s mouth in explanation. And yet where would we be without the great writings of the saints on this Sacrament, which is rightly and truly called ‘the Most Blessed’? All the more today do we need authors who can help us see with fresh amazement the miracle of Our Lord’s Real Presence in our midst and to hunger for the unique, unsurpassable nourishment He offers us from the altar of the Cross. In this book, Fr. de Malleray has given us a vivid introduction to the ‘font and apex of the Christian life,’ with unexpected angles and brilliant connections that refresh an old subject for contemporary readers. May it bring the minds and hearts of many readers nearer to ‘the bread of God that cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, author of Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness: Why the Modern Age Needs the Mass of AgesA beautiful book, as accessible as it is profound. I have learned much and gained even more.Prof. Stephen Bullivant, Institute of Theology, St. Mary’s University,
Twickenham

Foreword to Ego Eimi, by Bishop Athanasius Schneider

The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament of the divine love. It is the sacrament of faith. The Eucharist is the greatest of all the miracles that Christ ever wrought. The Eucharist is the greatest consolation that God has given us here on Earth, in this valley of tears. Indeed, the Eucharist is not a sacred thing; the Eucharist is the Lord Himself. It is the Lord: Dominus est! He is here present truly, really, and substantially with His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.In his reflections on the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist, with the significant title Ego Eimi—It Is I, Rev. Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP, made a precious spiritual gift to the priests and to the faithful of our time. In his book, he shows that the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist is not only a holy thing but it is ultimately the Person of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who revealed His infinite love in the most deep, striking, and loving manner in that sacrament.Rev. Fr. de Malleray presents us with reflections upon the Most Holy Eucharist, which are born from the knowledge of the sacred Faith and from the consequent experience of this Faith in celebrating and receiving this divine Sacrament.In the midst of the spiritual ruins by which the Eucharistic life in the Church of our days is largely characterized, we have to renew the true Catholic Faith. Rev. Fr. de Malleray rightly wrote in the introduction to his book: “We have our Catholic Faith. It is all we need, for now, for the scattered stones to assemble and for pillars and arches to rise afresh in our souls.” One has first to know Our Lord in the depth of His ineffable Eucharistic Sacrament. Such knowledge, illuminated by the Faith, impels us to love the Eucharistic Lord ever more. The true love for the Eucharistic Lord then necessarily demands exterior gestures of awe and respect.May this book of Rev. Fr. de Malleray, a beautiful and impressive “paper shrine to the Most Holy Eucharist,” have a wide diffusion and be a practical spiritual aid in order to renew the Catholic Faith, the Catholic love, and the Catholic worship of the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. Let us “have a great love for Jesus in His divine sacrament of love. That is the divine oasis of the desert. It is the heavenly manna of the traveler. It is the Holy Ark. It is the life and paradise of love on earth.”¹+ Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
Sunday, 17 June 2018_{¹St. Peter Julian Eymard, To the Children of Mary, November 21, 1851.}

media reviews

John Morris
An Excellent MeditationReview in the quarterly magazine Mass of Ages, Spring 2024(retrieved on 22/05/2025 cf.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://lms.org.uk/sites/default/files/u9/massofages-spring_2024.pdf)Although Fr de Malleray presents his book Ego Eimi, It is I as a single meditation, structurally it is - he notes – a collection of various essays, articles and sermons, some of which have appeared elsewhere and some of which are new, of varying lengths, tones and styles.This is not a treatise, then, or even a reflection. Rather it is materials for reflection. The chapters form excellent jumping-off points for discussion: this is a book that could profitably be the centre of a reading group, where a certain degree of repetition (the point about the knob halfway up the chalice is made in two places, for instance) would be no bad thing. There is much to be grateful for: the two senses of judgement, for instance, is an excellent meditation competently handled and worthy of elaboration at length, even if the link with the Eucharistic context is left only partially explored and the discerning of the Eucharist only lightly aligned with the discerning gaze of Our Lord in judging – sifting, purifying – our souls.This theme of judgement is central in scripture and yet we all but ignore it, and de Malleray is to be thanked for drawing attention to it; a careful exploration of the passages in question would be no bad endeavour – say, for the hypothetical reading group's next session. Yet the reader here is naturally left wanting more. The chapter on presence is very good, but never tells us what ‘presence’ actually is: at times Father is clearly operating with a vocabulary more at home in the phenomenological study of directed presence (‘presence-to’) and much of the richness of what he has to say about Our Lord's presence could fruitfully be developed along these lines.(I reveal myself as an incurable sentimentalist from a nation of doglovers when I add that it is not so very obvious to me that animals can neither reciprocate affection and the reader will recognise the genre of the book when he sees, early on, the claim that Aristotle discovered the law of non-contradiction; likewise, the various physical and scientific analogies are there as metaphors. Why, then, are they sometimes stated with such precision? Whose is the definition of nor express motivation. St Thomas, whatever his biology, does after all grant them intellectual perception – crows, for instance, perceive the future: ST 1.86.4, which would seem compatible with a species of love, albeit not properly so called.)The suggestion of the Mass as timekeeper is one of the most evocative ideas in the book – and is given a mere four and a half pages! (One thinks of Eliot's warning buoy whose bell, ‘measuring time not our time’ unwittingly rings a perpetual Angelus.) Equally poignant are the veiled (and tremendously polite) observations on quite how much was ripped out in the books of ’69. Devotional literature is not the place to go into all that, but one wishes all the same for more: certainly, the new rites are valid, but if all this is relevant to devotion to the Eucharist, what effect, exactly, did it have and thus what biases have most of us inherited?Other material affected me less. The meditation on disk-like objects is an amusing conceit, but could be extended almost indefinitely. Father is careful to avoid speculative theology, punctuation quoted on page 152—and why do we need one? Why do canal locks only permit travelling upstream on hired riverboats? Why mention that the author's understanding of yoga was ‘cautiously gleaned on the internet’? (The observation makes perfect sense in a homily, humorously defusing any latent fears that Father may dabble in odd things; here it is odd.)These are small quibbles, and even smaller is the occasional smile de Malleray's Gallicisms summoned: we do not have forensic reconstructions (or court investigations at all) in Britain, and we would naturally say ‘Stalinist’ rather than ‘Stalinian’. The French habit of pairing each noun with an appropriate adjective can be amusing, and any English reader will smile at the idea that expectant mothers are given technical advice and shown explanatory pictures.Yet it is not simply de Malleray's heritage which comes through – and, I should add, tends rather to endear. His obvious love of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar flows naturally from the pages; the long contemplation, some of whose fruits are presented here, a trifle unequally but with real value, is obvious. It is a rare book indeed which will, as the blurb hopes, ‘ignite a Eucharistic revival’. In the meantime, we could do worse than to meditate on the Mystery, and if de Malleray offers a way into that meditation he has done us great service indeed.

