Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists)
SOURCES OF THE O.C.S.O. CONSTITUTIONS
ABBREVIATIONS
Acts = The Bible quotations are token from New Revised Standard Version, Oxford University Press, 1989.
AG = Vatican II, Ad Gentes, Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity.
CA = Constitutions (former) of the OCSO (1924).
CC = Charter of Charity: from the Carta Posterior, in Cîteaux, documents primitifs, Cîteaux, 1988.
CD = Vatican II, Christus Dominus, Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office in the Church.
GC = General Chapter of the OCSO.
CIC = Codex Iuris Canonici, Code of Canon Law (English translation, Collins 1983).
DCL = Declaration on Cistercian Life, GC 1969 (abbots) and GC 1971 (abbesses).
EC = Exorde de Cîteaux (XIIe siècle) in Cîteaux, documents primitifs, Cîteaux, 1988.
EE = SCRIS, Essential Elements of Religious Life, May 31, 1983.
EM = Exordium Magnum (13th Century), ed. Bruno Griesser, Exordium magnum cisterciense
sive narratio de initio Cisterciensis Ordinis, Rome 1961.
EP = Exordium Parvum (12th Century), in Cîteaux, documents primitifs, Cîteaux, 1988.
GS = Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.
LG = Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.
OCSO = Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance.
PC = Vatican II, Perfectæ Caritatis, Decree on the Appropriate Renewal of the Religious Life.
PL = Patrologia latina.
PO = Vatican II, Presbyterorum Ordinis, Decree on the Ministry and the Life of Priests.
RB = Rule of St. Benedict, quoted from RB 1980, The Rule of St Benedict in Latin and
English, Collegeville, 1981.
SC = Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
SCRIS = Sacred Congregation for Religious and for Secular Institutes.
SUP = Statute on Unity and Pluralism, GC 1969 (abbots) and 1971 (abbesses).
Sources of the ConstitutionsThe sources of our Constitutions and Statutes are, of course, to be found in our principal legislation, the Rule of St. Benedict, the Charter of Charity and the documents around it, and also in the Cistercian tradition. Some sources are more recent: the Canon Law of the Church and the decisions of the last General Chapters of the Order. When borrowing or literary influence is obvious we quote the text. In other cases me give references that may be of particular importance. Normally we do not mention the Canons of the Code that the Constitutions already quote.
As far as possible we quote also merely literary borrowing.
Sometimes we give a remark, either to refer to our Cistercian fathers of the Middle Ages, or to clarify a point. But these remarks are very restricted as we are not proposing here a real commentary of the Constitutions, but only indicating the sources(1).
The following notes depend largely on the indications given by Fr Michael Casey, monk of Tarrawara, after the General Chapters of 1984 and 1985.
The numbers of the notes refer to the numbers of the Constitutions and Statutes.
Foreword
1.
Tart is called propria filia cisterciensis in a document of abbot Guy of Cîteaux, end of the XIIth century.Laybrothers: see EP XV.10.
The history of the beginnings of our Order is told in EP and EC. Peter of Celle's letter 174, PL 202, 632D, shows how quickly it spread "as far as the sea, and even farther".
3.
RB prol. 21 : per ducatum Evangelii «with the Gospel for our guide».PC 2.a : Cum vitæ religiosæ ultima norma sit Christi sequela in Evangelio proposita, hæc ab omnibus institutis tamquam suprema regula habeatur «Since the fundamental norm of the religious life is a following of Christ as proposed by the Gospel, such is to be regarded by all communities as their supreme law».
DCL : «Following the first Fathers of our Order we find in the Holy Rule of St Benedict the practical interpretation of the Gospel for ourselves».
4.
John-Paul II, Sacræ disciplinæ leges, January 25, 1983 : Optandum sane est, ut nova canonica legislatio efficax instrumentum evadat, cuius ope Ecclesia valeat se ipsam perficere secundum Concilii Vaticani II spiritum, ac magis magisque parem se præbeat salutifero suo muneri in hoc mundo exsequendo «It is very much to be hoped that the new canonical legislation will be an effective instrument by the help of which the Church will be able to perfect itself in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, and show itself ever more equal to carry out its salvific role in the world».
Constitutions and Statutes
2
PC 7 : Instituta quæ integre ad contemplationem ordinantur, ita ut eorum sodales in solitudine ac silentio, in assidua prece et alacri pœnitentia soli Deo vacent... «Members of those communities which are totally dedicated to contemplation give themselves to God alone in solitude and silence and through constant prayer and ready penance...»PC 9 : Monachorum præcipuum officium est divinæ Maiestati humile simul ac nobile servitium præstare intra septa monasterii, sive in umbratili vita integre se divino cultui dedicent... «The main task of monks is to render to the Divine Majesty a service at once simple and noble, within the monastic confines. This they do either by devoting themselves entirely to divine worship in a life that is hidden...»
DCL : «The community lives in an atmosphere of silence and separation of the world, and fosters and expresses its openess to God in contemplation... as Mary did...»
3.1
RB 1.2 Primum [monachorum genus] cœnobitarum, hoc est monasteriale, militans sub regula vel abbate «...(four kinds of monks) First, there are the cenobites, that is to say, those who belong to a monastery, where they serve under a rule and an abbot»; 58.7 : Si revera Deum quærit «whether the novice truly seeks God»; 4.10 ... ut sequatur Christum «... in order to follow Christ»; 4.78 stabilitas in congregatione «stability in the community»; Prol. 50 in monasterio perseverantes passionibus Christi per patientiam participemur, ut et regno eius mereamur esse consortes «faithfully observing his teaching in the monastery until death, we shall through patience share in the sufferings of Christ that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom».Ac 4,32 : Multitudinis autem credentium erat cor unum et anima una... erant illis omnia communia «The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul... everything they owned was held in common» (quoted in RB 33.6 and by many monastic authors).
Ga 6,2 : Alter alterius onera portate «Bear one another's burdens».
William of Saint Thierry : specialis caritatis schola «The unique school of charity» The nature and dignity of love, IV,26.
For "Schola Caritatis", see, e.g., Saint Bernard, sermon De diversis, 121. Cf. Etienne Gilson, The mystical theology of St Bernard, Kalamazoo 1990, pp. 60-84.
See Tractate 15, De vita cœnobitica, seu communi in: Baldwin of Ford, Spiritual Tractates , Kalamazoo, 1986, pp. 156-194.
DCL : «We carry out this search for God under a Rule and an Abbot in a community of love where all are responsible. It is through stability that we commit ourselves to this community».
3.2
RB Prol. 45 : Dominici schola servitii «a school for the Lord's service». See the above-mentioned references in 3.1.Ga 4,19 : ...donec formetur Christus in vobis «...until Christ is formed in you», A text often quoted by Guerric of Igny.
