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Sessio Vigesimaquinta,
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Twenty-fifth
Session, |
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cœpta die III. absoluta die IV. Decembris 1563.
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begun on the third, and terminated
on the fourth of December, 1563 |
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DECRETUM DE PURGATORIO.
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DECREE CONCERNING
PURGATORY.
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Cum Catholica Ecclesia, Spiritu Sancto edocta ex sacris
litteris et antiqua patrum traditione, in sacris conciliis et novissime in hoc
œcumenica synodo docuerit, purgatorium esse, animasque ibi detentas, fidelium
suffragiis, potissimum vero acceptabili altaris sacrificio, juvari; præcipit
sancta synodus episcopis, ut sanam de purgatorio doctrinam a sanctis patribus
et sacris conciliis traditam, a Christi fidelibus credi, teneri, doceri et ubique
prædicari diligenter studeant.
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Whereas the Catholic Church,
instructed by the Holy Ghost, has, from the Sacred Writings and the ancient
tradition of the Fathers, taught, in sacred Councils, and very recently in this
œcumenical Synod, that there is a Purgatory, and that the souls there detained
are helped by the suffrages of the faithful, but principally by the acceptable
sacrifice of the altar,—the holy Synod enjoins on bishops that they diligently
endeavor that the sound doctrine concerning Purgatory, transmitted by the holy
Fathers and sacred Councils, be believed, maintained, taught, and every where
proclaimed by the faithful of Christ. |
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Apud rudem vero plebem difficiliores ac subtiliores quæstiones,
quaæque ædificationem non faciunt,
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But let the more difficult and subtle questions,
and which tend not to edification, and from which for the |
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et ex quibus plerumque nulla fit pietatis accessio, a
popularibus concionibus secludantur. Incerta item, vel quæ specie falsi laborant,
evulgari ac tractari non permittant. Ea vero, quæ ad curiositatem quamdam aut
superstitionem spectant, vel turpe lucrum sapiunt, tamquam scandala et fidelium
offendicula prohibeant.
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most part there is no increase of piety,
be excluded from popular discourses before the uneducated multitude. In like
manner, such things as are uncertain, or which labor under an appearance of
error, let them not allow to be made public and treated of. While those things
which tend to a certain kind of curiosity or superstition, or which savor of
filthy lucre, let them prohibit as scandals and stumbling-blocks of the faithful.
But let the bishops take care that the suffrages of the faithful who are living,
to wit, the sacrifices of masses, prayers, alms, and other works of piety, which
have been wont to be performed by the faithful for the other faithful departed,
be piously and devoutly performed, in accordance with the institutes of the
Church; and that whatsoever is due on their behalf, from the endowments of testators,
or in other way, be discharged, not in a perfunctory manner, but diligently
and accurately, by the priests and ministers of the Church, and others who are
bound to render this [service]. |
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Curent autem episcopi, ut fidelium vivorum suffragia,
missarum scilicet sacrificia, orationes, eleemosynæ, aliaque pietatis opera,
quæ a fidelibus pro aliis fidelibus defunctis fieri consueverunt, secundum Ecclesiæ
instituta pie et devote fiant; et quæ pro illis ex testatorum fundationibus
vel alia ratione debentur, non perfunctorie, sed a sacerdotibus et Ecclesia
ministris et aliis, qui hoc præstare tenentur, diligenter et accurate persolvantur.
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DE INVOCATIONE, VENERATIONE, ET RELIQUIIS SANCTORUM, ET SACRIS
IMAGINIBUS.
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ON THE INVOCATION,
VENERATION, AND RELICS OF SAINTS, AND ON SACRED IMAGES.
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Mandat sancta synodus omnibus episcopis et ceteris docendi
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The holy Synod enjoins
on all bishops, and others who sustain the |
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munus curamque sustinentibus, ut juxta Catholicæ et Apostolicæ
Ecclesiæ usum a primævis Christianæ religionis temporibus receptum sanctorumque
patrum consensionem et sacrorum conciliorum decreta in primis de sanctorum intercessione,
invocatione, reliquiarum honore et legitimo imaginum usu, fideles diligenter
instruant, docentes eos, sanctos una cum Christo regnantes orationes suas pro
hominibus Deo offerre; bonum, atque utile esse, suppliciter eos invocare; et
ob beneficia impenetranda a Deo per filium ejus Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum,
qui solus noster redemptor et salvator est, ad eorum orationes, opem, auxiliumque
confugere; illos vero, qui negant, sanctos æterna felicitate in cœlo fruentes
invocandos esse; aut qui asserunt, vel illos pro hominibus non orare, vel eorum,
ut pro nobis etiam singulis orent, invocationem esse idololatriam, vel pugnare
cum verbo Dei, adversarique honori unius mediatoris Dei et hominum Iesu Christi,
vel stultum esse, in cœlo regnantibus voce vel mente supplicare, impie sentire.