John Tuttle
The Wanderer Newspaper, Thursday 22nd May 2025
A Book Review... On The Acts Of Consecration And Of Faith (Originally published on June 6, 2022)Ego Eimi, It Is I: Falling in Eucharistic Love by Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP, published by Sophia Institute Press, Bedford, NH: sophiainstitute.com; 800-888-9344.Penned by Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP, Ego Eimi, It Is I: Falling in Eucharistic Love is a book that tackles the necessity of faith in Christ’s Eucharistic Presence and a few of the elements that might aid or hinder such faith among priests and laity alike.A specialized study, Ego Eimi closely examines the act of Consecration and its context within the liturgy, as well as the general act of faith, particularly when it comes to Communion, the receiving of Jesus in His entirety under the outward appearance of bread and wine.Here is a true stumbling block, that which the senses fail to detect and the intellect to fully comprehend: the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, where the eyes and taste buds register only a tiny morsel. Yet, this is faith. This is the hard saying that lost for our Lord so many of His onlookers and followers. But it is, for those who believe, life eternal. For in the Holy Eucharist, we receive the very Person who has within Himself the life that is the light of men (cf. John 1:4). It is this deepest, most delicate and humbling of mysteries that Fr. de Malleray writes of.The reader will find de Malleray’s writing style brimming with lucidity and wit, with the occasional analogy and anecdote, not unlike the prose of G.K. Chesterton. I can honestly say that before I started Ego Eimi, I didn’t expect to see a priest making a reference to the Disney blockbuster Frozen in a religious book. (You can find this reference in the Introduction.) But life never ceases to be full of surprises.In the book, the reader is led chapter by chapter to uncover major themes concerning the sacrifice of the Mass, Mary’s resounding “Yes” to her Creator, the Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, the implications of faith or the lack thereof, God’s mercy, and a series of symbols both hidden and visible throughout Scripture pointing to the significance of the Sacred Host.These symbols, which are disc-like “lenses” through which we may better understand the gravity of what Jesus offers us in the Host, consist of the stone covering the tomb, a coin from Judas’ payment, the “apple” of Mary’s eye, the ovum in her virginal womb, and the sun and moon. By these, de Malleray beautifully expresses numerous levels of significance — of love, victory, sacrifice, and mercy — all present in what looks even to us believers like a little wafer of bread. Yet, here is Jesus’ Presence, physical and whole.Perhaps the longest chapter, “The Formulas of Consecration,” is dedicated to a hot debate on changes effected through the “new missal of Pope Paul VI.” While recognizing the living liturgy as a place for organic growth and development, de Malleray posits that many of the changes to Consecration formulae in the 1969 missal were not only unnecessary, but also potentially harmful to genuine faith.Although the new adaptations infused the Roman Rite with more Scripture readings (such as more content to be read for the Gospels and epistles), the author focuses on various changes to the positioning of the Consecration which, in his view, detract attention — and faith — from the miracle of transubstantiation in the present moment.“Faith is the key,” de Malleray writes. The Treasure it opens, the Holy Eucharist and its outpouring of graces, is unfathomable, for the Holy Eucharist is God the Son Himself. And God is, by nature, unfathomable, mysterious, and ever incomprehensible to the human intellect.Ego Eimi is a book about the importance of the Most Blessed Sacrament. It tells the reader why it matters. It tells of our reliance upon Him, and of how through Communion He intends to bring us to our final judgment by which He will reveal to each of us our true identity.The casual reader might face certain segments where the material seems dense or particular. Yet, the merits of reading Ego Eimi — that might come to fruition in further meditation and contemplation — make it worthwhile, nevertheless.With the USCCB’s National Eucharistic Revival set to begin this June on the Feast of Corpus Christi, Ego Eimi makes for a timely read exploring the timeless and immutable truths of the Bread of Life: Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Pravin Thevathasan
Catholic Medical Quarterly
The Journal of the Catholic Medical Association (UK)
Building knowledge. Building faith. Protecting the vulnerable.
Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 72 (4) November 2022This proved to be a beautiful resource for those who desire a greater love of the Eucharistic Jesus. The author is a priest of the Fraternity of Saint Peter and as such the book is of particular value to those who attend the Traditional Latin Mass. However, I believe it could be read with profit by all. There is nothing stopping those attending the New Rite to say the "Judica me" at the start of Mass and the prayer to St Michael at the end.While emphasis is given to the act of consecration when bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, the whole liturgy is examined. The importance of this book is brought to mind when we reflect on the number of Catholics who have stopped believing in the Real Presence.The author has a real gift for communicating complex matters using simple language. He explains what transubstantiation and concomitance mean, for example. He also explains elements of the liturgy. For example, why the Church inserted the "Judica me" into the Roman rite. I was especially impressed by the way in which the author discusses the role of Mary at Mass. After all, Mary is the best example of a creature who said yes to God. And the Mass is our means of uniting our will with God's will.As I read this work, I could not help but reflect on the Masses I have attended. It has been my privilege to attend many good liturgies.
Unfortunately, I have attended some bad ones. Doubtless, the priest in the latter case had attended some workshop telling him to make the liturgy more relevant and meaningful.Having read this book, I am convinced that the Eucharist, the Mystery of Faith, cannot be reduced in this way."It is I." The centre of the liturgy is not us. It is Jesus Christ. And that is what the author draws out so convincingly.

