Prosper de vita contemplatina atque actuali : sive de norma ecclesiasticorum
Spyer: Peter Drach, 1487. The title page has a beautiful floral frame in gold and all the capitals have been
stroked in red. Along with the early green vellum this book is quite lovely. First and second editio. First and second editions , Copies
are known mixed with sheets from the 1486 printing (Goff P1022); cf. J. Dane, Abstractions of evidence in
the study of manuscripts and early printed books (Farnham, 2009) pp.96-100. Bound in early green sturdy vellum slight cracking at joint; paste-downs with bookplates. This copy has some light wear, glue residue at
front with free endpaper glued to front paste-down at inner margin; mild cracking at front hinge; several leaves with small corner losses or tears, or small corner repairs; pages toned with occasional light grime, foxing, and light damp staining; upper margin closely trimmed; a good copy. Quarto 18 x 13.5 cm Signatures: a-c8 d-f6 g8 (g8 blank and present) Goff P-1023; Walsh 857; GW M35776; BMC II 496; USTC 748339; ISTC ip01023000. Item #901
The author is probably Julianus Pomerius, cf Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, VIII (Freiburg i.B., 1936) pp.362, 504-505 (Aquilon) “Pomerius. [He] claims for Pomerius the further distinction of having bequeathed to us the oldest pastoral instruction that survives in the West. Mostly certainly, [Julianus Pomerius] is to be credited with a place of honor in the survival and justification of Augustine's name and teaching; and the thoughtful reader of his one remaining treatise will not deny him his place in the early history of pastoral theology. But who other than patrologists and a few theologians even know the name Pomerius” (Suelzer, Mary Josephine (1947).
Julianus Pomerius, A Contemplative Life) De vita contemplative (or De contemptu mundi) in three books treats of the value of the contemplative life, the second of the active life of the Christian, and the third of The entire works are full of the spirit of Augustine. The similarity of the latter treatise to the eschatological meditations of St. Julian, bishop of Toledo, early led to Julian's identification with Pomerius, who flourished fully two centuries before him. Julian, a convert from Judaism, was archbishop from Jan. 29, 680, to Mar. 8, 690, and was zealous in defending and extending the faith and reformation of the clergy, at the same time maintaining a firm attitude toward Benedict II. when the pope criticized his creed. His apology addressed to Benedict, together with some of his other works, has been lost; but his Prognosticorum futuri seculi libre tres (Leipsic, 1535); De demonstratione sextette’s (Heidelberg, 1532);. He probably took part in the final
redaction of the old Spanish liturgy and of the Visigothic canon law." (Christian Classics Ethereal Library at
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