See Saint Bernard, letter 341, about irishmen sent by Malachy to the novitiate of Clairvaux for their formation donec plenius in eis formetur Christus... Cum igitur fuerint in schola Sancti Spiritus eruditi... tunc demum ad patrem filii revertentur «until Christ is more fully formed in them... When they have been instructed in the school of the Holy Ghost.. then they will return to their father...»
Saint Bernard, Sentences, I.12 : Memoria Dei, via est ad præsentiam Dei «The memory of God brings us to the presence of God».
DCL : «With hearts cleansed by the word of God, by vigils, fasting and by an unceasing conversion of life, we aim to become ever more disposed to receive from the Holy Spirit the gift of pure and continual prayer».
3.3
Ph 3,20 : Nostra autem conversatio in cœlis est «Our citizenship is in heaven», text commented upon by Saint Bernard, De præcepto et dispensatione, n. 59-60.RB 2.20 : sub uno Domino æqualem servitutis militiam baiulamus «we share alike in bearing arms in the service of the one Lord»; 4.20 : Sæculi actibus se facere alienum «Your way of acting should be different from the world's way»; 4.10 Abnegare semetipsum sibi ut sequatur Christum «Renounce yourself in order to follow Christ».
EC I.8 milites Christi «the soldiers of Christ».
DCL «God calls and we respond by truly seeking Him as we follow Christ in humility and obedience...Through the warmth of their welcome and hospitality our communities share the fruit of their contemplation and their work with others».
For the relation between quies and sapientia, see, e.g., Gilbert of Hoyland, Sermons on the Song of Songs I, Kalamazoo, 1978, p. 45: Nisi quieta mente quæri non potest delectatio sapientiæ «Only with a calm mind can one seek the delight of wisdom».
3.4
RB 43.3 : nihil Operi Dei præponatur «nothing is to be preferred to the Work of God». Ep 1,6.12.14 : in laudem gloriæ «for the praise of his glory...»1 Co 1,7 : ita ut nihil vobis desit in ulla gratia «so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift».
PC 7 : populum Dei... arcana fecunditate apostolica dilatant «by imparting a hidden apostolic fruitfulness, they make God's people grow».
DCL : «The community lives in an atmosphere of silence and separation of the world, and fosters and expresses its openess to God in contemplation... as Mary did...»
LG 63 : Deipara est Ecclesiæ typus, ut iam docebat S. Ambrosius, in ordine scilicet fidei, caritatis et perfectæ cum Christo unionis «As St. Ambrose taught, the Mother of God is a model of the Church in the matter of faith, charity, and perfect union with Christ. See St Ambroise, Expositio in Lucam, II,7.
Capitula, VIII.2 : the monasteries are founded in honor of the Queen of Heaven and Earth: see Cîteaux, Documents primitifs, p. 127.
3.5
RB 65.11 : ... ordinationem monasterii sui «it best for the abbot to make all decisions in the conduct of his monastery».RB 72.11-12 : Christo omnino nihil præponant qui nos pariter ad vitam æternam perducat «Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life».
4.1
Liturgical antiphon: Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor «The love of Christ brought us together in unity».CC, prol.3 : ... quo pacto quove modo, immo qua caritate monachi eorum per abbatias in diversis mundi partibus corporibus divisi animis indissolubiliter conglutinarentur «... by what pledge, or in what manner, indeed, with what charity their monks throughout abbeys in various parts of the world, though separated in body could in mind be indissolubly knit together».
EM I.29 : ... qualiter cœnobia ordinis nostri per diversas mundi partes propagata, diversis quoque linguis divisa mirabili caritatis connexione et honoris in invicem exhibitione conglutinata una ecclesia, unus ordo, unum denique corpus in Christo efficiantur... «... how the monasteries of our Order, living in various parts of the world and divided through different languages, are wonderfully connected and knit together by love and mutual respect. They form one Church, one Order and finally one Body in Christ...»
4.3
CC, Statute 3 : quatenus in actibus nostris nulla sit discordia, sed una caritate, una regula similibusque vivamus moribus «so that there may be no discord in our conduct, but that we may live by one charity, one Rule, and like usages».5
RB Prol. 19 : Quid dulcius nobis ab hac voce Domini invitantis nos, fratres carissimi? «What, dear brothers, is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us?»5.A.a
EP XV.14 : Et sicut ille monasteria constructa per duodenos monachos adiuncto patre disponebat, sic se acturos confirmabant «And as he used to set up the monasteries he constructed with twelve monks apiece and a father addition, they resolved to do likewise».6.A
Decree Cum monachorum from December 27, 1965 (n. 16545/65) about the unification of the communities : Qui iam professionem pro classe conversorum emiserunt, liberi sunt in propria condicione permanere «Those who have already made profession for the class of "conversi", are free to remain in the state which they have chosen».6.C
GC 1906, Actes p. 14.7
PC 7 : ...populum Dei... arcana fecunditate apostolica dilatant «... by imparting a hidden apostolic fruitfulness, they make God's people grow».See e.g. St Bernard, sermon De diversis, 55, on the six jars for purification.
8
PC 5 : Totam vitam suam Eius famulatui mancipaverunt, quod quidem constituit peculiarem quamdam consecrationem, quæ in baptismatis consecratione intime radicatur eamque plenius exprimit «They have handed over their entire life lives to God's service in an act of special consecration which is deeply rooted in their baptismal consecration and which provides an ampler manifestation of it».John-Paul II, Redemptionis donum, 25 mars 1984, n. 7 : Vocatione ad professionem religiosam estis adducti, qua Deo estis consecrati per ministerium Ecclesiæ simulque in Familiam vestram religiosam inserti «Your vocation has led you to religious profession, whereby you have been consecrated to God through the ministry of the Church, and have been at the same time incorporated into your religious family». The text continues commenting on the above-quoted passage of PC 5. See EE5 for the meaning of this consecration.
9
RB 4.78 : Officina vero... claustra sunt monasterii et stabilitas in congregatione «The workshop (where we are to toil faithfully at all these tasks) is the enclosure of the monastery and stability in the community».10
1 Ch 29,17 and gregorian offertory; Sg 1.1 : in simplicitate cordis quærite illum «Seek him in sincerity of heart».RB 58.7 : Si revera Deum quærit «whether the novice truly seeks God»; Prol. 21 : per ducatum Evangelii «with the Gospel for our guide»; RB 58.24-25 : Nihil sibi reservans ex omnibus, quippe qui ex illo die nec proprii corporis potestatem se habiturum scit «without keeping back a single thing for himself, well aware that from that day he will not have even his own body at his disposal».
CIC 599 : Evangelicum castitatis consilium propter Regnum cœlorum assumptum... obligationem secumfert continentiæ perfectæ in cælibatu. «The evangelical counsel of chastity embraced for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven... involves the obligation of perfect continence observed in celibacy».
