Theological Theses · §1488 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

‘Religious’ cult of Saints: denied strictly (religion’s object is God), allowed broadly or secondarily

Strictly, religion’s object is God’s cult—so saint-cult is another species of observance.

Broadly (or secondarily) they still call saint-honor religious, as opposed to mere civil polity.

Latin

VIII. Si quis vero quaerat an cultus qui Sanctis impendendus est dici debeat religiosus, necne, respondent Religionem, proprie & stricte loquendo, significare virtutem specialem quae habet pro objecto cultum Dei, & quae distinguitur specie ab ea virtute qua colimus Sanctos; quae observantia quaedam est alius plane rationis: aliquando vero latius accipi Religionis nomen, videlicet, pro omni illa virtute qua colimus Deum, vel amicos Dei, aliasque res sacras, & quae distinguitur a cultu politico & mere humano. Ac priori sensu negant cultum Sanctorum esse religiosum actum, concedunt vero posteriori sensu. Sive quod eodem recidit, dicunt Sanctos coli debere cultu Religionis non primario sed secundario.

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