1. If, for a period of three years, a province does not have three convents or thirty-five voters assigned in that province and habitually living there, the Master of the Order, having consulted his council, shall declare that it no longer enjoys the right to take part in general chapters as a province and shall reduce it to a vice-province or general vicariate in accordance with n. 257, unless a general chapter has already been convoked.
2. When a province which had been reduced to a vice-province as provided for in § I, shall once again, for a period of three years, have the necessary conditions, the Master of the Order must declare that it enjoys all its rights as a province.
3. In regions where, because of adverse circumstances, a provincial chapter cannot be held, the Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, may provide for its equitable representation at the general chapter.

1.  
   1. The Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, may establish a vice-province. It ought to have, in the territory assigned to it, two convents properly so called and twenty-five voters; furthermore, it should be able to provide from its own resources so that it may have the conditions for the stability of the new province to be established.
   2. A vice-provincial presides as major superior over a vice-province; he is elected by the chapter of the vice-province. A vice-province has the obligations and rights of a province.
2. In a territory where there is no province or vice-province, and where there are local needs or a well-founded hope of making a permanent foundation of the Order, the Master of the Order may, with the consent of his council, erect a general vicariate with specific territory. He must first have consulted the brothers due to be assigned to the vicariate and the council of the relevant province. The statues by which the general vicariate is governed shall be prepared by the vicariate and approved by the Master of the Order and his council.
   In this case, after the brothers of the vicariate have been consulted, a vicar general is appointed, in the first instance, by the Master of the Order for four years.
   Relations between this general vicariate and other vicariates which may exist in the same place shall be determined according to n. 395.

Only those brothers may be promoted to orders who:

1. are solemnly professed;
2. have the necessary qualities;
3. are presented by their own major superior;
4. are approved by the conventual council whose responsibility it is to ensure that they have the requirements for ordination.

The brothers should always remember that their public statements (in books, newspapers, on radio and television) reflect not only on themselves but also on their brothers, on the Order and the Church. For this reason, in reaching a judgement they should be careful to foster a spirit of dialogue and mutual responsibility with their brothers and superiors. If their speaking or writing is about controversial issues, they should give special attention to this crucial dialogue with major superiors.

1. To be promoted a master in sacred theology, it is required that a brother:
   1. be commendable for his life and prudence;
   2. have been totally dedicated to intellectual work for at least ten years from the completion of his complementary studies;
   3. be presented to the provincial chapter by the commission for the intellectual life of the province, and be approved by two thirds of the voters at the same chapter, or by the Master of the Order, if the brother is living in a convent or institute immediately subject to him;
   4. that a commission of at least three experts in the field of scientific specialisation, chosen by the Master of the Order, pronounce favourably on the value of his work and his capac­ity to pursue it;
   5. 3. that he be promoted by a general chapter, or by the Master of the Order with his council;
   6. 4. that the newly promoted master give a public lecture.
2. Nobody is to be promoted a master in sacred theology except in the aforesaid manner. 

1. To be promoted a master in sacred theology, it is required that a brother:
     1. be commendable for his life and prudence;
     2. have been totally dedicated to intellectual work for at least ten years from the completion of his complementary studies;
     3. be presented to the provincial chapter by the commission for the intellectual life of the province, either of affiliation or assignment of the brother, and be approved by two thirds of the vocals at the same chapter, or by the chapter of the province of affiliation, or by the Master of the Order, if the brother is living in a convent or institute immediately subject to him;
     4. that a commission of at least three experts in the field of scientific specialisation, chosen by the Master of the Order, pronounce favourably on the value of his work and his capacity to pursue it;
     5. that he be promoted by a general chapter, or by the Master of the Order with his council;
     6. that the newly promoted master give a public lecture.
2. Nobody is to be promoted a master in sacred theology except in the aforesaid manner.

1. The brothers may have books and equipment for personal use, but in moderation and according to the determination of the provincial chapter. However, to those who are devoted to special studies and offices out of obedience, with the permission of the prior provincial, after consulting the local superior, books or equipment may be granted.
2. When the brothers are assigned to another convent, they may bring with them only those things which the prior provincial, according to the legitimate customs of the province, has permitted.

1. No brother shall take any part in the administration of goods belonging to people who are not members of the Order, whether they are physical or moral persons, apart from an exceptional case and then with the permission of the prior provincial.
2. If an obligation to give an account is attached to this administration, then the prior provincial’s permission should be granted with greater reluctance and strictly for the time required.

When possible, all contracts should be made in the name of the moral person recognized by law, and a copy, moreover, should be kept in the files of the syndic of the province or of the Order.

1. Only moral persons in the Order and not individual brothers are permitted, with the consent of their respective councils, to accept pious foundations or other gifts which involve prolonged and burdensome obligations.
2. Furthermore, every acceptance of a burdensome obligation requires the consent of the provincial council, and those which impose a prolonged obligation ought not to be accepted easily.