73 superiors fear. If any one of the Superiors should seem to someone somewhat negligent or less than exemplary, he should not — because of the Lord — on that account cease to honor and obey him. The Lord himself warns, “practice and observe what they tell you, but not what they do” (Mt 23:3). Indeed, the Superiors are worthy of much compassion, since while they serve all, they are at times forced to neglect themselves. Therefore, the members will always pray for the Superiors, so that God may enlighten, direct, help and keep them in His grace. 4. The Superior of the entire Congregation will visit the whole Congregation every three years; the Provincial,29 his houses every year; but the Local Superior will visit the rooms of all the members almost every single month, lest anything be found in them not according to your vocation and poverty, or neatness. All Superiors will unanimously apply themselves to this, that there may flourish: an ever greater worship of God, in their churches; peace, recollection, love, uniformity, in their houses; holiness, in their members; and conservation of temporal goods. They may not give away these goods of the Congregation to outsiders, under ecclesiastical penalties. 5. If it will be necessary in any of your churches to preach the Word of God, this task is to be given by the Superior to such ones who have been instructed in the necessary doctrine and who have virtuous qualities, so that their preaching may bring salutary fruit to the listeners, enlightening by their teaching, stirring by their persuasion. Let them always attempt to speak those things which would bring forth more praise of God than [praise] of themselves; those things which would call forth in the people, with God’s help: edification, correction of behavior, love and fear of God, the exercise of virtue and good works, contempt for the world, and fervent desire for and striving after eternal happiness, just as in their own churches they will not preach without 29 The Latin term “Diocesanus” probably supposes a division of the Congregation into Provinces according to the lines of dioceses, i.e., houses in a diocese form a separate Province.
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