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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 GENERAL RULE -OF TUB- POSTO U -OF- SEGTJLKR PRIESTS :e>i^ioei TEisr oEiTifr©^ TRMISUTin f ROM THl FKKH ABB P«WTW — -AT THK OFFICI or THE MSSmEA_OLmE MCREOSASI il -.--1. 11V •'' / o:2eih<^ y^th /'a J: k GENERAL RULE ■OF THE- Apostolic Union i ■OF- SECULAR PRIESTS. a 1 -J ^ I -J GENERAL RULE OF THE- KPOSTO \-y ± -OF SECULAR PRIESTS TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH AND PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE MESSENGER OF THE SACRED HEART. ft64 5 TRANSLATORS PREFACE. In the month of October, 1880, the Messenger of the Sacred Heart published an article in reference to the Apostolic Union of Secular Priests. The same periodical published also an extract of the same article for gratuitous distribution to ecclesias- tical dignitaries. The consequence of such distri- bution was the request to have the regulations of the Unio7i^ to see if and how it could be introduced in the States. The little experience we have of the circumstances and condition of the Secular Clergy in the United States, induces us to believ? that the regulations admitted with profit in Eurc pean dio- ceses of different nations are not all so adapted for the States as to be put easily into practice. Never- theless we publish a translation of them just as we received them. We are free to modify the same according as either the Ordinaries, or priests ap- pointed by them to organize the Apostolic Union, deem it to be better suited to produce the benefits desired by this Association, We pray God that all those in whose hands the present pamphlet shall come may be inspired by that spirit of Union so dear to that Lord who prayed that we should be One as He and the Father are One. "*« GENERAL RULE ■OF THE- APOSTOLIC UNION -OF- SECULAR F„:iESTS. I. This rule contains three parts: some notions concerning the apostolic Union, the rule proper, and a collection of the decisions of the general assemblies. TR'R'^ FIRST, SOME itinuing to live in the world in the dis- charge of their holy ministry, a great part of the aids and means to perfection which the common life affords to the regular clergy; to prevent priests who wish to remain seculars and to serve the Church and souls in the parochial ministry from being forced to live isolated and alone with all the inconveniences of such a situation, which are : weakness, want of protection, the danger of laxity and even at times great perils to their virtue: to pro- cure for pious priests who either by inclination or the attractions of grace, feel the necessity and the desire of the common life, the means of finding this life around them, in their diocese, even amidst the employments of the holy ministry to which their vocation calls them : finally, to give them in their presbyteries and in the middle of their parishes all the principal advantages of a community; a holy rule, superiors who may be to them spiritual fathers, brethren with whom they may live more cordially in unity of mind and sentiment ; a family with its consolations, its strong supports to virtue, which are the inestimable privileges of the common li/e.'^ "The essence of the common life," says the ven- erable Bartholomew Holzhauser, "does not neces- sarily consist in the reunion ol a great number under the same roof: that might produce only an agglomeration, but not a true community. The essence and the basis of the common life, what constitutes and sustains it, is to have £. comriion 11 the dis- t of the mon life priests rve the ry from vith all ch are : )f laxity ; to pro- ation or and the ing this dst the :h their in their shes all a holy fathers, Drdially kvith its which 71 lifer iie ven- neces- lumber )nly an . The :, what )niriion rule and to observe it ; to have one mind, a common end and common interests ; in a word, to form one family in which you may meet brothers, a father, hearts that love yon, and in which you may be always sure to find support and aid. Then, were you obliged during many years to live alone you are not therefore a private individual, a man isolated and without prop or support ; you are a member of a body corporate, you form one of a community. Was not St. Francis Xavier even when alone in mid-ocean, in the solitudes of India, a member of a religious community ; a common life then can evidently exist even amongst priests employed in the holy ministry, though the greater number be obliged to live more or less alone, dispersed in their several parishes." CHAPTER IV. THE APPROBATIONS GIVEN TO THE APOSTOLIC UNION. ID, The apostolic Union has received the precious encouragements recorded in three briefs of His Holiness, Pius IX, and in several episcopal documents addressed to the priests who have espe- cially labored in our day to restore the common life among the secular clergy. 12 Dilecto Filio canonuo P. Gaduel, vicario gen- erali Aurelianensi, 4' PIUS, p. p. IX. II. Dilecte Fili, salutem et Apostolicam Bene- dictionem. Gratulamur tibi, Dilecte Fili, quod se- men a te jactum per commentarium de vita et gestis venerabilis Bartholomsei Holzhauser in bonam ter- rain incident, multosque jam videas clericos saecu- lares.juxta illius institutum in communem coivisse vitae societatem. Utilitas certe ilia quae saeculo XVII inde obvenit Clero, praesertim germanico, non minores setati nostrae spondere videtur fructus : siquidem consociatio animorum fota per commu- nem vitam alit caritatem, simulque Dei favorem conciliat, qui se futurum promisit in medio eorum qui in nomine ipsius congregati fuerint, et locutu- rum ad cor in solitudine. Bonum propterea et ju- cundum dixit Regius Psaltes habitare fratres in unum, reique suavitatem et efficaciam comparavit unguento in capite Aaron, quod descendit in bar- bam ejus et in oram vestimenti ; ac rori, quo per- funduntur montes Hermon et Sion. Clerici enim a societate saeculari negotiisque semoti, et in unitate fidei ac spiritus conjunct!, inunguntur spirituali gra- tia, quae intellectum veluti caput irrigat, omnemque vitae rationem componens et ad sedulam ciens cre- ditorum munerum functionem, descendit per evan- gelicum ministerium ad fideles, eorumque corda ■I I h rto gen- \xi Bene- quod se- ct gestis nam ter- es ssecu- coivisse ! saeculo rmanico, fructus : commu- favorem o eorum t locutu- ea et ju- atres in mparavit t in bar- quo per- ;i enim a n unitate uali gra- Qnemque :iens cre- )er evan- le corda 13 veluti ros matutinum fecundat. Qua de re non probatum duntaxat, sed et prseceptum conspicimus ab antiquis Ecclesiae legibus, ut presbyteri, diaconi, subdiaconi simul viavduce7it et dormiant, et quid- quid eis ab ecclesiis competit co^nmtmiter hub e ant ; ac suasum ui ad apostolicam, co?nmunem scilicet^ vitam summopere pervenire stiideant. Factum id- circo est, ut cum primum servus Die a Decessore nostro sa. m. Innocentio X instituti sui approba- tionem poposcit, Nostra Congregatio Episcoporum et Regularium negotiis prseposita, cui res commissa fuerat, responderit : Rem histituti imjus piam et sanctam ac juxta antiqiios Ecclesice canzones esse^ qucB confirmatione non indigeat^ cum prqfiteatur hoc ipsufu, quod primes christia7iitatis Clerus fecit. Eant igitur in pace, et cum omni bcncdictione dedu- cant in praxim. Novum tamen decus tarn utili veteris disciplinae instaurationi additurus sa : me : Innocentius XI, defuncto jam Bartholomseo, institu- tum Apostolica auctoritate confirmavit anno 1680, et ea de re scribens ad Leopoldum I, Imperatorem, qui id fieri postulaverat, dixit : Vinstituto dei Chierici in coviune viventi, che dalla Maesta Vostra ci fu arrni sono raccommandatOy e stato da not \ prccseniemenie co?i autorita Apostolica confermato ; e ci prorneite nella cultura delta vigna del Signore J frutti tanto copiosi^ che merita di essere i7i grande I stima appresso di tuti ed essere da tutti protetto. I Et paulo post in alia epistola : Taftto grande ^ il 2 J Hilll jfi! I u coyicetto che abbiamo di esso, iJie ne spcriamo indnbitamente un copioso progresso alia Chiesa di DiOy ed a not una raccolta senipre durabile di allegrezsa. Spem banc et Nos fovemus, si eodem Bartholomcei spiritu novae istai Clericorum in com- mune viventium societates intbrmentur. Quamo- brem et eos commendamiis, qui in hujusmodi vitae institutum jam coierunt ; et nova semper atque ampla ominamur laetis istis exordiis incrementa. Tibi vero, qui per librum tuum tain bene meruisti de Clero, et iis omnibus qui prsestantioris boni desiderio ducti nomen suum dederunt ac daturi sunt piis hisce societatibus, coelestium gratiarum auspicem et praecipuae benevolentiae nostrae pignus Apostolicam Benedictionem peramanter impertimus. Datum Romae apud S. Petrum die 17 martii 1866, Pontificatus Nostri anno XX. PIUS, P. P. IX. Dike to Filio L. N. B., parocho, recto ri consociatiojiis cleri sceciUaris Namiircensis. PIUS, P. P. IX. 12. Dilecte Fili, salutem et apostolicam Benedic- tionem. Gratulamur tibi, Dilecte Fili, quod arduum Cleri saecularis consociationis opus a te instauratum in ista Namurcensi dioecesi, foecundatum videas ill II speria)uo la Chiesa urabile di si eodem n in com- Quamo- nocli vitae ler atque :rementa. J meruisti oris boni ic daturi ^ratiarum nostrae ramanter 7 martii