Acts of the Eighth Provincial Chapter
of the Province of St. Paul of the Cross
Held in the Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburg, PA.
From August 20th to 27th, 1884.

PRELIMINARY.

The holding of Chapters at stated intervals, in conformity with the prescription of our Rules, is one of the most effectual means we possess to preserve in ourselves the spirit, by which we ought to be animated, and to hand it down to those who gradually fill up the ranks, as one by one we pass to our eternal rest. Hence the interest manifested on these occasions, which is all the greater in proportion to our attachment to the Congregation, and consequently to the Rules we have professed.

After the happy issue of our late General Chapter, we were all rejoiced when by a circular letter dated July 14th 1884, the Very Rev. F. John Thomas of the SS. Hearts, appointed the 20th of August of the same year for the opening of our Eighth Provincial Chapter, ordering at the same time special prayers to be offered daily to the Giver of all good gifts for his guidance and protection in this important affair. The capitular fathers were requested in the same circular letter, to betake themselves to the Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburg, Pa. for the 17th of August, in order to take part in the preliminary meetings and to be present at the Solemn Triduum.

Agreeably to these directions received, all the members of the Chapter, were present in the above named Retreat at the appointed time, and on the morning of the 17th, they were called to meet in conference in the Chapter room. The usual prayers were recited at the opening of the meeting, and one of the Fathers read the credentials brought by the Very Rev. F. John Dominic of the Infant Jesus, Consultor General, by which he was authorized by the Most Rev. F. General to preside over our Chapter, and to confirm in his name, the elections of Rectors and Master of Novices.

During this first meeting and in the other preliminary conferences held on the two following days, the Very Rev. FF. Rectors gave an account of the financial condition of their respective Retreats. which caused great satisfaction to the Fathers, in as much as it evidently proved that a unanimous and successful effort has been made to reduce the indebtedness of our Province.

They also gave up their credentials and seals of their offices, presented the different Inventories and the certificate “de celebratione Missarum,” signed by all the priests of their respective Retreats. A Secretary pro tem. was appointed, various subjects for future consideration and discussion were noted down, and the required oath de secreto servando was taken by all the Fathers. Now they began the serious task of examining the merits and qualities of all those priests of our Province, who are eligible to the offices of the Congregation, according to our Rules and Constitutions.

After Vespers on Tuesday the Very Rev. F. Thomas of the B. V. Mary, first Consultor, delivered before the whole Community a telling discourse, on the impending event of the holding of our eighth Provincial Chapter, from which we were to receive our new Superiors.

FIRST SESSION.

On Wednesday morning August the 20th 1884 at 6:30 o’clock, the Solemn High Mass De Spiritu Sancto was celebrated by the Very Rev. F. Provincial, the Consultors being respectively deacon and subdeacon, assisted by the rest of the capitular fathers. At 8:30 the signal was given for the assembling of the capitular fathers as well as the rest of the Community in the church. The Very Rev. F. John Dominic of the Infant Jesus, President of the Chapter, holding the sacred image of our crucified Redeemer, intoned the hymn Vexilla Regis, the procession was formed and advanced slowly towards the Chapter room. Arrived there the Very Rev. F. President recited the usual prayers, after which he dismissed the religious Community, those Fathers only remaining who have by our Rules active voice in capitular assemblies.

After this the Very Rev. F. President made a short but very forcible allocution to the electors, in order to impress still more deeply in their minds the vital importance of their present duty. Then the Secretary pro tem., called the names of those entitled to vote in our Provincial Chapters and all were found present in the following order:

Very Rev. F. John Dominic of the Infant Jesus, second Consultor General, and President of the Chapter.
Very Rev. F. John Thomas of the SS. Hearts, Provincial.
Very Rev. F. Thomas of the B. V. Mary, first Provincial Consultor.
Very Rev. F. Liberatus of St. Francis, second Provincial Consultor.
Very Rev. F. Alphonsus of St. Liberatus, Rector of St. Paul’s Retreat, Pittsburg. Pa.
Very Rev. F. Guido of St. Joseph, Rector of St. Mary’s Retreat, Dunkirk, N. Y.
Very Rev. F. Benedict of St. Francis, Rector of St. Michael’s Retreat, West Hoboken, N. J.
Very Rev. F. John Baptist of the Nativity of the B. V. Mary, Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Baltimore, Md.
Very Rev. F. Frederick of St. Michael, Rector of Holy Cross Retreat, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Very Rev. F. Charles of Holy Mary, Rector of Sacred Heart Retreat, Louisville, Ky.
Very Rev. F. Constantine of the Seven Dolors, Master of Novices.

