Caroline Books

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Libri Carolini or Opus Carolinum), four books written against decrees of the second Council of Nice on the adoration of images, contained in the Capitulare Prolixum of Charlemagne. These books were drawn up under the direction of Charlemagne, but their preparation has been ascribed to Angilram, bishop of Metz, Angilbert, and to Alcuin. Roger de Hoveden directly names the last, and the most probable opinion is that Alcuin was the writer. At all events, they were written before the Synod of Frankfort in 794, and were published in the name of Charlemagne during the sitting of that council. In the preface the emperor declares that he had undertaken the work "Zelo Dei et veritatis studio, cum conhibentia regni sui sacerdotum."

The great principles of these books are the following:

Lib. 2, 100:21: Solus igitlr Deus colendlts, solus adoirandlus, solus glorificaindus est, de quo per Propletam dicitur: "Exaltatum est nomen ejus solius" ( Psalms 148:13): Cujins etiam Sanctis, qui triumphat o diabolo cum eo regnant, sive quia viilaiiter certaverunt, lit ad nos incolumis status ecclesiae perveniret, sive quia eandem ecclesiam assiduis suiffrilgiis et intercessioniblus adjuvare noscuntur, veneratio exhibenda est: imagines vero, omni Pui cultura et adoratione seclusa, utrum in basilicis propter memoriam rerum gestarum et ornamentum sint, an etiam non sint, nullum fidei catholicae adferre poterunt praejudicium qulippe culm ad peragenda nostrae saliutis mysteria nullum penitus officium habere noscantur. Lib 3, 100:16: Nam dum nos nihil in imaginibus spernamus praeer adorationem, quippe qui in basilicis Sanctorum imagines non ad adorandulm, sed ad memoriam rerum gestaruln et venustatem pnrietum habere permittimus: illi vero pene omnem suae credulitatis spem in imaginibus collocent; restat, ut nos Sanctos in eorum corporibus vel potils reliquiis corporulm, seu etiam vestimentis veneremur, juxta antiquorum patrum traditionem: illi vero parietes et tabulas adorantes in eo se arbitrentur magnum fidei habere emolumentum, eo qilod operibus sint subj cti pictorum. Nam etsi a doctis quibinsque vitari possit hoc, quod illi in adorandis imaginibus exercent, qui videlicet non quid sint, sed quid innuant venerantur, indoctis tamen quibusque scandalum generant, qui nihil aliud in his praeter id quod vident venerantur et adorant. The Caroline books were first printed by Jean du Tillet, bishop of Meaux, under the assumed name of Eriphilus, or Elias Philyra (Paris, 1549, 8vo), at Cologne in 1555; by Goldastus, 1608; and in his Constitution. Imperial. tom. 1; and, lastly, by Heumannus at Hanover (1731, 8vo), under the title Augusti Concilii Niccenit Secundi Censura. — Palmer, Treat. on the Church, pt. 4, ch. 10, § 4; Bergier, Dict. de Th É ologie, s.v. Image; Gieseler, Church History, per. 3, § 12; Herzog, Real-Encyklop Ä die, 7:429; Landon, Ecclesiastes Diet. s.v. (See Image-Worship).