P. IX. rt nsis. 3enedic- arduum luratum videas 15 divina benedictione. Hrec sane institutio, qu^e ben- eficia et efficaciam Regularium ordinum transfer! in sctcularem clerum, dum palatos sacrorum ministros diversisque cnris distractos in iinum veluti corpus cogfit, peculiari subjicit moderamini, communibus devincit reguiis, communibus fovet pietatis exercitiis, eodemque spiritu informat, exornavit prisca Eccle- sioe Scecula, et licet longa rerum vicissitudine sublata, refloruit iterum in Germania, declinante sceculo decimo septimo, per servum Dei Bartholomaeum Holzhauser, cui non modo plauserunt Episcopi summique principes, sed haec ipsa Sancta Sedes validissime suffragata fuit. Verum cum in universali rerum subversione rursum ipsa periisset, frustra de- siderata fuerat hactenus. Laeti igitur, nunc eamdem reviviscere conspicimus apud Belgas; et eo jucun- dius quo gravius animorum viriumque Cleri con- junctionem postulant in prresentiarum, sive varia dissimilisque ejusdem Cleri educatio, inducta a prae- teritorum eventuum infelicitate, sive tempora sum- mopere adversa Ecclesiae, sive vulgati et iniestissimi Christiano populo errores. Maximas autem Deo gratias agimus qaod perdifficili coepto tuo sic fave- rit, ut non paucos e spectabilioribus Namurcensis Cleri presbyteris ei nomen dedisse conspicias ; nee diffidimus quin egregium istud exemplum non modo complures e piis eorum sodalibus alliciat, sed per ipsam propriae et proximorum utilitatis illece- bram, alias quoque pervadat dioeceses. Nos certe 16 pro studio tuo nobilissimam banc ominaiiuir nicrce- dem ; ac interim, superni favoiis auspicem ct patcrna^ Nostrse benevolentiae pignus, Apostolicani l>cnedic- tionem tibi, dilecte Fili, iisqiie omnibus qui huic consociationi sub ecclesiastlcce aucloritatis modeia- mine se addixerint eamve promo\'cbunt, peramanter impertimus. Datum Romae apud S. Petrum, 17 maii 1875, Pontificatus nostri anno vigesimo nono. PIUS PP. IX. 13. The third Brief, as encouraging as the above to the association of priests, was addressed by His Hoh. ess, Pius IX., to his Lordship the Bishop of St. Paul, Brazil, (i), Aug. 28th, 1876. 14. The episcopal documents in favor of the Union consist : first, of a postulatiim signed by a great number of the Fathers of the Vatican Council, under the title : " de vita commimi in ciej'o seculari fovenda. "(2.) Secondly, of the approbations of their EE. Cardinals Simor, archbishop of Grann, primate of Hungary ; Pie, bishop of Poitiers, and of their Lordships the archbishops and bishops of Ancyra, (bishop Cattani, nuncio to Brussels), of Marseilles, of Orleans, (bishop Dupanloup), of Verdun, of Saint-Flour, of St. Paul, Brazil, and of their Lord- ships Puginier, Petitjean, Vicars apostolic. (3.) (1) This brief is to be found in the pamphlet, La Vie com- mune et lee Associations sacsrdotales^ p. 18. (2) Ibidem, p. 26. (3) Ibid. p. 28 et segg. m ur nicrce- :t pater Die 1 lUnedic- qui huic niodeia- cramanter iiaii 1875, \ IX. the above ed by His Bishop of or of the ;^ned by a n Council, 'o secidari ns of their n, primate i of their f Ancyra, ^larseilles, erdun, of eir Lord- Mic. (3.) >a Vie com- i I 17 Thirdly, of many letters addressed by bishops to the author of the pamphlet : La Vie commune, etc. (Vide, hoc op., 2nd Ed.) CHAPTER V. DIVISIONS OF THE RULE OF THE APOSTOLIC UNION. 15. The life-principle of the apostolic Unioa is its rule. This rule is divided into three chapters. The first chapter treats of the devotion of priests to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the devotion proper to the members of the Union. The second chapter gives the principal features of the rule of life to be followed by secular priests. The third chapter gives the mode of government of the association, and the nature of the bond of charity which unites them. 16. The ru^e of the Union is large enough to leave the diiferent associations free to join to it particular constitutions conformable to the aspira- tions of their members and to the functions peculiar to each, (i.) (1) It may be said in general, that it is with the rule of the Union for the association of secular priests as it is with the rule of St. Augustin for the religious congregations that have adopted it. It is well known that the rule of these latter is omposed of two principal parts, one of which contains the rule of St. Augustin and the other the constitutions peculiar to each order. 18 17. In adopting the rule of the Union, the dio- cesaii associations may keep the name by which they are already known, or choose one which they may think best. The members of the associations which have already chosen a name, as well as the members of the associations who do not wish to have a particular name, can take the title of mem- bers of the apostolic Union without distinction. t'l ii n, the dio- by which 'hich they jsociations ell as the )t wish to i of mem- listinction. i 1 1 SECDND FART, THE RULE. I. Spirit of the apostolic Union ; — II. Rule of life ; — III. The mode of government of the Union. «i I FIRST CHAPTER. •SPIRIT OF THE APOSTOLIC UNION. I. Principal devotion of the members of the apostolic Union; — II. Of the knowledge of Jesus Christ; — III. Of the love of Jesus Christ; — IV. Of the imitation of Jesus Christ. FIRST ARTICLE. Of the choice of the principal devotion of the mem- bers of the Apostolic Union. 1 8. The devotion of the priesthood to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been chosen as the special devotion of the apostolic Union , because the associations that have adopted its rule have ^^ I 21 — II. Rule ment of the ers of the knowledge e of Jesus )Us Christ. the mem od to the en as the n, because rule have been impelled by a movement which could come but from God, to consecrate and devote themselves to the Sacred Heart of Tesus. \ 19. Besides, is not the devotion to the Sacred p-Ieart an aid altogether peculiar, prepared for the Special needs of these latter times. By reason of Jheir position in the church, priests especially fshould propogate this devotion so dear to Jesus Christ, and to them therefore was made more espe- gcially those splendid promises in favor of those who are true to this mission. '*Our Lord," says blessed Margaret Mary, "showed me the treasures of love and of graces destined for them that shall have consecrated and sacrificed themselves to give and to procure to be given to His Heart all the honor, love and glory they may; treasures greater than can be expressed." (Vie et ecrits, i vol., p. 290.) " My divine Savior made me understand that they who are employed in saving souls, will have the art of touching hearts the most hardened and will labor with marvellous success if they shall have become penetrated with a tender devotion to His Divine Heart." (Ibid.) " They will find in the Sacred Heart a refuge through life, and above all at the hour of death. Ah ! how sweet it is to die after having had a con- stant devotion to the Heart of Him who is to be our Judge !" (Ibid, p. 286.) The priest shall find this adorable Heart the most perfect model of all priestly virtues. 22 1 He shall rekindle at this ardent focus the fir^ of his zeal and of his devotedness to souls. All th( Associates shall draw from this fountain, always inexhaustible and always open, the graces of sancti- fication for themselves and divine blessings to fruc-| tify their labors in their ministry. By this devotion they shall be closely united to Jesus Christ the Priest pa7' excellence ; they shall form themselves more perfectly after this divine model; by it also, all the members of the apostolic Union shall be intimately united to each other by the bonds of charity and zeal in the interest of their own salvation and of the salvation of souls. 20. This devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus shall impell the members of the Union to refer all things to Jesus the great High- Priest; they shall constantly apply themselves to know him, love him and imitate him. Hence, it is that t s chapter of the rule treats of the knowledge, of the love and of the imitation of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 1(1 ! ill ARTICLE II. Of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is acquired by the study: 1° of Holy Scrip- ture ; 2° of the holy Fathers and of the ascetic writers; 3° of Theology; 4° of the Liturgy; 5° of History ; 6° of the human sciences. 23 focus the fire souls. All the untain, always aces of sancti- ^ssings to fruc- sely united to ce; they shall ?r this divine le apostolic ?ach other by e interest of tion of souls. rd Heart of le Union to Priest; they know him, is that t s lowledge, of Lord Jesus n'st, foly Scrip- le ascetic kirgy; 50 I. yes7is studied hi Holy Scriptures. 23. The members of the Union shall look upon the Heart of Jesus as a focus of light at which they are to enlighten their understanding and to inflame their will. Like St. Paul, they shall glory in having no knowledge save that of the divine Savior, well aware that in knowing Him well they will know all things. 24. They will see Jesus Christ in the Holy Scripture which is full ol Him and intelligible only through Him. 25. In the Old Testament, the historical books will present to them types of the divine Savior and of His Church ; the Psalms and the books ol Wisdom will furnish touching expressions of the sentiments of His Heart; the Prophets will offer an anticipated tableau of His life, of His trials and of His triumphs. 