Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent/Session XVIII/Choice of Books
SESSION THE EIGHTEENTH,
Being the second under the Sovereign Pontiff Pius IV., celebrated on the twenty-sixth day of February, 1562.
DECREE TOUCHING THE CHOICE OF BOOKS; AND FOR INVITING ALL MEN ON THE PUBLIC FAITH TO THE COUNCIL.
The sacred and holy, œcumenical and general Synod of Trent, lawfully assembled in the Holy Ghost,—the same legates of the Apostolic See presiding therein,—not indeed confiding in human strength, but relying on the aid and assistance of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has promised that he would give to His Church a mouth and wisdom,[1] doth ponder especially how it may at length restore to its native purity and splendour, the doctrine of the Catholic faith, which is in many places defiled and obscured by the opinions of many who differ one among another; to bring back, to a better system of life, manners, which have turned aside from ancient usage; and to turn the heart of the fathers unto the children,[2] and the heart of the children unto the fathers. Whereas, therefore, first of all, it hath perceived that the number of suspected and pernicious books, wherein an impure doctrine is contained, and is spread far and wide, has at this season increased to excess, which indeed has been the cause that many censures have been, out of a godly zeal, published in divers provinces, and especially in the mighty city of Rome, and yet that no salutary remedy has availed against this so great and pernicious a disorder; it hath [therefore] thought fit, that fathers specially chosen for this inquiry, should carefully consider what ought of necessity to be done in the matter of censures and of books, and also in due season make a report to this holy synod, to the end that it may itself more easily separate the various and strange doctrines, as tares from the wheat[3] of Christian truth, and may, in regard thereof, more conveniently deliberate and determine what shall seem best suited to remove scruples from the minds of very many, and to remove various causes of complaint. And [the synod] wishes all these matters to come to the cognizance of all persons soever, as by this present decree it doth make them cognizant; to the end that, if any person shall think it in any way concerneth himself, either in this matter of books and censures, or in the other matters which it has before declared are to be treated of in this general council, he may not doubt but that he will be kindly hearkened to by the holy synod.
And inasmuch as this said holy synod heartily desires, and earnestly beseeches God for the things that are for the peace[4] of the Church, that we all, acknowledging our common mother upon earth, who cannot forget the sons of her womb,[5] with one mind, with one mouth, glorify God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;[6] it invites and exhorts, by the bowels of the mercy of the same our God and Lord, all who hold not communion with us, unto concord and reconciliation, and that they come unto this holy synod, and embrace charity, which is the bond of perfectness, and to show forth the peace of Christ rejoicing in their hearts, to the which they are called in one body.[7] Wherefore, in hearing this voice, not of man, but of the Holy Ghost, let them not harden their hearts,[8] but, walking not after their own sense,[9] nor pleasing themselves,[10] let them be excited and turned unto this so charitable and salutary an admonition of their own mother. For, as the holy synod invites, so will it embrace them with all offices of love. Yet further, this same holy synod has decreed, that the public faith may be granted in a general congregation, and that it shall have the same force, and shall be of the same strength and weight, as if it had been given and decreed in a public session.