Constitution

The subprior acts in the place of the prior and assists him in the administration of the convent.

It is for the council:

1. to consent to the appointment or removal of the syndic;
2. to vote, as required in nn. 192, 197, 202, 206, and 207, for the admission of brothers to profession;
3. to dismiss a postulant or a novice when the matter is urgent;
4. to grant to those about to sit for an examination or to receive orders the approval concerning their behaviour required by our legislation (cf. n. 245 et 251 § III);
5. to give approval for the reception of orders (cf. n. 246; CIC 1029 et 1051 §1);
6. 5. to approve the report of the syndic and of other administrators and to decide all other matters concerning economic administration, in accordance with nn. 563, § I, 568;
7. 6. to decide on all matters left to the examination and decision of the council by a provincial chapter.

The members of the council are:

1. the subprior;
2. at least two brothers with voting rights, but never more han eight, are elected for three years by the conventual chapter and are approved by the prior provincial. The number of those to be elected shall be decided by the chapter itself;
3. furthermore, in convents of formation, the master of novices, master of students, and master of cooperator brothers, as well as the moderator of the centre for institutional studies.

The conventual council is a gathering of brothers, at which the prior presides. He is obliged to seek the council’s consent or advice in accordance with our laws.

It is for the chapter:

1. to elect the prior and a socius or socii of the prior to attend the provincial chapter, without prejudice to n. 490;
2. to consent to the appointment or removal of a subprior as proposed by the prior;
3. to elect the members of the conventual council in accordance with n. 315, 2:
4. to vote, in accordance with nn. 192, 197, 202, 206, and 207, on the admission of brothers to profession;
5. to send to provincial and general chapters petitions or questions to be dealt with;
6. to elect a conventual lector.

1. The chapter is composed of brothers who have active voice in the convent.
2. When there is a question of acceptance for profession, all solemnly professed brothers have a vote and must be convoked in accordance with n. 208.

The conventual chapter is a gathering of the brothers, with the prior presiding, to discuss or come to a decision about matters concerning the common and apostolic life of the convent and with its good administration.

1. Ordinarily a prior takes office by canonical election confirmed by the superior. He continues in office for three years, after which he may be re-elected, but not immediately for a third term in the same convent.
2. His term of office begins from the date of acceptance and ends on the same date at the end of three years.

A prior, who ‘should regard himself to be fortunate as one who serves you in love, not as one who exercises authority over you,’1

1. must promote regular and apostolic fraternal life;
2. should provide for the brothers’ needs;
3. should be concerned that the brothers fulfil their personal obligations.

By law, a conventual prior has ordinary power for the internal forum and the external forum, over the brothers assigned to his convent or residing there.