Rites: Order for the Formation of Novices During the Canonical Year, english version

For use in all Chapters General, except that for the election of an Abbot General, treated in n. 212 of the Constitutions.

Approved by the General Chapter 1976, Session m, part 3a (Protocol of the Gen. Chap. 1976, pages 30-31, n. 11, n.l),

Adsumus, Domine sancte Spiritus, adsumus, peccati quidem immanitate detenti, sed in nomine tuo specialiter aggregati; veni ad nos, adesto nobis: dignare illabi cordibus nostris: doce nos, quid agamus; quo gradiamur, ostende; quid efficiamus, operare. Esto solus et suggester et effector iudiciorum nostrorum, qui solus cum Deo Patre, et eius Filio nomen possides gloriosum: non nos patiaris perturbatores esse iustitiae, qui summe diligis aequitatem; ut sinistrum nos non ignorantiae trahat; non favor inflectat; non acceptio muneris vel personae cormmpat: sed iunge nos tibi efficaciter solius tuae gratiae done ut simus in te unum, et in nullo deviemus a vero, quatenus in nomine tuo collecti, sie in cunctis teneamus cum moderamine pietatis iustitiam, ut hic a te in nullo dissentiat sententia nostra, et in future pro bene gestis consequamur praemia sempiterna. Amen.

We are present here, Holy Spirit Lord, we are present, though weighed down by sin, but gathered in your Name in a special way. Come to us, be with us; deign to open our hearts; teach us what we shoud do; show us the path to walk, oversee what we do. Be the only Source of inspiration and the only One to effect our judgments, You Who with God the Father and His Son, possess the glorious Name. Do not permit us to be those who disturb justice, You Who love equity, nor to be drawn by evil ignorance. Do not let us be influenced by favor; do not permit us to be corrupted by the acceptance of persons or money, but join us solidly to Yourself with the gift of Your grace, that we may be one in You, and in no way deviate from the truth. In so far as we are gathered in Your Name, so in all things let us hold fast to justice tempered by piety, so that our judgments in no way differ from You, and in the future, may we receive an eternal reward for things well done. Amen.

The ordinary general chapter is celebrated every six years. It may be convened as often as the definitory of the Order, considering the needs of the Church and the Order in contemporary society, deems it necessary (cf. Const. 191).

The abbot general by right convenes and presides at the general chapter. If he is impeded, he appoints a delegate.

If the abbot general has died, or is impeded and could not appoint a delegate, the first defmitor of the Order has the right of convening the general chapter and presiding.

He who convenes the chapter, having heard the definitors of the Order, designates the time and place for the celebration of the chapter, unless the place of the celebration shall have been determined by the preceding chapter and as long as there are no serious reasons for not abiding by that decision.

The announcement of the chapter is to be made twelve months before the celebration of the chapter to all canonries and convents of the Order (Const. 192). When those who must be convoked have been notified, the election ofdeputies is to be carried out as quickly as possible.[1] Other dispositions, among which are prayers to be recited for the success of the forthcoming chapter, are to be communicated in due time.

When proposals have been suggested and received from members of the Order, the convener with the counsel of the definitors of the Order prepares an agenda of materials to be treated, which is sent to all those who will take part in the chapter. The convener also with the counsel of the definitors Order determines which periti are to be summoned and orders all things necessary.

In order that all may proceed in an orderly fashion, the convener with the definitors of the Order shall constitute at least three years before the celebration of the chapter[2] a secretariate to prepare the general chapter. It shall be composed of a president appointed by the convener with the definitors of the Order, and sufficient members to be designated by the president of the secretariate under the supervision of the definitors of the Order (cf. Const. 192).

If the abbot general should be impeded from presiding at the general chapter, the letters by which the abbot general appoints a president-delegate are read at the beginning of the first session of the general chapter.

The president then takes the roll call of those who must be present in the general chapter. If a delegate of any impeded capitular is present, the delegate himself must read the letters of excuse.

