TRINITARIAN  RULE  OF  LIFE

Rule means a standard and criterion, a measure and a code.  Rule is an established guide for action and conduct and method.  Rule means a fixed principle or just something usual.  The Rule of Life of a monastic, canonical or apostolic order is all of these things.  Yet, it must be more.  Religious life is built upon the Word that God speaks to his people.  The religious Rule is concerned with the practical life of the religious community founded on God’s Word in service to his people. 

The Rule of a religious order is the dynamic ideal of the founder expressed in the words and symbols of a given moment.  The Rule sets forth a way of life.  Yet, it must do more.  Since it is born of life, the Rule itself must not only inspire and encourage life;  above all, it must give life.  Needless to say, the Rule should have an elastic quality, while preserving serious-minded dedication, so that new insights born of experience may be assimilated to what is already good in the community’s life and service.

All that has just been said may be verified in the Rule of Life of the Brothers of the Order of the Holy Trinity.  This particular religious Rule offers a life-orientation and gives the opportunity for self-dedication in a common effort to serve God and his people through the ministry of charity in the service of faith.  At the same time, in its disciplinary aspect, this Rule assures that the Trinitarian ideal will be taken seriously and lived out.  During the centuries since the Order’s foundation in 1193/94 at Cerfroid, there have been six principal editions of the Trinitarian Rule.  There were three 12^th-13^th century editions (1198, 1217, 1267), church approved and promulgated within the space of slightly less than 70 years.  There were three 17^th century Spanish Discalced editions (1619, 1628, 1631), church approved and promulgated within the space of only 12 years.  In the first article of their 1985 Constitutions, today’s Trinitarians are reminded that the basis for and the foundation of the spirit of the Order is the Rule, which has been updated throughout the centuries and which is interpreted in conformity with the mind of the Church and according to the present-day Constituitons.  The Order of the Holy Trinity is to ever be a religious family founded by St. John de Matha (+1213) with its own Rule of Life.  

Joseph J. Gross, OSST

1198 Trinitarian Rule

English translation

1217 Trinitarian Rule

English translation

1267 Trinitarian Rule

English translation

1619 Trinitarian Rule

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1628 Trinitarian Rule

English translation

1631 Trinitarian Rule

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1198 Trinitarian Rule:
A Lexicon
 

1198 Trinitarian Rule:
Directed Study Guide Series
 

1198 Trinitarian Rule:
Commentary