Let’s start with a translation of this odd word: it’s Latin, and means “let it be printed.”
“Imprimatur” means that a book containing spiritual or theological content has received clearance for publication.
The process of obtaining this clearance begins with the author submitting the manuscript to a bishop. This can be the bishop of the author’s diocese, the bishop of the diocese of the publisher, or the bishop of the diocese where the book will be released. The bishop reads it and, judging the content by its agreement or disagreement with Catholic doctrine, he grants or denies an imprimatur.
A denial means the book is heretical. An imprimatur means that it does not contradict Church teaching. It lays no obligation on the faithful to believe or agree with the opinions expressed in the book. It doesn’t even mean that the bishop himself approves of the book on a personal level! It simply means he found no concrete reason why the book ought not to be printed.
Since an imprimatur is no longer required in most cases, its presence in a book seems to put the work in a more serious light. Its meaning, however, remains the same as when it was required for every spiritual work.
A School of Prayer is a book you can read with complete confidence—after all, its author is that beloved scholar, teacher, and shepherd of the Church, Pope Benedict XVI! Drawing on his teachings during weekly audiences, Pope Benedict enlarges our understanding of prayer, presenting the example of Old and New Testament figures and especially Our Lord Himself. Revitalize your prayer life through the wisdom of this book. Enroll in the “school of prayer” today with The Catholic Company!
