A Commitment to the Future. 500 Years of the 1st Printed Edition of the Commitment of the Brotherhood of Mercy

Catalog of the exhibition “A Commitment for the Future,” organized by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa between May and September 2017 and dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the 1st printed edition of the Commitment of the Confraternity of Mercy, curated by Henrique Leitão, professor and principal researcher at the University of Lisbon. The exhibition marks the first printing from 1516, providing an original copy of that edition (before it underwent changes in later editions) that is part of the collection of the Historical Archive of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.

In addition to showcasing the pieces on display, the catalog includes texts by various authors, who revisit and present the research conducted on the 1516 edition and its counterfeits, its iconography, and the beginnings of the book printing market in the 16th century, as well as the fundamental role this text plays in the history of the Misericórdia de Lisboa and the homonymous confraternities throughout the country. Declaring the social mission of the Santa Casa in the fourteen works of mercy, seven corporal and seven spiritual, the Commitment of 1516 is presented here not only as a historical document but also as a “compass for doing Good,” in the past, present, and future.

Coordination: Maria Margarida Montenegro (general coord.); Francisco d’Orey Manoel (executive coord.); Henrique Leitão (editorial coord.)

Authors: Celso Mangucci; Francisco d’Orey Manoel; Guilherme d’Oliveira Martins; Helga Maria Jüsten; Henrique Leitão; Isabel dos Guimarães Sá; Lisbeth Rodrigues; Nelson Moreira Antão; Pedro Luís Hernando Sebastián.

Year of publication: 2017
Publisher: SCML
ISBN@: 9789899151154 (digital)