QUICK SEARCH

THIS ROCK

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

Subscribe

Permissions

LIBRARY

God & Christ

Scripture & Tradition

Church & Papacy

Mary & the Saints

Faith & Science

Morality & Ethics

Sacraments

Salvation

Last things

Non-Catholic groups

Anti-Catholicism

Practical Apologetics

Fathers Know Best

Permissions

OUR SPONSORS

Please support our sponsors

BOOKLETS

PillarofFire

Pure Love

12WaystoEvangelize

Permissions

SPECIAL OFFERS

S  i  d  e  b  a  r

PIUS XII ON THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE VULGATE

By James Akin

This Rock Volume 5, Number 4   April 1994     Up Front By Karl Keating   Letters   Dragnet   CHOOSING A BIBLE TRANSLATION By JAMES AKIN   Sidebar Pius XII on the Authenticity of the Vulgate By James Akin   Conversion Story Breathing Catholic Air By David Palm   Between The Lines What Does Father Mean? By Karl Keating   Classic Apologetics The Catholic Evidence Guild: Part I By Frank Sheed   Old Testament Guide Genesis By Antonio Fuentes   Fathers Know Best Girlz in the hood?   Heresy of the Month Donatism By Patrick Madrid   Verse by Verse Holy Spirit A Person, Not A Force   Quick Questions    Subscribe    Permissions

"But that the Synod of Trent wished the Vulgate to be the Latin version `which all should use as authentic,' applies, as all know, to the Latin Church only, and to the public use of Scripture, and does not diminish the authority and force of the early texts. For at that time no consideration was being given to early texts, but to the Latin versions which were being circulated at that time, among which the Council decreed that that version was rightly to be preferred which was approved by the long use of so many centuries within the Church.

"So this eminent authority of the Vulgate, or, as it is expressed, authenticity, was established by the Council not especially for critical reasons, but rather because of its authorized use in the Church continued through the course of so many centuries, and by this use it is demonstrated that this text, as the Church has understood and understands, in matters of faith and morals is entirely free of error, so that, on the testimony and confirmation of the Church herself, in discussions, quotations, and meetings it can be cited safely and without danger of error, and accordingly such authenticity is expressed primarily not by the term critical but rather juridical.

"Therefore, this authority of the Vulgate in matters of doctrine does not at all prevent--rather it almost demands today--this same doctrine being called upon for help, whereby the correct meaning of Sacred Scripture may daily be made clearer and be better explained. And not even this is prohibited by the decree of the Council of Trent, namely, that for the use and benefit of the faithful in Christ and for the easier understanding of divine works translations be made into common languages, and these, too, from the early texts, as we know has already been praiseworthily done with the approval of the authority of the Church in many regions" (Divino Afflante Spiritu [1943])].