FRANCE'S FIRST PRINTER

by Pope Gregory I

$4,500 · Offered by Biblio

[63] of [64] leaves (without final blank) | 8vo | a-g^8 h^8(-h8) | 196 x 136 mm ---- An early edition of the sixth-century pope's tremendously influential guide to priestly conduct, "a work which in its practical theology remained almost unique in the history of Christian literature until the modern period. While it may seem natural today to consider such pastoral care a normal part of the role of the Christian priesthood, Gregory was among the first to insist on its centrality and theorize about its practice. With its gentleness and psychological sensitivity, Gregory's Rule of Pastoral Care rightly deserves its place among the Christian classics" (Neil and Dal Santo). ¶ The author broadly covers the cleric's responsibilities and frequently grounds his guidance in scripture (our edition includes biblical citations in the margin). There's little earth-shattering in his advice: demonstrate virtue, be humble and genuine, don't obsess over status and power, don't focus too much on pleasing others, balance the application of discipline and leniency, spurn vice, lead by example. In many ways, Gregory's manual serves as a kind of medieval guide to leadership writ large. "The active life of the leader ought to transcend that of the people in proportion to how the life of a shepherd outshines that of his flock" (a8v; all translations from Demacopoulos). He even seems to anticipate the challenges of work-life balance facing leaders today: "He must not relax his care for the internal li

• Publisher: Ulrich Gering and Berthold Rembolt
• Year: 1498
• Binding: hardcover

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