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BIBLIA SACRA
Vulgatae Editionis
The Latin Vulgate Bible according to the "Clementine" edition
Originally typeset and illustrated
by
Desclee, Lefebvre, & Assoc.
under the
Society of St. John the Evangelist
in 1901 A.D.
Reprinted by
Church Latin Publishing Co.
in 2021 A.D.
Cover image of the new reprint.
Sample page from the new reprint -Click page to expand-
$54.99 USD
HARDCOVER
$34.99 USD
SOFTCOVER
Vintage Gift Wrap option is available for the hardcover edition.
Click HERE for details.
I SHIP FAST! These bibles are in stock and shipped within 24 hours of ordering.
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IMPORTANT SHIPPING INFORMATION- PLEASE READ
DOMESTIC ORDERS- ONE COPY SHIPPED TO YOUR MAILING ADDRESS VIA TRACKABLE USPS MEDIA MAIL FOR $5. FOR USPS PRIORITY MAIL- THE FEE IS $15 FOR ONE COPY SHIPPED IN A USPS PRIORITY MAIL MEDIUM FLAT RATE BOX
EMAIL ME FOR A QUOTE ON SHIPPING OF MULTIPLE QUANTITIES.
I CAN ALSO SHIP TO YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS VIA UPS UPON REQUEST (THIS OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE AT CHECKOUT- EMAIL ME FOR PRICING)
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS-
PLEASE GO HERE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING INTERNATIONAL ORDERS
IMAGE GALLERY- HARDCOVER EDITION
After many years of anticipation, I am proud to be offering a reprint of the magnificent Latin Vulgate Bible published by the Society of St. John the Evangelist, 120 years ago. These Vulgate bibles are a true icon of Catholic history and can be described as a "modern adaptation of a medieval manuscript."
In our present day, traditional Catholic worship and devotion is under attack. This reprint of the Latin Vulgate Bible is both a testimony to Catholic Tradition and a living archive of Catholic scriptural legacy. It also pays homage to the authority of the Clementine text and is a tribute to the lost art of more elegant religious and liturgical typesetting and printing.
An excerpt from the "Editor to the Reader" of this bible perfectly summarizes both the reasons it was originally published and why we have labored to bring it back into print:
"May, finally, this edition of the Sacred Bible be published, and may it bear exceedingly rich fruits of knowledge and piety; we humbly pray that St. John the Evangelist, our great patron, who drew his stream of divine eloquence from the sacred font itself of the Lord’s breast and, inebriated with the grace of the Holy Ghost, more deeply revealed to others the hidden things of Divinity, might obtain these results for us through his kind intercession with the most sacred Heart of Jesus."
Linked Reviews from friends of Church Latin Publishing Co.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
"Solo quería agradecerla por el excelente regalo que me llegó,la biblia sacra vulgata,he quedado sorprendido,es hermosa y su trabajo es muy bueno y rápido,felicidades por tan excelente labor! Es maravillosa y me llego bien rápido!"
"I just wanted to thank you for the excellent gift that came to me, the sacred Vulgate Bible, I was surprised, it is beautiful and your work is very good and fast, congratulations on such excellent work! It's wonderful and I got it very fast!"