11
RB 1.2 : sub regula vel abbate «under a rule and an abbot»; Prol. 3 : abrenuntians propriis voluntatibus «if you are ready to give up you own will, once and for all,»; RB 7.34 : imitans Dominum de quo dicit Apostolus : factus obœdiens usque ad mortem «imitating the Lord of whom the Apostle says: he became obedient even to death»; Prol. 45 : dominici schola servitii «a school for the Lord's service».See : RB chapters 5, 7, 71 and passim; PC 14; EE 6.
12
CIC 669.1 : Religiosi habitum instituti deferant, ad normam iuris proprii confectum, in signum suæ consecrationis et in testimonium paupertatis. «As a sign of their consecration and as a witness to poverty, religious are to wear the habit of their institute, determined in accordance with the institute's own law».SUP 10 : «The habit should be retained as the distinctive sign of our Order. Its use can differ from house to house».
13.1
Baldwin of Ford, De vita cœnobitica, seu communi in: Baldwin of Ford, Spiritual Tractates , Kalamazoo, 1986, p. 177 : Hæc est ergo lex vitæ communis, unitas spiritus in caritate Dei, vinculum pacis in mutua et continua caritate fratrum omnium, communio in omnibus bonis communicandis... «This is the law of the common life: unity of spirit in the charity of God, the bond of peace in the mutual and unfailing charity of all the brethren, the sharing of all the goods which should be shared...»13.2
RB 72.5 : Infirmitates suas sive corporum sive morum patientissime tolerent «supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior».See RB chapters 27, 36, 37...
RB 36.1 : Infirmorum cura ante omnia et super omnia adhibenda est, ut sicut revera Christo ita eis serviatur «Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ».
CIC 619 : Superiores... [sodalium] necessitatibus personalibus convenienter subveniant, infirmos sollicite curent ac visitent, corripiant inquietos, consolentur pusillanimes, patientes sint erga omnes «Superiors are to give the members opportune assistance in their personal needs. They are to be solicitous in caring for and visiting the sick: they are to chide the restless, console the fainthearted and be patient with all».
13.3
See CIC 665.1 : Religiosi in propria domo religiosa habitent vitam communem servantes, nec ab ea discedant nisi de licentia sui Superioris. Si autem agatur de diuturna a domo absentia, Superior maior, de consensu sui consilii atque iusta de causa, sodali concedere potest ut extra domum instituti degere possit, non tamen ultra annum, nisi causa infirmitatis curandæ, ratione studiorum aut apostolatus exercendi nomine instituti «Religious are to reside in their own religious house and observe the common life; they are not to stay elsewhere except with the permission of the superior. For a lengthy absence from the religious house, the major Superior, for a just reason and with the consent of the counsel, can authorize a member to live outside a house of the institute; such an absence is not to exceed one year, unless it be for reasons of health, studies, or an apostolate to be exercised in the name of the institute».14.1
Rm 12,5 : Multi unum corpus sumus in Christo, singuli autem alter alterius membra «We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another».Ep 4.16 : Ex quo [Christo] totum corpus... secundum operationem in mensuram uniuscuiusque membri, augmentum corporis facit in ædifi-cationem sui in caritate «(Christ), from whom the whole body... as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love». See CIC 208.
About sharing the spiritual gifts, see Aelred sermon 23, PL 195, 553A : «There is such a unity and harmony among them, although there are different degrees and some are superior to others, that they have in common what pertains to each one, and what is common is also for each one.».
14.2
RB 64.17 : discernat et temperet... «... he should be discerning and moderate...»; 64.19 : sic omnia temperet ut sit et fortes quod cupiant et infirmi non refugiant «he must so arrange everything that the strong have something to yearn for and the weak nothing to run from».See the decree Cum monachorum from December 27, 1965 (n. 16545/65) about the unification of the communities: Unum tantum genus religiosorum in Ordine exstat qui omnes Monachi sunt cum pari formatione monastica paribusque iuribus et obligationibus. Ideo "tantum illa retineatur diversitas quam operum distinctio exigit, ad quæ Monachi, ratione habita vel specialis Dei vacationis vel peculiaris aptitudinis, destinentur"... Qui iam professionem pro classe conversorum emiserunt, liberi sunt in propria condicione permanere «There is to be only one class of religious in the Order. All are monks; monastic formation is given on the same lines; rights and duties are to be the same. "It follows that the only difference which is to remain is that which arises from the various functions to which monks may be appointed, in consideration of the special vocation given them by God or of their special capacity"(2)...Those who have already made profession for the class of "conversi", are free to remain in the state which they have chosen».
SUP 3 : «In our daily horarium we keep the balance between the Opus Dei, Lectio Divina and Manual Work, as required by the Rule of St Benedict».
15.1
RB 13.12 : propter scandalorum spinas quæ oriri solent «because thorns of contention are likely to spring up»; 4.23 : Ira-cundiæ tempus non reservare «You are not to nurse a grudge»; 4.73 : Cum discordante ante solis occasum in pacem redire «If you have a dispute with someone, make peace with him before the sun goes down».15.1.A
SUP 11 : «The life of the community, as of each monk, should be marked by simplicity and poverty. Fraternal correction in the spirit of the Gospel is a help in this direction».15.2
RB 4.57 : Mala sua præterita cum lacrymis vel gemitu cotidie in oratione Deo confiteri «Every day with tears and sighs confess your past sins to God in prayers».CIC 664 : ... religiosi, conscientiam etiam cotidie examinent et ad pænitentiæ sacramentum frequenter accedant «Religious... are to examine their consciences daily, and to approach the sacrament of penance frequently».
15.2
(Nuns) : see the letter of the GC 1967 to the abbesses and nuns, Minutes pp. 149-150.16.1
See the document of the GC 1977 for stimulating responsible participation, Acts pp. 12-13.16.2
See RB 71-72.16.3-4
PC 14 : Subditos regant qua filios Dei et cum respectu personæ humanæ, illorum voluntariam subiectionem promoventes... Sodales eo perducant ut in muneribus obeundis et in inceptis suscipiendis activa atque responsabili obœdientia cooperentur. Itaque Superiores libenter sodales audiant necnon eorum conspirationem ad bonum instituti et Ecclesiæ promoveant, firma tamen sua auctoritate decernendi et præcipiendi quæ agenda sunt «Governing his subjects as God's own sons, and with regard for their human personality, a superior will make it easier for them to obey... Let him give the kind of leadership which will encourage religious to bring an active and reponsible obedience to the offices they shoulder and the activities they undertake. Therefore a superior should listen willingly to his subjects and encourage them to make a personal contribution to the welfare of the community and of the Church. Not to be weakened, however, is the superior's authority to decide what must be done and to require the doing of it». Text also in CIC 618.For the doctrine of the image of God, see the cistercian authors in the XIIth century; e.g. Saint Bernard, De gratia et libero arbitrio. See William of Saint Thierry : Perfice nos qui fecisti nos; perfice usque ad formam plenam imaginis et similitudinis tuæ ad quam formasti nos «You who have made us, bring us to perfection; perfect in us the image and likeness of yourself for which you made us» Meditation I,3, in The works of William of St Thierry, Volume I, Kalamazoo, 1971, p. 90.
