Titian&rsquos Council of Trent

The Council of Trent, the 19th ecumenical council of the Roman 
Catholic Church, was held from 1545 to 1563 in the town of Trent in 
northern Italy. Convoked by Pope Paul III, the council responded to 
the Protestant Reformation and defined the dogmas of the church. 
Italian Renaissance painter Titian attended the council in about 1555 
and recorded his impressions in this painting.

ON THE INVOCATION, VENERATION, AND RELICS, OF SAINTS, AND ON SACRED IMAGES
<http://www.thecounciloftrent.com/ch25.htm>http://www.thecounciloftrent.com/ch25.htm

SECOND DECREE

The holy Synod enjoins on all bishops, and others who sustain the 
office and charge of teaching, that, agreeably to the usage of the 
Catholic and Apostolic Church, received from the primitive times of 
the Christian religion, and agreeably to the consent of the holy 
Fathers, and to the decrees of sacred Councils, they especially 
instruct the faithful diligently concerning the intercession and 
invocation of saints; the honour (paid) to relics; and the legitimate 
use of images: teaching them, that the saints, who reign together 
with Christ, offer up their own prayers to God for men; that it is 
good and useful suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to 
their prayers, aid, (and) help for obtaining benefits from God, 
through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who is our alone Redeemer and 
Saviour; but that they think impiously, who deny that the saints, who 
enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, are to be invocated; or who assert 
either that they do not pray for men; or, that the invocation of them 
to pray for each of us even in particular, is idolatry; or, that it 
is repugnant to the word of God; and is opposed to the honour of the 
one mediator of God and men, Christ Jesus; or, that it is foolish to 
supplicate, vocally, or mentally, those who reign in heaven. Also, 
that the holy bodies of holy martyrs, and of others now living with 
Christ,-which bodies were the living members of Christ, and the 
temple of the Holy Ghost, and which are by Him to be raised unto 
eternal life, and to be glorified,-are to be venerated by the 
faithful; through which (bodies) many benefits are bestowed by God on 
men; so that they who affirm that veneration and honour are not due 
to the relics of saints; or, that these, and other sacred monuments, 
are uselessly honoured by the faithful; and that the places dedicated 
to the memories of the saints are in vain visited with the view of 
obtaining their aid; are wholly to be condemned, as the Church has 
already long since condemned, and now also condemns them.

Moreover, that the images of Christ, of the Virgin Mother of God, and 
of the other saints, are to be had and retained particularly in 
temples, and that due honour and veneration are to be given them; not 
that any divinity, or virtue, is believed to be in them, on account 
of which they are to be worshipped; or that anything is to be asked 
of them; or, that trust is to be reposed in images, as was of old 
done by the Gentiles who placed their hope in idols; but because the 
honour which is shown them is referred to the prototypes which those 
images represent; in such wise that by the images which we kiss, and 
before which we uncover the head, and prostrate ourselves, we adore 
Christ; and we venerate the saints, whose similitude they bear: as, 
by the decrees of Councils, and especially of the second Synod of 
Nicaea, has been defined against the opponents of images.

And the bishops shall carefully teach this,-that, by means of the 
histories of the mysteries of our Redemption, portrayed by paintings 
or other representations, the people is instructed, and confirmed in 
(the habit of) remembering, and continually revolving in mind the 
articles of faith; as also that great profit is derived from all 
sacred images, not only because the people are thereby admonished of 
the benefits and gifts bestowed upon them by Christ, but also because 
the miracles which God has performed by means of the saints, and 
their salutary examples, are set before the eyes of the faithful; 
that so they may give God thanks for those things; may order their 
own lives and manners in imitation of the saints; and may be excited 
to adore and love God, and to cultivate piety. But if any one shall 
teach, or entertain sentiments, contrary to these decrees; let him be 
anathema.

And if any abuses have crept in amongst these holy and salutary 
observances, the holy Synod ardently desires that they be utterly 
abolished; in such wise that no images, (suggestive) of false 
doctrine, and furnishing occasion of dangerous error to the 
uneducated, be set up. And if at times, when expedient for the 
unlettered people; it happen that the facts and narratives of sacred 
Scripture are portrayed and represented; the people shall be taught, 
that not thereby is the Divinity represented, as though it could be 
seen by the eyes of the body, or be portrayed by colours or figures.

Moreover, in the invocation of saints, the veneration of relics, and 
the sacred use of images, every superstition shall be removed, all 
filthy lucre be abolished; finally, all lasciviousness be avoided; in 
such wise that figures shall not be painted or adorned with a beauty 
exciting to lust; nor the celebration of the saints, and the 
visitation of relics be by any perverted into revellings and 
drunkenness; as if festivals are celebrated to the honour of the 
saints by luxury and wantonness.

In fine, let so great care and diligence be used herein by bishops, 
as that there be nothing seen that is disorderly, or that is 
unbecomingly or confusedly arranged, nothing that is profane, nothing 
indecorous, seeing that holiness becometh the house of God.

And that these things may be the more faithfully observed, the holy 
Synod ordains, that no one be allowed to place, or cause to be 
placed, any unusual image, in any place, or church, howsoever 
exempted, except that image have been approved of by the bishop: 
also, that no new miracles are to be acknowledged, or new relics 
recognised, unless the said bishop has taken cognizance and approved 
thereof; who, as soon as he has obtained some certain information in 
regard to these matters, shall, after having taken the advice of 
theologians, and of other pious men, act therein as he shall judge to 
be consonant with truth and piety. But if any doubtful, or difficult 
abuse has to be extirpated; or, in fine, if any more grave question 
shall arise touching these matters, the bishop, before deciding the 
controversy, shall await the sentence of the metropolitan and of the 
bishops of the province, in a provincial Council; yet so, that 
nothing new, or that previously has not been usual in the Church, 
shall be resolved on, without having first consulted the most holy 
Roman Pontiff.

The Catechism of the Council of Trent
Emacs!

The Catechism of the Council of Trent was published in 1566 by the 
decree of Pope Leo XIII.  Tan Publishers holds the copyright of this 
text in the English language.  Tan Publishers summarizes the text as follows:

Ordered by the Council of Trent, compiled under St. Charles Borromeo, 
published by order of St. Pius V, recognized as the most 
authoritative Catholic catechism. Leo XIII recommended two books; the 
Summa and this Catechism--for all seminarians! 672 pgs.

This is a truly remarkable catechism.  St. Charles of Borromeo is the 
Patron Saint of Seminaries and its is easy to understand why after 
reading this book.  Section after section is full of profound truths 
explained in clear and wonderful writing.


The Catechism of the Catholic Church follows the format of this 
catechism and quotes from it.  The section on the meaning of Jesus' 
sacrifice is possibly the best ever written, which is why the new 
catechism quotes directly from it.  The full text can be read at: 
<http://www.cin.org/users/james/ebooks/master/trent/tindex.htm>The 
Catechism of the Council of Trent.

Anyone who reads this book will obtain a profound understanding of 
the Christian Religion.  It is $27.50 from 
<http://www.tanbooks.com/>Tan Publishers.

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Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue 
with Your help,
so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.


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