In 1861 there died in Munich _Ernest von Lasaulx_, a famous professor of the University. In his writings he had now and then been very bold, and it was rumored that the Congregation of the Index thought of censuring some of his books. Von Lasaulx knew this. A few weeks before his death he made an implicit retraction of the errors he might have involuntarily committed, which was forwarded to Rome by his friends. Already some years before he had declared that he had never intended to contravene the doctrine of the Church, but that he feared there were many errors in his books. “If Rome would think it advisable to put my books on the Index, I should consider the verdict perfectly just, _since I firmly believe that such measures are truly in the interest of the Catholic Church in our times_.” Four of his books were really condemned after his death. In July, 1906, an Italian novel, _Il Santo_, (The Saint) by Fogazzaro, was put on the Index. The author “submitted himself.” An American edition of the book had meanwhile appeared; “but the prohibition by the Roman authorities was duly respected by the publishers of the leading Catholic papers of America, which declined to accept advertisements of the book.” (Putnam.) SECTION II A SUMMARY OF THE INDEX 1. Our Duties in Relation to Forbidden Books. RULE 1. We are not allowed to read forbidden books, nor any considerable portion of them, even if those portions be in themselves harmless. If, however, a book is forbidden merely on account of the one or other objectionable passage it contains, the objection ceases as soon as these passages are expunged or rendered illegible. RULE 2. No one, whether he be the owner or not, is allowed to keep a forbidden book. He must either destroy it, or give or sell it to some one who has permission, or he must obtain permission for himself. RULE 3. It is not lawful for a Catholic publisher or printer to issue, or print, or reprint forbidden books. Nor may a bookseller keep such books in stock, unless he has obtained formal leave to do so. _Note 1._ Although all the members of a Catholic family should endeavor to keep forbidden books out of the home, the head of the household is chiefly responsible before God. It is to be remarked, however, that Catholic librarians or servants do not violate this law by keeping, handling, or cataloguing forbidden books for their employers, e. g. in the latter’s house, or in a public library. _Note 2._ If a book or any particular issue of a forbidden periodical calls for a speedy public refutation, _and_ if permission to peruse it cannot be waited for, any educated Catholic, who may be reasonably presumed to be competent to refute it by sermon, lecture or newspaper article, may read such book or periodical without awaiting special permission.