First and only Antwerp edition of an explanation of the mass by the German Catholic theologian Matthias Kretz (ca. 1480-1543). It is probably a Latin translation of the author's earlier Von der Meß unnd wer der recht priester sey (1524). The title page of the present work mentions both the years 1535 and 1537, but was mostly likely printed in 1537. The first edition was published in 1535 in Augsburg. All editions are quite scarce.
Kretz, an early opponent of the Reformation, passionately defended such Roman dogmas as the mass, confession, priesthood, and purgatory. He also took an active part in the religious conferences of his time: He attended inter alia the Diet of Augsburg of 1530 and the Colloquy of Worms of 1540, where he represented the conservative views of the Bavarian clergy. Kretz is also remembered as a correspondent of Erasmus.
With a 17th-century ownership annotation ("D Eifrijdt(?)") on the title page, and annotations and underlinings throughout the work in the same hand. The margins have been cut, slightly affecting some of the annotations. Otherwise in very good condition. Nijhoff-Kronenberg 1291; STCV 12925796; USTC 437787; not in Adams.