Article — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Article I: Of the Revision of Writings
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
As soon as the writings of the Servant of God have been transmitted to Rome, they indeed are to be subjected to examination; but the Sacred Congregation must opportunely investigate whether, besides those exhibited, there also exist other writings of the Servant of God, whether kept by private persons or consigned in public archives.
Statim ac scripta Servi Dei Romam transmissa fuerint, sunt illa quidem examini subiicienda; sed Sacra Congregatio debet opportune investigare utrum, praeter exhibita, alia quoque Servi Dei scripta sive a privatis custodita sive in publicis archivis consignata exstent.
§ 1. Revisers of writings in individual causes are to be chosen by the Cardinal Ponens, after the Promoter General of the Faith has been heard; and their names are to be kept secret.
§ 2. For this office priests are to be enrolled who are furnished with at least a degree in theology or, if they are religious, with an equivalent title.
§ 1. Revisores scriptorum in singulis causis deligantur a Cardinali Ponente, audito Promotore generali fidei; eorumque nomina secreto serventur.
§ 2. Ad hoc munus adsciscantur sacerdotes qui laurea saltem in theologia vel, si religiosi fuerint, aequivalenti titulo sint donati.
§ 1. The writings of the Servant of God are to be handed over by the secretary to the revisers enrolled for this office, so that the examination of individual writings may be made by two revisers, of whom one is unknown to the other.
§ 2. There is no obstacle, if the number of writings of the Servant of God is huge, to their being divided into several parts, each one of which is handed over to distinct revisers.
§ 1. Scripta Servi Dei tradantur a secretario revisoribus ad id munus adscitis ita ut singulorum scriptorum examen fiat a duobus revisoribus, quorum alter alteri sit ignotus.
§ 2. Nihil obstat, si scriptorum Servi Dei numerus ingens sit, quominus ea in plures partes dividantur, quarum unaquaeque distinctis revisoribus tradatur.
§ 1. The judgment of the revisers must report whether in the writings anything is had which is opposed to faith and good morals, and must teach in a certain general manner what character, what habits of virtues or defects appear from the writings to have been proper to the Servant of God.
§ 2. The revisers are to bring forth this judgment in writing, supported by arguments and reasons.
§ 1. Iudicium revisorum debet referre num in scriptis aliquid habeatur quod fidei ac bonis moribus adversetur, et edocere generali quadam ratione quaenam indoles, quinam virtutum habitus vel defectus ex scriptis appareant propria fuisse Servi Dei.
§ 2. Hoc iudicium revisores scripto proferant, argumentis et rationibus suffultum.
If at any time the judgments of the revisers disagree, a third reviser is to be designated according to the norm of can. 2066, who is to fulfill his office in the same manner.
Si quando iudicia revisorum discrepent, designetur ad normam can. 2066 tertius revisor, qui munus suum eodem modo expleat.
The Promoter General of the Faith is to propose to the Cardinal Fathers, for discussion, objections drawn from the writings of the Servant of God and from the judgment of the revisers, if he has any.
Promotor generalis fidei obiectiones ex scriptis Servi Dei ac revisorum iudicio desumptas, si quas habeat, Patribus Cardinalibus discutiendas proponat.
If it has been certainly demonstrated that something not altogether consonant with the faith is contained in the writings of the Servant of God, or if something is had which in the present can be an offense to the faithful, the Roman Pontiff, after the vote of the Cardinal Fathers has been heard and all the circumstances of the case weighed, decides whether one can proceed to further matters.
Si quid in scriptis Servi Dei fidei non omnino consonum contineri certo fuerit demonstratum aut aliquid habeatur quod in praesenti fidelium offensioni esse possit, Romanus Pontifex, audito Patrum Cardinalium voto et perpensis omnibus casus circumstantiis, decidit num ad ulteriora procedi possit.
A favorable judgment of the Roman Pontiff does not carry with it approval of the writings, nor does it prevent the Promoter General of the Faith and the consultors from being able or bound, in the discussion of the virtues, to propose objections drawn from the writings of the Servant of God.
Favorabile Romani Pontificis iudicium non secumfert scriptorum approbationem, neque impedit quominus Promotor generalis fidei et consultores possint aut debeant in discussione virtutum obiectiones ex scriptis Servi Dei desumptas proponere.