tion of morals and ecclesiastical discipline, as well under the Sovereign Pontiffs Paul III. and Julius III., of happy memory, as under the most blessed Pius IV., have been so decreed, as that the authority of the Apostolic See both is, and is understood to be, ever untouched thereby.
DECREE FOR CONTINUING THE SESSION ON THE FOLLOWING DAY.
Whereas all those matters which had to be treated of in the present session cannot, because of the late hour, be conveniently despatched; therefore, according as was resolved on by the fathers in general congregation, those matters which remain are deferred till to-morrow, in continuation of this same session.
CONTINUATION OF THE SESSION,
On the fourth day of December.
DECREE CONCERNING INDULGENCES.
Whereas the power of conferring indulgences was granted by Christ to the Church; and she has, even in the most ancient times, used the said power,[1] delivered unto her of God the sacred and holy synod teaches and enjoins, that the use of indulgences, most salutary for the Christian people, and approved of by the authority of sacred councils, is to be retained in the Church; and it condemns with anathema those who either assert that they are useless, or who deny that there is in the Church the power of granting them. In granting them, however, it desires that, according to the ancient and approved custom in the Church, moderation be observed, lest, by excessive facility, ecclesiastical discipline be enervated. And desiring that the abuses which have crept into these matters, and by occasion of which this excellent name of indulgences is blasphemed by heretics, be amended and corrected, it ordains generally by this decree, that all evil gains for the obtaining thereof, whence a most abundant cause of abuses amongst the Christian people has been derived, be entirely abolished. But as regards the other [abuses], which have proceeded from superstition,
- ↑ See Matt. xvi. ID; John xx. 23,
