Roman Breviary

...we hope: since in this work, the Hymns original: "Hymni." Urban VIII was a humanist scholar who famously revised medieval hymns to better match classical Latin poetic rules. (with a few exceptions) which were not composed in meter, but in free prose or even simple rhythm, have been restored to the laws of poetry and Latin style wherever possible, using improved manuscripts or through careful revision. Where restoration was not possible, they have been composed anew, though the original meaning has been preserved as far as possible. The punctuation of the Vulgate original: "editionis Vulgatæ," the standard Latin translation of the Bible used by the Church. has been restored in the Psalms and Canticles; furthermore, for the convenience of those chanting—the reason for which the punctuation had sometimes been altered—care has been taken by adding Asterisks The asterisk (*) in a psalm indicates a pause in the middle of a verse for two sides of a choir to alternate.. The Sermons and Homilies of the Church Fathers have been compared with many printed editions and ancient manuscripts; thus, many things have been added, and many emended and corrected. The Histories of the Saints have been revised based on ancient and approved authors. The Rubrics Rubricæ: the instructional text, usually printed in red, that tells the priest how to perform the service have been explained more clearly and conveniently, with some removed and others added. Finally, all these things have been so diligently and accurately arranged and polished through great and long labor that what was desired has been brought to its intended conclusion.

Since such great and exact industry by learned men requires the faithfulness of printers to prevent it from failing completely, we have commanded our beloved son Andrea Brogiotto, the Prefect of our Apostolic Printing House, to oversee the first publishing of this Breviary. This edition shall serve as the model which everyone who prints the Roman Breviary hereafter is bound to follow. Outside of the City Rome, we decree that in the future, it shall be legal for no one to print or publish this same Breviary unless they have received written permission from the inquisitors of heretical depravity original: "inquisitoribus hæreticæ pravitatis." Local officials of the Inquisition responsible for checking books for errors in faith. where they are present, or otherwise from the local Ordinaries Ordinarii: the local authorities, usually the bishops.

If any printer, in any form, prints the Roman Breviary contrary to these instructions, or if any bookseller sells a copy so printed, they shall—if they are outside our ecclesiastical jurisdiction—be subject to the penalty of automatic excommunication excommunicationis latæ sententiæ: a penalty that takes effect immediately by the very act of the offense. From this penalty, they cannot be absolved except by the Roman Pontiff (unless they are at the point of death). Those living in the Nurturing City Rome or the rest of the Ecclesiastical State original: "Statu Ecclesiastico," the Papal States. shall incur a fine of five hundred gold ducats of the Chamber and the loss of all books and printing types, which shall be turned over to the same Chamber without further declaration. Furthermore, Breviaries printed or published without the aforementioned permission, by that very fact...