Barnabites (1 results)

Manuscript on paper, folio (330 x 225 mm), pp.[2], 12, [2], 1318, [2], 1920, with blanks; neatly written in Latin in brown and red ink in one principal hand and two later hands, two columns per page; title within elaborate architectural frame in green, pink, blue, and gold with Barnabite device, decorative initials and tailpieces in gold, red and green, headings in green heightened with gold; old repair at foot of p.12, textblock split between pp.16 and 17, some foxing and marginal damp-staining and soiling, a few small wax drops; otherwise good in contemporary brown morocco, covers richly gilt with Barnabite device to centre and corners, gilt edges, marbled pastedowns; some wear to spine, corners, and edges, a little rubbing to covers.A finely executed manuscript comprising texts to be sung at Vespers by the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul better known as the Barnabites in the church of Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari in Rome, bearing signs of adapted use over time. The Barnabites were founded at Milan in 1530 by Antonio Maria Zaccaria (15021539), an early leader of the Counter-Reformation, taking their name from their church of StBarnabas. Their rule provided for the study of StPaul's Epistles and for educational and missionary work. A church dedicated to StBlasius (Armenian bishop and physician martyred in the early fourth century) and to StCharles Borromeo (Archbishop of Milan, canonised in 1610) was commissioned by the Barnabites and funded by the Milanese community in Rome, with construction beginning in 1611. It is one of a number of great seventeenth-century preaching churches built by Counter-Reformation orders in Rome. The services found in our manuscript are, in order of appearance: Christmas Day (25December); the Circumcision of Christ (1January); Epiphany (6January); Easter Sunday; the feast of the Ascension; Pentecost; Corpus Christi; the feast of the Conversion of StPaul (25January); the feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29June); the Commemoration of StPaul (30June); the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15August); All Saints (1November); the feast of StCharles Borromeo (4November); StCecilia's day (22November); the beatification of Alexander Sauli (23April); the feast of StFidelis of Sigmaringen (24April); the feast of StAnne (26July); and the feast of StBlasius (3February). Most notable here is the insertion of a leaf for StAlexander Sauli (15341592), known as the 'Apostle of Corsica', who was beatified in 1742 (and later canonised in 1904). Sauli joined the Barnabites at an early age, becoming the order's provost-general, and taught at the university of Pavia. He served with distinction as Bishop of Aleria in Corsica. A later hand has added a prayer on the same page to the German Capuchin friar StFidelis of Sigmaringen (15771622), canonised in 1746. Other indications of our manuscript being updated over time include a slip pasted at the foot of p.19, over a tailpiece, carrying a prayer to the fourteenth-century Carmelite Andrea Corsini. The title-page features a remarkable architectural border incorporating caryatids and cherubs. It is dated 1693 and signed by one 'Augustinus Lagettus', who was clearly responsible for the decoration of the manuscript, and probably also for the calligraphy. Language: Latin.