Acts of the Fifteenth 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 30th to September 4th, 1905.

PRELIMINARY.

Our Very Rev. Fr. Vice-Provincial, on his return from the General Chapter in Rome, issued the circular letter convoking this XV Provincial Chapter of our Province. The date fixed for the opening was August 30th, and the Retreat in which it was to be held that of St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburg, Pa. Accordingly the Capitular Fathers assembled in due time in said Retreat.

In his circular letter Very Rev. Fr. Vice-Provincial insisted strongly on the fact that we were now come to a very critical stage in the history of the American Province. “The next few years,” he said, “will be of vital importance to our Province, as in this period we must strengthen the points that have been made for regular discipline. For fifty years we have been accommodating ourselves to our work and surroundings in America, while trying to safeguard our Rule and the spirit of the Congregation. In this we have, with God’s blessing, succeeded. But there is a limit to concession; there is a limit to progress in given lines; there is a point at which progress becomes retrogression, and we are now nearing this point. We are approaching the danger line. Hence the momentous responsibility of the next Provincial Chapter.” With these eloquent and timely words of warning ever before their minds, the Very Rev. Fathers began and prosecuted their important task.

On the morning of August 27th, 1905, they assembled in the Chapter-room for the customary preliminary meetings, all being present who were entitled to a voice in the Chapter.

The session having been opened with the usual prayers, a credential letter of the Most Rev. Fr. General was read, appointing the Very Rev. Fr. Fidelis of the Cross President of the Chapter, with plenipotentiary authority to confirm the elections and the decrees. Fr. Stanislaus of the Most Holy Redeemer was chosen Secretary of the preliminary meetings. The Superiors then delivered up their seals of office, together with their Litterae Patentes, and duly handed in the various documents required by canon-law and our usages, viz: the certificates “de celebratione Missarum,” etc., together with the inventories of house and church furniture, and the financial statements of the various Retreats. These documents were then entrusted to a committee which was appointed to examine them. Afterwards, to the great joy of the Fathers, this committee reported that, taking into account the surplus money on hand, there was practically no debt on the Retreats of the Province, except that on the two new foundations, at Scranton, Pa., and Chicago, Ill.

In the preliminary sessions which followed,—August 27-29th,—various matters were proposed for discussion during the Chapter. And after the oath “de secreto servando,” had been duly administered by the Very Rev. Fr. President, the merits of those eligible to office were discussed.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 29th, after the Capitular Fathers had assisted at Vespers with the Community, an eloquent discourse was delivered in choir by the Very Rev. Fr. Michael of the Presentation, on the qualities needed in a good superior. The Rev. speaker emphasized in particular the point that we should have as superiors men who were remarkable for their love of the Congregation, and its spirit and old traditions. These sentiments were voiced by all the Father, and the Rev. speaker was congratulated on all sides.

FIRST SESSION.

On the morning of Wednesday, August 30th, the customary Solemn Mass of the Holy Ghost was sung. And at 9 A. M., the solemn procession of all the Religious of the Community, with the Capitular Fathers, moved from the Church to the Chapter-hall. Then the usual prayers having been recited, the Religious of the Community withdrew, and the Chapter was formally opened.

The Very Rev. Fr. President gave a brief but earnest allocution on the importance of the work before the Fathers, insisting particularly on the motives that should animate them in their action. The roll-call of electors was then called, and the following responded to their names :—

Very Rev. Fr. Fidelis of the Cross, Master of Novices and President.
Very Rev. Fr. Felix of St. Joseph, Vice-Provincial.
Very Rev. Fr. George of St. Michael, 1st Provincial Consultor.
Very Rev. Fr. Robert of St. Joseph, 2nd Provincial Consultor.
Very Rev. Fr. Michael of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rector of St. Paul’s Retreat, Pittsburg. Pa.
Very Rev. Fr. Mark of the Passion, Rector of St. Mary’s Retreat, Dunkirk, New York.
Very Rev. Fr. Justin of the Infant Jesus, Rector of St. Michael’s Retreat, West Hoboken, N. J.
Very Rev. Fr. Charles of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Baltimore, Md.
Very Rev. Fr. Stanislaus of the Most Holy Redeemer, Rector of Holy Cross Retreat, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Very Rev. Fr. Casimir of the Holy Lance, Rector of the Retreat of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Normandy, Mo.
Very Rev. Fr. Raymond of the Assumption, Rector of St. Francis’ Retreat, St. Paul, Kansas.

