and the Diocesan (Provincial) Superiors. Those who have an active and passive voice — three from each diocese (or Province) — will gather, having been called to one house by the letter of the Superior [General] concluding his term. There, having spent one day of abstinence and having sung the Mass to the Holy Spirit, they will be cloistered until, by secret vote, they have chosen one noted for integrity, prudence, religious discipline and outstanding in learning. The secretary and the discretus36 will sign the certificate of the one elected by the consent of the greater part of the electors. All will kiss the hand of the elect as a sign of reverence and obedience. After the election, they will go to the church to sing the hymn Te Deum laudamus. If anyone [during the election process] will have been noted for his ambition, let him be perpetually declared unfit for all offices. Afterward, the election of Assistants, the Procurator General, then of the Provincials shall be held — also by secret ballot. If anything will be decreed in this meeting, let it be inscribed in the General Acts. 2. The Diocesan Meetings will be held every three years, for establishing some good or abolishing evil; and for [the election of] those to be sent to the General Chapter, according to what was noted above. To these meetings will go the local Vicars37 of each house, along with the delegates chosen by secret vote. 3. The Local Superior will call together the members twice each week. On Fridays, he will gather them to assign adequate penance in order to make up for their faults. Kneeling, each one will manifest his faults clearly, openly, with pious disposition, and without excusing himself. He will humbly accept the penance imposed there. If someone is falsely accused at that time [by another], he will not respond; afterwards, meeting with the Superior, he will testify to his innocence (unless he would prefer to innocently suffer with Christ). A liar will be punished, without being pardoned, with the penalty that would have been 36 Probably the one who verifies the vote. 37 The Local Superiors were considered the Vicars of the General (or later, the Provincial Superior). The Rule of Life 301
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