26. In the New Testament the (jospels will show them the portrait of the Divine Master drawn by the Holy Ghost himself They must make themselves familiar with all the circumstances of the life, all the actions and all the words of the Divine Savior. 27. At the school of St. Paul they will endeavor to penetrate well the doctrine which is the basis of all the writings of this great Apostle, the doctrine of the incorporation of man in the man- God. '&. 4 24 II. Shidied in the holy Fathers and the ascetic writers. 28. They shall draw their knowledge of Jesus from the authors who have more than all others fathomed the Holy Scriptures and have more suc- cessfully endeavored to make known Jesus Christ. Such are, among the holy Fathers, St. Augustin and St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Bernard, and, among the ascetic writers those who wrote in France in the first half of the seventeenth century : St. Francis of Sales, M. Olier, Saint-Jure, etc. III. Studied in Theology. 29. They shall study Jesus Christ, in dogmatic theology, which he entirely fills by His double nature and by the bond which His Incarnation came to setablish between creation and the Creator. They shall seek Him in moral and ascetic theology, which has no other aim but to make all men resemble the Man- God. IV. Studied in the Liturgy, 30. They shall love to contemplate Jesus Christ in the liturgy of Holy Church. In the whole series mi 25 nd the edge of Jesus lan all others Lve more sue- Jesus Christ. Aug-ustin and and, among France in the St. Francis of in dogmatic ouble nature ion came to ator. They 'ology, which en resemble Jesus Christ whole series of her offices she has Him always in view. She invites us to study, to meditaie on all His mysteries one by one, she explains His doctrine, prescribes the way to worship Him ; in all her ceremonies, she preaches Jesus Christ : the hours of her office cor- fespond to the hours of His Passion ; each part of that office has a special relation to Him ; the psalms are the history of His life ; the hymns sing His praises; the Invitatories recall Him to mind. V. i Studied in History. 4 I 30. They shall know how to find Him even in profane history, whose revolutions, one and all, are directed by Providence to the glory of this Divine Savior and the establishing of His reign; but much more in the history of His Church, which is nothing else than a continuation of the mortal life of Jesus Christ, all of whose phases whether painful or glo- rious she reproduces. VI. In the human Sciences. 31. They shall not be satisfied to contemplate he divine Savior in himself; their faith shall show Him in the whole creation, of which he is the king, 26 and whose mission it is to symbolise His light, His love and His power; they shall meet Him face to face as the centre of all things; the study of even the human sciences will lead them to this divine centre, for their intelligence will impel them inces- santly to bring back to this sovereign unity the variety of all things which they shall see and learn. ARTICLE HI. < f Of the love of yesiis. I. The love of complacency; — H. The love of thankfulness; — HI. The love of union ; — IV. The love of the Church, spouse of Jesus Christ, I. The love of Complacency. 32. It will count for little if the members of the Union, though they know Jesus, have not for him an ardent love. The contemplation of His infinite perfections shall continually fix their atten- tion and shall produce and make to grow in them a true love for an object so beautiful, so perfect, so amiable, whose contemplation is the delight of God, of the ever holy Virgin, of the Angels and of the Saints. W ^is light, His t Him face to Jtudy of even this divine 1 them inces- ?n unity the e and learn. The love of ion; — IV. sus Christ. bers of the ve not for on of His leir atten- >w in them o perfect, delight of els and of 27 II. The love of Thayikfuhiess. 33. The remembrance of the labors which the ineffable tenderness of the Heart of Jesus has in- spired Him with for the glory of God and the good of His creatures shall keep them in perpetual senti- ments of thankfulness and thanksgiving. To nourish j?! themselves this love of thankfulness and to fill themselves with the graces which are particularly necessary for priests, they shall honor with a special cultus the mystery of the Incarnation, the mystery of the Holy Childhood, of the hidden life at Naza- reth, of the Evangelical life ; they shall have above all a very ardent devotion to the mysteries of the Passion, of the Death, and of the Burial of our idivine Savior ; they shall keep their minds and their hearts habitually fixed on that Memorial of all the other mysteries, the divine Eucharist. III. The love of Union. 34. After having admired the incomprehensible %elf-abasement to which His heart has carried Jesus Christ that he should condescend to live amongst ^tnen, they will conceive how necessary it is for them to live united with this divine Savior that they may give Him back love for love. 28 Hi Hi ill !J ij)l;^ ' ' t| ijil > ■ 1^ 35. This union shall show itself by the care they take to render their minds and their souls conformable to the spirit and to the Heart of Jesus Christ. How could a true friendship exist between them and Him if they loved what he does not love or if they desired what he does not desire? Thej will therefore often consult the Spirit of Jesus Christ present in their hearts that they may know His thoughts and His sentiments with regard t( persons and things ; they will put aside every senti ment and every appreciation which may not be ir perfect conformity with that Spirit. 36. Their interior dispositions shall pass into their discourses. Their words shall be, following the precept of the Apostle, the 7cords of God (i Pet, iv., 11). That such may be the case as far as is pos- sible, they shall endeavor to acquire the habit oi never commencing a discourse or a conversation without asking Our Lord to place on their lips lan- guage the most proper to realize in all their extent the designs of His love. They shall endeavor to renew in the course of their actions, by frequent aspirations to this divine Heart, the intention ol doing nothing but in Him and for Him. 37. That they may the more perfectly acquire this union so desired of the Heart of Jesws, they shall never fail to employ the all powerful mediation of the Heart of Mary. They shall ask this divine Mother to teach them to love her Son, to make their ii li I It! i(ii i If by the can ind their souls Heart of Jesus 3 exist betweei; ; does not love desire ? The\ Ipirit of Jesut hey may know with regard tc :ie every senti- may not be ii: lall pass into be, followin^^ of God (i Pet, s far as is pos- e the habit oi I conversatioii their lips Ian- II their extent 1 endeavor to , by frequent : intention ol 1. fectly acquire •f Jesws, they 'ful mediation ik this divine to make their 29 sentiments conformable to hers, to make each of them another Jesus Christ. St. Joseph, St. Ann, St. John the Baptist, the holy Apostles and all those who were more especially united during His mortal life to the Incarnate Word, shall be each in his pro- per sphere an object of special worship. IV. Love for the Churchy the Spouse of Jestis Christ. 38. Their love for Jesus Christ, the divine Spouse of the Church, will inspire them with a boundless devotedness to His well-beloved spouse. They shall feel deeply all the griefs and all the trials of Her Head ; they shall valiantly defend her cause, and they shall use all their influence to procure for her defenders ; they shall pray with fervor for her triumph, and they will be happy to labor and to sacrifice themselves in her interests. They shall implore the intercession of all the saints who have loved her most and served her best, of St. Peter, of St. Paul, of Apostles ancient and modern. They shall countenance the works which have for object lo come to her aid and to win for her resources tem- poral and spiritual. They shall never think that they have done too much for the Church because they know that they can never love her as much as the Heart of Jesus loved her. 30 ARTICLE IV. The iniiiation of Jesus. I. Imitation of Jesus ; — II. Imitation in obedi- ence ; — III. In detachment from creatures ; — | IV. In the love of poverty ; — V. In mortifica- tion ; — VI. In charity; — VII. In interior modesty. I. Of the imitation of fesiis. IB ! 39. The members ol the Union shall show their love for Our Lord, above all by trying to imitate Him. He is the rule and model of that perfection to which priests are called. They shall understand that God in creating them, predestined them, more especially than the common run of christians, to be made conformable to the image of his son (Rom. viii. 29), to be the image of Him who is the perfect image of Himself. They shall keep their eyes con- stantly fixed on this divine model, setting themselves to remove whatever makes the • resemblance less perfect, and to gain whatever will more perfectly bring out every feature : in a word, let them repro- duce in themselves all the sentiraejits of fesus Christ. (Phil. ii. 5.) 