Thirty Three Days to Morning Glory

[dgd]

Copies of this booklet being distributed in our local church recently in connection with forthcoming rededication of England as dowry of Mary.

I notice the booklet has Imprimi Potest and Nihil obstat but as far as I can see no Imprimatur.

As somebody who is currently just investigating and considering Catholicism I don’t fully understand the meaning of these terms.

Could anybody more knowledgable tell me why this might be and what significance if any I should attach to it?

 

[Vico]

Imprimi Potest and Nihil obstat

When these are used the meaning is:
Imprimi Potest (it can be printed): a religious superior approved before sending to the Censor and Bishop.
Nihil Obstat (no thing stands in the way) and Imprimatur (permission to publish) are official declarations that a publication is free of doctrinal or moral error and are permitted to be published.

 

[TomH1]

I notice the booklet has Imprimi Potest and Nihil obstat

That’s interesting because it’s a little unusual. Both mean the same thing. That is, a book is free from doctrinal and moral error. It does not mean the one giving the approval approves of the book’s contents, just that it is free of doctrinal and moral error. The former of the two is usually given by a major superior [of a religious community]. The latter is normally given by a diocesan bishop’s censor llibrorum (censor of books). So the first is usual from a religious superior and the second from a diocese.

The imprimatur is authority from the major superior or bishop giving permission for the book to be printed. Again this is because the one granting permission is satisfied the book is free from doctrinal and moral error. However, it does not mean he agrees with the views or opinions of the book’s author.