Complete Works of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Volume 1

I do not fail to reveal to YOUR HOLINESS original: "TATI VESTRÆ"; likely a typo or OCR error for "SANCTITATI VESTRÆ," the standard address for the Pope. the outstanding effort which Peter Benedict Petrus Benedictus (1663–1742), also known as Pierre Mubarak, was a Maronite scholar from Lebanon who became a Jesuit and a renowned professor of Eastern languages. of the Society of Jesus contributed in preparing this Volume, as will be clearly evident to everyone from the Preface prefixed to it. Peter, I say, Benedict, formerly public Professor of Sacred Literature at the Athenaeum of Pisa, and joined to me by a great bond even from that time. For while I took the Monastic habit in Florence, I seem to have been no more fortunate in any other thing than that I found that Man, most learned in every kind of literature and especially in the knowledge of Oriental Languages, as a guest in that Benedictine Abbey. Having obtained him as a companion for ten years—before, that is, he gave his name to the Society The "Society" refers to the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.—I was initiated by him into the mysteries of sounder and more serious Studies. So that I might henceforth cultivate these more eagerly, he made my residence in your most flourishing Native soil, MOST BLESSED FATHER, even more lasting.

May it indeed be permitted for me, before I conclude this Letter of Dedication, to give an account of my Pastoral stewardship original: "villicationis"; a term for the management of a farm or estate, here used metaphorically for the author's duties as Bishop of Brescia., namely, regarding the building of the Cathedral of Brescia, and the founding of the Salesian Nuns, about which I thought it appropriate to report to YOUR HOLINESS in the Letter of the first Volume. The mass of that Magnificent Temple The Duomo Nuovo (New Cathedral) of Brescia, which Cardinal Querini was instrumental in completing. has now reached the point that I am confident that, God willing, I shall celebrate the Pontifical rite there on the upcoming Easter solemnity; since eight Columns of remarkable elegance and size for the vaulted...