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Rh importance than this catalogue are the first thirty-four pages, which give, in the "Apostolic Constitutions," the general laws of the Church regarding books.

There are only two "Constitutions." But the whole work is introduced by a brief of Leo XIII, in which the Pontiff declares that this edition is to be the authentic one for the whole Church. It is to be binding on all the faithful of the universe, regardless of race or language, nationality or country, education, learning or station in life. In a preface headed "Lectori S.," the Secretary of the Roman "Congregatio Indicis" compares this edition of the "Index" with the former ones, points out the changes that were made, and explains the technical arrangement of the book.

After these preliminaries follow the "Constitutions." The first is the "Officiorum ac munerum" of Leo XIII, dated Jan. 25, 1897. This document recasts the whole legislation of the Church regarding the production, dissemination, reprinting and prohibition of such books as the Church may and must concern herself with. It