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Galeazzo Maria was a well-known bibliophile who had taken over the most prestigious Visconti library at Pavia. The more individualized texts originally at the beginning of this manuscript indicate that the book was intended for his own use. However, as the masses for Easter Week include instructions for the celebrant, it may have found use in the ducal chapel that was lavishly furnished at the same time (1473-1474). Likely, it was Galeazzo’s intention from the outset to prepare future prayers for the salvation of his soul. Murdered in 1477, his children came into the custody of his brother Ludovico 'Il Moro' Sforza.