|
In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity.
[1] The Discalced Brothers of the Order of
the Most Holy Trinity and the Ransom of Captives are to live under obedience to
the prelate of their house who shall be called Minister in chastity and
without personal possessions.
[2] All things, from whatever lawful source they may
come, the Brothers are to divide into three equal parts. And insofar as two
parts will be sufficient, the works of mercy are to be performed from them,
as well as providing for a moderate sustenance for themselves and their
necessary attendants. The third part, however, is to be reserved for the
ransom of captives who are incarcerated for the faith of Christ by pagans:
with a reasonable price paid either for their ransom or for the ransom of
pagan captives, so that afterwards by a reasonable exchange and in good
faith a Christian may be ransomed for a pagan according to the merits and
status of the persons.
However, when money
is donated or anything else, except land meadows, vineyards, forests,
buildings, livestock and similar things, though it be given specifically and
particularly for
some definite purpose, the third part is always to be set side. Resulting
profits with expenses deducted that is, with one-half reserved for
expenses are to be divided into three equal parts. Those profits,
however, which entail little or no expense, are all to be divided. When they are
given or themselves have rough cloth or sandals or small items of this kind
necessary for their use and which would not proved profitable to sell or
to keep
such things are not to be divided, unless it seems expedient to the
Minister of the house and to the Brothers. Concerning these matters there
is to be a discussion every Sunday, if possible, in the Chapter. Still,
if the
aforementioned items such as cloth, land, livestock or small items are
sold, the resulting profit is to be divided into three parts as indicated
above.
However, when the
Brothers are on a journey or traveling abroad, if something is given to
them, they are to live on that and divide the remainder into three parts. Still, if
they have set out on the way to ransom captives, whatever is given to them
they must set aside totally for the ransom of captives, except expenses.
[3] All the churches of this Order are to be entitled
with the name of the Holy Trinity and they are to be of simple construction.
[4] In each residence, there must be at least twelve
Brothers and, in addition, one Brother who is to be called Minister. The
Brothers are bound to promise and render him obedience.
[5] The Minister is to administer faithfully to all
his Brothers as to himself.
[6] Their garments are to be woolen and white,
except the cloak which will be of a dark color. They can wear breeches of
rough linen, which they are not to take off while reposing.
[7] They are to repose in wool so that they have
absolutely no featherbeds or mattresses in their houses, except for those
suffering from illness. They are permitted, however, to have a pillow for
the support of the head.
[8] The signs of the cross, red and blue in color,
are to be placed on the cloaks and scapulars of the Brothers.
[9] As regards shaving, the cleric-Brothers are to observe the
usage of Saint Victor. Moreover, the lay-Brothers are not to shave their beards, but
are to permit them to grow moderately.
[10] They are permitted to mount asses or mules, but
horses only when necessity seems to call for it.
[11] In the Regular Hours, they are to
observe the custom of the Holy Roman Church.
[12] On all Mondays except during the octaves of
Easter, Pentecost, the Nativity of the Lord and the Circumcision and the
Epiphany and, moreover, on feastdays of the Order and those which have been
announced as designated for worship the absolution of the faithful departed is to be
done after the Mass of the Faithful.
[13] Every day, if possible, there is to
be common mental prayer to
God in each house for at least two hours, though not
consecutive.
Every night also,
there is to be common vocal prayer for the state and peace of the Holy Roman
Church and for the entire Christian state as well as for captives and
benefactors and those for whom the Universal Church is accustomed to pray.
[14] They are to fast from the 13th of
September until Easter on all Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays,
unless a solemn feast intervenes: in this way, nevertheless, that from
Advent until Christmas and from Quinquagesima Sunday until Easter, they are
to fast on Lenten fare
every day except on Sundays and likewise they are to keep the other fasts
which the Church is accustomed to observe. Nevertheless, at times, the Minister can relax the fast,
with discretion, on account of age or a journey or
another sufficient reason, or even increase the fast, after the possibility
has been considered.
[15] They are permitted to eat meat only
on Sundays from Easter until Advent and from Christmas until Septuagesima
Sunday, and on Christmas, Epiphany and the Ascension of the Lord as well as
on the Assumption and Purification of Blessed Mary and on the feast of All
Saints, and furthermore in sickness with permission, however, of his Minister.
[16] They can buy for their food whatever is necessary
from those things which they are permitted to eat.
[17] The wine to be taken by the Brothers is to be
so tempered that it can be taken with sobriety.
[18] In cities, in settlements or strongholds where they
have their own houses, they are to eat or drink nothing outside those
houses except perhaps in the house of a religious order even though they be invited by someone,
except perhaps to take water in respectable houses. They are not to
presume to pass the night outside such houses. They are never to
dwell, eat or drink in taverns or in disrespectable places of this kind.
Indeed, he who
presumes to do this is to undergo grave punishment according to the judgment
of the Minister.
[19] Such is to be the charity between
cleric-Brothers and lay-Brothers that they shall eat the same food and use
the same vesture, dormitory, refectory and the same table.
[20] The infirm are to eat and sleep apart. To
their care one of the religious, lay or cleric, is to be assigned;
he is to inquire as to what may be necessary and then administer it as it
ought to be administered. However, the infirm are to be advised not to ask for
rich or very costly food, but to be content with suitable and healthful
moderation.
[21] If some religious come for hospitality,
they are to be received kindly and ministered to charitably,
according to the ability of the house. And so, their care is to be
entrusted to one of the wiser and kinder Brothers. He is to hear
them and, as it seems expedient, administer the comfort of charity. It is
not proper for anyone to served rich and costly food. Nevertheless, whatever is to
be offered should be presented in a cheerful manner.
