A working Jesuit-associated ritual copy with plausible evidence of applied exorcistic practice.
Rituale Romanum Pauli V. Pont. Max. Iussu Editum. Antverpiae: Plantiniana, 1617.
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A very early edition of the Rituale Romanum, first promulgated in 1614 under Pope Paul V; the present copy was printed just three years following the editio princeps. An early and evidently well-used example, retaining its contemporary binding and extensive signs of practical ecclesiastical use, very likely within a Jesuit milieu, including in the Rite of Exorcism.
This work provided, for the first time, a universally prescribed manual governing the administration of the sacraments and the other pastoral rites outside of the Mass. Its contents therefore naturally include the rites of baptism, marriage, various blessings, etc. However, the most notable inclusion is the formal rite of exorcism (De exorcizandis obsessis), here presented in one of its earliest standardised textual forms. The present copy retains its contemporary binding, almost certainly of ecclesiastical origin, alongside clear evidence of early use, including in the section on exorcism, implying that this copy may have been involved in the administration of that rite.
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Provenance:
1. Contemporary binding, almost certainly ecclesiastical, of indeterminate origin, but probably Jesuit -
2. An extensive inscription to the rear blank verso which includes the phrase "ad maiorem Dei gloriam" (the Jesuit motto), giving a curiously adapted Jesuit form of the Benedictio ad quodcumque comestibile. The inscription is for a blessing with holy water which invokes Saint Ignatius (Benedic Domine creaturam istam aquae ut sit remedium salutare generi humano et praesta per invocationem S. Ignatii...), demonstrating early liturgical use of this copy. This copy also has contemporary underlining through various sections, including the rite of exorcism.
3. Inscription of "Elline Soc", unidentified, but plausibly an ecclesiastical institution (the latter half probably an abbreviation for societas)
4. At some point passing to private ownership to John le Marchant (1803-1874), a rather prominent British army officer, and eventual Governor of Malta, his small bookplate to the front pastedown.
5. Bernard Carpenter of St. John's College, University of Cambridge.
6. A loose typewritten Latin note, dated 20 March 1959, inviting “the Reverend Mr B. Barfanter (?)” to a Pontifical Mass on Maundy Thursday from the Bishop of Clifton, Joseph Rudderham, a participant in all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council. Also a loose liturgical compilation, typewritten, evidently based on a pre-Vatican II Breviary, containing hymns, part of Psalms 136-7, a Vespers reading, part of James 1, and a short responsory-style text, all in Latin.
This copy preserves an interesting record of Catholic institutional use, from the immediate post-Tridentine period through to the mid-20th century. Its annotations and adaptations provide a rare witness to the lived application of the Rituale Romanum over more than three centuries, extending into the period immediately preceding the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
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Size: 197 x 237 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[*4, A-Z4, Aa-Uu4, Xx6]
Contemporary full calf, rubbed, a little worn, some losses to the leather in places. Binding secure with both boards securely attached. Spine sunned. Gilt motif to both boards depicting a Crucifixion scene, repeating small gilt motif to spine compartments between raised bands. Some gilt loss. Shelf and edge wear.
Collates as complete, including Xx6 (printer's device) which contains the extensive contemporary inscription, verso. Occasional minor spotting, mildly toned, some underlining throughout, but generally very well presented and fully legible throughout. Page block cracked between the Aa and Bb gatherings with two leaves loose, a small number of others working loose, causing some non-uniformity visible at the fore-edge. A few inscriptions of various dates, two small bookplates to front pastedown, one armorial, as described under provenance, above.
A well presented working copy of this scarce first Plantin edition.