The abbot general, if the situation exists, and each prelate who has assumed office and has not yet promised obedience to the general chapter and the abbot general, shall do this according to formula I.[3]

When this has been done, a secretary of the chapter is elected by an absolute majority of votes.[4] Two scrutators are elected in the same manner. These two, with the secretary, take the oath according to formula II.[5]

Then four definitors of the chapter are elected, each in a separate balloting and with an absolute majority[7] who take the oath according to formula II.[8]

The president of the chapter then presents a general report indicating the state of the Order, the circaries and the houses, as well as the principal happenings, which are in the main compiled from the visitation reports. (cf. Const. 190)

When the report of the president is completed, he also presents the decisions which the abbot general with the consent of the definitors of the Order has made since the last general chapter, according to the norms of the Constitutions, in areas of urgency but which were matters reserved to the general chapter. It is the right of the chapter to ratify these either in plenary session or in a session of the definitory of the chapter.

The sessions of the definitory of the chapter take place at the time and place designated by the president. Only the president, definitors of the chapter and the secretary of the chapter definitory are to be present, unless the matters to be treated require the presence of others.

Anyone appointed by the president with the consent of the definitors of the chapter may serve as secretary of the definitory of the chapter.

Any documents of the definitory are to be signed by the president and the secretary of the definitory and sealed with the seal of the general chapter.

The acts of the definitory, which must be communicated, are read according to n. 16; those, however, which pertain to particular persons are communicated to them in the manner which the definitory deems most useful, and the acts are placed in the archives of the Order.

Unless expressly determined otherwise, the definitory of the chapter acts collegially.

The definitory of the chapter, having heard the proposals of the chapter,[9] appoints moderators and reporters and approves assistants which the secretary of the chapter can choose either from among or from outside the capitulars. It is also the right of the definitory of the chapter to determine to which plenary sessions members of our Order may be admitted as auditors.

It is the right of the definitory of the chapter to appoint chapter commissions, in which at least those members of the various Order commissions who are present at the chapter may be included.[10]

It is the right of the definitory of the chapter to change, when necessary, the agenda approved for the chapter by the definitory of the Order. Should anyone wish in the course of the chapter to propose new business, he notifies the president of this in writing, and the definitory of the chapter decides what is to be admitted.

It is the right of the definitory, having heard the mind of the chapter, to determine when a matter has been sufficiently discussed.

It is the right only of the definitory to propose resolved issues to further deliberation by the chapter and for a grave reason.

The provisor of the Order submits to the definitory of the chapter a report on the patrimony of the Order and renders an account of his administration (cf. Const. 282). The definitory then determines what shall be communicated to the capitulars.

It is also the right of the definitory to resolve issues which cannot be treated by the general chapter in plenary session.

Moderators direct the discussions, signal their end, and determine the order of the interventions.

They must also see to it that interventions are not too long; moreover, they may ask a capitular to refrain from making an intervention, e.g. because it is repetitious or concerns a matter which is not to the point.

Recourse against a decision of a moderator is always permitted to the definitory of the chapter or to the chapter itself.

A reporter presents an issue to be discussed, provides the necessary explanations and answers objections.

The secretary with his assistants[11] prepares accurately the minutes of each session, which according to the decision of the definitory of the chapter, are communicated to the capitulars.

It is the right and responsibility of the capitulars to suggest corrections and changes in the minutes, these having to be approved by the chapter.

The secretary compiles reports of all sessions in a protocol of the general chapter under the supervision of the definitory of the chapter.

The secretary and his assistants may record the discussions and reports on tape.

Before the celebration of the chapter, the technical apparatus (and workers) are to be provided by the definitory of the Order and the secretariate, for language translation, for material copying, etc. This service may be composed of extrarcapitulars, who, under the direction of the secretary of the chapter and under the supervision of the definitory of the chapter, assist the moderators, reporters and other capitulars in their work.

Only for a serious reason and with the permission of the president may anyone be absent from plenary sessions. For these sessions, taking into account n. 59, a capitular may designate a delegate, only if he is legitimately impeded, all things considered, and if he has the right of sending a delegate to the general chapter.[12]

A letter of delegation is presented to the moderator at the beginning of a session, who communicates it to the capitulars.