[22] No Brother, lay or cleric, is to be
without his own duty, if possible. If anyone is unwilling and able to
work, he is to be compelled to leave the place, for the Apostle says: he
who does not work should not eat.
[23] They are to observe silence always in
their church, always in the refectory, always in the dormitory. Still,
they are permitted to speak about necessary matters in other places,
at fitting
times and in a subdued voice, humbly and properly. And outside the
aforementioned places, their conversation is everywhere to be respectful and without
scandal . Likewise, their comportment, gestures, life and behavior and
all else is to be found as proper in them.
[24] They are not to take oaths, except in
great necessity with the permission of their Minister or when ordered to do
so by someone representing the Apostolic See, and this for an honorable and
lawful reason.
[25] They are not to accept sureties.
[26] They are not permitted to accept a deposit of gold or silver or
money.
[27] If there is any known defect in something to be
sold, it is to be indicated to the buyer.
[28] In each house every Sunday, if
possible, the Minister is to hold a Chapter with his
Brothers . And the Brothers are to
render a faithful account to the Minister and the Minister to the Brothers
of the business of the house and of the things given to the house or to the
Brothers, so that the third part may be set aside for the ransom of
captives.
[29] Every Sunday, if possible, an exhortation is to
be given not only to the Brothers, but also to the family of the house in
like manner, according to their capacity; and they are to be advised simply as
regards what they must believe or do.
[30] In the Chapter, the Brothers are to be judged
with regard to all matters and complaints.
[31] None of the Brothers is to accuse his Brother
in public, unless he is well able to prove the accusation.
Nevertheless, he who does this
is to undergo the punishment which the accused might have undergone had he
been found guilty, unless the Minister wishes to dispense with this for
some reason. If any cause a scandal or something of this nature God forbid!
if they strike one another, they are to undergo a greater
or lesser punishment according to the judgment of the Minister.
If any Brother sins
regarding his Brother, that is, against his Brother, with only him who has
suffered the injury knowing of it, he is to bear it patiently, even though
he be innocent. And when the emotional upset has calmed, the one offended is to
advise and correct the offender kindly and fraternally between themselves as
many as three times both to do penance for the offense and to refrain from
such in the future. But if the offender does not listen, the one offended is to
tell the Minister, who is to correct the offender privately in a manner that
seems expedient for his own good.
However, if he who
caused the scandal should of himself wish to make amends, he is to prostrate
himself fully at the feet of the one scandalized, begging forgiveness;
and if
once does not suffice, he is to repeat it as many as three times. If the
scandal should become public, whatever penance may follow, this is to be
first, namely, the full-length prostration at the feet of the Minister by
the one begging forgiveness; and afterwards, according to the Ministers judgment, the
offender is to be corrected.
[32] If some debt must be contracted for a
need of the house, it is first to be proposed to the Brothers in Chapter and
done with their advice and consent, so that both suspicions and murmurs may be
avoided in this way.
[33] If someone does damage to the goods of the
house and it is necessary that the matter be taken to court, this is not to
be done before he is warmed charitably first by the Brothers and afterwards,
in like manner, by other neighbors.
[34] Moreover, the Minister is solicitously to take care that
he adheres to the precepts of the Rule in all matters, just as the other
Brothers must do.
[35] Superiors are not permitted to hear the confessions of their
subjects, unless they have committed some reserved sin or when the subjects
themselves willingly and freely ask it of them. In each house, the
superiors are to appoint two, three or more confessors, in proportion to the
greater or lesser number of subjects. And these confessors are to be learned,
prudent and endowed with charity; they will absolve them from unreserved
sins and the absolution of reserved sins will also be entrusted to them,
when the case occurs in which the confessor himself judges that
it ought it to be given to him.
[36] The General Chapter is to be held every three
years, if possible on the Saturday before the fourth Sunday after Easter.
[37] The election of the Major and General Minister is to be done
every six years in the General Chapter, through secret ballots according to
the Council of Trent. Moreover, the elections of the General Definitors, the
Provincial and the Conventual Ministers are likewise to be done
canonically in the General Chapter every three years. They are not to be elected according to dignity of
birth, but according to the merit of their life and the wisdom of their
teaching. The Minister, whether Major General or Provincial or Conventual,
is to be a priest.
[38] After the General Definitors and Provincial and
Conventual Ministers have been elected, if for some crime they deserve to be
deposed, they are to be deposed by the General Definitory and others who are
worthy are to be substituted in their place by the same Definitory. The
same is likewise to be done if, outside the Chapter, an election to these
offices must be done because of death, resignation or for some other reason.
Moreover, if the Major and
General Minister must be corrected or deposed for misconduct, this
is to be done by the General Definitors and four or five of the more
conscientious Ministers of the same Order who, however, must be chosen for this
task by the General Chapter.
[39] If anyone wishes to be a Brother of
this Order, if it seems good and fitting to the Minister of the house and to
the Brothers and a place is open for him, let him be received.
Nothing, however, is to be demanded for his reception. If he gives
anything freely, it is to be received provided that it is such that
litigation does not appear to threaten the Church. If it happens that,
during the year of probation, he is found less suitable for the observance
of the regular discipline or he does not live up to the integrity of the life and conduct,
he is to be dismissed and sent away discreetly, with all those things which
he may have brought returned to him. Moreover, no one is to be received for
profession until he has completed his 16th year and after making
a full year of probation. If, for some legitimate reason, a longer period
of probation seems to be required, the superior is permitted to extend
the year of probation for a short time.
|