REGOLE DELLA VEN. CONGREGAZIONE DE' RR. SACERDOTI

4to, pp. xxiv; woodcut vignette of St Andrew Avellino on title-page; occasional spotting, but largely clean and fresh throughout; manuscript note, sporadically legible, in a contemporary hand on inside of upper wrapper, and printed names of authors pasted in at foot of p. xx; in contemporary brocade wrappers; light wear but an attractive copy.

Very rare set of rules for a congregation of secular priests established under the patronage of St Andrew Avellino at the Milanese church of San Giovanni sopra il muro, 'regolata da soli Confratelli Ecclesiastici'.

Although, as article II of the rules tells us, the congregation itself will only admit clerics, lay people, both men and women, can be associated with it, although they would obviously only be allowed to play a very small role in its affairs (essentially, to participate in indulgences). The Regole prescribe the celebration of the patronal festival and the associated requiem masses for dead members, benefactors, and their parents, before setting out the weekly routines, the practice to be observed in case of the death of a member, and the rules governing allowing members of the congregation to pay (i.e. the congregation must at no point require that). It also describes the elections of officers, and the roles and duties of the prefect and vice-prefect, sacristan, choirmaster, and master of ceremonies.

Not in OCLC or SBN, although there is a copy in the Seminario Arcivescovile di Milano.

Although it is unclear how long the congregation lasted, the church itself was demolished in 1786.