Reception of the Trent Decree on Sacred Images by Johannes Molanus

Dariusz Klejnowski-Różycki

Uniwersytet Opolski, Wydział Teologiczny
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8388-702X

Abstract

Joannes Molanus, theologian, rector of the University of Louvain, wrote a comprehensive treatise to assist bishops and priests in the detailed application of the general decree on images of the Council of Trent. Molanus rejected those representations that are not based on the Bible but on the Apocrypha. He also broke up with some allegorical or eastern representations. He created the theological foundations for Catholic sacred art, which is present in the churches to this day. The article presents an analysis of the decree of the Council of Trent on images (1), the life and work of Molanus (2), the context of the Reformation times in which Molanus lived, especially in the aspect of iconoclasm (3), then the treatise on images of Molanus (4), important categories theological division, which he attributes to sacred works of art (5), and finally some examples illustrating the thought of Molanus are given (6). In Summary (7), the impact of the Molanus treaty on the sacred art of Catholic Europe will be assessed.

Keywords:

Molanus, sacred art, sacred image, icons, Trent, council