Peter Kwasniewski at 12/03/2022
Rorate Caeli Blogspot
Keeping Faith Traditions AliveBelief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist has declined drastically over the past fifty years. For the love of the Lord and the good of souls, how can we help reverse this trend? Whether you are a believer or struggling, this book will help you develop a personal relationship with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. In these pages, Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP, looks afresh at traditional Church teaching on the Holy Eucharist. He demonstrates that it is concretely expressed with precision, strength, and beauty in the time-tested Traditional Latin Mass. Replete with real-life stories, modern-day references, and cultural and historical reflections, Ego Eimi will inspire you to worship the Real Presence as an ardent believer, orient you to the invisible realities occurring, and foster a greater love for our Eucharistic Lord in your heart. You will learn to treasure the Holy Eucharist more deeply—the ultimate expression of God’s gratuitous love for us, to nourish our love in return.

Crisis Magazine Online StoreBelief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist has declined drastically over the past fifty years. For the love of the Lord and the good of souls, how can we help reverse this trend?Whether you are a believer or struggling, this book will help you develop a personal relationship with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. In these pages, Fr. Armand de Malleray looks afresh at traditional Church teaching on the Holy Eucharist. He demonstrates that it is implemented with precision, strength, and beauty in the time-tested Traditional Latin Mass missal.
In his engaging and accessible style, Fr. de Malleray explains the significance of each precious detail of the traditional Eucharistic liturgy, from the opening words of the Preparatory Prayers, “Judge me, O God,” to the importance of punctuating the words of Consecration, to the meaning of the celebrant’s genuflections before and after the elevation.Fr. de Malleray explains essential doctrines such as transubstantiation, the concomitant presence of Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, and the nature of the Eucharistic fragments. He also describes in moving detail Our Lady’s role in drawing us closer to her Eucharistic Son.Replete with real-life stories, modern-day references, and cultural and historical reflections, Ego Eimi will inspire you to worship the Real Presence as an ardent believer, orient you to the invisible realities occurring, and foster a greater love for our Eucharistic Lord in your heart. You will learn to treasure the Holy Eucharist more deeply through Scripture, Church teachings, and philosophical reasoning. Experience the Eucharistic Fire: embrace the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and adore God’s gratuitous love.Guided by the Church in which our Eucharistic Savior dwells, you will also learn how belief in the Real Presence:- Surpasses other forms of God’s presence- Is the central mystery and core tenet of our Faith Manifests God’s divine mercy as reflected in the prayers of the traditional Mass
Trains us in contrition and prepares us for a favorable eternal judgment- Deepens our love so that each time we worship will feel like our first, last, and only Mass

Radio Interviews

Brian McCall
Catholic Family News - Fall in Love with Our Eucharistic LordCFN’s editor-in-chief Brian McCall interviews Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP, author of the new book, Ego Eimi — It Is I
(Sophia Institute Press, 2022).When asked why he felt compelled to write a book on the mystery of the Most Blessed Sacrament at this time, Fr. de Malleray cited the widespread lack of faith in transubstantiation and the Real Presence on Christ in the Holy Eucharist among Catholics — as evidenced, for example, by the 2019 Pew Research Center survey. “We cannot love what we do not know,” explains Fr. de Malleray during the interview. “And so, the purpose of the book is precisely to equip the average believer with sufficient knowledge.”Providentially, in light of yesterday’s major news regarding the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade (1973) by the United States Supreme Court in the near future (news which broke after this interview was recorded and posted), Fr. de Malleray describes a section in his book in which he draws a parallel between errors which lead to a rejection of transubstantiation and those which lead to a rejection of the humanity and rights of unborn children:“With abortion, those who support it say that whatever is in the womb of the mother is too small to count as a human being. And there’s a parallel with the Holy Eucharist, in the traditional approach, when traditionally we say a fragment [of the Eucharist], even though it’s much smaller than a full Host, it still is Jesus fully. And the traditional understanding of the human presence in the womb is that size doesn’t matter, size is irrelevant to the reality of the presence.”CFN thanks Fr. de Malleray for granting us this interview and hopes that his new book will find a wide and receptive audience.

Jim Havens
The Simple Truth, April 14, 2022

Readers' Reviews

Joseph Yue
Goodreads.com
January 6, 2023This is a rare example of a very enjoyable and yet still deeply devotional work of theology. There is not a well-defined central thesis, the book resembles rather a collection of treatises on a wide range of topics, albeit all related to the Holy Eucharist. The writing style also clearly displays the literary excellence of Fr. de Malleray, and his ability to elucidate difficult concepts using day-to-day examples. For exactly the same reason, though, sometimes the analogy seems perhaps a bit trite; whether this is overall a pro or a con shall be judged by each reader individually.

Christian Jenkins
Goodreads.com
June 10, 2023Fantastic book not only on the Eucharist, but on the Mass, transubstantiation."Mass feels like that of the gyrating of oars in and out of water: each strike - each Mass - brings the ship nearer the ocean, that is, to eternity as one rows down a river of grace"

Jonathan De
Goodreads.com
October 5, 2024Read this book last year and was inspired to study it again the following year. This book provides a beautiful explanation of the Eucharist and provides a loving, theological, and rational viewpoint of the blessed sacrament. Just a few chapters will strengthen your appreciation of the Eucharist, the Holy Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and the scripture.

