Balder Ex-Libris

Author : Teilhard de Chardin Pierre
Title : The Making of a Mind Letters from a soldier-priest 1914-1919
Year : 1965

Link download : Teilhard_de_Chardin_Pierre_-_The_Making_of_a_Mind.zip

PREFACE. At the time ofher death Marguerite Teillard (Claude Aragonnès) had almost completed the draft of her study of Père Teilhard's war years; she had already taken the precaution of asking us to see to its publication should she be unable to do so herself. We were touched by her trust and have tried to carry out her wishes. How serious a responsibility was entailed became apparent as soon as we examined the material. One thing in particular impressed us: Marguerite Teillard's self-effacement. In presenting the letters she had omitted everything that concemed herself personally and concentrated on allowing the personality ofPère Teilhard to emerge. We felt, however, that it would be impossible to understand the birth and development of Père Teilhard' s thought if the part played by Marguerite were not appreciated. Her modesty and her sense of dignity caused her to withdraw into the background, but her contribution, from the very nature of her character, was of capital importance; and now that death has released her from any possible suspicion of vanity or pride we feel that her personality should no longer be left in self-imposed obscurity. W e have therefore published the full text of the letters, omitting only such passages as are of purely family interest and of too persona! a nature. Similarly we have given the full names of various relations of Père Teilhard (brothers and cousins) instead of the abbreviated or familiar forms he uses. These are the only textual alterations we have thought ourselves justified in making. ...