Constitution

The following assemble and have votes in a general elective chapter: 

1. In the election of a Master of the Order:
   1. ex-Masters of the Order;
   2. all priors provincial;
   3. from each province, the diffinitor of the general chap­ter;
   4. vice-provincials and vicars general, as provided for in n. 257, § II;
   5. a socius of the diffinitor of a general chapter from each province which has at least one hundred professed religious, excluding, however, those who are assigned in vicariates and those directly assigned to houses under under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order;
   6. a socius of the prior provincial attending a general chapter from each province which has at least four hundred professed religious, excluding, however, those who are assigned in vicariates, and those directly assigned to houses under under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order;
   7. a delegate from each province which has between ten and one hundred brothers assigned in vicariates or houses of the province outside the boundaries of the province, the del­egate shall be elected from among the brothers and by them according to the provincial statute; furthermore, from each province which has between 101 and 200 brothers assigned in vicariates, a second delegate shall be elected, and so on.
   8. from among brothers directly assigned to houses un­der the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order, two delegates if they total fewer than one hundred, three delegates if they total one hundred or more, chosen as laid down in n. 407-bis.
2. In matters to be dealt with after the election of the Master:
   1. the newly elected Master of the Order;
   2. ex-Masters of the Order;
   3. all those mentioned in § I, 2-8;

1. A conventual lector is elected for three years by the conventual chapter and is confirmed by the prior provincial.
2. It is the duty of a conventual lector, in accordance with the directives of the provincial chapter:
   1. to encourage the study of questions connected with the programme of apostolic work on which the conventual chapter has decided (n. 307);
   2. to ensure that in his convent the decisions made by the commission on the intellectual life of the province and confirmed by the prior provincial are carried out;
   3. to organise discussion of contemporary questions;
   4. to help the prior in fostering the ongoing formation of the community.

1. To publish books and articles, the brothers need the permission of their major superior, in addition to the requirements of common law.
2. If the major superior has doubts regarding matters of faith or morals, he shall appoint a commission of three experts to study the work.
3. If he refuses permission, he must tell the author the reasons for refusing.
4. An author who has been refused permission by a major superior can appeal to the Master of the Order. The Master shall set up a commission to examine the text. The judgement of the Master of the Order shall be definitive.

The Rosary as a way of contemplating the mysteries of Christ, is a school for developing evangelical life. As such, it is a form of preaching particularly appropriate to our Order, in which the truths of faith are proposed in the light of the blessed Virgin Mary’s participation in the mystery of Christ and the Church.

Therefore, the brothers should fervently preach the Rosary so that it may flourish, and they should promote its societies.

This is the sequence of chapters: the elective chapter, the chapter of diffinitors, the chapter of priors provincial, and so on. A new series of chapters in the aforesaid order begins with the elective chapter even if the election of a Master has to be held before the completion of the nine-year period.

1. A general chapter shall be held:
   1. every three years;
   2. whenever the office of Master of the Order falls vacant.
2. A chapter may, if it judges it opportune, call the next chapter within a shorter period of time.

He obtains his office by canonical election and remains in it for nine years. The time is computed from one elective chapter to the next elective chapter, disregarding whatever
few months—not, however, more than six months—which fall short of or exceed nine years.

In the provinces there should be no houses which do not have at least four brothers.

A superior in his house has ordinary power according to law, just as a prior in his convent, and is bound by the same obligations, in so far as they apply.

1. Preaching is a shared work, the responsibility of the entire community; that is why in the tradition of our Order a convent is often called a ‘holy preaching.’
2. The cooperator brothers take part in the community apostolate not only by providing for the needs of the convent but also by a ministry properly so-called, either working with their priest brothers or exercising talents in the apostolate.
3. The superior and the brothers should together reflect on the common task of preaching and make it their own, so that the whole community may become responsible. However, the right of the superior to make final decisions and accept particular ministries remains intact.
4. In fraternal gatherings the brothers should discuss their apostolic experiences and problems, studying them to- gether and joining forces in special groups in order to exercise a more effective ministry.