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Editorial Reviews

“If you truly wish to be transformed by Christ, go to the Cross and contemplate His Passion. If you truly desire to plumb the depths of knowledge of Christ’s Passion, go to His Blessed Mother. There is no other created being in Heaven or on Earth that understands the sufferings of Our Lord better than the one who had a sword pierce her own heart. If you want to know some of what the Blessed Virgin Mary teaches about her Son’s Passion, read this book. With great wisdom, Rev. Fr. Armand de Malleray has chosen the hymn which best expresses the profound sorrow of Our Lady, a sorrow filled with hope – the Stabat Mater. This hymn forms the landscape in which he skilfully illustrates the mystery of Calvary and the journey of the soul from fall to rise.”Mother Marilla OSB, Superior General of the Tyburn Nuns, London“A Desert Father of the fifth Century commenting on a vision he had of Saint Mary, the Mother of God, weeping by the Cross of the Saviour, famously declared, ‘I wish I could always weep like that.’ The medieval meditation, Stabat Mater, responds to this wish of the Christian soul. Who would not feel moved to comfort the sorrowful Mother of our crucified Saviour? Who would not desire to be taught by her the tears of authentic compunction? Father Armand de Malleray’s fine and sober commentary leads us ‘to better appreciate [Mary’s] grief so as to be shaped by it, her sorrowful heart becoming the matrix of our souls as they learn contrition.’ A luminous and profound exposition of one of the most powerful and consoling prayers of the Catholic tradition.”Dom Xavier Perrin, OSB, Abbot of Quarr (Isle of Wight), author of The Radiance of Her Face“One could be forgiven for thinking, that as ‘She stood’ beneath the Cross, the sufferings endured by the Blessed Virgin Mary, were in actuality, an ‘event’ in themselves. In a most delicate and imperceptible way, Father Armand de Malleray, with adept contemplative precision, offers to us these reflections. His Commentary on the Stabat Mater is not for the faint hearted, it is an invitation offered to us all, of ‘standing with’ Mary on Calvary. Alike to that of the Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mary is depicted, comparable with her Son, as a figure pierced to the spot, not by nails, but by a sword of sorrow. This moving Commentary on the Stabat Mater, discloses for us, in a simple, yet most piteous way, at what cost we were redeemed.”Mother Bernadette of the Heart of Mary OCD, Prioress of the Carmelite Monastery in Birkenhead, England“True devotion to Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin is the simplest, safest, and straightest way to loving union with Christ, and contemplation of the compassionate heart of 'the Lady of fair weeping' leads us directly to the Heart of her divine Son, pierced by our sins; it has the power to move us to contrition, to the desire to make reparation, and to a greater assurance of Our Lord's merciful love.  This conviction of faith inspired Jacopone da Todi’s writing of his hymn, the Stabat Mater, and animates Fr de Malleray’s new commentary, so clear and sound in its doctrine and lyrical in its language. This beautiful little book, born of prayer, is just what I need, what every Catholic needs, for the fruitful praying of the Stations of the Cross.”Fr John Saward, Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, author of Redeemer in the Womb: Jesus Living in Mary

Media Reviews

Pierpaolo Finaldi
CTS CEO Pierpaolo Finaldi Interviews Fr de Malleray about his book, Stabat Mater.
Catholic Truth Society

