CHAPTER VII: On Liturgical and Prayer Books

18. "In authentic editions of the Missal, Breviary, Ritual, Ceremonial of Bishops, Roman Pontifical, and other liturgical books approved by the Apostolic See, let no one presume to change anything: if otherwise it has been done, these new editions are prohibited."

By this article these new editions are prohibited only in the case of change, but not if they lack due approval. Thus most authors. Cf. Gennari, o. c., on this article; Vermeersch, n. 88, 4. Therefore he who recited the Breviary, using an edition prohibited (because it lacks approval), would satisfy the obligation, provided the edition has not been changed.

19. "All litanies, except the most ancient and common ones which are contained in Breviaries, Missals, Pontificals, and Rituals, and except the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin, which are accustomed to be sung in the sacred House of Loreto, and the Litanies of the Most Holy Name of Jesus already approved by the Holy See, are not to be issued without revision and approval of the Ordinary."

To these approved litanies must be added the litanies of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and of St. Joseph. But the required approval of the Bishop avails only for their private recitation; for public recitation in churches or public oratories the approval of the Holy See is always required, from the Decrees of the S. R. C., 20 Jun. 1896 and 11 Feb. 1898 (S. R. C., n. 3916, 3980).

20. "Let no one publish books, or little books, of prayers, devotion, or religious, moral, ascetical, mystical doctrine and instruction, and others of this kind, although they may seem to conduce to fostering the piety of the Christian people, without license of legitimate authority: otherwise let them be held prohibited."

It is said: books or little books, to the exclusion of sheets and writings. - Besides, only those books seem to be reached whose scope is immediately practical, but not those which treat doctrine speculatively. Many authors draw this both from the inscription of the chapter: on books... of prayer, and from the text itself of the article: although they may seem to conduce to fostering the piety of the Christian people (Lega, III, n. 373).

Note. On 21 Mar. 1914, the S. R. C. prescribed: Prayers which are directed to the Lord God for obtaining graces through the intercession of servants of God who died with fame of sanctity need permission of the Bishop, that they may be printed and spread among the faithful. Cf. what was said n. 538.