The Psalms: A Prayer Book; Also the Canticles of the Roman Breviary
New York: Benziger Brothers, [1947]. 12 mo. (7 inches tall), original textured navy cloth with rounded corners, gilt spine, blind-stamped front board, all edges red, original dust wrapper, original lidded box with printed label. Early religious signature in ink, else about-Fine. Item #1327
THE PSALTER AND CANTICLES OF POPE PIUS XII
Handsome Benziger Brothers edition of the "new" Psalter of Pope Pius XII—complete with the original dust wrapper and lidded box and in exceptional condition.
Begun during the early days of the Second World War, this revised Psalter was authorized by Pius XII and published for optional use in the spring of 1945. Described on the title-page as the "Fourth Enlarged Edition," this Latin-English edition is printed in red-and-black throughout with an engraved frontispiece illustration. The prefatory material includes the Apostolic Letter "in Cotidianis Precibus" and two introductory essays. The text is supplemented with a Glossary (of Names, Places, and Terms), an Alphabetical Index (of Latin Titles of the Psalms and Canticles) and a Topical Index of the Psalms and Canticles (A Guide for Prayer and Devotion). Approbations, including the imprimatur of Francis Cardinal Spellman of New York (dated, "Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome, 1946"). It is said that Pope Pius XII burst into tears when the flaws of his Psalter were pointed out to him and, eventually, the psalter was largely abandoned.
Price: $300.00