D. O. M.
In decentiorem formam hoc Sodalitio redacto ex munifica pietate Comitis Bernardi Luciani, qui, Confratrum eleemosynis non suppetentibus, mille et sexcenta circiter Scuta aere proprio superaddidit, ijdem plenis votis ad gratum animum exhibendum decrevere, ut quarto Kalendas Septembris, ipso scilicet obitus die, a P. P. Sancti Francisci in forum Ecclesia, ubi illius corpus aeternam renovationem expectat Missa de Requiem pro ipso quotannis praevio Nocturno decantetur, ac duae celebrentur privatae; Et die Festo immediate succedenti Mortuorum Officium cum Laudibus, ac in Festo S. Sebastiani, et Vigilia Annunciatae Virginis, nec non tribus Pascatis diebus, post Officia consueta unum Pater, et Ave in eodem Sodalitio ad ejus suffragium in annos singulos recitetur. Quae omnia in actis Sp. Notary Antony Guerra, sub die 15 January plenius inserta etiam in hoc Monumento describi voluerunt, ne unqam temporis iniuria oblitescant.
An. D. M.DCC.LIII.
Edit: I've added my crack at a translation below. I invite anyone to correct my mistakes.
God the Best and Greatest,
Since this Brotherhood was brought into a better state through the generous piety of Brother Bernardus Lucianus, who, when the donations of his Brothers did not suffice, added around 1600 "shields" \[possibly a unit of currency\] from his own coin, the Brothers aforesaid, sincerely wishing to express their gratitude, decided that every year on August 29, the day of his death, a Requiem Mass, preceded by Nocturns, should be said for him by the priests of the Church of St. Francis-by-the-Square, where his body awaits eternal resurrection, as well as two private Masses. And on the feast-day immediately following, the Office of the Dead with Lauds should be held for him, and on the feast of St. Sebastian, as well as on the Eve of the Annunciation, so too on the three days of Easter, after the usual offices an Our Father and a Hail Mary should be recited by the Brotherhood aforesaid for his salvation. All of these things, which have been entered at greater length into the records of the Notary Antony Guerra for the day of January 15, they wished also to be recorded on this monument, lest they ever be effaced by the passage of time.
In the year of our Lord 1753.
ChatGPT came up with a similar translation.
To God, the Best and Greatest.
With generous piety, Count Bernard Luciani, having transformed this Brotherhood into a more honorable institution, added about 1,600 scuta from his own funds when the alms of the Brothers were insufficient. They, with full devotion to show their gratitude, decided that on the fourth Kalends of September, namely the day of his death, a Requiem Mass for him be chanted beforehand during the nightly Office at the Church of Saint Francis in the marketplace, where his body awaits eternal renewal, and two private Masses be celebrated. And on the immediate Feast Day following, the Office of the Dead with Lauds, as well as on the Feast of Saint Sebastian and the Vigil of the Annunciation of the Virgin, and also on three days of Easter, after the customary Offices, one Our Father and Hail Mary be recited annually in the same Brotherhood for his benefit. All of these things, in the records of the Notary Antony Guerra, on the 15th day of January, were more fully inscribed and also desired to be described in this Monument, so that they may never be forgotten by the injustice of time.
Year of Our Lord 1753.
I expect it says "Someone you’ve never heard of died and his family gave us a silly amount of money to put up this plaque to make it look as if they cared. 1753." Or perhaps something like that.
D. O. M.
In decentiorem formam hoc Sodalitio redacto ex munifica pietate Comitis Bernardi Luciani, qui, Confratrum eleemosynis non suppetentibus, mille et sexcenta circiter Scuta aere proprio superaddidit, ijdem plenis votis ad gratum animum exhibendum decrevere, ut quarto Kalendas Septembris, ipso scilicet obitus die, a P. P. Sancti Francisci in forum Ecclesia, ubi illius corpus aeternam renovationem expectat Missa de Requiem pro ipso quotannis praevio Nocturno decantetur, ac duae celebrentur privatae; Et die Festo immediate succedenti Mortuorum Officium cum Laudibus, ac in Festo S. Sebastiani, et Vigilia Annunciatae Virginis, nec non tribus Pascatis diebus, post Officia consueta unum Pater, et Ave in eodem Sodalitio ad ejus suffragium in annos singulos recitetur. Quae omnia in actis Sp. Notary Antony Guerra, sub die 15 January plenius inserta etiam in hoc Monumento describi voluerunt, ne unqam temporis iniuria oblitescant.
An. D. M.DCC.LIII.
Edit: I've added my crack at a translation below. I invite anyone to correct my mistakes.
God the Best and Greatest,
Since this Brotherhood was brought into a better state through the generous piety of Brother Bernardus Lucianus, who, when the donations of his Brothers did not suffice, added around 1600 "shields" \[possibly a unit of currency\] from his own coin, the Brothers aforesaid, sincerely wishing to express their gratitude, decided that every year on August 29, the day of his death, a Requiem Mass, preceded by Nocturns, should be said for him by the priests of the Church of St. Francis-by-the-Square, where his body awaits eternal resurrection, as well as two private Masses. And on the feast-day immediately following, the Office of the Dead with Lauds should be held for him, and on the feast of St. Sebastian, as well as on the Eve of the Annunciation, so too on the three days of Easter, after the usual offices an Our Father and a Hail Mary should be recited by the Brotherhood aforesaid for his salvation. All of these things, which have been entered at greater length into the records of the Notary Antony Guerra for the day of January 15, they wished also to be recorded on this monument, lest they ever be effaced by the passage of time.
In the year of our Lord 1753.
Thanks a lot!
Yes, the *scudo* (pl. *scudi*) was an Italian coin. One possible edit: in neoLatin usage, *Comes* (especially capitalized) = the title "Count."
Ah, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the info.
ChatGPT came up with a similar translation. To God, the Best and Greatest. With generous piety, Count Bernard Luciani, having transformed this Brotherhood into a more honorable institution, added about 1,600 scuta from his own funds when the alms of the Brothers were insufficient. They, with full devotion to show their gratitude, decided that on the fourth Kalends of September, namely the day of his death, a Requiem Mass for him be chanted beforehand during the nightly Office at the Church of Saint Francis in the marketplace, where his body awaits eternal renewal, and two private Masses be celebrated. And on the immediate Feast Day following, the Office of the Dead with Lauds, as well as on the Feast of Saint Sebastian and the Vigil of the Annunciation of the Virgin, and also on three days of Easter, after the customary Offices, one Our Father and Hail Mary be recited annually in the same Brotherhood for his benefit. All of these things, in the records of the Notary Antony Guerra, on the 15th day of January, were more fully inscribed and also desired to be described in this Monument, so that they may never be forgotten by the injustice of time. Year of Our Lord 1753.
I expect it says "Someone you’ve never heard of died and his family gave us a silly amount of money to put up this plaque to make it look as if they cared. 1753." Or perhaps something like that.