Marie-Claire Kaminski
18th January, 2025
Co-Redemptrix Magazine, Spring 2025 Issue 7, pages 48-49.When we invoke Our Lady under any of her titles, it is natural for us to conjure up an accompanying mental image. The Motherhood of Mary, for instance, will bring to mind images of the Theotokos or a Madonna with Child. Likewise, any mention of Our Lady as Co-Redemptrix de facto calls to mind an image of the sorrowing Mother as she stands erect at the foot of the Cross, her eyes fixed on her dying Son. Indeed, in his profoundly contemplative booklet on the Stabat Mater, Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP, makes this association several times. As she stands close to the Cross, Our Lady – the New Eve – demonstrates her union to the New Adam “as our co-redemptrix, in radical subordination to him”. Her sorrow and her tears are “intercessory and co-redemptive”, for our benefit.Fr de Malleray’s Meditations on the Stabat Mater, is without a doubt a ‘must have accessory’, as it were, for Lent. We are all very familiar with this hymn as it is the very leitmotif of Lent, the forlorn accompaniment to our weekly trudge around the stations on the Way of the Cross. But we can become overly familiar with this text without penetrating or being aware of the riches it contains. This is where Fr de Malleray’s excellent book comes in. So what is it that makes these Meditations such required reading?They say that the best things come in small packages and this booklet is no exception. Its less than seventy pages pack a veritable treasure trove of spiritual nourishment. Fr de Malleray opens up this package in stages. To begin with, he provides us with two translations of the Stabat Mater which wrap around these Meditations as prologue and epilogue. The first is a more literal rendition of the Latin; the second, at the end, is the familiar version printed next to the Latin text. We are then introduced to the Stabat Mater through a concise overview of its historical framework and cultural impact, followed by an analysis of the hymn’s structure, and of the measure and rhyming patterns of its sixty verses. Only then do we move on to a gradual unveiling of the heart of this poignant hymn. It is a bit like watching an art-expert who first scans a painting from a distance before using a probe to effect a gradual zoom into the picture and uncover the secret core under the layers of paint.In his opening chapter, Fr de Malleray prepares the ground for what comes later, giving us first of all a concise but illuminating view into the Stabat Mater’s tripartite structure. Each part is shown to correspond to the three stages of the spiritual life – purgative, illuminative and unitive – and the hymn’s structure gradually reveals Our Lady’s role as the indispensable Mediatrix between us and Christ. Hence the road from sin to grace is only accessed through the Sorrowful Mother whose tears can move us from conceit to compunction and on to a filial relationship with Her. These tears, ultimately shed for our behalf, are what will lead us to recognise in the Crucified, “the Brother we slew and [as] the Messiah who saves.”We now begin to perceive the profundity of this poem, how through a prayerful immersion in this text, led by Our Sorrowful Mother, we can be brought from prideful egoism to penitence, and finally to union with Christ. The next three chapters then, are what constitute the main body of this booklet, where Fr de Malleray invites us to consider with him in detail each of the three parts of the Stabat Mater. This he does through a close examination of each verse, stopping to consider every word as we progress through each part, in order to bring out the great redemptive truths and the call to conversion which are the essence of this hymn. The reader, meanwhile, experiences a parallel inward movement of the spirit; a movement which leads from the senses and intellect, and then penetrates deeply into the heart and soul. It is, essentially, the movement of conversion. Thus, under Fr de Malleray’s painstaking guidance, the reader is brought to the Sorrowful Mother, “her soul…full of grief” erect beneath the Cross. We are reminded of the crucial fact that Our Lady’s tears “were as essential to beget us to grace, just as her virginal womb was to conceive Our Lord”. These tears are what slowly transform us from bystander to participant, where “the attentive spectator…gradually turns into a repentant actor in the drama.”There still remains a last gift to unwrap, a final surprise. With wonderful insight, Fr de Malleray proposes to us yet a fourth part to the Stabat Mater, something to be discovered anew. Just like the Sunday of Resurrection, the first day of the week is now the eighth day, in light of our journey he suggests a fresh return to the first part of the Stabat Mater. To disclose his profound concluding reflections would be to spoil the ending. Suffice to say this reader was left wide-eyed with awe.This booklet is, of course, the ideal daily Lenten companion. Especially so during the final week of Lent, from the Friday of Our Lady of Sorrows to Good Friday, as we follow the Mater Co-Redemptrix to the crucified feet of the Redemptor Hominis. But why limit this practice to Lent? It can be an easily acquired habit to ponder over a verse or two – even a few words - as a weekly Friday devotion. Indeed, Fr de Malleray reminds us that “daily meditation on the Passion of the Lord is a most salutary exercise.” On a personal level, this booklet has greatly deepened my appreciation of the Stations of the Cross. In the Via Crucis too we move from being bystanders at the first stations, to standing with the Sorrowful Mother beneath the Cross; from being self-absorbed to becoming Christ-absorbed, made one with His immolation.Mater Dolorosa, ora pro nobis! Mater Co-Redemptrix, ora pro nobis!

Steven R McEvoy
Book Reviews and More
Friday, 18 February 2022Over the last several years I have read many books from the Catholic Truth Society. I have been blessed, challenged, and encouraged by those books and booklets. I now have a watch list for new titles from the CTS and for old out of print titles. I picked this one up as soon as I saw it available in my market. I had no idea what it was about, and had not even read the description, because it was from the CTS I wanted to read it! It did not disappoint. The description of the booklet is:“Stabat mater dolorosa – “The mournful mother was standing”. This is the opening line of the extraordinary hymn attributed to the 13th-century Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi, which is still a popular Lenten devotion. In this book Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP meditates upon the Stabat Mater line by line. This is a book to help the reader to walk the road from Lent to Passiontide to Easter – and indeed from life to death to eternal life – in the company of the most Blessed and Sorrowful Mother, who stands at the foot of the Cross of her Son.”The chapters in the volume are:Foreword
Stabat Mater
‘The Sorrowful Mother was standing’
Part One – His Mother
Part Two – My Mother
Part Three – Our Mother
Conclusion
Text of the Stabat MaterAnd no, the first chapter and the last are not the same. At least not identical. The first chapter is the Stabat Matter is a more literal translation for the purpose of the commentary that follows. And the final chapter we are informed in the better-known version by Fr Edward Caswell CO and the preferred or recommended version for private prayer, devotion, and meditation. The first chapter also only has the English translation, where the final has the English and Latin in Parallel.I finished University a dozen years ago, and high school almost 35. It has been a while since I looked at literary criticism. And that was my feeling when I started reading this, a line by line breakdown, and that after going over the structure and form. But it is truly so much more than that. It is a work of devotion, of deep faith, and it is both inspiring and challenging to readers. I highlighted many passages my first read through. Some of them are:“If you truly wish to be transformed by Christ, go to the Cross and contemplate his Passion. If you truly desire to plumb the depths of knowledge of Christ’s Passion, go to his Blessed Mother.”“With great wisdom, Rev Fr Armand de Malleray has chosen the hymn which best expresses the profound sorrow of Our Lady, a sorrow filled with hope – the Stabat Mater. This hymn forms the landscape in which he skilfully illustrates the mystery of Calvary and the journey of the soul from fall to rise.”“This conviction of faith inspired Jacopone da Todi’s writing of his hymn, the Stabat Mater, and animates Fr de Malleray’s new commentary, so clear and sound in its doctrine and lyrical in its language. This beautiful little book, born of prayer, is just what I need, what every Catholic needs, for the fruitful praying of the Stations of the Cross. FR JOHN SAWARD, Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, author of Redeemer in the Womb: Jesus Living in Mary”“The Stabat Mater teaches us that every fallen child of Adam and Eve benefits from uniting sacrificially with Jesus and Mary.”“The structure of the hymn is telling: Part One describes the situation; Part Two connects us with the Blessed Mother; and Part Three emboldens us to address her Son personally.”“In the Stabat Mater, the Blessed Virgin Mary teaches us sorrow as the condition for salvation. It must not be selfish or sentimental sorrow. Instead, it must be sorrow born from the realisation of our guilt and grown through trust in God’s forgiveness and mercy.”“Standing is to Mary hardly less painful than is hanging for Jesus, though; while hanging betrays no less strength in Jesus than standing does for Mary, since the Lord chose and willed this passive posture to redeem the world through his obedience: “‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself.’ (Now this he said, signifying what death he should die)” (John 12:32-33).”“The only legitimate and fruitful purpose is to better appreciate her grief so as to be shaped by it, her sorrowful heart becoming the mould for our souls as they learn contrition.”“Our Lady will not disavow us, on the contrary, she will suffer for us. Her natural grief for Jesus is the vehicle for her supernatural suffering with Him and for us. She knows that He undergoes his Passion freely in order to save us from sin. She wills to support his design fully, thus contributing to our salvation.”“This adoption of us by the Mother was commanded by Our Lord when entrusting St John to Mary: “Woman, behold thy son” (John 19:26). Whereas in Bethlehem Our Lady as the New Eve had been spared the penalty of suffering when giving birth to Our Lord, the New Adam, on Calvary she begot us mystically through her sufferings.”“It is ‘his’ grace we seek, while ‘hers’ leads us to ‘his’. Because He is God – as just confessed – He is the One whose favour we must win. Far from being left out of our growth in love, his Mother is our safest way to become his.”“This Third and last part of the Stabat Mater is surprisingly brief, comprising merely two stanzas against eight (Part One) and ten (Part Two). Far from clumsy, this imbalance is dynamic and artistic. It shows how ninety percent of the poem is meant to prepare the reader for entering this ultimate and most sacred stage. Keeping the Mother in mind, we could compare the Stabat Mater with the iceberg, whose visible tip above water amounts to only ten percent of its total volume. The first eighteen stanzas (ninety percent of the poem) are about Our Lady and only the last two about Our Lord.”“A better interpretation therefore would be: ‘through our mother’, that is, Christ’s and mine, as himself spoke of his Father: “Go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17).”“The Stabat Mater purges our fallen ego fatally inflated by pride. Our swollen ego is shrunk to nothingness in Part One while witnessing the sufferings of the Woman. It awakens through Marian filiation in Part Two. It is fully restored to life in Part Three, through kinship with the divine Son of Mary, our Redeemer.”“The Stabat Mater is understood and well prayed only when allowing the Holy Mother to look at our souls as once disfigured by sin and causing the pains of her Son and herself – or as redeemed from sin, through the pains of her Son and herself. Then we truly become her children, she our Mother, and He our Brother Redeemer.”I hope those few examples show you some of the richness contained within this text. I will be praying this devotion often now, I will al return to this volume from time to time as a refresher. I came away from this with a deeper connection to both Mary our mother and to her son through her. This is an excellent read and I strongly urge you to pick it up and give it a read. And then go and pray.Another great resource from the Catholic Truth Society!