Now the Fathers implored once more the divine assistance and chanted the Veni Creator with the usual other prayers, and to the question whether they considered the Chapter canonically assembled, they all gave an affirmative answer. The usual acts of humility were performed, the absolution ad cautelam was given, the protest entered of not admitting the unworthy and of not excluding the worthy, and the preliminaries were ended by the reading of the decree of the Holy Office. The election of the capitular Secretary was proceeded to and effected in the person of the Very Rev. F. Guido of St. Joseph. Two Scrutineers were likewise chosen, the first being the Very Rev. F. Charles of Holy Mary, and the second the Very Rev. F. Alphonsus of St. Liberatus.

All these preliminaries having been complied with, the capitulars were now notified by the President to proceed at once to ballot for the election of the Provincial. Hereupon the scrutinies began and continued till about dinner time, but as there was no prospect of arriving at any conclusion, the session was ended with the customary prayers.

SECOND SESSION.

The Fathers were called to the Chapter room at 3 P.M. of the same day and immediately after reciting the opening prayers, balloting for the election of the Provincial was resumed, and after considerable time a sufficient number of votes were found in favor of the former Provincial the Very Rev. F. John Thomas of the SS. Hearts. The elected declared that he would certainly resign, should there be any probability of his resignation being accepted, and in all humility he acknowledged his insufficiency to carry the burden of the government of the Province, and begged the Fathers to help him with their earnest cooperation to procure our common welfare. The Secretary framed and read publicly the decree of election in the following words: “Ego Guido a S. Joseph, nomine meo et omnium eligentium mihi consentientium, invocata gratia Spiritus Sancti, eligo in Praepositum Provincialem, Provinciae Sancti Paul a Cruce, Septentrionalis Americae, Adm. Reverendum Patrem Joannem Thomam a Sacris Cordibus, et electum pronuntio et coram vobis publico. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.” The new Provincial received now from the capitulars fathers the usual acts of homage, and then the whole religious Community was called to the Chapter room to do likewise, when all repaired to the church, there to chant the great hymn of thanks and praises to God, and receive Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament from the hands of the newly elected Provincial.

THIRD SESSION.

August 21st 8 A.M. After the usual prayers the Very Rev. F. President ordered the Fathers to proceed to ballot for the first Consultor. It was done accordingly. The whole session was spent at it with no result, and at half-past eleven we adjourned till 3 P.M.

FOURTH SESSION.

Having more solito implored the Divine assistance, the balloting for the election of the first Consultor was continued, and after a few scrutinies the Very Rev. F. Benedict of St. Francis was found to be the chosen one, and the Secretary published at once the decree of his election.

Next in order came the second Consultor. The balloting commenced and continued till 7 P.M. without concluding anything, when the President recited the usual prayers and ended the session.

FIFTH SESSION.

August 22nd. At 8 o’clock A.M. the Fathers assembled again to continue their work of providing Superiors for our Province, the customary prayers were offered to the Father of Light, and the scrutiny for the second Consultor began once more, ending shortly in favor of the Very Rev. F. Charles of Holy Mary. The decree of his election was immediately published by the Secretary.

Father President now reminded the capitulars of the importance of the office of Master of Novices, and requested them to ballot without delay, for the one who was to fill it. At the seventh scrutiny the Rev. F. Aloysius of the Passion received a sufficient number of votes for his canonical election, and the necessary decree was at once published.

A Rector was now to be found for the Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburg, Pa. The balloting lasted for some time, and finally ended in the election of the Very Rev. F. Thomas of the B.V. Mary. On hearing the Secretary announce his election, he with sincere sentiments of humility, declared his utter unfitness for such an office, but as the capitulars refused to listen to his excuses he was forced to accept, and thanking the Fathers for the good opinion they entertain of him, he submitted himself to the Will of God. The decree of his election was published by the Secretary.

After this election an attempt was made to provide a Rector for St. Mary’s Retreat, Dunkirk, N.Y., but on account of the lateness of the hour and the intense heat, the session was juxta morem brought to a close.

SIXTH SESSION.

This sixth session was opened at 3 P.M. of the same day by the recitation of the usual prayers. Scrutinies for the Rector of St. Mary’s Retreat were resumed, and in a short time the choice fell on the Rev. F. Stephen of the Mother of God. The decree of his election was made and published as usual.

The next Retreat to be supplied with a Rector was that of St. Michael, West Hoboken, N.J. The balloting commenced and at the tenth, the necessary number of votes for a canonical election was found to favor the Very Rev. F. Constantine of the Seven Dolors. The elected protested that he could not accept such a charge, as he considered himself unfit for it, but when told not to resist the Will of God, he humbly thanked the Fathers, and the decree of his election was published.