17.1
Sacrificium laudis : Ps 49, 14.23; Ps 106, 22.SC 10 : «From the liturgy... as from a fountain... the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God, to which all other activities of the Church are directed as toward their goal, are most powerfully achieved».
17.2
SC 102 et 107 : «... nourish the piety of the faithful...»17.3
SC 106 : dies lætitiæ et vacationis ab opere «a day of joy and of freedom of work». SC 102, memory of His resurrection.See RB 4.56 : Orationi frequenter incumbere «devote yourself often to prayer».
18
LG 11 : Sacrificium eucharisticum, totius vitæ christianæ fontem et culmen, participantes... «Taking part in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, which is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life...» See SC 10, PO 5, CD 30.CIC 663.2 : to participate each day, if possible, in the Eucharistic sacrifice.
19.1
RB 43.3 : Nihil operi Dei præponatur «nothing is to be preferred to the Work of God».SC 83 : Illud enim sacerdotale munus per ipsam suam Ecclesiam pergit, quæ non tantum Eucharistia celebranda, sed etiam aliis modis, præsertim Officio divino persolvendo, Dominum sine intermissione laudat et pro totius mundi salute interpellat « For He continues his priestly work through the agency of His Church, which is ceaselessly engaged in praising the Lord and interceding for the salvation of the whole world . This she does not only by celebrating the Eucharist, but also in other ways, especially by praying the divine Officer». Text also in CIC 1173. Sacrificium laudis : Ps 49, 14.23; Ps 106, 22.
19.1.A
SC 88 : Cum sanctificatio diei sit finis Officii... «Because the purpose of the day is to sanctify the day, the traditional sequence of he hours is to be restored, so that as far as possible they may once again be genuinely related to the time of the day at which they are prayed». See also CIC 1175.19.2.A
SC 11 : ... advigilandum est ut... fideles scienter, actuose et fructuose eandem [celebrationem] participent «... It is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part knowingly, actively and fruitfully».19.2.B
See Constitution 14.2.19.2.C
See the decree of the SCRIS from October 19, 1977 (n. 6390/74) : Procurator Generalis... postulat ut, quando cuidam communitati specialis circumstantiæ reddunt difficilem observationem persolvendi tres parvas horas divini officii, Abbas respectivi Monasterii ab una alterave hora dispensare valeat... Sacra Congregatio pro Religiosis et Institutis sæcularibus, attentis expositis, annuit pro gratia iuxta preces, dummodo diligenter actuentur indicationes hac in re a Capitulo generali emanatæ... «The Procurator General asks, that, in cases in which special circumstances render it difficult for a community to perform the three Little Hours of the Divine Office, the Abbot of that monastery may be able to dispense from one or another Hour... The Sacred Congregation for Religious and for Secular Institutes, having studied the exposé of facts, grants the favor requested, provided the indications given by the general chapter should be carefully respected».See the information given by the procurator when communicating the decree: «... the "indications" are the conditions and limits given by the General Chapter: after recourse to the Abbot General and his Permanent Counsel...» See GC 1977, Minutes, pp. 151-153: about confirming the indult 6390/74 that reserved for the Abbot General the right to dispense. It was also clarified at the Chapter that: «One could avail oneself of this dispensation more easily when the omission was for the occasion only - "per modum actus"».
19.3
See RB 50.SC 95 : Omnes autem illarum Communitatum [choro obligatarum] sodales, qui sunt aut in Ordinibus maioribus constituti aut solemniter professi, conversis exceptis, debent eas Horas canonicas soli recitare, quas in choro non persolvunt «All members of the afore-mentioned communities (obliged to choral Office) who are in major orders or who are solemnly professed, except for lay brothers, are bound to recite individually those canonical hours which they do not pray in choir». See also CIC 663.3, referring to CIC 276.2-3.
Application for us in the decree Cum monachorum from december 27, 1965 (n. 16545/65) on unification of the communities. The GC 1969, vote 71, «declares that the obligation to recite an Office is no greater for the choro non addicti than for our laybrothers». For the choro non addicti the decree provides for a choice of three possibilities «as the Abbot may arrange»; but the choro addicti, even those not in sacred orders, must recite the entire Office «unless, in the Abbots judgement, there is any special reason».
See Julio Manzanares, «De obligatione Liturgiam Horarum cotidie persolvendi», Notitiæ, 1991, n.297, pp. 189-206.
20
See Saint Bernard, On the Song of Songs, sermon 11, about frequently and, if possible, continually remembering God's blessings.For the vocabulary of contemplation (quies, otium, vacare, memoria Dei...), see Jean Leclercq, Otia Monastica. Études sur le vocabulaire de la contemplation au moyen âge, Rome 1963, (Studia Anselmiana 51).
21
The four traditional degrees of the spiritual ladder: Lectio, meditatio (here : ruminare), oratio, contemplatio.22
Ph 3,20 : Nostra autem conversatio in cœlis est «Our citizenship is in heaven». Alain of Lille, Anticlaudianus, 1,6, PL 210, 493B : Insideat cœlis animo, sed corpore terris «That his spirit may live in heaven, but his body on earth».RB 4.56 : Orationi frequenter incumbere «devote yourself often to prayer»; 4.46 : Vitam æternam omni concupiscentia spiritali desiderare «Yearn for everlasting life with holy desire»; 52.4 : in lacrimis et intentione cordis «with tears and heartfelt devotion». Antiphon Salve Regina : Vita, dulcedo et spes nostra.
Saint Bernard, Super Missus est, 2,17 : Mariam invoca. Non recedat ab ore, non recedat a corde... «Call out to Mary. Keep her in your mouth, keep her in your heart...»
Saint Bernard, sermon De diversis, 15,4 : Invenisti sapientiam... si æternam beatitudinem toto desiderio concupiscas «You have found wisdom... if all your desires are centered on everlasting life». Jean Leclercq : «Monastic literature in the Middle Ages is very often a literature of "compunction" to sustain, to stimulate and to communicate the desire of God» Initiation aux auteurs monastiques du moyen âge, 2e éd., Paris 1963, p. 67.
