Convents

1. In our legislation the word convent is understood to refer to a community which has at least six brothers assigned and habitually living there, of whom five enjoy active voting rights and at least four are priests. 
   A community which does not meet these conditions is called a house.
2. Whatever is said of convents is also valid for houses, unless otherwise expressly stated.

1. To establish or to suppress a convent, legal provisions having been observed (see CCL. 609-612; 616), the following are required:
   1. a petition by the provincial chapter, setting out the reasons;
   2. approval by the Master of the Order;
   3. a decree by the Master of the Order, given in writing, for validity.
2. If it is a question of transferring or re-establishing a convent in the same city, the decision of the prior provincial with the consent of his council suffices.
3. A province is not permitted to establish a convent within the territory of another, except with the consent of the Master of the Order and of the council of the province in which it is proposed to make a foundation.

When a house has the conditions required by our law to be a convent properly so called, the prior provincial, having consulted the chapter of the community and if the council of the province approves, shall establish that house as a convent by his own decree, and the brothers shall elect a prior.

When a new community is established directly as a convent properly so called, the prior provincial shall appoint the prior in accordance with n. 373 1°.

No convent can be reduced to the status of a simple house except by a provincial chapter.