Verlag: Paris: C. Borrani, 1857. 12mo. [iii], 383, [2] p., 1857
Anbieter: Viator Used and Rare Books, Burlington, NC, USA
Hardcover. Zustand: Good. No Jacket. According to Catholic tradition, at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday 19 Sept. 1846, the Virgin Mary appeared to two young shepherds on Salette Mountain near Grenoble, France. Mary supposedly spoke to them first in French, then in dialect, warning of famine if the people did not return to pious practices. After investigation by ecclesiastical commissions the apparition was declared a miracle by the Bishop of Grenoble in 1851 and the site made a shrine. Among zealous doubters were 2 priests, Déléon and Cartellier, who published claims that the children were duped by Constance Saint-Ferréol de Lamerlière, a former nun, who disguised herself as Mary and appeared to them. These publications were condemned by the new Bishop of Grenoble and Mlle. de Lamelière sued the the two and their publisher for slander in the civil court of Grenoble in 1855. She lost and pursued an appeal against the two priests in the Imperial Court of Grenoble, presided by an official from Paris. The case was heard in April 1857 and created a sensation. This book contains a description of this trial, of its participants, their conduct, the atmosphere of the trial, with verbatim texts of arguments and rulings. This rare text offers a view of French legal procedure of the time, the legal definition of slander, the cohabitation of religious and civil authority, and a complete exposition of this controversy. In quarter calf, with marbled boards and endpapers. Wormholes on calf borders on front and rear covers (joints and binding unaffected), spine and covers slightly scuffed and worn, contents have minor foxing but are mostly clean and bright. Otherwise an attractive copy in VG condition.