THE SUPREME SACRED CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY OFFICE
GIVES A DECREE
CONCERNING THE COMMONLY CALLED "SECRET OF LA SALETTE."
It has come to the attention of this Supreme Congregation that certain ones are not lacking, even from among the ecclesiastic assemblage who, responses and decisions of this Holy Congregation itself having been disregarded, do proceed to discuss and examine through books, small works and articles edited in periodicals, whether signed or without a name, concerning the so-called Secret of La Salette, its diverse forms and its relevance to present and future times; and, this not only without permission of the Ordinaries, but, also against their ban.
So that these abuses which oppose true piety and greatly wound ecclesiastical authority might be curbed, the same Sacred Congregation orders all the faithful of any region not to discuss or investigate under any pretext, neither through books, or little works or articles, whether signed or unsigned, or in any other way of any kind, about the mentioned subject. Whoever, indeed, violates this precept of the Holy Office, if they are priests, are deprived of all dignity and suspended by the local ordinary from hearing sacramental confessions and from offering Mass: and, if they are lay people, they are not permitted to the sacraments until they repent.
Moreover, let people be subject to the sanctions given both by Pope Leo XIII through the Constitution of the offices and responsibilities against those who publish books dealing with religious things without legitimate permission of superiors and by Urban VIII through the decree "Sanctissimus Dominus Noster" given on 13th March 1625 against those who publish asserted revelations without the permission of ordinaries. However, this decree does not forbid devotion towards the Blessed Virgin under the title of Reconciliatrix commonly of La Salette.
Given at Rome on 21st December, 1915.
Aloisius Castellano, S. R. and U. I. Notary.
ACTS OF THE SUPREME CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY OFFICE
THE SUPREME CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY OFFICE
I
DECLARATION
CONCERNING A CERTAIN WORK
Wednesday, 12th April 1916
In a general session of this Supreme Congregation of the Holy Office of the eminent and very reverend Lord Cardinals, Inquisitors General, in affairs of faith and morals declared the work to which the title "The Lesson about the Hospital of Notre Dame Explained about the Secret of La Salette" by Henry Mariave, from the general rules handed down in the Constitution of Offices and Responsibilities has been condemned and proscribed.
Given at Rome at the Holy Office on 13th April, 1916
Aloisius Castellanus, S. R. and U. Notary.
THE SACRED CONGREGATION OF THE INDEX
I
DECREE
Of Monday, 5th day of June 1916
The Sacred Congregation of the most Eminent and Reverend Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, held in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the fifth day of June, 1916, by our Most Holy Lord, Pope Benedict XV, and, the Holy Apostolic See for the index of books of depraved doctrine, and, for the proscription of the same set forth and delegated in the universal Christian Republic, do condemn and have condemned, have proscribed and will proscribe and order and have ordered that the works which follow or have at another time been condemned and proscribed be referred into the Index of Prohibited Books:
<snip>
Dr. HENRY MARIAVÉ, The Lesson of the Notre Dame Hospital of Ypres - Interpretation of the Secret of La Salette, Volume I, Paris, 1915; Volume II, Appendices, Montpellier, 1915, (Holy Office Decree. 12th day of April 1916).
And so let nobody of whatever rank or condition dare either to publish aforementioned works which have been condemned and proscribed in whatever place or whatever reason, or to read or retain published things under penalties indicated in the Index of Forbidden Books.
After these things were related to our most Holy Pope Benedict XV, by me, the undersigned secretary, his Holiness approved the decree and ordered it to be promulgated.
Given at Rome on 6th June, 1916
L. S
Fr. CARD. DELLA VOLPE, Prefect
Thomas Esser. 0. P., Secretary
ACTS OF THE MOST HOLY CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY OFFICE
THE MOST HOLY CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY OFFICE
I
DECREE THAT CONDEMNS THE WORKS OF M. MIR AND I. DE RECALDE
DECREE
Wednesday, 2nd day of May 1923
<snip>
Given at Rome from the publishers of the Holy Office on the 4th day of May, 1923.
Aloisius Castellano,
The Most Holy Congregation of the Holy Office Notary.
II
THE LITTLE WORK IS CONDEMNED: "THE APPARITION OF THE VERY HOLY VIRGIN OF LA SALETTE"
DECREE
Wednesday, 9th May 1923In a General Session of the Supreme Holy Congregation of the Holy Office, eminent and reverend Lord Cardinals appointed for protecting the faith and morals, proscribed and condemned the little work The Apparition of the Most Holy Virgin on the holy mountain of La Salette, Saturday 19 September 1845. - Simple Reprinting of the entire public text by Mélanie, etc. Society Saint-Augustine, Paris-Rome-Bruges, 1922; ordering those to whom it looks to take care to withdraw examples of the condemned book from the hands of the faithful.
And the same holiday and day of the Most Holy Lord. N. D. by the foresight of divine providence Pope Pius XI, in the customary audience of R. P. D. Assessor of the Holy Office has commissioned the report himself and approved the resolution.
Given at Rome from the Holy Office on 10th May, 1923.
Aloisius Castellanus, S. R. and U. Notary.