31 II. s. tion in obedi- 1 creatures ; — '. In moriifica I. In interior lall show their ing to imitate liat perfection 11 understand ^ them, more istians, to be ion (Rom. is the perfect eir eyes con- themselves iblance less >re perfectly them repro- ^estis Christ. 3- Imitation in Obedience. 40. They shall cherish obedinice for the love of Him who made himself obedient even unto the death of the cross. They shall practice it with joy, not only in their exterior actions but also in the inte- rior dispositions of the heart, seeking always reasons to justify their ecclesiastical superiors. They shall see God in all who command in his name, the assis- tant in the pastor, and both in their Bishop. All shall practise a submission the most cordial, in what- ever has reference to the association, toward the superior who shall have been named in conformity with the rules adopted by each diocesan association. They shall be distinguished especially by the most filial docility to, and the most profound veneration for the Vicar of Jesus Christ, whose authority tbey shall sustain and whose rights they shall defend, as far as in them lies. III. Imitation in his detachment from creatures. 41. They shall set themselves to practise a gener- cus detachment from all created things, nor will this detachment be difficult, let them but under- stand even a little the incomparable dignity with I n \ i 32 which they are clothed and the price of the treasu placed at their disposal. They shall be vigiljj therefore in watching over a perfect liberty of hei keeping it detatched from all things, whether nioiH| or employments, or the esteem and affection of erf tures; and should the^feel that these evil inclinatiol begin to gain possession of their souls, they sh; be energetic in resisting them, not only by ferve prayer, but also by putting aside, at once, whatov might favor their growth and by eliciting acts oft) contrary virtues. IV. Imiiatio7i in poverty. 42. In their lodging, clothing and furniture the; shall shun whatever may be contrary to evangelia poverty or smack of a worldly spirit. They sha! look upon every concession made to luxury as th loss of a degree of union with Jesus Christ, as stealing from the poor and from good works. The; are not, of course, forbidden to make careful arrange ments that they may in future profit by the diocesai fund ; but save and except this praiseworthy pre caution they shall yield in no way to the temptatio to hoard. Their true treasure is the Heart of Jesus whose favors they shall be happy to win by thei ever expanding generosity to the poor. -e of the treasure, 33 They shall show in all their conduct this spirit sliall be ., of poverty with which the divine Savior animates ,., ., ^" those who love him. Their table shall be frueal, and t liberty of heart . , whether money affection of crea in their reunions, how lull soever they may be, they shall take ^reat care not to pass the bounds of the ... -. . strictest temperance. In this action, as in all others, ,*^" they shall take as model Jesus Christ, and the t'oni b fen "'*'''"" "^ '''" "^''" "' ^^''" "''^- y y \en ^^ That they may imitate more perfectly the . . . ' '^'^ di^nterestedness (>( Our Lord and of the Apostles, 1 mg ac s o th( ^jj^ members of the Union are advised, but not obliged : — ist. Should they experience the attrac- tion, to place in common, with their confr res of their respective dioceses, the revenues of their charge and of their ministries ; — 2d. If this community of goods does not appear to them possible, to deduct from their revenue a small sum to be employed in id furniture the) a common work of zeal: for example, to help a y to evangelia ni|ssion given in the parish of one of them : — 3d. irit. They shal Finally, conjointly with the foregoing practices, or o luxury as thf in defect of them, to present yearly to iheir dioce- ?us Christ, as ; san Superior the budget of their receipts and expen- d works. Thei ditures, and so to practise a certain dependence as careful arrange to the disposal of their property. This dependence 3y the diocesat will give them the spirit and the merit of evangelical aiseworthy pre I^verty. the temptatioi ^* Heart of Tesus Imiiation in Sacrifice. to win by thei; 45* ^" revealing the devotion of His Sacred Qj.^ Heart, the divine Master expressed the desire that 34 they who took it up, should propose to themselvei^ as one of their principal intentions, the rrparatk^ of the outrages heaped upon him by the ingratitude of men, of those especially from whom more lov(f< was to be expected. To respond to this desire tht^ priests of the Heart of Jesus shall make it thei;S happiness to propagate the work of the communioS^ of reparation ; they shall favor also the work whidw is the natural complement of this, the work of thf c Masses of reparation ; but they will not be satisfiec with offering in a spirit of reparation the sacrific of the altar, they will gladly join to it their owi sacrifice. 46. They shall not fail above all to offer with this intention the sacrifices vvhich God will impose til upon them. In sickness they shall not forget that I^ they should be apostles as well as in health. They G shall therefore edify them that come to visit theni, ft by their patience, by their meekness, their loving S' resignation to the will of God, their obedience to their physicians ; and if they cannot then go through long exercises of piety, they shall make up for them by frequent elevations of heart to the Heart of their God. 47. They shall lovingly and thankfully receive as gifts from the Heart of Jesus, trials which are means so apt to detach them from the world and from themselves. In these trials they shall accustom themselves to see, not the creatures which are their 35 to themselveimm^^tliate and, sometimes, more or less their unjust^ the rfparatio)CdMSQ, but the infinitely good God, who makes use the ingratitudeven of the wickedness of men, as an instrument, oni more lovffor the execution of his merciful designs. If they this desire tbare despised, humiliated, treated unjustly, they shall make it thei'seek and find, in the happiness of gaining another he co7?wnmioi^'^2ii\ixt^ of their God, an indemnification for the pain le work whid which the loss of the esteem of creatures may have e work of thf caused. lot be satisfiec the sacrificf ^^' ^^^^ Imitation in Chay'iiy, to offer witli 48. They shall above all set themselves to prac- d will impose tise iii all its perfection the favorite virtue of the :)t forget that Heart of Jesus, Charity. In all their relations with lealth. They God, they shall act through love rather than through to visit them, fear or interest, although they should help them- their loving selves by these latter motives too. The spirit of obedience to adopted sons, which is the spirit of the new law, n go through shsill show itself in all their conduct, and stamp on ' up for them their purity a breadth of character and amiability, [eart of their which cannot but impart a great power of drawing naen to God. ly receive as 49. From this filial love towards God shall spring :h are means a love altogether fraternal towards the neighbor, d and from The Heart of Jesus will continually impel his priests 11 accustom to devote themselves, as lie did, to the welfare of ch are their their brethren, to love all alike, or if they will have i <»l< I' f 36 favorites, they shall be the most wretched and nic necessitous. This charity shall be the sign by whk they shall be reco^J^nized, the good sword by whk they shall surmount all opposition and conquer eve the most rebellious. 50. The members of the Union shall let si: no occasion of testifying to each other this charit', which is the bond of their pious Society. The shall all form one family closely united, whos members, 0/ one mind (Phil, iii , 16), saying ik same thing, (I. Cor. i., 10. ) shall be truly one hea) and one soul. (Acts iv., 32). 51. This charity shall be ejf tended to all tli other ministers of Jesus Christ. The greater tli- efforts of Satan to sever this bond of union, tlit more strenuous should be the efforts of the trut servants of G )d to draw closer to and maintain it They shall therefore very carefully guard agains; whatever might break it. Unjust suspicions, differ ences of opinion, secret jealousies hidden under tht mask of zeal, fear of the loss of influence, reports unfavorable and so often caluminous, the love of the Heart of Jesus will be stronger than all these, Pastors, assistants, chaplains, professors, missiona. ries, religious, all shall understand that they have but one interest, the interest of the Heart of Jesus Christ. They shall therefore be as glad when others do good as if they had done it themselves ; they shall always give them marks of esteem and shall 37 Hched and nir ^^ careful to strengthen their authority ; well G sign by whi aware that in so acting they are seconding the word by \\% desires of the Heart of God, and establishing their d conquer ev ^^^ influence on the most solid of all bases. n shall let si ler this chariti >ociety. The united, whos 6), saying iji truly 07ie hem ^ed to all th le greater tlit of union, tlit l^s of the triit ^d maintainit ?uard agains; ^icions, differ ien under tht lence, reports the love lan all these, rs, missiona. It they have eart of Jesus when other? selves; thej m and shall VII. lmUatio7i in exterior Modesty 52. It is not alone in their interior sentiments, but moreover in their language, their deportment^ their gait, in all their exterior conduct that the mem- bers of the Union should try to make themselves like their divine model. They shall not be seen turning their eyes hither and thither with levity, taking a troubled and anxious mien, or abandoning themselves, on the other hand, to fits of immode- rate joy, tossing their arms about, walking precipita- tely without necessity, speaking loudly or in an arrogant tone. But their countenance, their de- portment, their mode of speech shall breathe a certain calm, humility, meekness, the possession of God in themselves and the feeling of his presence in those with whom they come in contact. 