A New Find in an Old Book

I have been blessed to be able to travel to Mexico for the last couple days, and I happened to come across a library that held a collection of books from several Franciscan Convents and had the opportunity to stop in to browse through a couple of very old books (I thought I died and went to heaven!). One of the books, Chronica de la Provincia del Santo Evangelio de Mexico by Fray Augustin de Vetancurt (published in 1697), included a long dedication to Joe. I took a picture, but if you don’t understand Spanish, here is, in part, my translation:

DEDICATION

GLORIOUS PATRIARCH SAINT JOSEPH, Spouse of the Spouse of God, Guardian of the mystical ark, Mary Most-Holy, presumed Father of Christ, Patron of this New Spain, my love and master, whom I serve unworthily, I have dedicated the Mexican Theater to our patron, and I return to dedicate this Chronicle, the fourth part of the Theater, in which the works of those great apostles, who established, and have enlightened the Provincia del Santo Evangelio, and preached the Catholic Faith in this Kingdom, whose Patron you are... Recieve with pleasing joy that which I offer to you—a devoted heart—not as a bribe, but as tribute. Perfect my offering because you gave me the will, not judging my offering by its size or weight, but by the desire and will with which I consecrate it. Enlighten my spirit, enhance my discourse, and sanctify my words because they direct the honor of your servants, the respect of the Faith, and the benefit of our souls to the greater honor and glory to God.