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Summary. Relics are not to be
sold or put on exhibition, lest the people be deceived in regard to them.
Seekers of alms are not to be admitted unless they can exhibit letters of the
Apostolic See or of the bishops, and they may not preach anything not contained
in the letters. On the occasion of the dedication of a-church, an indulgence of
not more than one year may be granted; on the anniversary of the dedication-,
it may not exceed forty days.
Text. From the fact that some
expose for sale and exhibit promiscuously the relics of saints, great injury is
sustained by the Christian religion. That this may not occur hereafter, we
ordain in the present decree that in the future old relics may not be exhibited
outside of a vessel or exposed for sale. And let no one presume to venerate
publicly new ones unless they have been approved by the Roman pontiff. In the
future prelates shall not permit those who come to their churches causa
venerationis to be deceived by worthless fabrications or false documents as
has been done in many places for the sake of gain. We forbid also that seekers (quaestores)
of alms, some of whom, misrepresenting themselves, preach certain abuses,
be admitted, unless they exhibit genuine letters either of the Apostolic See or
of the diocesan bishop, in which case they may not preach anything to the
people but what is contained in those letters. We give herewith a form which
the Apostolic See commonly uses in granting such letters, that the diocesan
bishops may model their own upon it. The following is the form:
Forma litterarum
praedicatorum
Quoniam, ut ait Apostolus, omnes
stabimus ante tribunal Christi, recepturi prout in corpore gessimus, sive bonum
sive malum fuerit, oportet nos diem messionis extremae misericordiae operibus
praevenire, ac aeternorum intuitu seminare in terris quod reddente Domino cum
multiplicato fructu colligere debeamus in caelis; firmain spem, fiduciamque
tenentes, quoniam "qui parce seminat, parce et metet, et qui seminat in
benedictionibus, de benedictionibus et metet in vitam aeternam." Cum
igitur ad sustentationem fratrum et egenorum ad tale confluentium hospitals
propriae non suppetant facultates, universitatem vestram monemus et exhortamur
in Domino atque in remissionem vobis in' jungimus peccatorum, quatenus de bonis
a Deo vobis collatis pias eleemosynas et grata eis caritatis subsidia erogatis,
ut per subventionem vestram ipsorum inopiae consulatur, et vos per haec et per
alia bona, quae Domino inspirante feceritis, ad aeterna possitis gaudia
pervenire.
Those who are assigned to collect
alms must be upright and discreet, must not seek lodging for the night in
taverns or in other unbecoming places, nor make useless and extravagant
expenses, and must avoid absolutely the wearing of the habit of a false
religious.
Since, through indiscreet and
superfluous indulgences which some prelates of churches do not hesitate to
grant, contempt is brought on the keys of the Church, and the penitential
discipline is weakened, we decree that on the occasion of the dedication of a
church an indulgence of not more than one year be granted, whether it be
dedicated by one bishop only or by many, and on the anniversary of the
dedication the remission granted for penances enjoined is not to exceed forty
days. We command also that in each case this number of days be made the rule in
issuing letters of indulgences which are granted from time to time, since the
Roman pontiff who possesses the plenitude of power customarily observes this
rule in such matters .
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