Editorial Reviews

A very clever treatment of the novel The Secret Garden. That well-known children's story should be read twice—firstly, as any reader would read it just for enjoyment, and then again after reading Fr de Malleray’s fascinating hermeneutic of tradition, because the enjoyment and appreciation would be much greater.Leo Darroch, former President of the International Federation Una VoceAn imaginative essay, whose poetic nature is a timely invitation to rediscover the forgotten riches of the Church’s traditional liturgy.Fr Simon Henry, BA MA, Director of St Peter’s International CollegeThis essay is intriguing, creative and sufficiently provocative to maintain the reader’s interest. The variety of expression is refreshing. Readers of all ages will enjoy discovering the liturgical treasures that lie hidden in the Secret Garden.Fr Neil Brett, former head teacher

Chapter One is The Fourteen Stations of Priestly Apostasy. The slow demise of a fictional priest, after a recent film, is the occasion of detailing various precautions and securities which we priests would do well to apply.In Chapter Two, Ordained a Priest in Dachau, the beautiful figure of Blessed Karl Leisner proves that Christ can make priests strive in the worst possible surrounding. In a way, this is the dynamic antidote to the fateful failure assessed in Chapter One.Chapter Three is about Handling the Right Body. It explores the deep sacramental motive for priestly celibacy and for the manly fulfilment of the priest in his identification to Christ and his service to the Church.In Persona Christi is our longest chapter (Chapter Four). It provides various angles to 'unpack' the well-known expression according to which priests act 'in the Person of Christ'.Chapter Five, Unfolding the Holy Shroud, refers to the relic of Our Lord's Shroud to illustrate the priestly mission to teach revealed truth in fidelity and persuasiveness.In Chapter Six, we examine Priestly Unity and Concelebration. Our non-polemical approach exhorts us priests to identify always more precisely what we really mean to do and achieve at Holy Mass.Building the Bride is our Chapter Seven. With recourse to exegesis, it shows the correspondence between the shaping of Eve and of the Church. Christ the Bridegroom empowers his priests to fulfil this spousal design.Our eighth and last chapter: Consecrated to God, Body and Soul, sets the priesthood within the broader calling to consecrated life, including the religious one. It opens up the reflection and invites young readers in particular to enter the lists with confidence.We thank you for your interest, reader friend, and we commit this slender opus to our glorious models St John Vianney, St Padre Pio, St John Fisher, St John Henry Newman and all our heavenly intercessors, that it might please Our Lord and Our Lady, and might foster, however modestly, priestly sanctification.