If auditors according to n. 23 are admitted, they may not speak or in any way disturb the proceedings of the chapter.

The definitory of the chapter or the moderator with the assistance of the secretariate posts the agenda of business in due time so that the capitulars may prepare their comments.

If any business has been prepared by a commission, this is presented to the capitulars by a reporter.

When an issue has been presented, each capitular has the right of petitioning that the matter be rejected as a basis for discussion or that it be deferred or sent back for further examination by a commission.[13] The decision on this pertains to the chapter itself.

In as much as possible, interventions should be submitted in typed form and with sufficient copies on the preceding day. Oral interventions must also be submitted in writing as soon as possible to the secretariate.

Written or oral interventions ought to include not only pros and cons, but also positive suggestions for a solution, and briefly so.

To reduce the number of interventions, they may be made in the name of several capitulars. The speaker notifies the moderator beforehand as to who he is and in what language he will speak. The moderator at the proper time announces the name and language of the speaker.

The moderator gathers together all interventions on one issue, priority going to the written interventions and then the oral interventions, after which general discussion may follow.

When a matter affecting a person present in the chapter is to be discussed, this person must always be heard and he enjoys the right to present his own cause to the chapter.

It is the right of the definitory of the chapter to determine when a matter has been sufficiently discussed, having heard the mind of the chapter. It may then be submitted for voting, if that is necessary.

If the result of the voting shows that a new revision is necessary, the definitory of the chapter sees to it that the material is re-elaborated and presented. If there is a capitular commission present which is concerned for that matter, it reviews the question again.

Decisions of the chapter in their entirety and accurately are set forth in a report of the session by the secretary of the chapter, and noted in the protocol of the chapter.

In order that the capitulars may have knowledge of the opinions and objections of others to a particular issue, beforehand there may be group meetings, to treat of these materials, in which the capitulars may among themselves attempt to resolve differing opinions.

In each group one should be designated, who may report in the plenary sessions accurately the opinions forthcoming in the group, preserving always the freedom of the capitulars to intervene in their own names in the plenary sessions.

These small groups may be formed according to languages or according to the nature of the matter to be treated. Every capitular or peritus should have free access to these groups.

If it is considered opportune, either by a group itself or by the definitory of the chapter, the coordination of differing opinions in the groups may be achieved by reporters of one group consulting with another group, or reporters of groups consulting among themselves.

According to need, capitular commissions may be established by the definitory of the chapter, having heard the capitulars, and these commissions may in a particular manner examine and coordinate the specific topic, and in the plenary session deliver a report.

Deliberative, consultative and informative voting may take place in writing or in other ways. Voting shall always be by secret ballot when it is required by law or when this is asked by one capitular.

Elections must always be by free, specific, absolute and secret ballot, except for n. 11.[14] No one may vote for himself. Blank ballots are considered invalid and have no value.

Should anyone of the members of the chapter be present in the house in which the election takes place, but cannot be present because of infirm health, his written vote may be sought by the scrutators.

Also in the election of persons, each one has only one vote. Should someone, on account of various titles, have a right to vote in his own name, e.g. a prelate who at the same time is the administrator of another canonry, he may only cast a single vote. If someone should have the right of election in his own name, and moreover legitimately has a delegation, he may have a double vote. No one may receive more than one proxy.

When an issue is to be decided, that has the force of law, which, disallowing invalid ballots, pleases the absolute majority of those who cast a valid ballot, unless by common or particular law or by the chapter itself a special majority, a 2/3 vote, is required.

As often as there is a tie on the first ballot, it is up to the definitory of the chapter to determine whether the material, according to the norm of n. 51, is to be re-elaborated and proposed again, or whether it is to be retracted, and whether the voting should continue. If after the second ballot there is a tie, the president can break the tie by casting a new vote (can. 119.2).