22.A
SUP 5 : «The monk who is tending to a life of continual prayer, needs a fixed amount of prayer each day. The Abbot will see to this for the community as a whole and for each individual monk in particular».23.A
SUP 4 : «The hour of rising is so regulated that Vigils, which follows it, should keep his traditional character of nocturnal prayer - as wa watch for the coming of the Lord».24
See RB 6 : De taciturnitate «Restraint of speech».RB 42.1 : Omni tempore silentium debent studere monachi, maxime tamen nocturnis horis «Monks should diligently cultivate silence at all times, but especially at night».
See the tractate De interiori domo, ch. XXVII, PL 184, 536-537.
About guarding the thoughts see e.g. St Bernard, sermon De diversis, 17, about guarding the hand, the tongue and the heart
24.A-B
SUP 6 : «This search for a life of prayer should be lived in an atmosphere of recollection and silence for which all are responsible. In particular, the great silence at night and the silence in the regular places will be maintained».25
PC 7 : in assidua prece et alacri pœnitentia soli Deo vacent... «... they give themselves to God alone... through constant prayer and ready penance...». Simplicity of heart, see Constitution 10.Saint Bernard, letter 42,37 on the life and duties of the bishops: Labor et latebræ et voluntaria paupertas, hæc sunt monachorum insignia... «Manual work, solitude, voluntary poverty are the distinctive marks of monks...»; letter 142,1 to the monks of Aulps : Ordo noster abiectio est, humilitas est, voluntaria paupertas est... «Our place is abjection, humility, voluntary poverty...»
26
John-Paul II, Laborem exercens, 25 : ... hominem, ad Dei factum imaginem, per laborem suum participare Creatoris opus ac secundum proprias facultates quodammodo pergere illud exsequi opus ac perficere... «... man, created to the image of God, participates through his work in the work of the Creator, and continues, in a certain way, according to his possibilities, to develop and to complete it...»;27: Sudor ac fatigatio, quæ labor in præsentem hominum condicionem necessario importat, christiano immo et omni homini ad Christum sequendum vocato facultatem præbet communicandi, per amorem, operis illius, quod Christus venit ut efficeret... Homo igitur, laboris fatigationem una cum Christo pro nobis cruci affixo perferens, operatur quodam modo simul cum Dei Filio ad generis humani redemptionem «Sweat and pains inevitably go with work in the actual human condition, but they give the christian and every one, who indeed is called to follow Christ, the possibility to participate with love in the work of Christ... Bearing the pains of work in union with Christ, crucified for us, we work in a certain way with the Son of God for the redemption of all men».
For the intentions of the founders of Cîteaux, see EP XV.
27
Saint Bernard, Sermo in tempore messis, 3,9 (formerly De diversis, 37) : Simplex natura simplicitatem cordis exquirit «Divine nature is simple and requires simplicity of heart».RB 22.2 : Lectisternia pro modo conversationis secundum dispen-sationem abbatis sui accipiant «They receive bedding as provided by the abbot, suitable to monastic life»; 55.11 : Iam quod supra fuerit superfluum, amputari debet «anything more must be taken away as superfluous».
EP XVII.5 : Ne quid in domo Dei... remaneret quod superbiam aut superfluitatem redoleret, aut paupertatem custodem virtutum quam sponte elegerant, aliquando corrumperet... «lest there remain in the house of God, ... anything that might at any time corrupt the poverty -- guardian of virtues -- which they had voluntarily chosen».
Capitula, XI : Vestitus simplex et vilis... «Clothing will be simple and plain...» (Cîteaux, documents primitifs, p.129).
SUP 9 : «Our diet should be simple and frugal...»
SUP 11 : «The life of the community, as of each monk, should be marked by simplicity and poverty...»
28
See Mt 14.14 : Jesus has compassion for the great crowd who is hungry.SC 110 about the «pascal fast».
About the fast times in the beginning of our tradition see, see RB 41.
28.C
See RB 49.6-10.29.1
RB 4.21 : Nihil amori Christi præponere «the love of Christ must come before all else»; 4.20 : Sæculi actibus se facere alienum «Your way of acting should be different from the world's way».EP XV.13 : monasteries built in places removed from popular concourse.
Pascal II, Bulla Desiderium (1110) : «The place where you have chosen to dwell for monastic quiet is to be safe and free from all mortal molestation».
See CIC 667.2, for the enclosure in monasteries of monks; 667.3 and 4, for the enclosure in monasteries of cloistered nuns; the instruction of the SCRIS, Venite seorsum, from August 15, 1969.
See the «Pastoral Directive on Solitude and Enclosure», GC 1974, Acts pp. 31-32 and «Hospitality and Withdrawal from the world» GC 1977, Acts pp. 14-17.
29.2
(monks) and 29.8 (nuns) : the use of mass media, see CIC 666 and Venite seorsum, 10. See the Pastoral Directive of Mass Media, GC 1974, Acts p. 32.30
RB 53 : Omnes supervenientes hospites tamquam Christus susci-piantur... Pauperum et peregrinorum maxime susceptioni cura sollicite exhibeatur, quia in ipsis magis Christus suscipitur... «All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ... Great care and concern are to be shown in receiving poor people and pilgrims, because in them more particularly Christ is received...»SUP 8 : «Our monasteries should practice generous hospitality, but this should not be allowed to interfere with the contemplative nature of our way of life».
Decree of the SCRIS from June 27, 1956, allowing to admit retreats in our guest-houses, provided they do not harm the pars melior, in these places that... monastica quiete et aedificatione pervadantur : in V. Hermans, Commentarium cistercience... in codicis canones de Religiosis, Rome 1961, p. 114.
30.A
See the fundamental directives Mutuæ relationes, published by the Holy See on March 14, 1978, n. 25.«
Religious communities, especially of contemplative life, maintaining of course, fidelity to their distinctive spirit (cf. PC, 7; AG, 40), should offer people appropriate aids for prayer and for their personal spiritual life, so that they can respond to the pressing need, today more deeply felt than ever, for meditation and deepening of faith. They should also offer them the opportunity and facility to participate suitably in their liturgical functions, always respecting the requirements of the enclosure and the rules laid down in this regard».
GC 1977, «Hospitality and withdrawal from the world».
30.B
RB 53.2 : Omnibus congruus honor exhibeatur, maxime domesticis fidei et peregrinis... «Proper honor must be shown to all, especially to those who share our faith (Gal 6:10) and to pilgrims».31
CIC 674 : ...quantumvis actuosi apostolatus urgeat necessitas, sodales horum institutorum [integre ad contemplationem ordinatorum] advocari nequeunt ut in variis ministeriis pastoralibus operam adiutricem præstent «... no matter how urgent the needs of the active apostolate, the members of these institutes (wholly directed to contemplation) cannot be called upon to assist in the various pastoral ministries».SCRIS, The contemplative dimension of religious life, guidelines formulated by the Plenaria of March 1980, n. 26: "Their contemplative life, then, is their primary and fundamental apostolate, because it is their typical and characteristic way in God's special design to the Church, to live in the Church, to achieve communion with the Church and to carry out a Mission in the Church».
