RARE LITURGICAL BOOK FOR RELIGIOUS FEASTS

NO COPY IN USA

Octavarium romanum, sive octavae festorum; lectiones secundi scilicet, & tertii nocturni singulis diebus recitandae infra octavas sanctorum titularium, vel tutelarium ecclesiarum, aut patronorum locorum, a Sacra Rituum Congregatione ad usum totius orbis ecclesiarum approbatae. Omnia suis locis in hac editione extensa, a mendis plurimis expurgata, & candori originali restituta; ac ne error in officio recitando obrepat, notavimus in singulis rubricis octavarum propria festa Sanctorum novissime occurrentia. Venice, Balleoni, 1713.

Large 8vo, full vellum, handwritten title at spine, red sprinkled edges. Text in Latin on two columns, pp. [16], 244.Title-page and text entirely printed in black and red.

Uncommon liturgical book, containing a collection of readings, or lessons, for the religious feasts. The Octavarium Romanum is a liturgical book which may be considered as an appendix to the Roman Breviary, but which has not the official position of the other Roman liturgical books. The first mention of this book dates from Sixtus V. In order to introduce a greater variety in the selection of lessons, he ordered the compilation of an Octavarium to comprise the lessons proper to each day of the octaves, the 8 days following a feast.The plan was not executed during his pontificate (1585-90).

When the question of correcting the Breviary was raised anew under Clement VIII (1592-1605), the projected Octavarium was again spoken of. The consultors, the most distinguished of whom was Baronius, were in favour of the suggested compilation. Gavanti, who was also a consultor, undertook the work, but his book did not appear till 1628. In addition to the letter of approbation, the Brief of Urban VIII, and the dedication, the book includes a few pages on the origin, cause, and rites of octaves.

The body of the work consists of a collection of readings, or lessons, for the feasts of the Holy Trinity, the Transfiguration, the Holy Cross, several feasts of Our Lady (Conception, Purification, Visitation, Our Lady of the Snows) the feasts of St. Michael, the Apostles, Saints Mary Magdalene, Martha, John, Athanasius, Monica, Nereus and Achilleus, the Seven Brothers, Apollinarius, the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, of Sts. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Basil, Francis, Clement etc. Then follow the lessons for the commons. They are drawn from the writings of the Fathers, and are varied and well-selected.

References: IT\ICCU\VIAE\029985 (5 copies). According to OCLC, no copies in USA.

A very fine copy, clean and crisp throughout. Scarce to find in the market.