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office and charge of teaching, that, agreeably
to the usage of the Catholic and Apostolic Church, received from the primitive
times of the Christian religion, and agreeably to the consent of the holy Fathers,
and to the decrees of sacred Councils, they especially instruct the faithful
diligently concerning the intercession and invocation of saints; the honor [paid]
to relics; and the legitimate use of images: teaching them, that the saints,
who reign together with Christ, offer up their own prayers to God for men; that
it is good and useful suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their
prayers, aid, [and] help for obtaining benefits from God, through his Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord, who is our alone Redeemer and Saviour; but that they think
impiously who deny that the saints, who enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, are
to be invocated; or who assert either that they do not pray for men; or that
the invocation of them to pray for each of us even in particular is idolatry;
or that it is repugnant to the Word of God, and is opposed to the honor of the
one mediator of God and men, Christ Jesus;263263
or that it is foolish to supplicate, vocally or mentally, those who reign in
heaven. |
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Sanctorum quoque martyrum et aliorum cum Christo viventium
sancta corpora, quæ viva membra fuerunt Christi et templum Spiritus Sancti,
ab ipso ad æternam vitam suscitanda et glorificanda, a fidelibus veneranda esse,
per quæ multa beneficia a Deo hominibus præstantur; ita ut affirmantes, sanctorum
reliquiis venerationem atque honorem non deberi; vel eas aliaque sacra monumenta
a fidelibus inutiliter honorari, atque eorum opis impetrandæ causa sanctorum
memorias frustra frequentari; omnino damnandos esse, prout jam pridem eos damnavit,
et nunc etiam damnat Ecclesia.
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Also, that the holy bodies
of holy martyrs, and of others now living with Christ,—which bodies were the
living members of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Ghost,264264
and which are by him to be raised unto eternal life, and to be glorified,—are
to be venerated by the faithful; through which [bodies] many benefits are bestowed
by God on men; so that they who affirm that veneration and honor are not due
to the relics of saints; or that these, and other sacred monuments, are uselessly
honored by the faithful; and that the places dedicated to the memories of the
saints are in vain visited with the view of obtaining their aid, are wholly
to be condemned, as the Church has already long since condemned, and now also
condemns them. |
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Imagines porro Christi, Deiparæ Virginis et aliorum sanctorum
in templis præsertim habendas et retinendas, eisque debitum honorem et venerationem
impertiendam; non quod credatur in esse aliqua in iis divinitas vel virtus,
propter quam sint colendæ, vel quod ab eis sit aliquid petendum, vel quod fiducia
in imaginibus sit figenda veluti olim fiebat a gentibus, quæ in idolis spem
suam
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Moreover, that the images
of Christ, of the Virgin Mother of God, and of the other saints, are to be had
and retained particularly in temples, and that due honor and veneration are
to be given them; not that any divinity, or virtue, is believed to be in them,
on account of which they are to be worshipped; or that any thing is to be asked
of them; or that trust is to be reposed in images, as was of old done by the
Gentiles, who placed their hope |
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collocabant; sed quoniam honos, qui eis exhibetur, refertur
ad prototypa, quæ illæ repræsentant, ita ut per imagines, quas osculamur et
coram quibus caput aperimus et procumbimus, Christum adoremus, et sanctos, quorum
illæ similitudinem gerunt, veneremur: id quod conciliorum præsertim vero secundæ
Nicænæ Synodi decretis contra imaginum oppugnatores est sancitum.
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in idols; but because the honor which is shown
them is referred to the prototypes which those images represent; in such wise
that by the images which we kiss, and before which we uncover the head, and
prostrate ourselves, we adore Christ, and we venerate the saints, whose similitude
they bear: as, by the decrees of Councils, and especially of the second Synod
of Nicæa, has been defined against the opponents of images. |
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Illud vero diligenter doceant episcopi, per historias
mysteriorum nostræ redemptionis picturis vel aliis similitudinibus expressas
erudiri et confirmari populum in articulis fidei commemorandis et assidue recolendis;
tum vero ex omnibus sacris imaginibus magnum fructum percipi, non solum quia
admonetur populus beneficiorum et munerum, quæ a Christo sibi collata sunt,
sed etiam quia Dei per sanctos miracula et salutaria exempla oculis fidelium
subjiciuntur, ut pro iis Deo gratias agant, ad sanctorumque imitationem vitam
moresque suos componant, excitenturque ad adorandum ac diligendum Deum et ad
pietatem colendam. Si quis autem his decretis contraria docuerit
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And the bishops shall carefully
teach this,—that, by means of the histories of the mysteries of our Redemption,
portrayed by paintings or other representations, the people is instructed, and
confirmed in [the habit of] remembering, and continually revolving in mind the
articles of faith; as also that great profit is derived from all sacred images,
not only because the people are thereby admonished of the benefits and gifts
bestowed upon them by Christ, but also because the miracles which God has performed
by means of the saints, and their salutary examples, are set before the eyes
of the faithful; that so they may give God thanks for those things; may order
their own lives and manners in imitation of the saints; and may be excited to
adore and love God, and to cultivate piety. But if any one |
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aut senserit: anathema sit.