E.A. from Union City, NJ 1/17/23
"Just received my copy of the softcover Latin Vulgate, and I have the hardcover… but man… the softcover is amazing! And the diurnale is out of this world. Thank you for your talents and what Our Blessed Lord has graced you to help Holy Mother Church. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for anything else your apostolate puts forward." N.G. from Saint Charles, MO 12/17/22
"I just received the copy. Even with the upside down maps it is still a beautiful edition, very well curated and edited. I Also appreciated the card with the recommendations on how to treat a sacred book. Thank you very much and keep up with the good work." B.C. from Vina de Mar, Chile 10.08.22
-This review applies to an irregular copy that had the biblical maps installed up-side-down on accident by the printer. Instead of discarding them, they were sold as-is at a discounted price.-
"A belated thanks on the 1901 edition that you sent. Wonderful book and it will be a splendid way to improve my Latin reading." C.R. from Chesteron, IN 10/5/22
"The Bible was in my mailbox the day after I placed the order; I couldn't believe it! I'm super excited to share it with my students!" C.T. from Normal, IL 9.17.22
"I recently ordered a copy of your 1901 Biblia Sacra reprint and received it in the mail last night. I just wanted to let you know that I am extremely impressed with the quality of the book and am proud to have it amongst my Biblical collection. It is a quality piece that will see years of use and admiration. I am especially thankful for the insert placed within it - I have to say that while I have never purchased a book that came with a list of rules on how to handle it, I appreciated the touch and will show the sacred text the respect it commands!" S.L. from Gatlinburg, TN 9.12.22
"I am very pleased with the books I received on Sunday. It is encouraging to see that reprinting does not have to be dreadful, as it usually is. The 1901 Bible is extraordinary, a superb work of craftsmanship in the world of reprinting. I can hardly take in how beautiful it is." E.L from Lewiston, ME 8.23.22
"The Bible arrived and is gorgeous. It's so good, we ordered two more. Classic typographers knew how to make books beautiful and delightful to read; your skill with modern technology has re-rendered their craft for new eyes, minds, and generations. Thank you." Deacon Patrick from the Pikes Peak Region, CO 8.2.22
"...I received the Bible in the mail today and I am extremely happy with it! Thank you so much for your patience and for your work on reprinting such a wonderful piece of art and Catholic learning." B.G. from Austria 6.13.22
"I just this evening received my copy of the Vulgate. What a great job you have done! What a labour of love!
Thanks for all your work! God bless you! " F.P. from Australia 6.11.22
"...just wanted to drop a line saying thanks for doing this. There aren't enough beautiful, traditional Catholic editions out there. Bought this one in particular for its charming details like the illustrations, drop caps, and other graphic embellishments." B.C. from Pasadena, CA 5.23.22
"The publication of this beautiful tome is momentously felicitous. The venerable text of the Clementine Vulgate is displayed in dignity akin to the liturgical books of the Roman Rite of yesteryear, so that the format of the pages breathes forth the reverent awe that inspired the publishers and editors. The font is elegant and easy to read, thanks to the hard work of the good folks at Church Latin Publishing Co. There are beautiful woodcut illustrations heading the more illustrious books of the Old and New Testaments. Each chapter of the Biblical books is preceded by helpful summary notes. Being a faithful edition of the Clementine Vulgate, the apocryphal books of 3 and 4 Esdras are included, along with the famous Prayer of Mannaseh. Catholics, Latin enthusiasts and supporters of perennial Western culture will warmly welcome this auspicious publication of the Clementine Vulgate. The wide dissemination of this book will doubtless contribute significantly to the greater and more faithful preservation of Catholic tradition and Catholic literary artistry. I cannot recommend this beautiful Bible enough!" E.M. from Los Angeles, California 1.10.22
"This reprint of a beautiful edition of the Vulgate is a step in the right direction for Latin culture in the Church. Latin Bibles are not meant to be old museum pieces that sit on shelves, and just buying one isn't going to do anyone any good! This edition is for lectio, reading on the bus, and study in the coffeehouse. Regaining use and appreciation of Latin means using this stuff! This Bible is a great place to start, crack this book open and start in." Mr Sean Pilcher Latinist, translator, and VSI instructor 12.30.21
(N.B. VSI= Veterum Sapientia Institute A great resource-please check this out!)
"I got my Bible today. Thanks for the prompt shipment. You’ve revived a book that is as beautiful as it is useful. Moreover, the indices are a delight." J.B. from Sahuarita, Arizona 12.27.21
Also- here is feedback left on my eBay account for this Bible:
"Ultra-fast shipping! Fair shipping charge! Friendly eBay seller! Bible is brand-new, in perfect condition. Very beautiful Biblia Sacra Latin Vulgate edition! Great binding and handsomely presented! Well done! 5-star transaction from start to delivery. I highly recommend this fine seller, and this fine edition Bible! AAA +++"
"TRUE & HONEST Excellent vendor & FAST shipping!!! 📦💥📬 🤗 🙏🏼💻🎌✈️ buy from them! 5 STARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ‼️Buh…"
"Fast delivery, great price, great and beautiful Bible"
"A wonderful reproduction of the original print, with very high quality scans throughout. I have a very old copy of the original which is incredibly delicate, and I was delighted to find this alternative which I feel much more comfortable using regularly. If you re looking for not only a high quality Latin Bible, but also a version that truly captures the reverential nature afforded to the text, this is by far the best available."
"Absolutely thrilled with purchase! It is a beautiful edition and it was delivered promptly and very carefully packaged"
"Amazingly fast shipping and the Bible is in perfect condition! I couldn't be happier!"
