Collection of writings mainly comprised of Catholic doctrine, prayers, and lessons in the Quiché language, composed by the Jesuit missionary Ramon Maria Posada, as part of his missionary work, according to the foreword (p. ii). A cluster of writings at the back of the book are of a different nature, including descriptions in Spanish of the town Santa Catarina Ixtlavakan (Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán?; p. 250) and the beliefs and customs of the Quiché Indians there, mainly pertaining to the Quiché calendar, with a sample calendar for the year 1854 (este año de 1854; p. 253). The last three pages of the manuscript contain brief texts in Quiché with Spanish headings referring to the marriage ceremony (Modo de casar en kiché; p. 261), the way of proclaiming (Modo de proclamar en kiché; p. 262); a remembrance of the Catholic mission (Recuerdo de la santa mision, p. 262); and another remembrance (Otre recuerdo de la santa mision, p. 263), which mentions Santa Cruz and cites the year 1861 (p. 263). In the first section of the manuscript (p. 1-17) the texts have titles or subtitles in Spanish; these texts include prayers (Apostles' Creed; Lord's prayer; Ave Maria); the general confession; acts of contrition; articles of faith; works of mercy; the Beatitudes; and lists of sacraments, sins, and virtues. A second group of texts (p. 19-67) are entirely in Quiché, with Quiché titles, and evidently comprise dialogues between priest and congregant (a few subtitles are in Latin and Spanish: ubi Padre nuestro, p. 37; ubi dones del espiritu santo, p. 64). A third group of texts (p. 101-149) are also entirely in Quiché, with Quiché titles, and may comprise lessons or sermons. One of these has a Quiché title accompanied by a Latin epigraph (from Psalm 39): Uroo tihonic / notum fuc mihi, Domine, finem meum (p. 109); other examples of titles are: Ucah tihonic (p. 101); Uvakak tihonic (p. 120); and Uvuk tihonic (p. 132). One page in the book is written in ink in a different hand and signed at the bottom with the name Victor Medina; it contains only a few words, including place names in Guatemala: Sutugil / de / Patzum - Patzicia - Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa (p. 150). The material on the calendar has annotations in pencil (p. 255-256). A diagram of the Quiché calendar wheel was laid in, and is stored in a separate oversize folder in a map drawer.
136 leaves : paper; 212-213 x 162-163 mm bound to 215 x 164 mm + 1 leaf (322 x 307 mm)
Personal Name:
Brinton, Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison), 1837-1899, former owner.
Rights:
http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?
Notes:
Binding: 19th-century boards. Spine wanting; front cover detached.; Origin: Written in Guatemala, possibly in the vicinity of Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, presumably circa 1861 (p. 253).; Ms. codex.; Title from caption title of first section (p. 1).; Decoration: Quiché calendar wheel drawn in ink, with decorative petal design in circle at center (stored in separate folder; map drawer).; Script: Written in the hand of Ramon Maria Posada.; Pagination: Paper, 266 + iii (paper endleaves); [i-ii], 1-68, [69-100], 101-103, 103-150, [151-249], 250-263; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners.; Spanish and Quiché, with occasional Latin phrases (p. ii, 109).
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