Nihil obstat

Nihil obstat (Latin for 'nothing hinders' or 'nothing stands in the way')[1] is a phrase traditionally used by Catholic Church authorities to formally declare that there is no objection to the publication of a book.

[2] The Censor Librorum is delegated by a bishop to review the text in question over approximately two months.

[3] If an author is a member of a religious institute, such as a monastery, and the book concerns religion or morals, then canon law further requires the imprimi potest ('it can be printed') of the major superior before publication.

[5] In the context of canonizations, the phrase is used as an order from the Vatican that "nothing hinders" an investigation of a possible saint's life.

[6] Once this order is given, a diocesan or eparchial tribunal can be formed to investigate the life of the candidate, furthering the process of possible canonization.

An imprimi potest , a nihil obstat and an imprimatur (by Richard Cushing ) on a book published by Random House in 1953. The book in question is the English translation by Louis J. Gallagher of De Christiana expeditione apud Sinas by Matteo Ricci and Nicolas Trigault .