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Editorial Reviews

This call ‘back to basics’ for the Latin clergy, set within a clear doctrinal framework, is written with both imagination and rigour, and merits a wide readership, including bishops and religious superiors.Fr Aidan Nichols, O.P., author of Holy Order: The Apostolic Ministry from the New Testament to the Second Vatican Council, (Veritas Publications)This book presents a convincing and compelling account of the stamp and character of the priest. It is at once profoundly practical and sublimely spiritual. We have over forty men in our Faculty preparing for lives as priests across China, Latin America, East and South East Asia. I am convinced that every single one of them will profit greatly and be strengthened in their vocations by reading and re-reading carefully, attentively and prayerfully Fr de Malleray's advice.Revd Prof Stephen Morgan, Rector of the University of Saint Joseph, Macao, ChinaWritten from an unapologetically traditionalist position, this book is in no way the less spiritually challenging and thought provoking. One does not have to agree with everything in it to come away with much material to help one discern how to be a better priest in the contemporary Church. There is also a good section on vocations.Revd Dr Michael Cullinan, M.A.(Oxon.), M.A.St.(Cantab.), Ph.D. (Cantab.), S.T.D. (Alfonsianum), Director of Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious SciencesFr de Malleray’s reflections on the nature of the priesthood are fascinating and perceptive, and will edify both clerical and lay readers.Dr Joseph Shaw, PhD, Oxf, Chairman of The Latin Mass SocietyFather de Malleray has once more strengthened the sensus fidei, refining the themes introduced in Ego Eimi to focus more particularly on the gift of the Sacred Priesthood. We are grateful to Father for having penned these reflections, covering a wide scope of aspects of the greatest dignity conferred on man. His words gain particular resonance among our Sisters, who are dedicated to prayer, sacrifice and hospitality toward priests, as well as the making of sacred vestments. May Father’s meditations spur on an even deeper urgency in spiritual support of our priests, that they may ever remain faithful to their own vocations, and in handing down the traditions and fullness of our holy faith. This is wonderful book that I heartily recommend.Mother Abbess Cecilia, osb, Abbey of Our Lady of Ephesus (Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, Gower, MO)Full of instruction yet easy to read; an inspiring vademecum for priests, seminarians and those considering a priestly vocation.Fr Thomas Crean, O.P., author of The Mass and the Saints (Family Publications)As one who had the privilege of reading the manuscript before its publication, I am happy to recommend this robust set of meditations.”Dr Peter Kwasniewski, author of Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright: The Genius and Timeliness of the Traditional Latin Mass (Angelico, 2020)

Media Reviews

The Missive, FSSP
X-Ray of the Priest: Interview with Fr. Armand de Malleray

Fr. Thomas Crean OP
Calx Mariae Publishing
Calx Mariae Magazine, Issue 10. Autumn, 2020.Many priests by now must have learned to use the Roman missal of 1962 not while at seminary but afterwards. There are books, DVDs, and on-line videos available from which to learn. But perhaps many priests have felt that they could also do with some help to fill gaps in the ascetical and spiritual instruction which they received during their years of seminary. If so, they are likely to profit from Fr Armand de Malleray’s new book, X-Ray of the Priest in a Field Hospital.Fr de Malleray’s name will no doubt be familiar to many readers of Calx Mariae. A priest of the Fraternity of St Peter, and rector of St Mary’s church in Warrington, he oversees the apostolate of the Fraternity in England and has been preaching retreats to clergy for a dozen years or so. Well aware of the challenges facing the clergy in contemporary Britain, he writes especially to encourage priests in their vocation, and to remind us that priestly sanctity is at least as necessary, and by God’s grace still as possible, as ever.The book contains eight chapters, each being a ‘practical meditation’ on some aspect of priestly life. The first is boldly titled ‘The fourteen stations of priestly apostasy’. The author ingeniously makes the descent of the missionary priest in Martin Scorsese’s film Silence a template for similar, though less dramatic descents, in priests’ lives from fervour to frigidity. He reminds us of the importance of small things, such as grace before meals or getting out of bed at a fixed time. There are useful remarks on the choice of leisure activity and on the need for fraternal relations with other clergy that go beyond “purely administrative” contacts, as well as reminders for priests to be on their guard against prestigious academic publications that subtly undermine the faith. On this last point, he helpfully reminds us about a current error in sacramental theology which tends to lessen sacerdotal zeal, namely the view that “sacramental acts evoke but don’t convey divine grace” – what the philosopher Thomas Pink has recently called ‘the sacraments as salvation theatre’.Chapter two, ‘Ordained a Priest in Dachau’, tells the story of a young German, Karl Leisner. He was sent to Dachau near the start of World War II while still a deacon, for remarks made against the regime. He was able to be ordained a priest only toward the end of the war, and his health was such that he was able to offer the sacrifice of the Mass only once before he died. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II. It is a striking meditation on a life that from the world’s point of view was wasted, but which was and therefore is supernaturally fruitful, and which is in some way a template for every faithful priestly life.Chapter three is entitled ‘Handling The Right Body’. It is a brief apologia for the celibacy of the clergy. The author explains how the intimacy with Christ conferred by ordination makes it very fitting that clergy forego marital intimacy. He also notes how celibacy is both sustained by and manifests the truth of the Eucharist and the Mass: “Priestly celibacy implies that the Eucharistic Body of Christ is real enough to reward man’s chastity.”Chapter four, ‘In persona Christi’, is a series of meditations on the theme of personhood. After some philosophical and theological remarks on this most Christian of concepts, Fr de Malleray returns to his practical advice on the priestly life. I was struck by his warning of the danger of certain kinds of prayer which neglect the personhood of man and God. For while “no priest can fall gravely if he prays earnestly”, yet “what if a priest mistakes prayer with breathing techniques, and theologal union with mental relaxation”? The author believes that “no few priests (not to mention other consecrated persons and the laity) have been so misled, with dire consequences for their spiritual life, their orthodoxy and their ministry.” The key question is: “By prayer, do I mean to communicate with Someone, or to dissolve into something?”Still on the theme of personhood, the author reminds us that as well as having pastoral care for his visible parishioners, the priest must also give his attention frequently to those whom he calls the “invisible persons’: by this he means the angels, the suffering souls of purgatory, the unborn, the Eucharistic Christ, and our Lady and the saints.In chapter five, ‘Unfolding the Holy Shroud’, the author develops another ingenious comparison, this time between the shroud of Turin and the deposit of faith. The mysterious data present on the shroud have not changed since the resurrection, but the shroud was slowly unfolded, first of all literally (one presumes) in the cenacle, and then metaphorically by the investigations of sindonologists down the years. In the same way, the deposit of faith was established by the time of the death of the last apostle, but, to some extent, its riches are brought into light over the course of the centuries. The author also offers practical advice on how the clergy are to respond when “disconcerting statements” are issued by authorities within the Church, for example on marriage or capital punishment. Here, a 2014 document from the International Theological Commission on the sensus fidei turns out to be perhaps surprisingly useful.Chapter six addresses the subject, sometimes controversial, of ‘Priestly unity and concelebration’. Without rejecting modern ‘sacramental concelebration’, he argues that when it becomes habitual, six disadvantages follow, for the Church and for the priest himself. He also holds that when a Mass is concelebrated, only one sacrifice is offered, with all that that implies for the reduction in the flow of graces upon the mystical Body. This is a question about to which there has been surprisingly little attention paid, although Fr de Malleray refers us to the important study by the French Carmelite, Fr Joseph de Sainte-Marie (d. 1985). He also mentions the danger that “concelebration might conveniently dispense bishops and priests from mentioning the ‘elephant in the room’, namely, disunity in doctrine, liturgy and law (including moral law).” Such concelebrations, he observes, would conceal and thus perpetuate disunity rather than prevent it.Chapter seven, entitled, ‘Building the bride’, draws a parallel between the creation of Eve and the Eucharistic origin of the Church. It is one of the more meditative, even lyrical, sections of the book. I was struck by his comparison of Gen. 2:22 and Jn 2:20: “Jesus seems to apply to a building, the temple, the verb ‘to raise’ which is used in the Bible about human persons. Conversely, in Genesis, the verb ‘to build’ normally applied to buildings was used in reference to Eve, a human person.”
The final chapter has a different audience. Called ‘Consecrated to God, body and soul’, it is addressed not principally to those who are already priests, but to those who may become so, and even more, to those who may enter the religious state, since, as he writes: “Fallen men and women are more likely to save their immortal souls in a community mandated by the Church for that explicit purpose.” While perfectly aware of the difficulties that stand in the way of a revival of religious life in Britain, he writes: “The young generation may be called to found its own orders, or re-found or import some. Extreme caution is needed here against pride, rashness, inexperience and illusions. God is the one who calls to religious life, and also the one who can raise founders and foundresses in a given time and country. But when devout Catholics look at the urgent needs, it is timely for them to beg God for a revival of religious life here in Britain.”It is not an easy thing for a priest to write a book of advice for other priests, especially when that advice includes warnings. We can be grateful to Fr de Malleray that he was willing to undertake this delicate task, and even more, that he has accomplished it with charity and tact, and in a way fitted not to depress but to inspire those who read it.

