the one who, when praised from outside, is sad and troubled within; while pride is found in one who is cheerful and glad to be raised to special office or receive the praise of others. Let them conduct themselves with humility in Chapters and in Council meetings, neither excusing nor defending themselves, not preferring personal opinions to those of the community, nor following their own inclinations. Let them always say: “Let it be done to me as you say,” and not as I say. For greater perfection in the virtue of humility, they will choose one of the members of the community as Superior, whom they are to obey, to love, and revere as the vicar of the Virgin Mary, since, in fact, he holds her place. His orders should be received as coming from the lips of the Virgin; they should be greatly on their guard not to criticize these orders, but let them simply, in all things, obey him. The Chapter of Faults is ordinarily held every Saturday. There, for their faults, salutary penances are received. Remember: For the humble souls, this kind of Chapter is a purgatory. The Superior should punish faults with discretion, applying —as did the Good Samaritan—oil with wine [cf. Lk 10:34]. The Superior General of the Order should visit all houses once a year, since it pertains to him to devote his attention to them and to watch over their correct establishment. The Visitator, in this visitation, should specially inquire about chastity, charity, and fraternal peace, about poverty and obedience, about the Divine Office and holy prayer. With regard to the Chapters—during which elections or removals [from offices] should be made for each house, or Province, or the whole Order—and with regard to the manner of conducting these and many other things: the sacred canons and Apostolic Constitutions already issued, or to be issued in the future, together with the Statutes passed by the Chapters themselves concerning the government of the Order, must strictly be observed. Appendix 312
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==