Article — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Article I. On Adoration
- Adoration taken more broadly is worship exhibited to someone on account of his dignity, or is the act by which someone exhibits his own subjection to another in testimony of that one's excellence. Thus Princes and others constituted in dignity are said in some way to be adored; likewise those who are specially loved by others.
But adoration taken more strictly is honor exhibited to God on account of his highest excellence and supreme dominion.
Hence worship is distinguished as 1º Of Latria, which can be exhibited to God alone on account of his supreme dominion over all creatures.
2º Of Hyperdulia, which is attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
3º Of Dulia, which belongs to Angels and other Saints.
The worship of latria is due to God 1º by natural right on account of his highest majesty and supreme dominion over creatures; 2º by positive divine right, as is proved from innumerable texts of Sacred Scripture, for example Matt. 4. 10: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.
Worship is either direct or relative, according as it is rendered either to God himself or to the Saints, or to images or to those things which have a special relation with them.
Things to Be Noted Concerning the Worship and Relics of the Saints
- Men who have departed from life with a reputation for sanctity cannot be honored with solemn and public worship, unless they have been enrolled by the Supreme Pontiff in the catalogue of Saints or Blessed. But public worship is that which is exhibited in the name of the Church or as instituted by her; private worship, however, is that which proceeds only from private devotion, even if it is done before others. Therefore it is not lawful to erect Churches or altars in honor of Saints not canonized, or at least not beatified; nor is it lawful to invoke them publicly in litanies, nor to expose their Relics or images to be publicly venerated, or to carry them around in processions. Nevertheless it is lawful to preserve these images or Relics privately, to kiss them reverently, etc., because such worship is altogether private.
1º New Relics of Saints are not to be exposed to public veneration, unless the Bishop has recognized them. - Thus the Council of Trent, sess. 25. on the invocation, veneration, and Relics of the Saints.
2º Aureoles, or rays, cannot be applied to images of the dead, although they are commonly held as Saints, unless they have been beatified by the Church; likewise it is not lawful to hang lamps at their sepulchers. - V. Casus, n. 447.