Congrégation

1709 — xii + 276pp. + 1 full-page engraving out-of-text (depicting S. Romuald), engraved vignette on title page, with ornamented initials and head- and tailpieces, contains an extensive index (pp.221-276), 22cm., two libr.stamps and small libr.number on title page, text in Italian, text is clean and bright with only few occasional small stains, contemporary full leather binding (some defects on spine and on boards have been repaired professionally, title label on paper at spine, few blind-tooled decorations on both boards), very rare (not in OCLC), [This work contains the constitution of the hermite Camaldolese congregation, based on the rule of S. Benedict. The "Ordo Camaldulensium" (O.Camald.) was established by S. Romuald (ca.950-1027) in Camaldoli (near Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy). Romuald attempted to merge the cenobitical life of the West with the eremitical life of the East (nicely illustrated by this excerpt from their 'Brief Rule': "Sit in your cell as in Paradise"), and he also (re)introduced the idea of the lavra in Western monasticism. Feature of the rules is an extreme way of ascetism and rigour, making the Camaldolese order one of the most severe orders of all times (e.g. most of the time an abstinence on water and bread & living in separate cells). Romuald did not leave any written rule though ; the first attempts were made in 1080 by Rudolph I and the rules underwent changes over time. This work is a second edition of the rules published in 1671], R96665