Ordination

The brothers should always remember that their public statements (in books, newspapers, on radio and television, and other forms of mass media) 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.

Those brothers who have passed the Order’s examination for hearing confessions, by the fact of having a document of approval signed by the examiners, have delegated jurisdiction over those persons subject to the Order, except the nuns, and over those others who live day and night in our houses convents. (CCL 967-969).

The brothers may not preach within the confines of another province without the previous consent of its prior provincial, given at least habitually.

The brothers must have appropriate faculties for preaching and hearing confessions. (CCL, Code of Canon Law, 764-765, 966 and following).

The social dimension of our apostolate should be, and be seen to be, a true service to humanity. Such service will be confirmed by the efforts and undertakings on humanity’s behalf, in true gospel freedom, independent of particular factions.

The brothers ought to devote their energies to investigating human and moral problems that are constantly occurring. Working with experts in various social fields, they should pay due attention to the theological dimension of these problems.

1. First of all, the consciences of God’s people need to be enlightened about the implications of their membership of human society and they should be encouraged to join forces with all people of good will in a common effort to establish on earth a kingdom of justice, fraternal love and peace.
2. To achieve this, we should provide training, especially for the laity, acknowledging and supporting their proper mission of building modern society.

The task of preaching the kingdom of heaven already begun with the incarnation of the Word of God whose object it is to restore all things in Christ, impels us to promote the proper ordering of society. The right order of society, which the task of preaching urges us to promote, should be considered as a requirement for the spread of the kingdom of heaven, which, begun by the Incarnation of the Word of God, must be fulfilled in the universal community of men.

1. The brothers, as preachers of the gospel of Christ and aware of their great responsibility for the unity of the People of God, ought to foster an ecumenical spirit among Catholics so that the work of reconciliation may continue to develop.
2. Theological research in ecumenical questions is of pre-eminent importance. Those brothers who have proper scientific training should collaborate sincerely with other specialist theologians and institutes in promoting ecumenism.

1. Superiors should see to it that a convent, entrusted with or united to a parish, has all that is required, including a sufficient number of brothers, to combine appropriately conventual life with parish ministry.
2. The number of parishes in any province should be limited, to ensure that enough brothers remain who can devote themselves more freely and fully to other ministries of the word of God.

3. The prior provincial, with the consent of his council, is the competent superior to accept a parish, unless the provincial chapter shall have reserved this faculty to itself, or to the vicariate council with the approval of the provincial council.