Before coming to St. Joseph’s Retreat, Baltimore, Md., on account of the present condition of the place, F. President stated, that it might perhaps be advisable to have only a temporary Superior appointed there, until a house capable of accommodating a regular Community can be rebuilt. The subject was freely discussed, and finally put to a vote, which resulted in favor of having a Rector. Accordingly the balloting was commenced, but as the hour was already late, after some fruitless scrutinies, the session was ended with our customary prayers.

SEVENTH SESSION.

August 23rd. At the hour of 8 A.M. the capitular fathers met again, and having invoked the Holy Spirit, the balloting for the Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat was resumed, and at the fourth scrutiny it resulted in the election of the Rev. F. Sebastian of the Mother of Mercy. The decree of election was written at once and published by the Secretary. F. Sebastian being a member of this Community, was sent for, and on his being notified by the Very Rev. F. President of his new office, on his bended knees, he begged the Fathers so earnestly, and gave so many reasons for being excused from the charge imposed on him, that the President told him to leave the Chapter room, to allow the capitulars to reconsider what had been done. The decision was put to a vote, which simply confirmed his election, and upon his being called in again, the Very Rev. F. President exhorted him to submit himself to God’s Will, and for the glory of His Holy Name, cheerfully undertake the fulfillment of his onerous duty.

Next in order followed the Retreat of Holy Cross, Cincinnati, Ohio, to which a Rector was given at the third scrutiny, in the person of the Very Rev. F. Frederick of St. Michael. The elected thanked the Fathers and the decree of his election was published.

It now remained for the capitulars to find a Rector for the Sacred Heart Retreat, Louisville, Ky. The balloting was immediately commenced and continued to the end of the session without any result.

EIGHTH SESSION.

At 3 P.M. of the same day the Fathers assembled once more in the hope of finishing the already protracted work of the elections. The balloting for the Rector of the Sacred Heart Retreat was resumed, and after considerable time, the Rev. F. Robert of St. Joseph was chosen to fill that office. The decree of his election was framed and published.

The Secretary now sent official notices to the absent newly elected, and a full list to the Vicars of all the Retreats of the Province.

It being still too early to adjourn the session, the Very Rev. F. President read a cablegram from our Most Rev. F. General, in which he gave his full consent, that the Chapter might accept the contemplated foundation near the city of St. Louis, Mo. The subject was ventilated pro and con, and finally left in the hands of the Provincial and his Consultors. With the cheering prospect of having another Retreat in the near future, this eighth session was closed by prayer.

NINTH SESSION.

Sunday August 24th, 9 A.M. Having asked by humble prayer the guidance of the Holy Ghost, the Very Rev. F. President spoke of different matters which, in the course of time, might become occasions of violating the vow of poverty; they were well considered, but as they fall under our common Regulations, it was deemed unnecessary to legislate concerning them.

A memorandum delivered by our F. General to the President of the Chapter, which had been read in one of our preliminary meetings, now received our respectful consideration. Among the subjects of importance mentioned therein, one was whether it be feasible to detach the parish from our West Hoboken church? The Fathers after mature deliberation, unanimously agreed that for the present it is impracticable. The question that followed was; if it would be expedient to turn the Dunkirk Retreat into a mere mission house or preparatory school, and build a new Retreat in the outskirts of the town? All the Fathers in turn gave their opinion, and concluded by leaving the whole matter to the discretion and judgment of the Provincial and his Consultors. It being time to end the session, the Fathers recited the customary prayers and dispersed.

TENTH SESSION.

Monday August 25th. The first thing done in this morning’s session, was the reading by the Secretary of the Acts of the Chapter up to the eighth session. Then in compliance with the first decree of the ninth session of the late General Chapter, concerning the time of the daily celebration of the last Mass; considerable time was spent in discussing this matter, owing to the fact that our Retreats were so differently circumstanced. It was finally agreed that each Rector with the consent of the Provincial appoint the hour most suitable for his place, it being understood however, that it ought to be between 7:30 and l l o’clock.

Other subjects relating principally to the preservation of the spirit of solitude and love of retirement from the world, were considered; and the Ven. Chapter recommends to the Rectors, to refuse, without hesitation, permissions which are opposed to the spirit of our Congregation, and to insist on the exact observance of what is prescribed in our common Regulations No. 13 “On the recreation.” After this the Fathers recited the ordinary prayers and adjourned till afternoon.

ELEVENTH SESSION.

At about 3 P.M. of the same day the sound of the bell called the Fathers to meet again to prosecute their work. The question of our secular clothing engaged the attention of the Chapter, and after a long discussion, it was resolved that the decree enacted by our second Provincial Chapter, prescribing uniformity as to pattern and materials, was fully sufficient to prevent abuses that might creep in from this quarter.

