Confessarius Monialium: commoda, brevi, & practica methodo instructus

The title continues: "Circa earum Obligationes, Privilegia. Editio quarta, pluribus in locis locupletata." Thus, the Fourth edition, the First Edition having been published in 1706 and another several after the author's death in 1730, two years after publication of this volume. Designed as a how-to manual for priests who would hear and pronounce upon the confessions of professed nuns. Priests had to hear both their transgressions and the moral dilemmas they sometimes faced, for example, how best to obtain and respond to a confession from a hermaphrodite. All early editions and printings are quite scarce in the trade. Bound in a short 16mo in stature, measuring 6 1/8" x 3 3/4" tall and high, respectively. Latin text throughout, text-block being sewn into the original full white vellum, with cords making for six raised bands. Engraved headers, engraved initials, and quite a lovely engraved vignette at title page. All edges speckled red, faint remains of titles in sepia on spine, classmark labels on front pastedown, symbols indicating its subject field, its shelf position, etc. Generally clean and unmarked of interior but for a seven-line inscription in pen in Latin on front free endpaper. A few ink blots here and there. Previous owner's inscription, neatly rendered on verso in Spanish and Latin in sepia ink, rubber stamp of Biblioteca San Francisco de Tunja on title, and another on page 73. Generally quite crisp and attractive, spine titles being a bit faded, prior, ancient stain on rear board running through into the lower margin of several pages, dissipating quickly. Was once owned by Brother Antoni Noza. His inscription refers to excommunication. Eventually having become a naturalized citizen of the Republic of South Korea, Brother Antoni's/Anthony's Korean name thus became An Sonjae, the Korean language form of "Sudhana," or "the little pilgrim" of the Buddhist scripture The Gandavyuha Sutra (Wikipedia). Anthony was born in 1942 in Cornwall, the United Kingdom, to Nan Albina Green, studied Medieval and Modern languages at Oxford and in 1969 joined the Taize community in France, "a monastic order composed of men from the Protestant, Anglican and Catholic traditions dedicated to spreading the message of trust and reconciliation" (Wikipedia). He also translated and edited a number of Korean authors including poets and theologians. Collated as complete, paginated as title page, frontis matter, 5-515 pp., not including blanks. ScarceMember, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets. …