Devotional Hymns for Solemn Holidays

This publication contains an edition of an old print titled “Devotional Hymns for Solemn Holidays According to the Order of the Holy Catholic Church Throughout the Year, Compiled with Great Diligence. Some of the Psalms of David Useful for Ordinary People to Sing.” In Krakow, at Antoni Wosiński’s, 1627, oblong 16o, p. 176 – from a unique copy from the Library of the Escorial near Madrid (Real Biblioteca de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, signature B. O-VIII.29). In this edition, the hymnal published contains a collection of songs arranged according to the liturgical seasons of the year. There are Advent hymns – 25 (twenty in Polish and five in Latin), for Christmas – 15 (nine in Polish, six in Latin), Passion hymns – 10 (nine in Polish and one in Latin), for Palm Sunday – two (one in Polish and one in Latin), for Holy Week – four (one in Polish and three in Latin), for the Resurrection of the Lord – 10 (seven in Polish and three in Latin), for the Holy Spirit – four (three in Polish and one in Latin), for Corpus Christi – seven (five in Polish and two in Latin), Psalms of David – 43 (all in Polish), and various songs – 25 (18 in Polish and seven in Latin). In total, the collection contains 145 hymns, including 116 in Polish and 29 in Latin. The arrangement of hymns in each section is arbitrary, not numbered, and not alphabetically ordered. Additionally, the Polish repertoire is interspersed with Latin. Most often, Polish texts are placed next to their Latin counterparts.