Monroy - Processionarium Sacri Ordinis Praedicatorum - 1679

THE PROCESSION AS RITE, AUTHORITY, AND DISCIPLINE
The Processionarium of the Holy Order of Preachers, published in Rome in 1679 under the authority of Frate Antonij de Monroy, is a liturgical document of great relevance for understanding Dominican rituality in the full Baroque era. The work codifies the processions, central moments of religious life, in which space, song, and movement become instruments of devotion and representation of faith.
Beautiful black leather binding with brass clasps, perfectly preserved. Printed with red and black text, according to liturgical tradition, the volume reflects a balance between practical function and aesthetic solemnity. The copperplate title page and the woodcut initials contribute to building an object destined not only for use but also for the celebration of the order and its spiritual authority.
MARKET VALUE
Dominican liturgical books of the seventeenth century present an interesting and relatively stable market: complete copies with contemporary binding and well-preserved liturgical apparatus generally range between 700 and 1,000 euros; the presence of clasps and an engraved title page can increase the value.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Beautiful black leather binding with brass clasps, perfectly preserved, gilt title on the spine label. Metal clasps present. Copperplate title page, woodcut initials, text printed in red and black. Evidence of termites holes on the title page and on some leaves; some foxing and browning. In old books, with a centuries-long history, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp. (2); 4nn; 486; 2nn; (2).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Processionarium sacri ordinis Praedicatorum auctoritate apostolica.
Romae, Tinassi, 1679.
Antonij de Monroy.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Processionarium is an essential tool for regulating liturgical practices of the Dominican Order, particularly with regard to processions, moments of strong visual and communal impact. In the seventeenth century, during the height of the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church attrib‑uted great importance to rituality as a means of education and of engaging the faithful. The Order of Preachers, engaged in preaching and defending orthodoxy, develops normative texts that combine liturgical precision and clear execution. The volume reflects this need, offering a codified model that standardizes practices across different convents. The red and black printing underscores the distinction between text and ritual directions, facilitating practical use.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Antonij de Monroy (Antonio de Monroy, 1634–1715) was a Spanish Dominican ecclesiastic, Master General of the Order of Preachers and a prominent figure in the post-Tridentine Church. Under his authority reforms and standardizations of liturgy were promoted, aimed at strengthening internal discipline of the order and the coherence of religious practices.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Printed in Rome in 1679 by Tinassi, the volume belongs to the official liturgical production intended for Dominican convents. Print runs were relatively limited but widely distributed within the order. Surviving copies, often heavily used, frequently show signs of wear, making complete copies with intact bindings and clasps particularly valued.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
ICCU/OPAC SBN: records to be verified for the Rome edition, Tinassi, 1679
EDIT17: catalogs of seventeenth-century Italian printing (entry Processionarium, Dominican Order)
WorldCat: institutional locations for Dominican liturgical editions
Baudot, La liturgie catholique à l’époque moderne, pp. 145-160
Jedin, Storia del Concilio di Trento, vol. IV (for post-Tridentine liturgical context)
Cabié, Histoire de la liturgie, pp. 210-225