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shall teach or entertain sentiments contrary to
these decrees: let him be anathema. |
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In has autem sanctas et salutares observationes si qui abusus irrepserint, eos prorsus aboleri sancta synodus vehementer cupit; ita
ut nullæ falsi dogmatis imagines et rudibus periculosi erroris occasionem præbentes,
statuantur. Quod si aliquando historias et narrationes sacræ scripturæ, cum
id indoctæ plebi expediet, exprimi et figurari contigerit, doceatur populus,
non propterea divinitatem figurari, quasi corporeis oculis conspici vel coloribus,
aut figuris exprimi possit.
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And if any abuses have
crept in amongst these holy and salutary observances, the holy Synod ardently
desires that they be utterly abolished; in such wise that no images [suggestive]
of false doctrine, and furnishing occasion of dangerous error to the uneducated,
be set up. And if at times, when expedient for the unlettered people, it happen
that the facts and narratives of sacred Scripture are portrayed and represented,
the people shall be taught, that not thereby is the Divinity represented, as
though it could be seen by the eyes of the body, or be portrayed by colors or
figures. |
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Omnis porro superstitio in sanctorum invocatione, reliquiarum
veneratione et imaginum sacro usu tollatur, omnis turpis quæstus eliminetur,
omnis denique lascivia vitetur; ita ut procaci venustate imagines non pingantur
nec ornentur, et sanctorum celebratione ac reliquiarum visitatione homines ad
commessationes atque ebrietates non abutantur, quasi festi dies in honorem sanctorum
per luxum ac lasciviam agantur.
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Moreover, in the invocation
of saints, the veneration of relics, and the sacred use of images, every superstition
shall be removed, all filthy lucre be abolished; finally, all lasciviousness
be avoided; in such wise that figures shall not be painted or adorned with a
beauty exciting to lust; nor the celebration of the saints and the visitation
of relics be by any perverted into revelings and drunkenness; as if festivals
were celebrated to the honor of the saints by luxury and wantonness. |
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Postremo, tanta circa hæc digentia
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In fine, let so great care
and diligence |
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et cura ab episcopis adhibeatur, ut nihil inordinatum
aut præpostere et tumultuarie accomodatum, nihil profanum nihilque inhonestum
appareat, cum domum Dei deceat sanctitudo.
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be used herein by bishops, as that there be nothing
seen that is disorderly, or that is unbecomingly or confusedly arranged, nothing
that is profane, nothing indecorous, seeing that holiness becometh the house
of God.265265
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Hæc ut fidelius observentur, statuit sancta synodus, nemini
licere ullo in loco vel ecclesia, etiam quomodolibet exempta, ullam insolitam
ponere vel ponendam curare imaginem, nisi ab episcopo approbata fuerit; nulla
etiam admittenda esse nova miracula, nec novas reliquias recipiendas, nisi eodem
recognoscente et approbante episcopo, qui, simul atque de iis aliquid compertum
habuerit, adhibitis in consilium theologis et aliis piis viris, ea faciat, quæ
veritati et pietati consentanea judicaverit.
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And that these
things may be the more faithfully observed, the holy Synod ordains, that no
one be allowed to place, or cause to be placed, any unusual image, in any place
or church, howsoever exempted, except that image has been approved of by the
bishop; also, that no new miracles are to be acknowledged, or new relics recognized,
unless the said bishop has taken cognizance and approved thereof; who, as soon
as he has obtained some certain information in regard of these matters, shall,
after having taken the advice of theologians, and of other pious men, act therein
as he shall judge to be consonant with truth and piety. But if any doubtful
or difficult abuse has to be extirpated; or, in fine, if any more grave question
shall arise touching these matters, the bishop, before deciding the controversy,
shall await the sentence of the metropolitan and of the bishops of the province,
in a provincial Council; yet so that nothing new, or that previously has
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Quod si aliquis dubius, aut difficilis abusus sit exstirpandus,
vel omnino aliqua de iis rebus gravior quæstio incidat, episcopus, antequam
controversiam dirimat, metropolitani et comprovincialium episcoporum in concilio
provinciali sententiam exspectet, ita tamen, ut nihil inconsulto
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sanctissimo Romano pontifice novum aut in Ecclesia hactenus
inusitatum decernatur.
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not been usual in the Church, shall be resolved
on without having first consulted the most holy Roman Pontiff. |
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