The Veni Creator Spiritus and the usual prayers were now sung, the question was put by the Very Rev. Fr. President to all the Fathers, whether they considered this Chapter canonically assembled, to which all answered in the affirmative. The customary acts of humility and mortification were performed; the absolutio ad cautelarn given; the protest of not admitting the unworthy and of not excluding the worthy made; the prescribed decrees of the Holy Office and the Council of Trent read, and the Chapter was declared canonically convened.

Father Stanislaus of the Most Holy Redeemer was now elected Secretary of the Chapter, and FF. Justin of the Infant Jesus and Casimir of the Holy Lance were chosen tellers of the elections. The balloting for Provincial now began, and on the seventh ballot, Very Rev. Fr. Fidelis of the Cross was elected to that office. With the “placet” of the Capitulars, the Secretary read the decree of election. Great was the joy of the Capitulars, and warm the congratulations which they heaped upon the newly elected, but he, hesitating to accept the office, begged at least a brief interval during which he might take prudent counsel. This was reluctantly granted, and thanks be to God and to the prudent counsellor, the newly elected, on returning to the Chapter-room, informed the Fathers that he had been counselled to accept the office, and that realizing it would be rash for him not to follow that counsel, he graciously accepted. The Fathers relieved of the suspense occasioned by the delay in the acceptance of the office, now burst out anew into acclamations of joy and gratitude, the Community was summoned to the Chapter-room, and having paid obedience to their newly elected Superior, all proceeded to the Church, where a joyful “Te Deum” was sung and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by the new Provincial.

SECOND SESSION.

On the afternoon of the same day, the Fathers assembled for the second session, and the balloting for 1st Consultor commenced. In a short time the votes centred upon Very Rev. Fr. Justin of the Infant Jesus. The decree of election was published, and the Father arising thanked the Capitulars for this mark of their esteem, accepted the office, and assured them that he would do his best that their confidence reposed in him should not be misplaced.

Next the Fathers proceeded to elect the 2nd Consultor, and after balloting for some time, this office fell to the lot of Very Rev. Fr. George of St. Michael. This Father arose, thanked the Capitulars, and accepted the office.

The next office to be filled was that of Master of Novices. Very Rev. Fr. Stanislaus of the Most Holy Redeemer was elected on the first ballot to this office, and the first teller published the decree of his election. He arose, thanked the Fathers for the confidence placed in him, and declared that as he regarded the action of the Chapter as the manifestation of God’s will, he graciously accepted the office, assuring the Fathers that he would do his best to devote himself to the fulfilment of its duties.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in balloting for a Rector for the Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburg, Pa., but with no result. Accordingly the meeting adjourned with prayer.

THIRD SESSION.

On the morning of August 31st, the Capitulars again assembled, and immediately resumed the balloting for the Rectorship of St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburg, Pa. At the very first ballot, Very Rev. Fr. Charles of Holy Mary was elected to that office. The decree of election being read, the Father thanked the Capitulars, and accepted.

For the Retreat of St. Mary’s, Dunkirk, N. Y., Rev. Fr. Alphonsus, Vice-Rector of the Retreat of St. Joseph, Baltimore, Md., was elected on the first ballot. The decree was published, and notification of the election sent to the Rev. Father.

Rev. Fr. Bertrand of the Heart of Mary was on the first ballot elected to the Rectorship of St. Michael’s Retreat, West Hoboken, N. J.; the decree of election was published, and notification sent to the Father at St. Michael’s Retreat, West Hoboken, N. J., of which Community he was a member.

The Rectorship of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Baltimore, Md., was now considered, and on the first ballot, Very Rev. Fr. Felix of St. Joseph was elected to that office. The decree of election was published, and the Very Rev. Father, receiving the most hearty congratulations of all the Capitulars, graciously accepted.

The Fathers proceeded now to the election of Rectors for the four remaining Retreats. After short balloting, Rev. Fr. Jerome of St. Bernard was elected to the Rectorship of Holy Cross Retreat, Cincinnati, Ohio; Rev. Fr. Denis of the Virgin Mary to the Rectorship of the Retreat of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Normandy, Mo.; Rev. Fr. Cyprian of the Immaculate Conception to the Rectorship of St. Francis’ Retreat, at St. Paul, Kan.; and, on the first ballot, Rev. Fr. Albert of the Cross to the Rectorship of St. Ann’s Retreat, Scranton, Pa. The decrees of elections were duly published, and as all these Fathers were members of distant Retreats, notification was sent to them. Later on, answers were received, and all the newly elected accepted the office, except Fr. Cyprian of the Immaculate Conception, whose renunciation having been put to the vote of the Fathers, was accepted; and after some balloting, Rev. Fr. Paul-Joseph of the Five Wounds was elected in his place. The decree of election was published, and notification sent to the Rev. Father, but he also declined the office, and the Fathers, after accepting his renunciation, proceeded to another election, and Very Rev. Fr. Casimir of the Holy Lance, after some balloting, received the requisite number of votes. The decree of election was published, and the Rev. Father, who was a member of the Chapter, arose and submissively accepted the office. The session was now closed with prayer, and the Fathers were given a recess for the rest of the day, in order that time might be given to the various committees to prepare their reports, and to the Secretary to write the Acts of the Chapter to date.

