MONTH, THE. - A monthly periodical, founded in London in July 1864 to meet the desire of Catholics to have their own cultural publication, by Frances Margaret Taylor, the future foundress of the «Poor Handmaids of the Mother of God», under the title: The M., an illustrated Magazine of literature, science and art. But as early as the following July the periodical passed into the hands of the Jesuits, under the direction of Fr H. Coleridge, who changed its title to The M., Magazine and Review. This was changed several more times thereafter, until reaching its present form: The M.
It deals scientifically with historical, theological, controversial, liturgical, and philosophical subjects; it includes studies of literary criticism, poetry, and fiction; it reviews the most important recent works; it also admits contributions from non-members. Indeed, from its earliest days it counted among its writers Cardinal Wiseman (1864 and 1865) and Newman, who in 1865 published there the celebrated Dream of Gerontius; and, among the Jesuits, Frs R. F. Clark, J. Gerard, J. Rickaby, J. H. Pollen, H. Thurston, C. C. Martindale.