In all elections, he is elected who has received the absolute majority of the votes of those who are present. If the required number of votes has been received by no one, immediately proceed to a second ballot, and if that is without result, to a third ballot. If no one has received an absolute majority of the votes on the third ballot, there is to be a fourth ballot, in which only the two candidates who had the largest number of votes on the third ballot, have passive, but not active voice.

In the case of a tie on the third ballot, only those two candidates who are senior by age who on the third ballot had the same or even greater number of votes, have passive, but not active voice. He is elected who on the fourth ballot has the majority of votes. In case of a tie on the fourth ballot, he is elected who is senior in age (Const. 258-259).

When the business of the chapter is concluded, the abbot general appoints, according to Const. 238, his vicars for the various circaries.

The chapter then proceeds to the election of a procurator general of the Order, the visitators of the chapter, four definitors of the Order, each being elected in a separate vote according to norms 59, 60, 62 and 65. For designating visitators of the Chapter, the procedures in Const. 228-229 are to be followed.[15]

All who assume a new office, take, each one, in the hands of the president, the oath according to formula III;[16] those who may be absent must take this oath as soon as possible in the hands of the abbot general or his delegate.

As soon as possible notice of election or appointment is to be sent to all those aforementioned.

Announcements, made by the president, as it seems proper, are set forth in a report prepared by the secretary of the chapter or otherwise provided for according to n. 34 above, and the entire protocol is signed by all those having deliberative vote. The protocol is placed in the archives of the Order.

When the chapter is finished, the abbot general shall see to it that the acts and decrees of the chapter, as soon as possible, come to the notice of every individual religious.

(placing his hand on the Gospel book which the abbot general holds on his lap, adds):

Note: The Constitutions and Canons dealing with elections are to be observed, unless they are changed by the following dispositions.

The office of abbot general can be vacant not only because of death, but also through resignation or removal. According to Const. 198, when the abbot general has reached 70 years of age, and when the General Chapter is in session, he should, of his own accord or when properly requested, resign. He should do the same whenever failing health or some other grave reason shall in his judgment render him unequal any longer to carry the burden of government. The resignation should be made to the General Chapter and accepted by it. According to Const. 202 the removal of the abbot general for a grave cause is reserved solely to the General Chapter.

In cases where an ordinary General Chapter does not have to be convoked within a year, the election must be held within three months from the start of the vacancy at an extraordinary General Chapter.

Requisite Qualities in an Abbot General to be Elected. Besides those qualities required to carry out his office, an abbot general to be elected, at the time of his election, must be a priest, perpetually professed in our Order for at least five years, and not more than 70 years old.

If the election is to take place at an extraordinary General Chapter, the vicar general of the Order summons all capitulars having an active voice (cf. Const. 263).

If an election is to take place, the first definitor of the Chapter (i.e., the one first elected defmitor of the Chapter while the Chapter is in session) summons all capitulars with active voice, even if the abbot general had previously designated someone else as his delegate as president of the Chapter according to the Order for the Celebration of a General Chapter, 8 (cf. can. 142 par. 1).

Delegates to the General Chapter sent by prelates or superiors of quasi-autonomous houses who have been legitimately hindered from attendance, are considered to have the proxies of the superiors in the election of the abbot general.

All the acts of the election are to be accurately recorded by a secretary, and signed by the secretary, the president, the definitors of the Chapter and the tellers, and are to be preserved in the archives of the Order.

If the one elected is present, the president, i.e., the first definitor of the Chapter, asks his consent. If the first definitor was elected, the second definitor asks his consent.

The newly-elected abbot general promises obedience and reverence to the General Chapter in the presence of the Chapter and in the hands of the president. Then all prelates who are present renew their promise of obedience and reverence to the abbot general and the General Chapter.

If the one elected abbot general is not present, his arrival should be awaited. If he is not able to come within a reasonable time, the Chapter itself should depute someone who would receive his oath of reverence and obedience to the General Chapter. The abbot general should renew this oath at the first subsequent General Chapter. A record concerning an oath given to the deputy shall be kept in the archives of the Order.

Having given his consent, the one elected abbot general immediately takes possession of his office, nor does he need any confirmation, but the name of the elected should be communicated to the Holy See.

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