The Dedication

[Continuing with excerpts from the 1701 prayer book]

The next two pages contain the Dedication.

To the King,

Sire,

Different by far from that favourite 

of Tiberius, a courtier who presented his vows 

first[1] to the ear of his Prince 

rather than to the Altars of the Gods, 

having consecrated this vow of 

devotion to the Divine Majesty, I come to offer it to your Majesty. The piety which inspires all your royal 

actions will open your hands 

to receive it and your mouth 

to approve its author who has no 

other motive, Sire, 

in planning this work, than the glory 

of God and the desire to contribute 

to the fervour of your holy devotions 

everything that can and should be of 

the greatest piety, justice and value 

in the world to his King 

Your Majesty’s

Most humble and most obedient 

and most faithful subject and 

servant. C.P.

[1] Plus tôt (que), ... avant ; plus vite. Plus tôt implique une idée de temps et s'oppose à plus tard : Before; more quickly. Plus tôt implies an idea of time and is opposed to later.  Larousse DDF

[2] Prose : Chant liturgique strophique et versifié, souvent rimé et qui, à certaines messes, prend place après le graduel. (Par exemple Veni, Sancte Spiritus ; Lauda Sion ; Dies iræ.) Liturgical chant in strophes and verses, often rhyming and which in certain Masses follow the gradual (e.g., Veni, Sancte Spiritus ; Lauda Sion ; Dies iræ.) Larousse DDF

[3] Oraiʃons: 1. Prière liturgique de la messe et de l'office des heures. 2. Prière mentale sous forme de méditation, dans laquelle le cœur a plus de part que l'esprit. 1. Liturgical prayer of the Mass and the Office. 2. Mental prayer in the form of meditation, in which the heart has a greater role than the mind. SAINTE CATHERINE, DE SIENNE [CATERINA BENINCASA] (Sienne 1347-Rome 1380) Qu'est-ce qui nous rend forts et persévérants ? L'oraison humble et continuelle faite dans la cellule de la connaissance de soi-même et de la bonté de Dieu en soi. What gives us strength and perseverance? Humble and continual prayer in the cell of self-knowledge and God’s goodness in oneself. 

Larousse DDF

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.