Title — Decretals of Gregory IX
Title XLV: On Relics and the Veneration of Saints
Chapter I
Latin source headnote: Without the Pope’s permission it is not lawful to venerate anyone as a saint.
Alexander III.
We have heard that there are certain persons among you who, deceived by diabolical fraud, venerate after the manner of unbelievers as though a saint a certain man killed in drinking and drunkenness, although the Church scarcely permits prayer for such persons killed in drunkenness. For the Apostle says that drunken men will not possess the kingdom of God. Therefore do not presume henceforth to honor that man, since, even if very many miracles were done through him, it would not be lawful for you publicly to venerate him as a saint without the authority of the Roman Church.
DE RELIQUIIS ET VENERATIONE SANCTORUM.
Sine Papae licentia non licet aliquem venerari pro sancto.
Alexander III.
Audivimus, quod quidam inter vos sint, qui diabolica fraude decepti, hominem quendam in potatione et ebrietate occisum quasi sanctum more infidelium venerantur, quum vix pro talibus in ebrietatibus peremptis ecclesia permittat orare. Dicit enim Apostolus : " quod ebriosi homines regnum Dei non possidebunt. " Illum ergo hominem non praesumatis de cetero colere, quum, etiamsi per eum miracula plurima fierent, non liceret vobis ipsum pro sancto absque auctoritate Romanae ecclesiae publice venerari.
Chapter II
Latin source headnote: Relics of saints cannot be sold, nor ought they to be displayed indiscriminately, lest the people be capable of being deceived concerning them.
Innocent III, in the General Council.
Since the Christian religion has often been disparaged by the fact that certain persons expose relics of saints for sale and display them indiscriminately, lest it be disparaged in the future, by the present decree we establish that from now on ancient relics are by no means to be displayed outside a reliquary or exposed for sale. But let no one presume publicly to venerate those newly discovered unless they have first been approved by authority of the Roman Pontiff. Moreover, let prelates henceforth not permit those who approach their churches for the sake of veneration to be deceived by various inventions or false documents, as [also] has been accustomed to occur in very many places on the occasion of gain. [Of alms, etc. (cf. c. 14, X. On Penance V. 38.)]
Sanctorum reliquiae vendi non possunt, vel passim ostendi non debent, ne circa illas populus decipi possit.
Innocentius III. in concilio generali.
Quum ex eo, quod quidam sanctorum reliquias exponunt venales, et eas passim ostendunt, Christianae religioni detractum sit saepius, ne in posterum detrahatur, praesenti decreto statuimus, ut antiquae reliquiae amodo extra capsam nullatenus ostendantur, nec exponantur venales. Inventas autem de novo nemo publice venerari praesumat, nisi prius auctoritate Romani Pontificis fuerint approbatae. Praelati vero de cetero non permittant eos, qui ad eorum ecclesias causa venerationis accedunt, variis figmentis aut falsis documentis decipi, sicut [et] in plerisque locis occasione quaestus fieri consuevit. [Eleemosynarum etc. (cf. c. 14. X. de poenit. V. 38.)]