"Excellent, passionate seller. Highly recommend!"
"Awesome seller, great printing, would and may buy again! Very happy with the service!"
"Great seller, this is an amazing piece of work."
"This Bible is amazing! It was shipped in a timely manner and arrived well packaged. I am very happy with this purchase and will be buying from this seller again.!"
"VERY WELL DONE reprint! Pages are all clear and easy to read as if new. The cover is very nice as well. Great seller and quick shipping. Thank You!"
"I was wanting wanting good clementine edition of the latin vulgate. This lovely bible certainly meets my needs"
"WOW WOW WOW! What a GREAT publication! I can't wait to start perusing, then using, this Vulgate! Super eBayer, superior book, very fast service! Thank you! A+++++++++++"
Amazon Reviews
I've also been selling on a platform called Etsy- nothing but good reviews from there as well!
Features:
-Complete text of the Latin Vulgate Bible, Old and New Testaments with "extra-canonical" books of the Old Testament- Prayer of Manasseh, 3rd and 4th Books of Esdras, and the 14th Book of Daniel known as the 'Bel and Dragon'
-Entirely in Latin
-Text edited according to the Vatican Edition of the Clementine Vulgate of 1598 A.D.
-Fully cross referenced between Old and New Testaments and vice versa
-Chapter headings
-Engravings that illustrate biblical scenes at the beginning of many books of the bible
-Text is arranged for excellent readability and typeset in a beautiful Elzevirian font
Specifications:
-Exact facsimile of original, true to the original with no additions/subtractions
(only minor corrections to the scans were done, to improve legibility)
-Scuff resistant "Soft Touch" matte laminated hardcover
-6" wide X 9" tall pages
External dimensions: 6 1/4" wide X 9 1/4" tall X 1 3/4" thick
-984 total pages
-40# paper
-2 color maps on 70# matte paper
-High quality glued binding*
-colored headbands
-2 ribbon markers
-Printed and bound in the USA
-ISBN 978-0-578-26320-5
*FAQ- Does this bible have a sewn or glued binding?
This is bible is manufactured by a short-run digital printing and binding company.
Sewn bindings are not available for this manufacturing method. A common concern with glued binding is possibility of pages that can become loose or separated from the binding. This has not been an issue thus far but if you would ever have issues with a defective binding, I will stand behind any book I sell and offer a replacement.
SAMPLE PAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Email me you mailing address and I'll drop a few page leaves in an envelope if you would like to inspect the pages of this book. There is no charge for this service to domestic addresses.
Contents:
-Map of Palestine, at the time of Our Savior
-Front matter: title page, imprimatur, note to the reader, preface to the Vatican edition of the Vulgate 1592 AD, Decree concerning the canonical scriptures, from the Council of Trent- fourth session,
Remembrance of Pope Clement the 8th.
-Prefaces of St. Jerome (28 pages)
-Table of Contents
-Old Testament (694 pages)
-Map of the travels of St. Paul
-New Testament (186 pages)
-"Extra-canonical" books of the Old Testament: Prayer of Manassseh, 3rd and 4th Books of Ezra
(24 pages)
-Index of Testimonies of Christ and the Apostles
-Interpretation of Biblical Names
-Index to the Bible
-Index of Epistle and Gospel readings used in the Roman Missal
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Was this edition of the Holy Bible published with or without current Ecclesiastical approval?
What about Canon 825?
"Books of the sacred scriptures cannot be published unless the Apostolic See or the conference of bishops has approved them. For the publication of their translations into the vernacular, it is also required that they be approved by the same authority and provided with necessary and sufficient annotations."
Answer: This edition was granted an Imprimatur in 1901 by ✠ Most Reverend Carolus Gustavus Walravens, Bishop of Tournai, Belgium. Unless an Imprimatur is revoked by a succeeding Bishop or other Church authority, it remains in force. This is an exact facsimile reprint with no alterations. (thus eliminating the need for any further approval according to my understanding)
Also, to add a bit of weight to the authority of the text- the editors created this edition according to the 1598 edition of the Clementine Vulgate, which is a papally approved corrected edition of the 1592 Sixto-Clementine Vulgate promulgated by Pope Clement the VII. They also consulted the work of eminent biblical scholar Carolus Vercellone (specifically, his 1861 edition of Biblia Sacra) The reader can be assured that reliable sources were used to create this edition.