Editorial Reviews

In the real world, which is the world that God made, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the power station feeding the life of grace. Without such grace, we die. In this volume of true stories, Fr Armand de Malleray shows us the life-giving power of the Mass in a world darkened with devildom. The light-hearted and humorous tone of the stories makes them easily readable without ignoring the gravity of the topic.Joseph Pearce, author of biographies of J. R. R. Tolkien, Oscar Wilde, C. S. Lewis, and G. K. ChestertonThe unusual theme that unites a good number of the stories in this compendium is a scenario with which many a freshly-ordained priest will soon become familiar—the battle royal that often ensues in the attempt to secure an altar at which the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass may be offered in an atmosphere of recollection and decorum. With tact and good humour, Father de Malleray explores the intra-ecclesial prejudices and neuroses which have given rise to such a state of affairs, and illustrates how perseverance, charity and prayer are the most effective weapons we possess against suspicion and bigotry. An edifying read for both priests and laity, which we should pray will contribute to the healing of self-inflicted wounds which for too long have hampered the Church’s mission of evangelisation.Fr Julian Large, Provost of the London OratoryThe stories in this collection give us precious evidence of the hidden persistence of the grace of the true priestly vocation in unexpected situations. The ten narratives portray priestly candidates and priests of various ages and cultures. All reveal that secret dialogue in the soul that takes place when grace is at work. Based on my experience in teaching Thomistic philosophy to seminarians for a decade and catechesis to seminarians and priests as well as lay people, I cannot recommend this book highly enough for young Catholic men and for all those who nurture vocations, or who could, but who are not sufficiently alert to the quiet presence of the Holy Spirit in many young souls.Dr Caroline Farey, Annunciation CatechesisIn Near Missed Masses, Fr de Malleray finds a delightfully playful and imaginative way to reinvent true contemporary stories and drive home a serious point: the value of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and the zeal that we should have to celebrate (as priests) or attend (as layfaithful) this Sacrifice worthily and frequently. In this way, the book functions like the proverbial storeroom containing things both new and old!Fr Henry Whisenant, Diocese of East Anglia (England)

Media Reviews

Arouca Press, Sign Posts, Episode 2, Traditional Liturgy and Spirituality—with Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP
Interview hosted by Julian Kwasniewski

The author received permission from his Superior General to have this website set up to promote his books, helping spread the Catholic faith through spirituality, theology, fine arts commentaries, and fiction. May Saint Francis de Sales, celestial patron of Catholic writers, intercede for the good apostolic fruit of this modest tool of evangelisation.Website officially opened on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus, Thursday, 29 May 2025.