Vita et doctrina Jesu Christi

Vita et doctrina Jesu Christi was originally authored by the Jesuit theologian Nicolaus von Avancini in the 17th century. It served as a meditative guide designed to lead the reader through the life and teachings of Jesus, structured to support the spiritual exercises common in Jesuit tradition. Its enduring popularity throughout the centuries led to numerous reprints, including this 1867 edition published by Régis Ruffet in Paris, which sought to maintain the text's accessibility for 19th-century devotional life.

The 1867 edition reflects the aesthetic sensibilities of mid-Victorian era religious publishing. While the content remained strictly adherent to the original Baroque-era theological framework, the typography and binding of the Ruffet edition were tailored for the refined libraries of the period. It was received as a standard reference for personal piety, valued for its concise, methodical approach to gospel narrative rather than experimental theological discourse.