DEDICATORY EPISTLE

...efforts I had contributed, so that through those proofs of Roman worship, the principal Basilica of that City Referring to the city of Brescia (Brixia), where Quirini served as Bishop. He spent significant personal funds on the cathedral and its liturgy. might be made more illustrious—a building which, with God’s help, I have finally made fit for the performance of Divine Offices.

I will not detain YOUR HOLINESS any further with this letter. For whatever pertains to declaring the purpose of this Vatican edition of ours original: "Vaticanae hujus nostrae editionis"; this refers to the landmark 18th-century edition of Ephrem’s works funded by the papacy. is already sufficiently, and more than sufficiently, known from the Prefaces which the learned men serving as curators of the work have been accustomed to place at the beginning of each Volume. Therefore, I shall add only one thing: that the words which YOUR HOLINESS most kindly wrote concerning me in your work On the Canonization of Saints original: "de Canonizatione Sanctorum"; a massive, authoritative work by Pope Benedict XIV (Prospero Lambertini) that remains a primary source for canon law., which anyone might rightly and deservedly call a "storehouse of more sacred erudition," as well as the Prefecture of the sacred Congregation of the Index of Books original: "Indicis Librorum Congregationis"; the Vatican department responsible for reviewing and censoring literature. conferred upon me the day before yesterday—these things add new stimuli to my soul to cultivate the study of letters with the greatest fervor. I shall do so as far as the nature of my Episcopal life in my Province of Brescia original: "Brixiana"—rather than a Diocese, to which I have already revealed to YOUR HOLINESS how reluctantly I shall say farewell—will allow; so that, while I may happen to satisfy others through my diligence, I may trust that I am scarcely, or not even scarcely, able to satisfy myself.

I pray to God, the Best and Greatest original: "Deum O. M." (Optimum Maximum), that He may preserve YOUR HOLINESS in safety for a long time; I most humbly kiss your Feet.