Then the project of having a preparatory school to serve as a nursery for our Novitiate was mooted, many suggestions were made to carry into effect this very desirable plan, all involving confessedly more or less serious difficulties; but as we all admitted its advantages, it was resolved that the Provincial and his Consultors should try by all means to make a beginning in a small scale.

It is the wish of the Chapter that the Rectors should strictly observe the instruction given them by our Holy Founder himself in the following words: “Let the Rector be most exact in examining letters when they go to, or come from the post, or any other place, read them without any human respect, remembering that this is one of the points of first importance for maintaining observance and good order in his Retreat.” Should any religious keep up a furtive correspondence, or try to evade this ordinance, let him, when detected, be reported to the Provincial, who will use his authority to prevent the introduction into our midst of such destructive abuses. Here with prayers this lengthy session was ended.

TWELFTH SESSION.

Tuesday August 26th. After the usual opening prayers, the Very Rev. F. President proposed various matters tending to insure and promote the wellbeing of our Province. They were all well considered and discussed, but as they required no special legislation, it was thought superfluous to record them in these Acts.

Our attention was now called to the rebuilding, as soon as possible, of the Retreat of St. Joseph, Baltimore, lately destroyed by fire. Some simple and practical means were suggested and gladly acquiesced in by the Fathers.

This affair being settled, other matters, affecting the spiritual edifice, were spoken of; in regard to them the Ven. Chapter feels bound to request all our religious to bear in mind the necessity of edifying our brethren at home, and our neighbors abroad, and therefore let them be exceedingly on their guard, to avoid in their conversation, expressions, which might in the least offend delicacy or charity. With this exhortation to our religious and the usual prayers the Fathers closed the session.

THIRTEENTH SESSION.

The Very Rev. F. President began this session at 3 P.M. of the same day, by requesting the Secretary to read slowly the new regulations for our missions, lately approved by our F. General, pursuant to a commission given him and his Consultors by the General Chapter.

After the careful reading and understanding of them, the Ven. Chapter decrees that the aforesaid regulations for missions and retreats, be faithfully observed, and that the Superiors of missions be bound to its exact observance, and let the Provincial be informed of anything of consequence contrary hereto, that may have taken place during any mission. This obligation of informing the Provincial binds all the missioners. This matter occupied the whole session, which was closed more solito.

FOURTEENTH SESSION.

Wednesday August 27th. Subjects for discussion noted down in the preliminary meetings being now exhausted, the Very Rev. F. President asked the Fathers whether there was any other matter to be proposed? Various suggestions were made to prevent anything tending to relaxation, and the following decree was resolved upon: Lest abuses might be introduced against Community life, the Ven. Chapter decrees that Lectors and Directors of students, without a special permission of the local Superior, to be asked toties quoties, cannot purchase eatables and drinkables, even if they be allowed by F. Provincial to keep a little money. After this the Secretary read the Acts of the Chapter as far as written, and with prayers the session closed.

FIFTEENTH SESSION.

In this last session, held at 5 P.M. of the same day, the Acts of the Chapter were read, and the Fathers declared themselves ready to sign them. Here the Very Rev. F. President asked the capitulars whether they had anything more to mention before closing the Chapter, to which they all gave a negative answer and thus the President declared it closed.

The President now confirmed in the name of our F. General, the elections of the Rectors and Master of Novices, and the newly elected made the required profession of faith. Then with feelings of gratitude to God for his guidance and protection, they appended herewith their signatures as follows:

Very Rev. F. John Dominic of the Infant Jesus, second Consultor General, and President of the Chapter.
Very Rev. F. John Thomas of the SS. Hearts, Provincial.
Very Rev. F. Thomas of the B. V. Mary, first Provincial Consultor.
Very Rev. F. Liberatus of St. Francis, second Provincial Consultor.
Very Rev. F. Alphonsus of St. Liberatus, Rector of St. Paul’s Retreat, Pittsburg, Pa.
Very Rev. F. Guido of St. Joseph, Rector of St. Mary’s Retreat, Dunkirk, N. Y.
Very Rev. F. Benedict of St. Francis. Rector of St. Michael’s Retreat; West Hoboken, N. J.
Very Rev. F. John Baptist of the Nativity of the B. V. Mary, Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Baltimore, Md.
Very Rev. F. Frederick of St. Michael, Rector of Holy Cross Retreat, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Very Rev. F. Charles of Holy Mary, Rector of Sacred Heart Retreat, Louisville, Ky.
Very Rev. F. Constantine of the Seven Dolors, Master of Novices.

Guido a S. Joseph,
Secretarius Capitularis.