Constitution

1. The ministry of the word is a sharing in the prophetic office of the bishops; therefore the preachers must accept the entire gospel message and cultivate a living understanding of the mystery of salvation as it is handed down and explained in the Church. Dominican preaching must always be marked by this evangelical spirit and sound teaching.
2. So that the salvific influence of our preaching may reach everyone, we must do more than merely observe the situations and aspirations of those whom we address. We must establish a living relationship with them, so that the preaching of the revealed word adjusted to their understanding, may remain the law of all evangelisation, especially among those who are far from the faith.
   Thus our spirit ought to be open both to the Spirit of God and to the hearts of those to whom the word of God is being preached, so that it may obtain a communication of the light, the love and the strength of the Paraclete.
   Consequently, the brothers should learn to recognise the Spirit working in the midst of God’s people, and to discern the treasures hidden in the various forms of human culture, by which human nature is more fully manifested and new paths to truth are opened.
3. The brothers should cultivate the spiritual life and the human virtues so that their behaviour does not weaken the impact of their message.

Like St Dominic, who was full of solicitude for all of humanity, the brothers should know that they have been sent to all men and women, all groups and peoples, believers and unbelievers, and especially the poor; this with a view to evangelising and implanting the Church among the nations, and explaining and strengthening the faith of Christian people.

1. In every province there shall be a regent of studies who, under the authority of the prior provincial and with the advice of the commission for the intellectual life of the province, according to the statute of the province, shall:
   1. promote and coordinate, as head of the province’s commission for the intellectual life, the entire intellectual life of the province;
   2. take care especially of the province’s centre of institutional studies, and see to it that the Ratio Studiorum of the province and other legislation of the Order is observed;
   3. collaborate in implementing the programme for ongoing formation drawn up by the commission for the intellectual life of the province;
   4. collaborate with the conventual lectors in the promotion of study in the province’s convents;
   5. assist other centres of studies in the province, according to their proper statutes, and foster collaboration among them and with the centre of institutional studies of the province;
   6. help the prior provincial in solving doctrinal questions;
   7. see to the planning of the province’s intellectual life and the preparation of specialists required by the province and the Order’s centres of study;
   8. present an annual report to the Master of the Order.
2. The following requirements are needed for nomination as regent:
   1. an academic title such as is required of professors in centres of higher studies;
   2. some experience of teaching, especially in theology or philosophy;
   3. being known for his dedication to study and doctrine.
3. The regent is proposed by the provincial chapter and appointed by the Master of the Order for a four year term. As regent he:
   1. is a member ex officio of the provincial council;
   2. is ex officio head of the commission on the intellectual life;
   3. is allocated a financial subsidy in the budget of the province;
   4. cannot be nominated to any office that would interfere with the discharge of his duties.

1. The moderator of each centre of studies is appointed in the manner to be determined by the provincial statute.
2. The faculty, that is the body of major officials of each centre, is determined according to the statute of each centre, with due regard for the provision of § I.
3. The relationship between the faculty of each centre and the regent of studies, as head of the province’s commission on the intellectual life, is determined in the province’s Ratio
   Studiorum Particularis.

Among the centres of study of a province, the principal ones are:

1. a centre of institutional studies, which is a community of students and professors of the Order, following the normal curriculum of philosophical and theological studies according to the tradition of the Order;
2. a centre of higher studies which is a community of brothers offering a curriculum in which academic programmes to the level of licentiate are taught; examples are: ecclesiastical and
   university faculties belonging to the Order itself or entrusted to its care, or those of which the brothers form a constitutive part;
3. a centre of special studies which is a community of brothers who apply themselves to research and publications, and other specialised projects, without being engaged in teaching;
4. a centre of ongoing formation, which is a community of brothers dealing with everything to do with ongoing formation, especially of those exercising ministry in the Church; the brothers involve themselves in research, and either prepare or  offer suitable programmes.

1. Even though the intellectual life ought to flourish in every convent, there should be centres where the brothers can devote themselves more especially to study.
2. A centre of studies in the Order is a community of brothers who devote themselves resolutely to study full time. It shall have at least three brothers with the necessary qualifications; an adequate library and other facilities, and stable economic resources.
3. A centre can be part of another community, namely a conventual community. It may also include brothers from other convents.
4. The rights and obligations of each centre of studies of a province, as well as the manner in which it is governed, are to be included in the province’s Ratio Studiorum Particularis, and be approved along with it.
5. The Order’s centres of study should maintain a truly scientific standard, and keep in touch with similar institutions and with the university world of the region.

1. It pertains principally to the prior provincial:
   1. to see to it that when planning according to n. 107 below, adequate attention is given to the needs of the intellectual life and the doctrinal apostolate, observing what is said in n. 226
      about the formation of the brothers;
   2. to cooperate with the Master of the Order in promoting the doctrinal mission of the Order;
   3. to promote collaboration between the convents and brothers of the province and with other provinces, too, especially neighbouring ones;
   4. to foster the participation of the brothers in study sessions suited to their duties or ministry;
   5. to ensure during the canonical visitation that what is prescribed regarding study is properly observed, especially the state of libraries;
   6. to determine annually with his council the amount of money needed for the promotion of studies.
2. He is to be helped in this task by the province’s commission for the intellectual life. The following are members of the commission: the regent of studies who is the president, the
   moderator of the centre of institutional studies, the promoter of ongoing formation, and others who are elected according to the statute of the province.
   It is the duty of this commission, under the authority of the prior provincial:
   1. to give prior advice on matters of importance pertaining to studies;
   2. to propose the Ratio Studiorum Particularis of the province, and to apply it;
   3. to coordinate the activities of the province’s centres of studies;
   4. to report each year in the provincial council on the intellectual life of the province.
3. He shall be helped also by the provincial promoter of ongoing formation, whom the chapter shall appoint and determine his function and scope.
4. A similar method of promoting studies shall be established in the statutes of the province’s vicariates.

Superiors should cherish study and should promote it energetically. They should ensure that all the brothers have the means and opportunity for study.

The brothers ought to apply themselves to study with perseverance, recognising that they are all colleagues, mutually indebted to one another. Such mutual collaboration becomes more effective if regulated by appropriate structures.

Assiduous study nourishes contemplation and fosters with a lucid fidelity the living of the evangelical counsels. The very perseverance it demands and its difficulty make of it a form of asceticism. Being an essential part of our life, it is an excellent religious observance.