First Section: General Norms:

Chapters:

11. on the structure of the Order; §252;
12. on the law by which the Order is governed. §275

Second Section: On Government Itself:

Third Section: On Elections:

Fourth Section: On Economic Administration:

Each province is made up of convents and houses, which are governed by a prior or superior.

II.   A province must have territory distinct from the territory of other provinces.

1. of incorporating to itself as sons those who enter its novitiate;

2. of providing suitably for the formation of its brethren, and, provided the necessary conditions are present, of having its own novitiate and center of institutional studies

3. of celebrating a provincial chapter;

4. of taking part in general chapters.

I.   For the union of two entities (provinces, vice-province or vicariates) the following are required:

1. The vote of the council of each entity in regard to mutual matters concerning the union

2. Consultations of the brethren and the chapters of all the convents and houses in the same entities, to be done in a way worked out in the individual entities

3. A special statute approved by the Master of the Order for the celebration of a chapter of each entity, in which the entities vote whether the union is to be proposed to the Master of the Order and for the celebration of the first meeting of the new entity after the manner of a chapter .

4. The decision of the Master of the order with his council; the first superior of the new entity is appointed by the master of the order.

III.   In the case of the division of a province, the manner of proceeding shall be worked out by the provincial council and approved by the master of the Order with his council.

1. The Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, can establish a vice-province which has, in the territory assigned to it, two convents properly so called and twenty-five vocals; furthermore, it should be able to provide from its own resources for maintaining the conditions stated for founding a new province.

2. Over a vice-province there is in charge as a major superior, a vice-provincial, elected by the chapter of the vice-province. A vice-province has the obligations and rights of a province.

In this case, having consulted the brothers of the vicariate, a vicar general is appointed the first time by the Master of the Order for four years.

Relations between this general vicariate and other vicariates which may exist in the same place shall be determined according to n. 395.

II.   When a province which has been reduced to a vice-province as in I for a period of three years shall again have the necessary conditions, the Master of the Order must declare that it enjoys all its rights.

III.   In regions where a provincial chapter cannot be celebrated because of adverse circumstances, the Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, can provide, while maintaining equity, for the manner in which a province will be represented in a general chapter.

II.   Consequently, those who represent a province, such as a prior provincial, a diffinitor, or an elector, are ranked among themselves according to the order of provinces.

A community which does not have these conditions is called a house.

II.   Whatever is said of convents is also valid for houses, unless expressly stated otherwise.

1. a petition made by a provincial chapter explaining the reasons;

2. approval by the Master of the Order;

3. a decree given in writing by the Master of the Order for validity.

III.   A province is not permitted to establish a convent within the territory of another, except with the consent of the Master of the Order, and of the council of the province in which the foundation is intended to be made.

II.   Assignment is either direct or simple, or indirect by reason of office or of studies.

III.   Assignment, however, outside one's own province for the purpose of study does not suffice for having voice in elections. The prior provincial of the province of assignation, with the previous consent of the prior provincial of the province of affiliation determines other rights and obligations of the brother assigned by reason of study, number 208 being observed. (B-256, with an ordination)

IV.   Assignment by reason of office applies only to superiors; that made by reason of study applies only to students outside the province.

V.   Every brother needs a direct assignment to a definite convent from the time of first profession and without a time limit. An indirect assignment by reason of office lasts only for the term of office. The prior provincial of the province of assignation, with the previous consent of the prior provincial of the province of affiliation determines the duration of indirect assignment by reason of study When the time of indirect assignment has elapsed , the direct or simple assignment revives.(B-256, with an ordination)

II.   A brother who has been assigned simply to a province by the Master of the Order or by a general chapter, needs an assignment to a definite convent besides.

III.   Direct assignments of the brethren (see Appendix n. 12) and indirect assignments by reason of studies shall be made in writing (B-257)

The superior should note the reading of the assignment in the council book and notify the superior of the convent of previous assignment about this.

not been expressly excluded but not granting its rights, saving, however, the right of participating in elections in the convent of his assignment.

1. the constitutions of the Order;

2. the ordinations which are found either in the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations, or in the acts of general chapters;

3. the ordinations of the Master of the Order;

4. legitimate customs.

II.   One most general chapter, however, is equivalent to three general chapters.

However, inchoations which are contrary to constitutions shall not be made with an ordination except rarely and for an urgent cause, which must always be stated expressly by a chapter.

1. by the statute of the province;

2. by the ordinations of a provincial chapter;

3. by the ordinations of the prior provincial as well as of others who in various ways are in charge of a province.

II.      1. One provincial chapter is competent to make ordinations to be inserted in the statute of the province, and to change them or abrogate them;

2. the statute of a province or the changes to be made in it, just as all other ordinations of a provincial chapter, must be approved by the Master of the Order.

II.   However, the ordinations of the Master of the Order are promulgated and begin to have force in the manner determined by him.

II.   If such a declaration is still proven opportune, it shall be renewed in each general chapter.

II.   Ordinations which are found in the book of constitutions and ordinations can be revoked by a general chapter until the next chapter; if, however, the second chapter confirms what the first has done, they are definitively abrogated (see Appendix n. 2).

II.   Other ordinations of a provincial chapter remain in force until the date when the acts of the following provincial chapter begin to have force.

II.   Customs contrary to the constitutions and the ordinations which are found in this book are rejected.

II.   A prior provincial in his province and a conventual prior in his convent can dispense the brethren in matters which are not reserved to a higher superior.

Art. III -- On the Formal Precept

1. shall not be given unless it concerns something of itself or from circumstances grave according to our laws, after prudent consideration and sufficient investigation, and only in a case of true necessity;

2. must always be given in writing, for a specified period of time and must define precisely what is to be done or what is to be omitted;

3. must be expressed in the required formula, namely: "we command (or we forbid) in virtue of obedience."

1. if it is not given in writing or if the required formula mentioned in n.294 is omitted;

2. if a local superior imposes a precept on an entire community without the previous consent of the prior provincial or, in case of urgent necessity, of the conventual council; or if the prior provincial imposes it on the whole province without the consent of his council.