Breviarium Romanum 1786 Latin 4 Volume Leather Set Antique Catholic Liturgy

Step into the devotional life of the late 18th century with this exceptional Breviarium Romanum 1786 set, a complete four-volume edition in Latin, bound in handsome period leather. Produced for use within the Catholic Church, these antique books preserve the official texts of the Divine Office as prayed by clergy and religious in the years just before the French Revolution and well before the liturgical reforms of the 19th and 20th centuries.

This is a genuine 1786 Latin breviary set, not a modern reprint, offering an authentic window into the theology, spirituality, and daily liturgical practice of the Church in the late 1700s. The four volumes together comprise the full cycle of canonical hours, including psalms, antiphons, readings, hymns, and prayers structured according to the traditional Roman rite.

Key Features & Details

• Title: Breviarium Romanum
• Publication Year: 1786
• Language: Latin
• Format: Complete set of four volumes
• Binding: Original antique leather bindings
• Subject: Catholic Church – Divine Office / Liturgy of the Hours
• Provenance: Late 18th-century Catholic liturgical books, suitable for collectors, scholars, and institutions
• Condition: Good for age, with expected signs of wear; see photos for detailed condition

Historical & Spiritual Significance

The Breviarium Romanum is the official prayer book of the Roman Catholic Church’s Divine Office, used daily by priests, monks, and nuns for centuries. A set from 1786 stands at a crucial moment in European religious and cultural history, reflecting the pre-Modern Roman liturgy as it was actually prayed at the time. For historians, theologians, and serious collectors, this four-volume breviary offers:

• A primary source for the study of pre-Vatican II liturgy and Catholic devotional life.
• Original Latin texts of psalms, readings, and prayers as authorized in the late 18th century.
• Insight into the spiritual formation of clergy and religious communities in the ancien régime.

Binding & Aesthetic Appeal

Each volume is bound in period full leather, with the naturally aged patina that only genuine 18th-century bindings can display. The leather covers, raised bands, and traditional layout give the set a refined, scholarly presence—equally at home in a curated rare book library, a private chapel, or a distinguished study. The set is ideal for:

• Collectors of antique religious books and Catholic liturgical texts.
• Decorative display in fine interiors, study rooms, and ecclesiastical settings.
• Gifts for clergy, seminarians, or scholars with an interest in Church history.

Condition Notes

The set is described as in good condition in leather binding, especially considering its age of well over two centuries. Typical signs of age may include rubbing to the leather, minor scuffs, toning or spotting to pages, and gentle wear to corners and edges. The structure remains sound and the volumes present very attractively as a unified set. Please review the high-resolution images provided, as they form an important part of the description and will give you the best sense of the bindings, spine details, and interior pages.

If you require more detailed information about specific aspects—such as pagination, printer’s details, or particular feast days and offices—please feel free to send a message with any questions. Additional photographs can be supplied on request for serious buyers and institutional collections.

Why This Set Stands Out

• Complete four-volume breviary from 1786, not a fragmentary or mixed set.
• Original Latin text as used in the Roman rite of the period.
• Authentic antique leather bindings that enhance value and display quality.
• Highly desirable for rare book collectors, Catholic historians, and liturgical scholars.

This Breviarium Romanum 1786 four-book Latin set is a rare opportunity to acquire an original artifact of Catholic liturgical history, combining scholarly significance with timeless aesthetic beauty. It will make a distinguished addition to any serious collection of antique theology, ecclesiastical history, or fine leather-bound books.

Please examine the photos carefully and contact us with any questions before purchase. We are happy to assist discerning buyers in evaluating this remarkable 18th-century Catholic breviary set.