Books, Etc. Contrary to Catholic Doctrine, Not to be Praised (AAS 15-152)
The Holy Office issued the following Monitum to Ordinaries of places:
It not infrequently happens that in daily papers or magazines, writers even among those commonly regarded as good Catholics praise, extol, approve certain books, writings, pictures, sculptures, and other such works of literature and art, which are contrary to Catholic doctrine and the Christian spirit, and even sometimes expressly condemned by the Holy See.
It will easily be seen what grave scandal to the faithful and what harm to faith and morals may be done if the shepherds of souls allow such things to pass unnoticed and uncorrected. Lest this should occur, the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, with the approval of His Holiness, Pius XI, deems it opportune to admonish the Ordinaries of places that if they find any writers of this sort among their subjects, and especially among the clergy, secular or regular, the do not fail to take action either by themselves or through the Council of Vigilance, and to take such measures in their regard as they may judge more effective in the Lord.
AAS 15-152; Holy Office, Monitum, 15 Mar, 1923
Periodica, 12-33.
From 'The Canon Law Digest'
Officially Published Docuмents Affecting the Code of Canon Law
1917-1933
'I hold that not only virgins and widows, but also wives and all women without exception, should be admonished that nowise should they deface God's work and fabric, the clay that He has fashioned, with the aid of yellow pigments, black powders or rouge, or by applying any dye that alters the natural features. . . They lay hands on God, when they strive to reform what He has formed. This is an assault on the Divine handiwork, a distortion of the truth. Thou shalt not be able to see God, having no longer the eyes that God made, but those the devil has unmade; with him shalt thou burn on whose account thou art bedecked.'
St. Cyprian of Carthage, Father of the Church
'What does God think of spurious beauty, rejecting utterly as He does all falsehood?'
St. Clement of Alexandria, Father of the Church
'Moreover, know that just as all mortal sins are very serious, so too a venial sin is made mortal if a human being delights in it with the intention of persevering.
Wherefore, know that two sins, which I now name to you, are being practiced and that they draw after them other sins that all seem as if venial.
But because the people delight in them with the intention of persevering, they are therefore made mortal. . .
The first of the two sins is that the faces of rational human creatures are being painted with the various colors with which insensible images and statues of idols are colored so that to others, these faces may seem more beautiful than I made them.
The second sin is that the bodies of men and women are being deformed from their natural state by the unseemly forms of clothing that the people are using.'
Our Lord Jesus Christ, 'The Revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden'
'To dye oneself with paints in order to have a rosier or a paler complexion is a lying counterfeit.'
St. Augustine, Father and Doctor of the Church