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IN presenting to the pious reader this new edition of the "Hidden Treasure," the Editor would fain hope that it will obtain a favourable reception from all those who desire to strengthen their souls with holy and wholesome truths, supplied from the sacred Scriptures and other sources recognized by the Church. The golden simplicity and unction which characterize the writings of the Blessed Leonard of Fort Maurice, are their strongest recommendation to all classes of Catholics.

St. Leonard was born in the year 1676, at Port Maurice, a little town of Genoa, and received, at baptism, the name of Paul Jerome. His father, who was a strict and fervent Catholic, had the happiness of giving three sons to the Seraphic Order, and an only daughter to a convent. St. Leonard, in after life, often thanked God for having given him such a good father. At the age of twelve or thirteen he was sent to study at the Roman College, then conducted by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus. He made rapid progress in his studies; and gave such unmistakable proofs of his talents and piety that he was called the St. Aloysius of the College. In his twenty second year, whilst studying for the medical profession, he was led to the Seraphic Order by the humble and mortified demeanour of two Franciscan Religious of the Convent of St. Bonaventure at Rome. He received the habit in this convent on the 2nd October 1697. During his Noviciate he was most exact in all the observances of the Religious life. He was then accustomed to say: "If now whilst we are young, we wilfully neglect little things, when we are old, and have greater liberty, we will neglect things of greater importance." After his ordination he constantly wore a cross with seven sharp points on his breast; and he went to confession twice a day, "in order," as he says, to celebrate Holy Mass with the greatest possible purity of heart." He performed all the actions of the day as a preparation for this most Holy Sacrifice. When accused of celebrating too slowly he said: " Do you not know that it is my only consolation? O, if we had a lively faith we would never leave the altar." In his last illness, he was advised by the Brother Infirmarian to omit his daily Mass, but he answered: "O, my dear Brother, one Mass is worth all the treasures of the world." No wonder, then, he speaks with words of'fire when treating of "this most solemn and divine act of Christian religion." We are certain no one can read his words, without feeling his heart burning with love for Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrifice: May all those who use this little Book be imbued with the spirit of St. Leonard, and thus secure for themselves the blessings he so often promises to those who attend daily Mass with devotion: "a holy life, a happy death,. and the eternal joys of heaven."

The Hidden Treasure - Or the Immense Excellence of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ... is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1861. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.

This book describes the great spiritual power of the Mass, how it holds back the wrath of God, its wonderful eternal and temporal benefits and several excellent ways to pray at Mass. Hidden Treasure is the prototype book on the Mass for all other books on the same subject; others basically repeat what this small book contains.

Excerpt from The Hidden Treasure: Or, the Value and Excellence of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; With Practical and Devout Methods of Hearing It With Profit; And Devotions for Confession and Communion, &C Where a doubt arose about the sense of the original we have followed the authorized French translation of the works of St. Leonard, by Professor Labis of Tournai. The Method of Hearing Mass is taken, with a few additions and corrections, from the translation of the holy and learned Cardinal Gallifet, as here we have a Saint translating the words of a Saint. We hope to see this translation in all the Prayer Books which give this very popular and practical method of hearing Mass. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.