38 CHAPrij:R II. RULE OF LIFR OF THE MEMBERS OF THE APOSTOTJi UNION. I. Rules and principles relating to their privatt life; — II. Rules and principles relating to the various ministries in which the members of the Union may be employed. ARTICLE THE FIRST. Rules a7id principles relating lo their private lift I. General principle; — II. On what must be done each day; — III. each week; — IV. each month ; — V. each year ; — VI. On various points. I. General principle. 53. The members of the Union should so order each of their days, and indeed their entire life, as to make it resemble as far as they can the life of the incarnate Word on earth. Like that of the Savior himself, their life should be a laborious life. The following are the principal points to be observed in order to gain this end : V^-^i^ THE APO^TOU, ^ 39 II. Each day. ^ their private relating to the embers of the r. ^ private life, must be done -^ -fV. each irious points. should so their entire fiey can the 'ike that of a laborious oirits to be 54. The members of the Union shall have a fixed hour for rising, after seven hours of sleep, unless weak health demand more. Their first act shall be to offer the day to the divine Heart of Jesus, uniting their intentions with His, and renew- ing their purpose of combating their predominant failing. While dressing they shall entertain pious thoughts, which should be in keeping with the sub- ject of \ki€\x prayer. 55. This prayer should be made as soon as possible and should last at least half an hour. It shall generally consist in meditating on some of Our Lord's words or in contemplating one of his myste- ries. However there is no reason why they should not follow otlier methods taught by masters of the spiritual life, following the different states of the soul ; or even why they should not employ the time assigned in laying their needs before Our Lord in consulting Him as to how they are to act in a delicate conjuncture, in recommending souls to Him for whose salvation they are striving. The Priest is the steward of Jesus Christ; he cannot do too much to become. embued with the thoughts id desires of his Master. 40 56. But it is at the Holy .%« Hv.^ „ the priest's heart wi,h the nlTt' o t '' ""? consun,„,ated and drawn close IT^ '' ^^ great action shall be to th. • "^ ''^"''^ * their entire existence TLrsth" '''^ ^'^°' ' during a few minutes if it , ho w f ^^^'^ ''°^ * exercise of pietv tL fn ""' '^""^ ^noth. -ollection^p^t, 4.t\^„tj^-.,-^th dee, performing- the ceren^onies so aTt, %y""u "^' ^'■' are present. That thev m , ''"^ "^"'^^ 'ha, too slow, they shall, T ^ " "'''^"' ^°" ^^^t "». -h-ttle'lesslfnt;;rho:r'^ "'^'^ ■'"'-"- the'pVeit'Jo'nlL^l"^ T^r"' " ^^^'"^ -« and during whichCh fv h T ''' "°'^ ^'^-■ messing Jesus really presem in tl. T"*""^ "' ^'^ especially shall thev bT '^"' ^"'''''^- Then -ents of our sweefsaviofrr' "■'''' ''"^ -'"'• to destroy whateve In thl; " "'^ '''="' "^^^^ ''''" Ti.en especially X , tt " f "^P'<^^^'"8- to Hi,,,, efforts to transfer Utselv""'' "°" ^^^^"-- 't were, do Him violencTbvT T "''"' ^"^'' ^ they shall recommend tL ' ""' '"* ^'^''^^ those of the souls cliStoTh ^''f "^' '"^"^^'■'' great interests of His Ch,!ll ''""''S^* ^'"d 'he -e.- Th:7sS',:r':id'r ''"-, ^^^"--•" ^•" distracting causes' Th J :,! T'' "^ P^^'^e all according to the doctrine o It 7 '"^"' ''"'"' "' ^t- '^"«ust,ne, it is s distinctly, anc ediiy those that her too fast nor aJtar little more 41 that the union ( of Jesus is dail J^^"^ Christ who prays in the Psalms ; and while And hence tli ^^^'^*^^"§^ them they shall unite their prayers to His ates the pivot P^^Y^^s ^^*^ their sentiments to His sentiments. All ^^^ prepare for ^^^^ acquire the habit of saying, on the eve, the ^t follow anoth ^^^""^^^ ^^^ Laudes of the morrow. They shall brate with de P*"*^ ^^ ^ ^^^^ especial manner for the wants of the Church and of the Sovereig^n Pontif, for their Bishop and the diocese to which they belong. 59. They shall read the Bible every day during about half an hour ; and that they may understand its different meanings, they shall call in the aid of to employ weJl ^^ authorised commentator. he Holy Mass, 60. They shall give to the study of theology a ^piness of pos- period of time more or less long, according as the occupations of their ministry will leave them more or less leisure. This study may extend successively to the different parts of theology, including ecclesi- astical history. But there is one part which must be constantly studied, because the priest must daily use it : moral theology. Nothing can be more useful than to set aside each day a fixed time, which should be employed rather in forming the judgment than in recalling to mind the doctrine of authors. 61. They will read for some time each day some pious book, or the life of a saint. The living por- traits of Jesus Christ, the saints, teach us to imitate him in our turn ; and their example instructs us better than others' books. hearts, llieii n'th the seiiti- ^liali beg him asing to Him. ^re strenuous Whn, and, as r with whid ual interests, irge and the ^cc with all possible all forget that, ustine, it is 42 62. In houses were there are several member of the Union the Holy Scriptures shall be reai at the beginnings of dinner ; and at the commence raent of supper the Imitation of Christ. Th Superior, or, if he is not present, the eldest sha; bless the table. During the repast, if no reading! going on, only things edifying shall be. spoken 01 and care shall be taken that nothing may be saii which the waiters may not hear. 63. After each repast they may recreate for ai hour, and this hour is to be looked upon as ver; usefully employed, if it shall have drawn into « closer union the hearts of the members. The timt immediately after meals, as being less adapted ti study, shall be chosen for visiting the sick or tht parishoners. In the course of the afternoon they shall make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. " I have a burning thirst," said our Lord to B. Marge- ret Mary, " to be loved by men in the most Blessed Sacrament, and I find scarcely one who offers him- self, according to my desires, to allay it in making me some return. 64. The rosary^ if well recited, will greatly con- tribute to raise the fervor of the soul when the occupation and distractions of the day may have diminished it. The priests of the Union will not be satisfied with making this exercise a prayer, in every sense of the word, in meditating piously on the mysteries ; they will moreover make it a prayer, veral member shall be rea, He commence Christ. Ti he eldest ehai f no reading] be. spoken oi ?• may be sai( ecreate for ai i^ipon as ven drawn into ^ ^s. The tinif ss adapted t( e sick or the ternoon they -I'ament. "I to B. Marge- most Blessed 3 offers him- It in making greatly con- jI when the J may have on will not i prayer, in piously on it a prayer, 43 entirely apostolic, by saying each decade, as Hal- shauser advises, for a particular class of needs. 65. The associates, following the advice of St. Francis de Sales, shall not sit up late. They shall fro to bed not later than ten o'clock. Before retiring for the night, during a quarter of an hour they shall prepare the meditation of the morrow, and shall make an examen of the day passed. 66. They shall, at the same time, make a parti- cular examen of their predominant fault, and with the greatest care, and they shall impose some slight penance for each relapse. This exercise, whence depends a great part of their advancement in virtue, would bear greater fruit were it made a first time towards the middle of the day. 67. As, generally, the associates have not the advantage of living under the eye of the Superior, they should note, every evening, on a bulletin pre- pared ad hoc, their exterior violations, if any, of the Rules. III. Each week. 68. The members of the Union should go to fonfession every week, or at the latest every fifteen days. They shall not hesitate to go oftener and to forestall the day appointed, should they think it gecessary to bring to the altar a conscience per- 44 fectly pure. Not only shall they listen with docility to the advice of their confessors, but they shall ask them to be kind enough to point out the faults into which they fall without perceiving it. IV. m m Each wonth. 