32
CIC 678.1 : ... potestati Episcoporum, quos devoto obsequio ac reverentia prosequi tenentur,... «... the authority of the bishops, whom they are bound to treat with sincere obedience and reverence». CIC 590.2 : Singuli sodales Summo Pontifici, tamquam supremo eorum Superiori, etiam ratione sacri vinculi obœdientiæ parere tenentur «The individual members are bound to obey the Supreme Pontiff as their highest superior, by reason also of their sacred bound of obedience».33.1
RB 2.2 : Christi enim agere vices in monasterio creditur «He is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery»; 63.13 : Abbas autem, quia vices Christi creditur agere... «But the abbot, because we believe that he holds the place of Christ...»CIC 618 : Superiores in spiritu servitii suam potestatem a Deo per ministerium Ecclesiæ receptam exerceant... «The authority which Superiors receive from God through the ministry of the Church is to be exercised by them in a spirit of service...»
33.2
Tt 3,4 : Cum autem benignitas et humanitas apparuit Salvatoris nostri Dei «But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared»RB 27.1 : Omni sollicitudine curam gerat abbas...«The abbot must exercise the utmost care and concern...»; 2.32 : ... se omnibus conformet et aptet ut non solum detrimenta gregis sibi commissi non patiatur... «He must so accommodate and adapt himself to each one's character and intelligence that he will not only keep the flock entrusted to his care from dwindling ...»
Prol. 19 : Quid dulcius nobis ab hac voce Domini invitantis nos...? «What is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us...?» Prol. 49 : ... dilatato corde inenarrabili dilectionis dulcedine curritur... «... we shall run, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love».
RB 64.15 : Studeat plus amari quam timeri «Let him strive to be loved rather than feared».
PC 14 : Superiores... auctoritatem exerceant ita ut caritatem qua Deus illos [fratres] diligit exprimant «Let him use his authority... and manifest thereby the charity with which God loves the brethren».
33.3
Schola Christi : an expression frequently used by Saint Bernard.RB 2. especially 2.7; 2.11...
CIC 619 : Superiores... nutriant sodales frequenti verbi Dei pabulo... Eis exemplo sint in virtutibus colendis et in observantia legum et traditionum proprii instituti... «Superiors are... frequently to nourish their members with the food of God's word... They are to be an example in cultivating virtue and in observing the laws and traditions proper to the institute...»
33.3.B
CIC 630.5 : Sodales cum fiducia Superiores adeant, quibus animum suum libere ac sponte aperire possunt. Vetantur autem Superiores eos quoquo modo inducere ad conscientiæ manifestationem sibi peragendam «The members are to approach their superiors with trust and be able to open their minds freely and spontaneously to them. Superiors, however, are forbidden in any way to induce the members to make a manifestation of conscience to themselves».33.4
RB 27.1-2 et 5 : Omni sollicitudine curam gerat abbas... Et ideo uti debet omni modo ut sapiens medicus, inmittere senpectas id est seniores sapientes fratres... Magnopere enim debet sollicitudinem gerere abbas et omni sagacitate et industria currere, ne aliquam de ovibus sibi creditis perdat «... The abbot must exercise the utmost care and concern... Therefore, he ought to use every skill of a wise physician and send in senpectae, that is, mature and wise brothers... It is the abbot' responsibility to have great concern and to act with all speed, discernment and diligence in order not to lose any of the sheep entrusted to him».RB 28.2 et 4 : ... tunc abbas faciat quod sapiens medicus... adhibeat etiam - quod maius est - suam et omnium fratrum pro eo orationem... «... the abbot should follow the procedure of a wise physician...let him apply an even better remedy: he and all the brothers should pray for him...»
RB 46.6 : ... qui sciat curare et sua et aliena vulnera... «... who know how to heal their own wounds as well as those of others...»
34.1
CIC 596.1 et 2 : in addition to the power that superiors, abbots and abbesses, have by reason of the religious charisma (§ 1), Superiors in clerical religious institutes of pontifical right have the ecclesiastical power of governance, for both the external and the internal forum.35
RB 65.15 : ... quemcumque elegerit abbas cum consilio fratrum timentium Deum ordinet ipse sibi præpositum «... let him, with the advice of God-fearing brothers, choose the man he wants and himself make him his prior»; 21.1-3 : ... constituantur decani qui sollicitudinem gerant super decanias suas in omnibus secundum mandata Dei et præcepta abbatis sui. Qui decani tales elegantur in quibus securus abbas partiat onera sua... «... some brothers should be made deans. They will take care of their groups of ten, managing all affairs according to the commandments of God and the orders of their abbot. The deans selected should be the kind of men with whom the abbot can confidently share the burdens of his office».RB 31.19 : ut nemo perturbetur neque constristetur in domo Dei «so that no one may be disquieted or distressed in the house of God».
36.1
See RB 3 and passim. See PC 14 et CIC 618.36.2
See CIC 127.CA 9.1 : the null votes are not counted; for the abstentions see GC 1977 (abbots), vote 80 and GC 1978 (abbesses), vote 36.
36.3
See CA 62, applied to every conventual act: no vote by letter or by proxy.36.3.B
GC 1977 (abbots), votes 75-79. See GC 1978 (abbesses), votes 28, 31 et 32.39.1
CC, Statute 18a : Si qua domus ordinis nostri abbate proprio fuerit destituta, major abbas de cujus domo domus illa exivit, omnem curam habeat ordinationis illius, donec in ea abbas alius eligatur «If any house of our Order be deprived of its own abbot, the abbatial superior (maior abbas) of the house from which that one issued, is to have full charge of its administration (ordinationis) until another abbot be elected in it;».39.2
RB 64.5 : ... domui Dei dignum constituant dispensatorem «they must set a worthy steward in charge of God's house».CC, Statute 18b : et præfixa die electionis, etiam ex abbatibus, si quos domus illa genuit, advocentur, et consilio et voluntate patris abbatis, abbates et monachi domus illius abbatem eligant «the day of the election having been set, let some of the abbots -- should that house have given birth to any -- be convoked; and with the advice and permission of the father abbot, let the abbots and the monks of the house elect an abbot».
39.3.A
GC 1974, vote 52 and GC 1977, vote 54.39.3.B
CC, Statute 21 : Liceat autem cuique matri ecclesiæ ordinis nostri non solum de monachis filiarum suarum ecclesiarum, sed de ipsis quoque abbatibus earum libere sibi, si necesse fuerit, assumere abbatem «Let it be allowable for any mother church of our Order freely to take, if necessary, an abbot not only from among the monks of her daughter churches, but also from their abbots themselves».39.4
GC 1969, vote 29; GC 1974, votes 55-57.39.5
See CA 9.4 (different from CIC 1129.1).39.6
GC 1977, vote 57.40.A
GC 1969, minutes p. 123.40.B
See GC 1977, vote 139 : a consultation of other abbots is always useful. However we leave the oportuneness of this consultation to the judgement of the abbot general and his council.40.C
See the apostolic rescript from July 8, 1927, in GC 1927, Actes p. 26.41.2
RB 64.5 : ... sed domui Dei dignum constituant dispensatorem «they must set a worthy steward in charge of God's house».See CIC 222.2 for the obligation of the faithful to promote social justice.
