Chapter — Marc, Institutiones Morales
CHAPTER VI: On Sacred Images and Indulgences
- "Images printed in whatever way of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Angels and Saints, or other Servants of God, which are not in conformity with the sense and Decrees of the Church, are altogether forbidden. But new ones, whether they have prayers annexed, or are issued without them, are not to be published without license of ecclesiastical power."
It is said: 1. Images printed in whatever way; whence, from the consensus of interpreters, neither paintings or statues, nor medals, which are rather struck than printed, are struck by this article.
- Not in conformity with the sense and Decrees of the Church. Which ones are to be reproved for this reason must be drawn especially from the Constitution Sollicitudini of Benedict XIV, 1 Oct. 1745: they are generally those which can introduce danger to faith and morals. These images are altogether forbidden; therefore even for private devotion.
Note. As regards new images, it is not clear whether a new edition of old images is prohibited (Vermeersch, n. 85).
- "It is interdicted to all to spread abroad in any way apocryphal indulgences and those prescribed or revoked by the Apostolic See. Those which have already been spread abroad are to be taken from the hands of the faithful."
With Palmieri (Op. mor., n. 1187), Pennacchi (A. S. S., 30, p. 317), Vermeersch (n. 86, 2), and others, we think this article imposes nothing on the faithful except the obligation of obeying Superiors, if they have commanded something.
- "All books of indulgences, summaries, little books, sheets, etc., in which their concessions are contained, are not to be published without license of the competent authority."
Yet, as some authors rightly observe, images which are accustomed to be composed in memory of the deceased or in recollection of another pious event, with one or another prayer added and an indulgence annexed, are not sheets of indulgences; whence, as usage sufficiently proves, they are not contained by this prohibition.