69. Each month they shall make a recollection^ which will help them to correct the faults into which their carelessness may have led them, and excite anew their favor. Their meditation, which shall be prepared with the greatest care, shall be directed to a subject proper to produce this renewing of the spirit ; they shall ask this for each other of God at the memento of the Mass. In the course of the day they shall spend at least half an hour in a serious examen of their conduct during the month. They shall run over the different points of the Rule, and they shall note their omissions in order to render a strict account either viva voce or in writing to the Superior, that they may receive suitable advice from him. To this review of the month they shall join the exercise of the preparation for death. That this little retreat may be made with greater recollection, they shall not, that day, if possible, receive or pay visits. • 70. Every month, on one of the first days, the bulletin on which should have been noted, each day, in< wij mi] attd Thi 45 their exterior defects against the Rule, is sent to the Superior, who will thereby know the conduct of each and will be placed in a condition to give, in returning the bulletin, useful admonitions and advice. This practice, annoying to nature, is of undoubted efficacy to have the Rule faithfully observed, it is a daily control which supplies in part the advantages of a real community. Hence all the associates are very much attached to this practice which they regard as altogether essential. V. Each year. 71. Whenever not be obliged to take part in the annual retreat of the diocese, the members of the Union shall, every year, make, during eight days, the holy exercises. It would be very much to their advantage could they come, several together, to make them under the direction of a priest capa- ble of rousing them to a stricter fulfilment of the rules of their pious Society. 72. The associates are very earnestly recom- mended to visit each other, as often as circumstances will permit, to speak of things of God, of their ministry, and of whatever may help to a more perfect attainment of the object of their pious Association. Thus, it would be good if several, even two, should 46 meet together to make the monthly retreat, to hold a spiritual conference, or to treat of" some point of ecclesiastical discipline. VI. Rules on difff^rent points, 73. The works of the parochial ministry are varied enough to afford a rest, the one from the other, and to prevent the loss of time which any other rest implies. The recreations themselves should be spent in useful and agreeable conversa- tions with their confreres, or in some manual labor which may give repose to the mind without expos- ing to idleness. 74. If there are useless recreations, there are readings which are no less a loss of time. The associates shall keep themselves on their guard against the flood of newspapers and of empty pamphlets, from which there is nothing, or next to nothing, to be learned. They shall take equal care not to allow themselves to be absorbed in studies more serious perhaps, but foreign to their ministry. From the moment when these studies take up too much of their time or fetter their liberty of mind, they would be hurtful, since the time and activity of a priest belongs to Jesus Christ and to souls. 75. The members of the Union could not do better than to leave aside entirely card-playing. If 47 however they should sometimes condescend to the wishes of their confreres in this matter, let them be very tirm in not allowing themselves to be drawn into an inexcusable loss of time. A means very apt to remove excesses in these kinds of games, would be to set aside the gains to relieve the poor. 76. They shall not undertake any journey that has only curiosity for object ; and whenever they think they have other motives they will seriously examine whether the gravity of these motives coun- terbalances the inconveniences, of more than one kind, which these journeys cause. In any case, they cannot do better than consult the Superiors of the Association, and follow their advice 77. The members of the Union shall pay very few visits simply for politeness' sake. They shall avoid, as much as possible, being alone with persons of the opposite sex. Rather they shall receive them in the parlor or in the dining-room, and these visits should be as short as possible. 78. They shall be very moderate and very reserved in their corresp07idcnce, whether as to the number of their letters, or their length, or the man- ner of writing. Let them never be such as to compromise, if, as there is always room to fear, they should fall into the hands of strangers. 48 ARTICLE II. Rules and principles relating to the differe7it min- istries in which the members of the Unio7i ca7i be employed, I. Nature of such ministries ; — II. On preaching ; — III. On catechetical instruction ; — IV. On the sacrament of penance ; — V. Visits to the sick, to the poor, to the afflicted; — VL On pious associations and confraternities among the faithful; — VII. On retreats and mi^^sions ; — VIII. On great catholic works ; — IX. Particu- lar admonitions to pastors and assistants. I. Nature of such ministries. 79. The members of the Union shall exercise the same functions as other priests ; but they shall apply themselves to giving special guaranties of success, by the mutual aid which they shall lend for the fulfilment of these functions, and by the care they shall take to animate them with the spi. i of Our Lord. 49 On preaching, 80. Their Sermons shall be animated by this spirit, if all their instructions lead up to the Incar- nate Word, if, above all, they make it a point to bring out His infinite amiability, in recalling with affection his words and example. By this means, they will avoid the fault of making of the word of God a dry and cold abstraction, as incapable of fortifying the will as of profoundly moving the heart. On the contrary, the religion which they preach shall be a living religion, loving and lovable, as con- descending as it is perfect, it shall be, in one word, the religion of the Heart of Jesus. 81. Their preaching must not be, however, merely affective ; they shall set themselves on the contrary and above all to instruct their hearers. They must not divorce moral from dogmatic in- struction, nor must their pious exhortations lack the clearness of exact and solid doctrine. III. tise lall I for lare On Catechetical Instructions, 82. Of all the various kinds of instruction, that to which the associates shall bend with greatest energy, after the example of their divine Master, is the instruction of children and the ignorant, To teach the catechism shall be for them the most 5 50 pleasing of all their pastoral functions ; they shall omit no effort to acquit themselves of it well, and they shall love it so that they will have no dif- ficulty in communicating this love as well to the young as to those advanced in years, to whom the catechism is not less necessary than to children. As far as possible, they shall divide the children whom they are to instruct into three classes : the first cl-^ss shall be composed of children of six years old and upwards who are to be prepared to make their first confession ; the second, of the childrer^ who are, in a year or two, to make their first com- munion ; the third, of those who have already made their first communion and to whom a complete knowledge of their religion will be of great advant- age. They shall adapt their teaching to the capacity of each of these classes ; but they shall have no preferences for one above the others. Like St. ^aul, they shall make themselves like a mother whc^ suckles her children while they are capable of na stronger food. They shall be young with the young, using language at once simple and lively with comparisons and examples. They shall make the application of their doctrine by stories borrowed especially from Holy Scripture and the lives of the Saints. In order to stimulate the attention of their young audience and to suppress levity, they shall make use of encouragements rather than of repri- mands, and of the excitements of recompences. ir ri- 51 more than the fear of punishments ; and when they shall have come to make the young generation know, and above all, love dearly the christian doc- trine, they will thank God for a very important triumph. IV. The Sacrame7it of Penance, 83. The confessional is another theatre where the priest is called upon to display all the charity of Jesus Christ. There he shall learn of his Master the divine art of encouraging the sinner without encouraging sin. He will have understood his model but very imperfecdy if the most tender kind- ness be not the prominent feature of his conduct with regard to sinners. Of course he will not give absolution to him who is badly disposed, — for it would be hurtful to him,— but he will do all that zeal can do to bring this poor soul to the proper dispositions ; and even when he will believe it his duty to put off absolution for a while, he shall know how to make him accept this delay without a mur- mur. Far from yielding to the baleful prejudice which, in certain countries would formerly refuse absolution to young children, they shall make them approach very early in life the tribunal of confes- sion ; they shall assign particular days on which they may prepare them more at leasure, and they 52 shall not hesitate to give them absolution after this due preparation, when they shall know them to be capable of sinning. 