§ 4. The images of the Saints.

Venerate them, therefore (as we have said), and piously honour their images. Utterly senseless are the heretics of our age, who reject the images of the Saints, because God saith in His Scripture; “Thou shalt not have strange gods in My sight” (Deut. v. 7). And, “Thou shalt not make any graven thing, to adore it” (Levit. xxvi. 1). Heretics either will not or cannot distinguish between idols, and images of the Saints. Assuredly Christians, sons of the Catholic Church, do not, after the manner of the heathen, adore graven images as gods (which God certainly forbids), but they piously honour the Saints in their images. For this practice is derived from Apostolical tradition, and has hitherto been faithful] y observed by the Church the Spouse of Christ, which is taught and ruled by the Holy Spirit.