Meditations and prayers of the life, passion, resurrection and ascension of our Saviovr Iesus Christ. Written in Latine by Thomas of Kempis canon regular of the order of S. Augustine, true authour of The following of Christ. And Englished by Thomas Carre confessour to the canonesses regular of S. Augustins order of N. Dame de Sion

This 1664 edition of Meditations and prayers was produced in Paris during a period of intense religious devotional activity in the 17th century. It served as an English-language bridge for the exiled Catholic community, translating the spiritual depth of Thomas à Kempis for those associated with the convent of Notre-Dame de Sion. The publication reflects the ongoing effort by the Augustinian canons to preserve and disseminate the mysticism associated with the Devotio Moderna movement, which emphasized personal piety and an intimate connection with the life of Christ.

The translation was authored by Thomas Carre, the pseudonym for Miles Pinkney, a dedicated English Catholic priest who served as the confessor to the Augustinian canonesses in Paris. Carre’s work was characterized by a desire to make continental spiritual literature accessible to an English audience, particularly those living in the diaspora. The design and production by V. du Moutier reflect the standard aesthetic of mid-17th-century devotional books, favoring clarity and functionality for liturgical use and personal contemplation rather than ornate ornamentation.