Article I: On Vicious Worship of the True God

Division. This vicious worship is such either because it is of false signification, or because it is exhibited in that mode which violates the custom and prescriptions of the Church: this worship is called superfluous.

I. He commits the superstition of false signification:.

1. Who wishes to honor God through the ceremonies of the old law, for example circumcision: for these signify Christ as about to come.

But circumcision performed for health or cleanliness is not forbidden; or, what missionaries must well attend to, as a gentile custom, or as a profane sign of adhesion to some nation or class. Where such a custom exists, it will be better, if it can be done, to advise that it be done soon after birth rather than that puberty be awaited.

2. A layman who acts as a public minister of the Church; a private person who, by his own authority, proposes certain things to be done, as if they were ordered by the Church to the worship of God.

3. He who proposes false relics, exhibits an image as falsely portentous; he who simulates that he has been enriched with revelations.

4. He who, in order to move the people, lies that some miracle has been done, or feigns that a history is found in Sacred Scripture.

These things of themselves are mortal, because they are injurious to the First Truth, and found religion upon lies. Yet ignorance or simplicity and the lightness of the matter itself can excuse from grave sin, as if, in confirming a true doctrine, some circumstance not explored is exhibited as certain.

Counsels of prudence. Besides the honor to be reserved to Truth, modern studies of the sciences demand that we positively foster no worship of an image or of relics whose authenticity is not morally established.

Yet the prudence by which we ought to avoid the scandal of the little ones at the same time demands that we not rashly attack things which by the very long duration of use have acquired a title of veneration, although perhaps one distinct from that which is vulgarly assigned to those things. For pious places and things can become sacred from pious devotion to the saints.

Wherefore cc. 1283-1285 provide for the authenticity of relics; but at the same time c. 1286 decrees these things: "Let local Ordinaries not permit, especially in sacred sermons, books, newspapers, or periodicals destined for fostering piety, questions concerning the authenticity of sacred relics to be agitated from mere conjectures, from merely probable arguments or prejudiced opinions, especially in words savoring of ridicule or contempt" ¹.

¹ In these matters it is especially useful to distinguish a twofold "critical" ratio: one irritating, which scandalously disturbs simple persons; the other learned and prudent, which gradually unteaches errors: this serves truth, solid piety, and removes obstacles or prejudices to the conversion of the learned.

II. He commits the superstition of superfluous worship. who mixes with true worship some vain, foolish, unsuitable circumstance: for example, if he adds certain things to or subtracts certain things from the ceremonies of Mass; if he places force in a definite number of candles, in the name by which the priest is called; if he trusts in the very number, as such, of prayers; if with certain and firm hope he recites prayers to which special favors or immunities are promised, etc.; if he studiously chooses principal feasts for fasting, and this not so that there may be greater mortification or sins may be expiated, but by placing hope in the day itself. Although the devotion itself of fasting on more solemn days has a savor of singularity which of itself seems little to be commended.

Therefore c. 1261 wisely orders these things: §1 "Let local Ordinaries watch that the prescriptions of the sacred canons concerning divine worship be diligently observed, and especially that no superstitious practice be introduced into divine worship, whether public or private, or into the daily life of the faithful, or that anything alien from the faith or discordant from ecclesiastical tradition or presenting the appearance of base gain be admitted." Moreover, exempt religious also must observe the laws which the local Ordinary has made in this matter for his territory, and their churches or public oratories can be visited for this end (c. 1261 §2).

Those superstitions, since they betray more a weak judgment than a bad will, and since the matter, unless it has been evil, does not gravely dishonor God, will generally be venial in themselves. Yet conscious authors of such superstitions cannot be excused from grave sin. It is also plain that he sins gravely objectively who, in order to honor a Saint, violates prescribed abstinence; and that he will be blasphemous who employs a dishonorable action for divine worship, or makes a vow to complete a crime (something else must be said if, in order to avoid a hangman, he promises by vow something honorable).

The rude are to be well instructed concerning the right use of sacred things: a) that they not add superfluous things to means in themselves good and approved; b) that they apply things used in the Church, for example wax, blessed water, etc., together with humble deprecation and confidence in the goodness of God, but not so that they expect from these things, as if by the work worked, an infallible effect. Cf. Voit, II, 425. Superstitious security prepares difficulties against true faith.