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It is a compilation of the Jesuit Pablo José de Arriaga, dedicated to the viceroy Marqués de Montesclaros, from texts for the use of the members of the Colegio de San Martín. The book is very similar to a breviary or psalter for daily prayers that in the oldest Christian tradition is linked to the contemplative life of monks. In this case, and inspired by the tradition of the canonical hours and lectio divina, the book organizes a series of guidelines for the development of a series of devotional readings for the benefit of the students of the Colegio de San Martín (“este librito que para prouecho y exercicio suyo y de todo este Coellegio se ha impresso, con desseo de mostrar nuestra voluntad tan prompta al seruicio de V. Excelencia”).
The composition of the text is quite clear as well as the intentions of its author, because, as he points out in the brief introduction, “este librito se imprimió en Roma los años pasados con título Manual de oraciones y auisos, y siendo desseado y pedido de muchos fue necesario tornalle a imprimis y crecio tanto en esta segunda impression con lo que se añadió que parecio conueniente mudalle tambien el nombre en Directorio espiritual, pus es su fin y intento enderezar y enseñar ha hazer las obras ías y christianas”. In addition to the prayers, the volume lists the sacred festivals celebrated by the people of Lima every month.

Jean Christian Egoavil
Proyecto Estudios Indianos