84. The priest in the confessional is not only a confessor, he is a director too, and union with the Heart of Jesus is very useful for the proper dis- charge of this duty also. For the mission of the director is none other than that of forming Jesus Christ in souls, of reproducing in each of them, under one aspect or other, the sanctity of his Sacred Heart. To know Our Lord is, then abso- lutely necessary that he may discharge this mission well, for he must take into account Christ's designs on each soul. By this only can he discern what must be subtracted or added, or know how to com- h^.t her defects and how to lift her up to the acqui- sition of the solid virtues. V. ,!' ii The sick, the poor, the afflicted, 85. The priest of the Union, following the ex- ample of their divine model, shall extend a more tender and more devoted charity to the suffering members of Jesus Christ, to the sick, the poor and afflicted. They shall never repel them no matter how unfortunate they be ; they shall be always ready to start when called to visit the sick ; they shall pay them frequent visits, and shall find in their 53 own charity the art of alleviating their pains. They shall look upon the trials which come upon their parishoners as messengers of divine mercy, and they shall hasten with the consolations of faith and charity to the houses whose doors have been opened by these divine messengers VI. Pious Associations and Confraternities among the faithful. 86. These works will afford to the zeal of the priest very precious resources; for they will offer occasions of adapting his teaching to the special needs of each of the particular categories of the flock ; they will give him in the persons who are at the head of the different congregations, auxiliaries whose action will often obtain without difficulty re- sults which he could of himself scarcely hope for. The great secret of apostolic men is to multiply their action and to cause others to act in acting themselves. 87. Men shall be an object of especial care to the members of the Union. With this object in view they shall establish congregations or societies, (St. Francis Xavier, Holy Family, &c.) composed of married and uniiarried men. To hold the meet- ings with perfect exactitude, to observe punctually 54 the rules, to give short and familiar instructions, to be content with directing, and to leave the largest part to the spontaneity and liberty of the dign ta- ries and to the council, such are the principal con- ditions of success. 88. When possible they shall have a mass on Sundays for men only, at an hour the most conve- nient for them, at which they shall give a short in- struction of ten minutes length, or of a quarter of an hour at most. They shall assign them commo- dious places, from which they may easily see the ceremonies, and hear the sermon, and they shall try to speak so as to be interesting to them. If choirs of young men can be formed, they shall not fail to do so, even should they be compelled to give rehearsals during the week. 89. They shall adopt similar means that the con- gregatiofis of the children of Mary may flourish ; the associations of christian mothers, or of St. Ann, for married ladies, of St. Blondine for servant girls, &c. VII. Retreats ajid Missions. 90. How useful and irresistible so ever be, in the long run, the influence of the means of salvation which we have just indicated, they cannot, however, hinder a certain number of souls from dropping 55 into a fatal torpor, if no extraordinary means are taken to rouse and electrify them. Missions, re^ treats of sodalities, of first communion, the Forty Hours, are very favorable circumstances to obtain these happy results, when it is possible to have mis- sionaries. Unfortunately, such is not always the case. The zeal of the priests of the Union will supply this valuable service, with almost the same success and with much less expense. They shall be, there- fore, always ready, as far as the necessities of their own parishes will permit, to go to the aid of their brethren, only demanding- in return the same ser- vice. The common life, since, in proportion to the extent to which it will have spread, it will have di- minished the expenses of priests, and consequently increased their numbers, will also render more easy this mutual assistance. And not only will the par- ishoners be more frequendy evangelized, but the priests themselves will escape the drngers attending idleness, find in these extraordinary labors food for their faculties, and a stimulant to their zeal, learn from the experience of their confreres in whose labors they participate, and finally place themselves in closer contact with the immense needs of souls. VIII. Great Catholic Works, 91. The work of recruiting the clergy by seek- ing out and cultivating vocations to the priesthood, 56 shall be one of tlie principal for the members of the Union. They shall guard with vigilence and cherish with very peculiar affection the children in whom they may have discovered the germs of this precious vocation, and if they can, they shall prepare them to enter the seminary, by teaching them the first rudiments of letters and by making them go piously through the ceremonies of the church. 92. They shall second other works which have for object the general interest of the church and the •salvation of souls: — the Apostles hip of prayer, which brings christians to make the interests of the Heart of Jesus their interests and which directs all their prayers and good works to the triumphs of these divine interests, — \\\^ Association of the propagation cf the Faith, which to the alms of prayer joins material aid, — the Holy Childhood, which, in pro- curing the grace of Baptism for infidel children, produces so many happy results among christian children. IX. Particular admonitions to pastors and their assistants. 93. The knowledge and love of the Heart of Jesus will be of great utility to priests entrusted with the care of souls. The charity of this divine 57 Heart shall leave them no repose until they have led back all their flock to the fold. They must not wait until the members of their flock come to seek them in the church; but the pastors shall seek them, and their charity, which should be above all rebuffs, shall suggest a thousand expedients to have themselves well received. Their kindness to chil- dren, their compassion for the sick, their sympathy in cruel trials will open doors which were closed to their zeal. They shall impose it upon themselves as a duty to visit each year every house in their parish, and they shall be so kind on such occasions, so guarded against preachmg, so affectionate to all, that their visit will be regarded as a favor. They shall show as much meekness and patience in awaiting the triumphs of grace, as constancy and zeal in hastening it. 94. They shall hold themselves on their guard against any influence or appearance of influence from persons of the opposite sex, how respectable soever; and they shall beware of socalled pious souls, who have the pernicious art of bringing dis- credit upon priests whom they think they are serving, and of sowing discord in parishes. 58 CHAPTER III. ON THE MODE OF GOVERNMEf'.T OF THE APOSTOLIC UNION. I. Mode of government of the apostolic Union; II. On the bond of chanty of the whole apos- tolic Union. 95. The apostolic Union can be regarded, according to what has been said in Nos. i and 2, either as a union of all the members of a particular diocese, or as a union of all the members of the general association. ARTICLE THE FIRST. Mode of goveryiment of a diocesan 7inio7t. 96. The members of a diocesan Union form one and the same ecclesiastical family. They should consider each other as brothers whom Our Lord has closely united to help each other, when the oc- casion offers, in the work of their personal sanctifi- cation, and in the fulfilment of their priestly ministry. 97. The diocesan associations are independent the one from the other, and completely subject to the authority of the Ordinary ; each has its own ■constitutions added on to the general Rule, accord- ing to the needs and inclination of its members. (Vide No. 16 ©f the Rule of the apostolic Union.) 69 gS. Each diocesan association may, therefore^ determine its own mode of government as it thinks best, provided that ist. it adopts the General Rule of the Union ; 2d. it choses a superior. 3d. it& members keep up with this superior the relations prescribed by Nos. 67 and 70 of the General Rule ARTICLE 2ND. On the bond of Charity of the ivhole apostolic union. I. Nature of this bond ; — II. General organization which results from it; — III. Spiritual advant- ages ; — IV. On admission to the Union. I. Nature of this bond, 99. As a general association the apostolic Union embraces, in binding them together, all the diocesan associations of priests who are willing to- adopt the Rule of the Union as laid down above. 