Paradisus Animae Christianae Lectissimis Omnigenae Pietatis Deliciis Amoenus [Paradise of the Christian Soul]

H. Dessain, 1858-01-01. Hardcover. Good. In Latin. 1858 'nova editio a mendis innumeris exergata' H. Dessain, successor to P.J. Hanicq (Mechelen, Belgium), 3 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches tall full vellum bound with yapped fore edges, black ruling and lettering to covers and spine, yellow endpapers, engraved extra illustrated title page, most of the text in double columns, index, [46], 696 pp. Covers have typical vellum grubbiness, as well as slight to moderate rubbing. A bit of soiling to endpapers and slight to moderate foxing to front and rear prelims. Otherwise, a very good copy - clean, bright and unmarked - of this rare edit of Horstius' original Latin. OCLC (Nos. 1075246123, 234326881) locates only two copies at institutions worldwide - at Harvard and Bibliothek St. Albertus Magnus in Cologne. ~UUU~ [1.0P] From the 17th through the early 20th centuries, Paradisus Animae Christianae (Paradise of the Christian Soul) was an extremely popular collection of Catholic prayers, devotions and litanies - both in its original Latin and in translation to many languages - and has been rediscovered in the 21st century by more traditional Roman Catholics and some Protestants. Scarce in this imprint. The author, Jacob (James) Merlo Horstius (1597-1644), born in Horst, Holland - from whence he derives his name - was a prominent doctor of theology known as an effective preacher at the Lyskirchen in Cologne, where he served as pastor. In addition to his influential edit, with commentary, of the works of Thomas a Kempis (author of 'Imitation of Christ'), Horstius authored and edited numerous books, including a highly respected commentary of Estius on the Pauline Letters and the works of St. Bernard. But his most popular work was this, an often translated and reprinted collection of prayers for the Catholic faithful, first published (in Latin) the year Horstius died, 1644.