CHD Hours of the Virgin
Hore Beate Marie Virginis - Use of Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Notice: Books of hours for Saint-Pol-de-Léon poses a delicate problem. The use of Saint-Pol-de-Léon was from the 14-15th century identical with the Use of Paris and can only be distinguished from Paris by a great number of Breton saints in the calendar and the litany (no early source with a different office has survived or been identified). Some books of hours have been catalogued or sold as "Paris, with an unusual large number of saints from Brittany" (!). They were beyond doubt intended for use in the diocese of Saint-Pol-de-Léon. When such books were written and decorated in Paris are they a real challenge. The calendar, however, will most likely be in Latin, since the daily language was Breton and not French.
Ad Matutinum Invitatorium Ave maria
Hymnus O quam glorifica luceAnt. ps. 8: Exaltata es
Lectio i. Surge beatissima virgo Responsorium i. Beata es virgo maria
Ad LaudesPss. 92, 99, 62, 66, B, 148, 149, 150
Antiphona Benedicta tu
Capitulum Te laudent angeli Hymnus Virgo dei genitrix V.Elegit eam
Antiphona super Benedictus O gloriosa dei genitrix*
Collecta Concede nos famulos tuos
Ad PrimamPss. 1, 2, 5
Hymnus Veni creator spiritus
Antiphona Benedicta tu
Capitulum Felix namque es R. Diffusa est gratia V.Propterea benedixit
Collecta Famulorum tuorum
Ad TertiamPss. 119, 120, 121
Hymnus As primam
Antiphona Dignare me laudare te
Capitulum Paradisi porta R. Specie tua V.Intende prospere
Collecta Protege nos famulos tuos
Ad SextamPss. 122, 123, 124
Antiphona Post partum
Capitulum Gaude maria virgo R. Adiuvabit eam V.Deus in medio
Collecta Beate et gloriose semper virginis
Ad NonamPss. 125, 126, 127
Antiphona Sicut lilium
Capitulum Per te dei genitrix R. Elegit eam V.Et habitare V.Post partum
Collecta Concede quesumus omnipotens et misericors deus
Ad VesperasPss. 121, 122, 123, 124, 125
Antiphona Beatam me dicent
Capitulum Beata es virgo maria Hymnus Ave maris stella V.Post partum
Antiphona super Magnificat Sancta maria succurre
Collecta Concede nos famulos tuos
Ad CompletoriumPss. 12, 42, 128, 130
Antiphona Sancta dei genitrix
Capitulum Sicut cynamomum Hymnus Virgo dei genitrix V.Ecce ancilla domini
Antiphona super Nunc dimittis Cum iocunditate
Collecta Gratiam tuam quesumus

Source: Breviarium insignis ecclesie Leonensis, Parisius impressum, Desiderius Maheu pour Yves Quillevere, 1516 (Paris BN Rés. B.4920, and Rennes Bibl.Mun. with the calendar preserved).
ED notes: The liturgy of Saint-Pol-de-Léon was adapted to the use of Paris, as stated in a missal printed in Paris by Nicolas Prevost for Yves Quillevere in 1526 (F.Duine, Bréviaires et missels des églises et abbayes bretonnes, 1905, p.171). Earlier manuscript books of hours testify that the adaptation perhaps had taken place already in the 14th century. A number of Breton saints in the litany is the only difference: Paule, Goluine, Joeuine, Tenenane, Senane, Tugduale (Tudguale), Brioce, Guillerme, Maclovi, Paterne, Corentine, Ronane, Cognogane, Maudete, Gildasi, Guengaloee, Guennale, Columbane, Karadoce etc. (Yves was a popular saint in Paris, and a few other saints from Brittany are also frequent in Paris, where some had a chapel or even a titulary church: St.-Magloire).
Variants: *The breviary opens a choise of antiphon to Benedictus: O gloriosa dei vel Hec est regina (the latter is the official Paris choise, and makes the hours entirely identical with the use of Paris).
Other sources: Heures imprimés, Paris 1570 (Paris BN B.27815).
Heures a l'usage de Saint-Pol-de-Léon, sec.15., olim Paris Coll. Fel. Feuardent, Vente cat. no.12 (present whereabouts unknown).
Heures a l'usage de Saint-Pol-de-Léon, sec.16. Paris BN ms.lat.1385.
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©Erik Drigsdahl 1999 Last update 23/05/2002