100. The bond vniting the diocesan associa- tions to the whole Union is only a bond of charity,, and not of dependence, and this is a necessary con- sequence of what has been said in No. 97. loi. The result of thii bond of charity, as a long experience has proved, is to procure for each association which forms part of the Union the same 1. 60 aids that each priest finds in his own diocesan asso- ciation. This Union gives them useful encourage- ment, a vitality and stability which they could not acquire remaining isolated. II. P General organization which results from it. 102. The different associations are bound up with, and made one with the general Union : ist. by the Rule of the Union, 2d. by an annual meeting of the diocesan superiors, 3d. by the bureau of this assembly of a President, who has the title of President General, and of two i^.ssistants^ 4th. by a monthly publication. 103. The bureau of the assembly sits per- manently during the time between one meeting and another ; they attend to the general interests of the apostolic Union ; they come to the aid of the several associations in their difficulties; they con- stantly strive to develop and propagate the move- ment having for object the perfection of the priest- hood, which should be the natural fruit of the apostolic Union. 61 III. Spiritual advantages which the general Union procures, 104. The spirit of charity which presided at the formation of the Union, impells all the priests who form a part of it, to consider all their confreres, to wluit?oever diocese they belong, as brothers in Jesus Christ. 105. All the Associates, without distinction of dioceses, and by the very fact of their admission, place in common their prayers and mortifications, and in general all their good works ; so that there is a full and entire communion of good works, and, as it were, a common fund, which they place in the hands of the Blessed Virgin, giving her the right to distribute them freely as she may judge fit, for the greater glory of her Divine Son, the greater good of the Church and of each of the members, in life and after death. 106. The Associates shall say one Mass' yearly, in the month of November, for their confreres who have departed this life. 107. At the death of one of the Associates, his Superior gives notice of his death to the President General, who, in turn, calls on the several diocesan associations to pray for him. 108. Finally, all the priests admitted into the Union participate in the favors which have been, or 6 II !t^ 62 may be accorded by the Holy See to the apos- tolic Union. IV. On admission to the Union, 109. Every association which wishes to adopt the Rule of the Union and to be admitted into the apostolic Union, to participate in its advantages and privileges, asks the President General who, after having consulted his assistants, gives ad- mittance. no. Though it is desirable that in the same diocese, there be but one Diocesan Union, yet, when reasons of material interest or expedency de- mand it, the President General and the assistants can, if they see fit, associate separately to the gen- eral Union several distinct associations of the same diocese. III. A priest who knows of no association in his diocese, and who desires to secure the precious advantages of this sacredotal work, has only to write to the President General, M. Leheiirier, rue Turenne^ 23^ Paris, who will send him every infor- mation, and who will be, at least provisionally, his immediate Superior. Such a priest, even under these conditions, will enjoy' the advantages of an approved rule, strong encouragements, the example and fortifying consolations of pri?stly friendship ; 63 above all he will be a partaker in the precious com- munity of spiritual benefits spoken of in No. 105, besides all the favors which the Holy See shall have designed to accord to the Union, (i) THIRn PART. SELECTION OF DECISIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES. 112. In order that the Rule may keep the defini- tive form given to it, it has been thought good to add to it a supplement in which the principal de- cisions of ihe general assemblies may be recorded. I. Rp.siim^ of the decisions taken iii the twelve first asssmblies.from 1862 to iSyg. 113. The first heading contains a resume of the decisions of the twelve first assemblies, held from the year 1862 to the year 1879. (1) It is estimated that the Apostolic Union numbered at least 600 members on the first day of the year 1880. M 114. The general assembly of Superiors shall meet, if possible, each year. 115. The meeting of the general assembly has been fixed for the period between the feasts of the Assumption and of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. 116. Each association shall be represented in the assemby either by its Superior or a delegate. It shall pay the expenses of its representative. 117. The Superiors of the diocesan associations, by themselves, or, if they cannot be present at the annual assemblies in person, by their delegate, shall designate, by secret ballot and by a majority of votes, one of themselves to be, with the title of Pre- sident General, as it were the centre and connecting link of the different associations. This nomination shall continue for five years only ; however, the same President may be re-elected again and again indefinitely. 118. Besides the President General two assist- ants shall be elected for the same period of time and under the same conditions of re-election. 119. The President General shall preside at the assembly and shall summon the succeeding annual assemblies of Superiors, (i.) (1) The two assistants shall discharge the functions of Vice-Presidents of the assembly. The honorary titles of Presidents or Vice-Presidents may also be given during the session of the assembly to notable personages who assist at its meetings. 65 120. There shall be sent to each Superior as many copies of the proceedings of the general assembly as the Association over which he presides counts members. 121. All the documents relating to the Union shall be carefully kept, and often read by the mem- bers. 122. Once a year, six months after the meeting, each Superior shall send to the President General a rough estimate of the state of the Association in his diocese. The President General shall answer this report by sending to each Superior General a report resuming the state of the work throughout the dif- ferent dioceses. 123. In order that the Superiors of the several Associations may the more easily make out their report for the President General, the latter shall draw up and send to each a list of questions pre- pared ad hoc. 124. At the bottom of the report which each Association sends to the Superior General, should be indicated the points which it might be useful to examine in the general assembly of Superiors. The President General thus collecting from all sides a bundle of important questions, will have an oppor- tunity of making them known when he transmits his summary of the several reports, and the mem- bers of the general assembly will have thus become 66 acquainted, at least a month In advance, with the subjects for discussion. 125. The President General will be kind enough to add to the general report a kind of instruction with the purpose of stirring up the zeal of the asso- ciates. 126. The President may send from time to time, as he shall judge proper, circulars to the associates. 127. Each Superior should send to the Presi- dent a certain number of copies of his rules and of his circulars, in order that he may always know the state of this or that Association. 128. To facilitate the exercise of that virtue which St. Paul recommends so often in his epistles, hospitality, and which the associates have promised to practise towards each other in the most fraternal manner, it would be well if the President General had the name and address of all the Associates, in order to be able to furnish all the information that might be asked in this respect. 1 29. A monthly Review under the title of Etudes ecclesiastiques, on the duties of the priesthood and of the pastoral ministry, has been already a long time established, to be a bond and means of period- ical communication between the members of the Union. This Review publishes everything of interest to the apostolic Union, and labors for its extension and advancement in perfection ; it pays particular 67 4 attention to everything which can develope an esteem for the common life, and induce priests to group themselves into pious associations. Moreover, it contains serious and varied articles on spiritual matters, la pastorale, hagiographv, bib- liography, &c. All the members of the apostolic Union not only may, but are earnestly invited to, write for the Review, the President however is the judge of what it shall be useful or opportune to publish. The general assemblies have often expressed their desire to see each associate a subscriber to the Etudes ecclesiastiques and zealous in its diifusion. 130. A general fund has been established to cover the general expenses of correspondence, printing, &c. For this end an assessment of one franc only is asked from each associate. r