{"product_id":"1879-billet-de-confession-saint-martin-dainay-lyon","title":"Antique 1879 Confession Certificate | Billet de Confession | Saint-Martin d'Ainay Parish, Lyon | Signed by the Vicar","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rare and intimate piece of 19th-century French Catholic history: an original \u003cstrong\u003ecertificate of confession\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003ebillet de confession\u003c\/em\u003e) issued by the parish of \u003cstrong\u003eSaint-Martin d’Ainay in Lyon\u003c\/strong\u003e – one of the oldest and most venerable churches in France.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe printed Latin form is headed \u003cem\u003e“Sancti Martini Athanacensis Parochia”\u003c\/em\u003e (Parish of Saint Martin of Ainay – \u003cem\u003eAthanacum\u003c\/em\u003e being the Latin name of Ainay), with a shield bearing the \u003cstrong\u003ecrossed keys of Saint Peter\u003c\/strong\u003e beneath a cross. It continues \u003cem\u003e“Ad … sacramentaliter audivi … Lugduni … 18…”\u003c\/em\u003e (“I have heard sacramentally … Lyon …”).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe form is completed by hand in ink in French: \u003cem\u003e“J’ai confessé la mère Collet ce 24 juin 1879”\u003c\/em\u003e (“I heard the confession of Mother Collet this 24th of June 1879”), followed by the priest’s flourished signature. Beneath it a later pencil note identifies the signatory as a \u003cem\u003evicaire d’Ainay\u003c\/em\u003e (curate of Ainay). The certificate is mounted on its original card, with old pencil inventory notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHistorical note\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 19th-century France, a \u003cem\u003ebillet de confession\u003c\/em\u003e was given by a priest as proof that the faithful had fulfilled their Easter duty or prepared for a sacrament such as marriage or First Communion. Very few survive, as most were handed in and discarded. The Basilica of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, consecrated by Pope Paschal II in 1107, stands on the site of an ancient abbey and is the finest Romanesque church in Lyon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e printed and hand-completed confession certificate, mounted on card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlace:\u003c\/strong\u003e Parish of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, Lyon, France\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24 June 1879\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Latin and French\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e certificate approx. 13.5 × 11 cm (5.3 × 4.3 in); mount approx. 14.5 × 18.5 cm (5.7 × 7.3 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e good; light toning and foxing, a small nick to the top edge, old pencil notes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eA fascinating document of everyday Catholic sacramental life in Lyon. The item you receive is the exact one pictured.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sacra Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59226328170831,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1035\/5556\/3855\/files\/1879-confession-certificate-saint-martin-ainay-lyon.jpg?v=1792709100","url":"https:\/\/sacrarelics.com\/products\/1879-billet-de-confession-saint-martin-dainay-lyon","provider":"Sacra Relics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}