Constitutions of the Order

Introductory Documents:

• The Decree of Promulgation, 1970

• Preface, 1970

• Decree concerning the effective date for the revisions introduced by the General Chapter of 1994

• Preface, 1994

Constitutions - Chapters:

Chapter 1: Desiring Communion Between Human Persons, We Need the Communion Offered by Christ:

• Our insertion in the modern world

• Our insertion in the family of the whole contemporary human family

• For one another in Christ

• One heart and one mind on the way to God (communio-koinonia)

Chapter II:  We find in the Church of Christ Communion with God in the Brothers and with the Brothers in God:

• I, Brother...offer and give myself to a particular church

• Our Communities

• Communion with our neighbors

• Communion with the diocese and its bishop

• Universal communion

Living examples of communion

Chapter III: On the Continual Building of Communion in our Churches

• The members of our churches

• Communion realized in the practice of our profession

  • Profession: I offer and give myself and promise

  • Conversion of our ways

  • The Evangelical Counsels and Vows

  • Poverty

  • Consecrated celebacy

  • According to the Gospel of Christ and the Apostolic institution

  • According to the rule of St. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Order of Premontre

  • Profession and human happiness

• Realizing Communion through our Mission consisting in three-fold complementary responsibilities

  • The responsibility of hearing and preaching the word of God

  • The responsibility of celebrating the Liturgy and the consecration of the temporal order

  • The responsibility of building an ecclesian and human community

  • The participation of the confreres in realizing the mission of community

• The Realization of Communion through the Practice of Common Life

  • Common life and its asceticism

  • Common exercises

  • Silence and cloister

  • Hospitality

  • Our Work

  • The common fund

  • Courtesy

  • Day order

  • The religious habit

  • The care of the sick and of those of advanced age

  • Suffrages for the deceased

Chapter IV: Government in the Canonical Life

• Canonry Chapter

• The House or Community Chapter

• The Office of the Prelate

• The Council

• Other Superiors

• Dependent Houses

  • Quasi Canonry

• Abbot-Founder and the Father Abbot of Men

• The Father Abbot and the Provost of Sisters

Chapter V: Formation which Leads to Union with the Brothers on the Way to God:

• The Steps to Full Incorporation

• Admission

• Postulancy

• Novitiate

• Temporary profession

• Solemn Profession in Our Order

• Ecclesiastical Studies

• Promotion to Orders

• Installation in Ministries

• Promotion to Orders

• The Masters of Novices and Juniors

• Continuing Formation

Chapter VI:  Governance of the Order

• The General Chapter

• The Abbot General

• The Definitory of the Order

• Officials of the Order

• Visitation and Visitators

Chapter VII:  Circaries

Chapter VIII: Special Circumstances and Business

• Mutual Assistance

• The Provision of Offices

• The vacant Canonry

• Vacancy in the Office of Abbot General

• Elections

• Elections in General

• Proxies

• The president of the election

• Constitution of the Chapter of election

• The process of election

• Particular Elections

• The election of an Abbot General

• The election of a Prelate

• Other elections

• Acquiring and Administering Means of Support

• General Norms

• The temporal goods of the canonry

• The temporal goods of the Order

• New Foundations

• Changes in the Juridical State of Houses of the Order

• Fraternal Correction and Resolution of Conflict

• Recourse against administrative decrees

• Recourse

• Means by which the Bond with the Community is Lessened or Removed

• Departure

• Exclaustration
• Departure at the end of temporary profession
• Departure during temporary profession
• Non advancement to subsequent profession
• Departure after solemn vows

• Dismissal

• Automatic dismissal
• Obligatory and non-obligatory dismissal
• Procedure for dismissal
• The effects of dismissal
• Urgent cases

• Transfer

• Undue absence

• General Norms Concerning our Laws and Decrees

• Obligation

• Interpretation

• Abrogation or dispensation

• The relationship between current law and past law