Medieval breviaries The Breviary proper only dates from the 11th century; the earliest manuscript containing the whole canonical office is of the year 1099, and is in the Mazarin library. Gregory VII (pope 1073–1085), too, simplified the liturgy as performed at the Roman court, and gave his abridgment the name of Breviary, which thus came to denote a work which from another point of view might be called a Plenary, involving as it did the collection of several works into one. There are several extant specimens of 12th-century Breviaries, all Benedictine, but under Innocent III (pope 1198–1216) their use was extended, especially by the newly founded and active Franciscan order. These preaching friars, with the authorization of Gregory IX, adopted (with some modifications, e.g. the substitution of the "Gallican" for the "Roman" version of the Psalter) the Breviary hitherto used exclusively by the Roman court, and with it gradually swept out of Europe all the earlier partial books (Legendaries, Responsories), etc., and to some extent the local Breviaries, like that of Sarum. Finally, Nicholas III (pope 1277–1280) adopted this version both for the curia and for the basilicas of Rome, and thus made its position secure.
Medieval breviaries The Breviary proper only dates from the 11th century; the earliest manuscript containing the whole canonical office is of the year 1099 and is in the Mazarin library Gregory VII (pope 1073–1085) too simplified the liturgy as performed at the Roman court and gave his abridgment the name of Breviary which thus came to denote a work which from another point of view might be called a Plenary involving as it did the collection of several works into one There are several extant specimens of 12th-century Breviaries all Benedictine but under Innocent III (pope 1198–1216) their use was extended especially by the newly founded and active Franciscan order These preaching friars with the authorization of Gregory IX adopted (with some modifications eg the substitution of the "Gallican" for the "Roman" version of the Psalter) the Breviary hitherto used exclusively by the Roman court and with it gradually swept out of Europe all the earlier partial books (Legendaries Responsories) etc and to some extent the local Breviaries like that of Sarum Finally Nicholas III (pope 1277–1280) adopted this version both for the curia and for the basilicas of Rome and thus made its position secure