Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

A Liturgical Discourse of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Containing a Clear, Solid Explanation in General and Particular of its Substance, Nature, Quality, Antiquity, Use, Rites and Ceremonies, deduced out of the Sacred Scripture, Apostolical Tradition, Holy Councils, Orthodox Fathers, continual Practise of Gods Church, and Unanimous Consent of all Christian Nations. Divided into Two Parts and Collected by A.F., the least of Friar Minors, for the help of devout Catholicks, in order to the more spiritual and profitable hearing thereof. The First Part [WITH] A Liturgical Discourse of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Wherein is Contained a Summary Explication of the Several Parts, Rites, and Ceremonies thereof, out of the Scriptures, Tradition, Councils, and Holy Fathers; Conformable to the Use and Practice of our Holy Mother the Church. The Second Part. Two volumes bound in one (Complete)

A. F. (Richard Mason aka Angelus of St. Francis Mason )

NP [London]: NP, 1669-1670. First edition. Hardcover. 12mo (7 1/4 x 5"). [36], 184, [8]pp (Part 1); [2], 318, [26],pp. Full calf, rebacked, but retaining the original covers and the gold-lettered leather title label on spine. Raised bands. All paper edges spotted in red. Place of publication from Wing M936. Decorative headpieces, initial and tailpiece. Long epistle dedicatory to Henry Arundel, Baron of Warder, and Count of the Sacred Empire.

Angelus of St. Francis Mason's first edition of the liturgy of the Mass in the Catholic Church, seen as "the source and summit of the Christian life," to which the other sacraments are oriented.

Moderate rubbing along edges of binding. Previous owner's armorial bookplate on inside of front cover (Reverend J. Jones, and Reverend W. Wilds). Contemporary previous owner's name in ink at upper margin of title page (Francis Walmesley). Ex-library sticker at upper margin of front cover, and stamp at verso of title. Minor and sporadic age-toning / foxing throughout. Binding in overall good, interior in very good condition. g to vg. Item #42708

About the author: Richard Mason (Angelus of St. Francis Mason, O.F.M.) (1599-1678), was an English Franciscan friar and writer active in the 17th century. He was ordained by an Irish Catholic Bishop around 1624. He left the secular priesthood to become a Recollect friar. Having gone to the friaryseminary of St Bonaventure at Douai, he was approved for missionary work in England in 1632 but was recalled two years later to become vicar and novice-master at St Bonaventure's, dedicated to serving the needs of the English mission. By 1637, Mason had become superior of St Bonaventures, and professor of thelogy. During the 1650s, Mason returned to England, and in 1659 was created doctor of divinity. Mason was at Douai in 1663 but for much of the next decade he was at Wardour, Wiltshire, the only Franciscan in the Arundell family's long roll of Catholic chaplains. He served as chaplain to Henry, third Lord Arundell and in dedicating to his patron "A Liturgical Discourse of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass," Mason extolled his piety and his royalist role in the civil wars.

Price: $600.00