Follow-up question: What about Canon 829? "The approval or permission to publish some work is valid for the original text but not for new editions or translations of the same." [my emphasis]
Answer: I am offering an "original text" (an exact, facsimile reprint), not a new edition or translation. To be called a "new edition" the text must undergo significant change.
Question: Why is it that whenever Holy Scripture is used in the Roman Missal (Missale Romanum, 1962), the Latin text often differs from the Latin Vulgate? (specifically- the Clementine Version)
Answer: My first assumption is that since the organic growth of liturgical texts started long before the promulgation of the Clementine Vulgate- the scriptural parts of the Missal were taken from Latin texts that existed at the time of its development (ie. the "Old Latin" Version which is primarily derived from the writings of the Church Fathers) While this is correct, it does not explain why the Church did not conform the missal to the Clementine text after it was promulgated in 1592.
While reading an excellent book by Mr. Timothy Flanders- "Introduction to the Holy Bible for Traditional Catholics", this question was laid to rest. He provides a short explanation of the relationship between the scriptural text of the Missal and that of the Vulgate. (you can read an excerpt from the book at this link, permission provided by the author)
I want to take this opportunity to promote Tim's book which I have read cover to cover. It is an excellent book that sheds light on many areas of Scriptural Tradition that I am particularly interested in.
I would also like to recommend a video that Tim did via his "Meaning of Catholic" channel on Youtube. It is all about the authority of the Vulgate and its prevalence in the history of the Church. LINK to video
Question: What about textual integrity? What is the lineage of the Latin text of this bible? What were the sources used by the editors?
Answer: The editors of this bible attempted to create a text which is both faithful to the Vatican edition of 1598 but also bears fruit from more recent scholarship. I hope to demonstrate this using the three examples below. (each image can be clicked on to open a full page PDF)
The goal of the editors as stated in the note to the reader "...there might be a new edition in more elegant form which, while based on his [Carolus Vercellone] outstanding scriptural studies, could be produced at a lesser price,"
Let us look at the first 10 verses of the Gospel of John.
Starting on the left is the Vatican edition of the Clementine text printed in 1598. This is the last corrected edition of the original 1592 text. A few notable textual characteristics are the replacement of the word "et" with an ampersand and the truncation of some words- Reference the second occurrence of the word "verbum" in verse one. It is printed as "verbū". My guess is this method of abbreviation was used to decrease the length of the line so that the desired words would still fit in the desired space. One more observation is the lack of capitalization of the word "in" in verse 4.
Moving to the middle is the text of Carolus Vercellone. His fidelity to the 1598 edition is apparent.
Only changing very minor textual anomalies such as capitalization and punctuation when needed.
The addition of the chapter introductions are very helpful, which the 1901 edition retains.
On the right is the 1901 edition of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. The text benefits from Vercellone's corrections, while maintaining fidelity to the Vatican edition, and at the same time providing a very aesthetically pleasing and readable text with the bonus of illustrations and various appendices to further aid the reader. Upon a closer look, the 1901 edition is -in essence- a re-typesetting of the work of Carolus Vercellone's edition of 1861.
In my opinion, the 1901 edition could be one of the best texts of the Clementine Vulgate ever put into print.
If you are interested in a 'behind the scenes' look of this reprint, click below for a detailed explanation of the process of bringing a book such as this back into print.
BIBLIA SACRA 1901 REPRINT- HOW IT WAS MADE
Please visit my Desclee Vulgate page for detailed information and history on this particular edition of the Latin Vulgate Bible.
Also, I've attempted to chronicle my progress on this project- which I began thinking about way back in 2008.
A few additional sample pages, presented below:
Click on the image to open a PDF
"The Last Gospel"
The Comma Johanneum
The Prophet Daniel
I highly recommend a bible cover or bag when transporting your bible. I found this one on amazon.com which was sized for a bible measuring up to 10" tall by 7 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" thick.
Additional Resources
I have included a 2 page insert with this bible that contains a few notes and an English translation of the
"Editores Lectori" CLICK HERE FOR INSERT
There are a great number of Latin dictionaries in print that can be used for the reading and study of the Latin Vulgate Bible. If you are seeking a free resource- I highly recommend you download the Vulsearch program to your PC. For mobile devices- I use an app called Whitaker's Words that is available for both Apple and Android devices.