I have made some significant progress in formatting many of the first several sections of Officia Pietatis. The first part of the prayer book’s format is  completed as well as many of the other sections.

Take a look here and scroll around.  Some of the formatting may seem a bit random.  However, I assure you it’s not. Take a look at the screen shot to the left. The intent of the printer and perhaps the author directing him, was to present the text in such a way to aid the reader in praying in the morning & evenings – before confession, Mass – as well as afterwards.

My appreciation & respect for the craftsmanship the printer had is reflected in my attempt to be faithful to his choice in typesetting this work in my formatting presented on this website.

This project of mine –  I assure you, is a labor of love!

Future Formatting

I have customized the HTML elements & tags to match as much as I can at this point in time.  However, better fidelity can be accomplished using CSS style sheets.  In the coming weeks, after I get the entire book uploaded and make my initial  pass at the formatting, I will spend some time learning more CSS and  how I can apply the appropriate formatting in the Theme’s CCS style sheet.  This way, I can control the heading, paragraph, and other elements like Drop Caps, etc… that match the Printer’s style and typesetting – eliminating or reducing significantly the edit the HTML directly.

Furthermore, I will be able to apply the styles to the entire Theme of the Officia Pietatis – and hence, the entire site to control better the look and feel. More importantly, remain faithful to the published version of the book’s nuanced characteristics.

 New Sections

Additionally, I have the first six of the eight sections of the prayer book on the site now. In the past couple of days, I have added three next sections of the book.  I also added the Appendix which contains the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Symbolorum Apostolorum, Confiteor, and the Canticum Trium Puerorum.  You won’t see them in the drop-down menu of the Officia Pietatis.  However, you can simply click on the linked text of the Pater. Ave. Credo of the opening of the morning Prayer.  I added this to aid the reader who is using this to pray and hasn’t memorized these prayers.  The Canticum Trium Puerorum is prayed traditionally after Mass as a prayer of thanksgiving.

Bonus: Another Translation Snippet

And for fun, I thought I would translate the first screen-shot so you could get a sense of the meaning of St. Anthony’s Benediction Against Evil Spirits – giving you a window into the future of the Officia Pietatis and what the English translation will look like as well.

Call to Action

Please take some time reviewing my work.  If you notice any thing that needs my attention, let me know in the comments  here at the end of this post.  Also, let me know if you like the work I am doing here.  Encouragement is welcome as much as criticism.