41.3
CIC 640 : Instituta... pro viribus ex propriis bonis aliquid conferant ad Ecclesiæ necessitatibus et egenorum sustentationi subveniendum «The institutes... are to do all in their power to donate something from their own resources to help the needs of the Church and the support of the poor».See CC, Statute 17: should any church fall into intolerable impoverishment, let ... the abbots, one and all, enkindled by the most intense fire of charity, hasten to relieve the penury of that church
42
See CIC 634.1.43.2-3
See GC 1967, Decree on Temporal Administration, Minutes pp. 145-148.44
This constitution applies the universal law of CIC 638.45.1
Ep 4,13 : in mensuram ætatis plenitudinis Christi «to the measure of the full stature of Christ».For the doctrine of image and likeness see 16.3-4.
45.2
Saint Bernard, sermon De diversis, 3,1.Virgile, The Eneid, I,204 : Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum tendimus in Latinum... «Running often risk and danger we go to Latium...», quoted by the author of the Life of Odilo of Cluny, VII.7, PL 142, 921 (but changing the end of the journey): Per varios casus per tot discrimina rerum tendimus ad regnum cœli «Running often risk and danger we go to the Kingdom of Heaven»
This author combines Virgile and Acts 14,22. This verse of Acts is quoted by Saint Bernard, sermon De diversis, 28,2 (in fine). See EC I.7.
For the support of the community for the formation see Gilbert of Hoyland, Treatise 2,1, in Gilbert of Hoyland, Treatises, Epistles and Sermons, Kalamazoo, 1981, p. 16: Quod non potest singularitas, obtinet communitas, obtinet caritas. Quæramus ergo unanimiter et quæremus utiliter «What singularity can not embrace community does, charity does embrace. Let us seek then in union of hearts and we shall seek in unity of action».
45.3
CIC 652.3 : Novitii, propriæ responsabilitatis conscii, ita cum magistro suo active collaborent ut gratiæ divinæ vocationis fideliter respondeant «Novices, conscious of their own responsibility, are to cooperate actively with the director of novices, so that they may faithfully respond to the grace of their divine vocation».46.1
RB 58.1 : Noviter veniens quis ad conversationem, non ei facilis tribuatur ingressus «Do not grant newcomers to the monastic life an easy entry»; 58.8 : Prædicentur ei omnia dura et aspera per quæ itur ad Deum «The novice should be clearly told all the hardships and difficulties that will lead him to God»; 58.7 : Et sollicitudo sit si revera Deum quærit... «The concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God...»See CIC 642.
See : Saint Bernard, sermon De diversis, 95, how love and the voice of the Spirit in us can relieve the hardships and difficulties of the Rule that daunt the postulant...
46.2
The universal law referred to is found in CIC 684 et 685.47
RB 58.6 : Et senior eis talis deputetur qui aptus sit ad lucrandas animas... «A senior chosen for his skill in winning souls should be appointed...»The condition of age: GC 1977, votes 66-70.
48
The conditions for admission are defined in CIC 643-645.49.1
See CIC 646 and 652.49.2
School of love : see 3.1.Self-knowledge :
Saint Bernard insists on the necessity of self-knowledge in De gradibus humilitatis et superbiæ, e.g. it is the first degree (ch. IV). For William of Saint-Thierry and Saint Bernard, see Pierre Courcelle, Connais-toi toi-même. De Socrate à saint Bernard, Paris 1974, (Etudes augustiniennes), p. 253-272.
50
CIC 649.2 : possibility of anticipating temporary profession.51
RB 58.7 : Et sollicitudo sit si revera Deum quærit, si sollicitus est ad opus Dei, ad obœdientiam, ad opprobria «The concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God and whether he shows eagerness for the Work of God, for obedience and for trials».52.1
See CIC 655 et 657.2.53
See CIC 659-660.See the Ratio institutionis approved by the GC 1990.
54
RB 58.14 et 16 : Et si habita secum deliberatione promiserit... quem sub tam morosam deliberationem... «If after due reflection he promises... which, in the course of so prolonged a period of reflection»See CIC 657.3 : possibility of anticipating solemn profession.
57
(monks) RB 62.1 : Si quis abbas sibi presbyterum vel diaconem ordinari petierit... «Any abbot who asks to have a priest or deacon ordained...»58
Saint Bernard, Sermon 43,4, in Saint Bernard, On the Song of Songs II, Kalamazoo, 1983, p. 223: Hæc mea subtilior, interior philosophia, scire Iesum, et hunc crucifixum... «This is my philosophy, one more refined and interior, to know Jesus and him crucified». See also On psalm Qui habitat, 7.12; sermon De diversis, 5.5; De consideratione, III.15.SCRIS, The contemplative dimension of religious life, guidelines formulated by the Plenaria of March 1980, n. 27: «It must be emphasized that there is a need for appropriate initial and ongoing formation for their vocation and their contemplative life of seeking God "in solitude and silence, in constant prayer and willing penance" (PC 7). There must be a serious effort to base this formation on biblical, patristic, liturgical and spiritual foundations, and to prepare persons who are qualified to form others».
58.C
RB 31.17 : ... et ipse æquo animo impleat officium sibi commissum «that he may calmly perform the duties of his office».59.2
See CIC 702.60
See CIC 684.3.60.B
GC 1906, Actes p. 15 et GC 1967, Actes p. 155.62.1
CIC 686.1 et 2.62.1.A
CIC 686.3.62.2
CIC 687.63.1
CIC 688.2.63.2
CIC 689.1.64
CIC 691.66
CIC 690.67.1
See CIC 616.3 and 4.67.2
CIC 616.1 : ... De bonis domus suppressæ provideat ius proprium instituti, salvis fundatorum vel offerentium voluntatibus et iuribus legitimis quæsitis «The institute's own lawn is to make provision for the disposal of the goods of the suppressed house, with due regard for the wishes of founders or benefactors and for the lawfully acquired rights».68.1
AG 40 : rogantur hæc Instituta [vitæ contemplativæ] ut domos in locis missionum condant... «These (contemplative) communities are urged to found houses in mission areas...»AG 18 : Cum enim vita contemplativa ad plenitudinem præsentiæ Ecclesiæ pertineat, ubique instauretur «The comtemplative life belongs to the fullness of the Church's presence, and should therefore be everywhere established».
