1776 Sermons de M. Massillon | 2-Volume Set w/Monastic Labels

Sermons de M. Massillon, Évêque de Clermont (Sermons of Mr. Massillon, Bishop of Clermont) by Jean-Baptiste Massillon. Printed by La Veuve Estienne & Fils, Paris, France. Published 1776. Two volumes. French Language.

Two-volume set of celebrated French sermons covering both the mystical events of Christ's life (Mystères) and practical lessons on Christian morality and humility (Petit Carême), originally created to teach a young King Louis XV the spiritual duties of virtue, charity, and leadership. 

Two-volume set of leather-bound 18th-century religious books. Five raised bands at spine, a gilded title and linework, gold-gilt floral tooling on spines, page edges feature a pinkish splattered design across all edges, original handwritten convent library labels included on interior cover pages for both volumes. 

Both Volumes include an 18th-century handwritten library label pasted inside the front cover.

• One reads: "De la Bibliothèque des Religieuses filles de N.D. A Carcassonne. 209 Vol" and translates to " From the library of the Religious Daughters of Our Lady (Notre-Dame) at Carcassonne. Volume 209."
• The other reads: "De la Bibliothèque des Religieuses filles de N.D. A Carcassonne. 208 Vol" and translates to " From the library of the Religious Daughters of Our Lady (Notre-Dame) at Carcassonne. Volume 208."

The "Religieuses filles de Notre-Dame" refers to the Order of the Daughters of Our Lady, a teaching and contemplative order of nuns. During the 1700s, their convent was in Carcassonne, a famous fortified citadel in southern France.

During the French Revolution (just 13 years after these books were printed), the revolutionary government dissolved all convents, seized monastic libraries, and either burned religious books or scattered them across Europe. These surviving volumes would have been secretly saved or hidden away during the purges.

104 mm W x 170 mm H.

Condition: 

Volume 208: 359 pages. Marks to covers and spine, some spots of discoloration/texture, corners rubbed, wear to hinges, marking to spine, front board slightly warped, but it sits well when stacked on a shelf, some wear to endpapers. Fair to good condition for its age. 

Volume 209: 278 pages. Marks to covers and spine, some spots of discoloration/texture, corners rubbed, wear to hinges, marking to spine, some wear to endpapers. Fair to good condition for its age. 

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