historical writings 890 Having presented, therefore, such enmity (although not in full) and having finely described my persecutions, which even the very teaching of Christ our Lord at times commands us to avoid,167 and about such violations I complained for two years to the General,168 let us proceed to other matters. Second Cause: The Relaxation of the Observance of the Old Rule of Religious Life 34. Theologians also forbid one from remaining in an Order which has begun to be lax [in its observance of the Rule]. They permit one to leave it if there be a danger to salvation.169 I, however, not wanting in the least to make charges as to the general observance of the Rule in the Order of Pious Schools, humbly and gently mention only this: namely, what brought ruin to me and to others, without accusing the Congregation, but rather, only those inclined to relaxing [the style of life], whether these be Superiors or subjects. 35. And so firstly, as to how much the Congregation of Pious Schools differed as regards the utmost poverty, know both those who came to this Province and attentively looked at it, as well as those who read my Apologia for the Utmost Poverty, which was written while I was still in this Congregation.170 Although the poverty of the Institute of Pious Schools is just as strict as that of 167 Probably a reference to Mt 10:23. 168 These letters, probably written during the years 1668-1670, are no longer extant. 169 In cases of dispensation from vows in general and from religious vows, as well as permission to transfer to another religious Institute (especially one less strict), the relaxation of the observance of the Rule was considered by the moral theologians of that time as a sufficient reason to receive such a dispensation or permission. Cf. SH, p. 59, n. 123. For further details regarding the positions of certain moral theologians of that time regarding such situations, cf. Positio p. 267, n. 1 170 The Apologia for the Utmost Poverty (Apologia pro summa paupertate) is no longer extant and its content remains unknown. It probably called for a return to the original poverty of the Piarists to which they were obligated by their Constitu-
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