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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 in 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. 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 household members. The third part 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 for
some particular 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. When they have or are
given rough cloth or sandals or small items of this nature, necessary for
their use and which would not proved profitable to sell or to set aside,
such things are not to be divided, unless it should seem 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. Should the
aforementioned items – such as cloth, land, livestock or small items – be
sold, the resulting profit is to be divided into three parts as indicated
above.
However, when the
Brothers are on a journey or traveling, if something be given to them, they
should 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. 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. 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
usage of the Holy Roman Church.
[12] On all Mondays, except during the octaves of
Easter, Pentecost, the Nativity of the Lord, the Circumcision and the
Epiphany and, moreover, on feastdays of the Order and those which have been
designated for worship, the absolution of the faithful departed is to be
done after the Mass of the faithful.
[13] Every day, if possible, common mental prayer to
God is to be held in each house for at least two hours, though not
consecutive.
Every night also,
common vocal prayer is to be held 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. Moreover, from Advent until Christmas and
from Quinquagesima Sunday until Easter, they are to fast on Lenten foods
every day except on Sundays. They are likewise to keep the other fasts
which the Church is accustomed to observe. Nevertheless, at times and with
discretion, the Minister can relax the fast on account of age, traveling or
other sufficient reason, or even increase the fast, after considering
whether or not it is opportune.
[15] They are permitted to eat meat only on Sundays
from Easter until Advent and from Christmas to 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 even in sickness with permission, however, of his Minister.
[16] They can buy for food whatever is necessary
from those things which they are permitted to eat.
[17] The wine to be drunk by the Brothers is to be
so tempered that it can be taken with sobriety.
[18] In cities, villages or strongholds where they
have their own houses, they are to eat or drink nothing outside those
houses, even though they be invited by someone, except perhaps in a
religious house or 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 disrespectful places of that kind. Whoever
presumes to do this is to undergo grace 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, either lay or cleric, is to be assigned;
he is to inquire as to what may be necessary and then administer it as it
should be administered. The infirm are to be advised not to ask for
sumptuous or very costly food, but to be content with suitable and healthful
moderation.
[21] If some religious should come for hospitality,
they are to be received kindly and they are to be ministered to charitably,
according to the ability of the house. And so, their care is to be
entrusted to one of the more discerning 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 sumptuous and costly food. Whatever is to
be offered should be presented in a cheerful manner.
[22] No Brother, either lay or cleric, is to be
without his own duty, if possible. Should anyone be able but unwilling 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 the proper
times and in a subdued voice, humbly and respectfully. Outside the
aforementioned places, their conversation is to be respectful and without
scandal at all times. Likewise, their comportment, gestures, life and
behavior and all else is to be found as respectful 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 a sufficient and
respectable 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] The Minister is to hold a Chapter with his
Brothers in each house every Sunday, if possible. 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; 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. He who does this
is to undergo the punishment which the accused might have undergone had he
been found guilty, unless the Minister should wish to dispense from this for
some reason. If any should cause a scandal or something of this nature or,
God forbid, if they should strike one another, they are to undergo a greater
or lesser punishment according to the judgment of the Minister.
If anyone should sin
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. 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. 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; if
once does not suffice, he is to repeat it as many as three times. If the
scandal should become public, whatever may follow, this penance is to be
first, namely, the full-length prostration at the feet of the Minister by
the one begging forgiveness; according to the Minister’s judgment, the
offender is afterwards to be corrected.
[32] If a debt must be contracted for some necessity
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 murmurings 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] 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 will appoint two, three or more confessors, in proportion to the
greater or lesser number of subjects. These confessors must 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 particularly 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. The elections of the General Definitors, the
Provincial and the Conventual Ministers are likewise canonically to be done
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
learning. The Minister, whether Major General or Provincial or Conventual,
must 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.
But if the Major and
General Minister should have to be corrected or deposed for misconduct, this
is to be done by the General Definitors and four or five of the more
religious Ministers of the same Order who, moreover, 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 should happen that, during the year of
probation, he is founded less suitable for the observance of the regular
discipline or he does not lived 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. 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 should seem to be required, the superior is permitted to extend
the year of probation for a short time.
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