Dom Gabriel Sortais, The function of contemplative Orders in Mission countries, 1953.
69.1
Ps 143,12 : quorum filii sicut novellæ plantationes in iuventute sua «May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown». Text used in EC 11.69.1.B
See CC, Statute 17: should any church fall into intolerable impoverishment, let ... the abbots, one and all, enkindled by the most intense fire of charity, hasten to relieve the penury of that church...69.1.C
SCRIS, The contemplative dimension of religious life, guidelines formulated by the Plenaria of March 1980, n. 27: «Special attention must be given to developing churches and to monasteries in isolated localities and in need of the special help and means to accomplish this... ways and means should be studied to give effective help to those monasteries in the area of formation (formation teams, books, correspondence courses, tapes, records...)»70
EP XVII.3, : amator regulæ et loci «who was a lover of the Rule and of the place».GS 42.4 : Cum... ad nullam alligetur particularem culturæ humanæ formam aut systema politicum, œconomicum vel sociale, Ecclesia... «Moreover... the Church is bound to no particular form of human culture, nor to any political, economic, or social system...»
AG 18 : Speciali mentione digna sunt varia ad vitam contemplativam radicandam incepta... omnes tamen genuinam aptationem ad condiciones locales quærere studeant «Worthy of special mention are the various projects aimed at helping the contemplative life take root... all are striving to work out a genuine adaptation to local conditions».
71.1
CC, Prol. 3 : ... quo pacto quove modo, immo qua caritate monachi eorum per abbatias in diversis mundi partibus corporibus divisi animis indissolubiliter conglutinarentur «... by what pledge, or in what manner, indeed, with what charity their monks throughout abbeys in various parts of the world, though separated in body could in mind be indissolubly knit together».EM I.29 : ... qualiter cœnobia ordinis nostri per diversas mundi partes propagata, diversis quoque linguis divisa mirabili caritatis connexione et honoris in invicem exhibitione conglutinata una ecclesia, unus ordo, unum denique corpus in Christo efficiantur... «... how the monasteries of our Order, living in various parts of the world and divided through different languages, are wonderfully connected and knit together by love and mutual respect. They form one church, one Order and finally one Body in Christ...»
72.1
GC 1213, 3 : speaks about monasteries of nuns iam incorporatæ Ordini, «already incorporated in the Order». The monasteries that, in the future, will be admitted ad unitatem Ordinis, «to the unity of the Order», will be submitted to the enclosure. From the beginning the monasteries of nuns live the cistercian conversatio under the cura, the pastoral care of abbots of the Order.73
See CC, Statute 11a.74.1
CC, Statute 6.6 : ... Si autem præcepta regulæ vel nostri ordinis intellexerit in eodem loco prævaricari, cum consilio præsentis abbatis caritative studeat (fratres) corrigere «... But if he understands that the precepts of the Rule or of our order are being prevaricated in that place, with the advice of the abbot, and with him present, he should charitably apply himself to making the correction».About respecting the autonomy, see Statute 6.5 and the Summary of the CC (Summa CC) III.2.
75.1
See CC, Statute 7.75.2
Among the norms of the General Chapter there are those for the visitation De forma visitationis, adopted between 1152 and 1175, published in Cîteaux, documents primitifs, Cîteaux, 1988, p. 137-141.77.1
CC, Statute 12 and CA 4.CC, Statute 13 : (In quo capitulo) de salute animarum suarum tractent, in observatione sanctæ regulæ vel ordinis, si quid emendandum est vel augendum, ordinent, bonum pacis et caritatis inter se reforment «In that chapter let them treat of the welfare of their own souls; if something is to be emended or added to in the observance of the Holy Rule or of the order, let them so ordain, and let them re-establish among themselves the good of peace and charity».
RB 2.33 : ne dissimulans aut parvipendens salutem animarum sibi commissarum «not neglecting or treating lightly the welfare of those entrusted to him»; 3.11 : cum timore Dei et observatione regulæ omnia faciat «the abbot himself must fear God and keep the rule in everything he does»; 65.11 : propter pacis caritatisque custodiam «For the preservation of peace and love».
77.2
Letter of the SCRIS from July 15, 1970 (n. 1788/64) : «It is important... that we should leave the nuns that autonomy which is their due. It is the business of the nuns, not of the monks Chapter, to study the legislation for the nuns, to discuss it, and finally to decide upon it, in so far as this is not reserved to the Holy See».77.2.A
See CIC 631.3 : ... quilibet sodalis optata sua et suggestiones capitulo generali liber mittere potest «...any individual member may freely submit (his) wishes and suggestions to the general chapter».79
See CA 2.81
See the document approved by the GC 1977, Acts p. 46.82.1
See the "Role of the Abbot General" approved by the GC 1974, Acts p. 35-36 (GC 1975, abbesses, p. 24-25) : «... Center of unity... watchful guardian of the living tradition of Cîteaux...»GC 1971, vote 81.a : «to promote spiritual renewal...»
82.2
CA 16 : Legum proprii nominis ferandarum jus non habet. Neque de bonis, neque de personis Communitatum statuere potest, sed tantum quædam ad tempus decernere, ubi necessitas id postulet «The Abbot General has not the right to enact laws properly so called. He cannot dispose either of the property or of the persons of the communities, but can only take temporary measures when necessity requires it».CA 17 : Negotia quorum expeditio ad Capitulum Generale pertineat ad ipsum differet, si commode id fieri possit «He shall postpone until the General Chapter any questions of which the solution falls within its province, if this can conveniently be done».
CA 7 : In virtue of his office he presides over the General Chapter
CA 20 : He confirms the elections of all titular superiors».
82.2.C
CA 19 : Generali Capitulo rationem reddere tenetur administrationis suæ «He is bound to give an account of his administration to the General Chapter».82.2.D
CA 21 : He may make a visitation in the monasteries, even those which the Father Immediate has already visited.82.2.E
GC 1962, minutes p. 17.83.1
Conditions for election : GC 1974, votes 27-34 (and GC 1971, vote 80b).CA 27 : confirmation is not needed.
83.2.A
GC 1974, vote 35.83.1.B
CA 26.2.84.1.A
GC 1974, vote 48.84.1.F
GC 1971, vote 84.84.1.H
See CA 36- 38.1. The exhortations of the Popes to the religious are an excellent commentary on the Decrees of the Council who are sources of our Constitutions. Special attention should be given to Paul VI, Evangelica Testificatio, from June 29, 1971, and John-Paul II, Redemptionis Donum, from March 25, 1984. We give explicit references only in case of borrowing from them. Other instructions or letters can be found in all our libraries. More important are, of course, those directed to members of our Order, e.g. by Paul VI to dom Ignace Gillet, December 8, 1968.
2. The sentence between " " is inspired by PC 15.
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