FOURTH SESSION.

On the morning of September 1st, the fourth session was opened with the customary prayers, and immediately the report of the committee on “Questions concerning the Province at large and Particular Houses,” was read and discussed at great length, with the following results:—

1st. It was unanimously agreed that the opportune time had come for the division of this Province of St. Paul of the Cross, and that the Most Rev. Fr. General be respectfully requested to take measures for the accomplishment of such division, the urgent necessity of which is increasingly apparent.

2nd. It was also unanimously agreed that for the present no change is advisable in the location of the existing Novitiate in the Retreat of’ St. Paul of the Cross. This session closed more solito.

FIFTH SESSION.

On the afternoon of September 1st, at 3 o’clock, the Fathers again assembled in the Chapter-hall. The reading and discussion of the report of the first committee were continued. The following decisions were arrived at :-

1st. In regard to accepting a new foundation at City Island, New York, the Ven. Chapter agreed to leave the question to the Provincial Consulta.

2nd. It was decided that it was not opportune at present to accept a parish in connection with this Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross.

3rd. In relation to the deeds and legal titles of our several Retreats, it was decreed that both should be submitted to thorough examination by competent legal experts, and that the FF. Rectors must report the result of such examination to the Very Rev. Fr. Provincial; moreover, that a uniform subsidiary legal title for all our Retreats should be secured—the uniform title to be determined by the Very Rev. Fr. Provincial, and secured by the Very Rev. FF. Rectors for their respective Retreats.

4th. The Ven. Chapter unanimously agreed that no change should be made in the date for our Annual Retreat, as the time immediately preceding Ash-Wednesday is the most convenient for our missionaries in this Province.

5th. It was also unanimously decreed that our present practice of offering for the Passionist Nuns the same suffrages as for Religious of another Province be permanently adopted. The time being up, the session closed with the usual prayers.

SIXTH SESSION.

At 8:30 A. M., Saturday morning, September 2nd, the sixth session was opened with the customary prayers. The reading of the report of the first committee was continued, and the following conclusions arrived at :—

1st. Experience having shown that in this country the evening hour is more free from interruption and disturbance, and in order to secure for our Religious the benefits of mental prayer, it is decreed—subject to the approval of our Higher Superiors—that the evening meditation be made after Compline throughout the entire year.

2nd. Our Students shall not begin to wear the Roman Collar until they receive the Subdiaconate.

3rd. A plan or diagram of all the gas, water, and sewer pipes in our Retreats and Churches should be made out by the Very Rev. FF. Rectors and preserved in their Archives.

The Committee on Parish Work was next heard from. Its well-prepared report was favorably received, and its practical suggestions adopted by the Ven. Chapter,—suggestions tending to ensure the faithful performance of parish duties on the one hand, and on the other to safeguard the keeping of the religious observance by the Fathers employed in such duties.

The session was closed with the usual prayers.

SEVENTH SESSION.

At 3 P. M., on September 2nd, the Fathers assembled for the seventh session. The following report from the Committee on Missionary Work was unanimously accepted:—

As a safeguard to the promising body of young missionaries now engaged in the field, the Ven. Chapter draws attention particularly to the following quotations from our Holy Rule, Chapter XXIV.: “Above all things we admonish the Religious to weigh well the sanctity, the responsibility, and the object of their ministry, and never to omit anything, so as to seem wanting in their duty, and to bring on themselves the blame of its proving less perfect and less useful to the people.”

The mere literary work, such as the preparation of sermons, is not a sufficient qualification for the successful missionary. Holiness of life—the cultivation of solid virtue, is absolutely necessary. Hence, “let Superiors be careful not to lay such services of greater importance on Brethren who are given to anger, ill-humored, intemperate, or stained by any other vice, by reason of which they might give occasion to wonder or scandal.”—Chap. XXXI. For the cultivation of solid virtue, all our missionaries should enjoy more time at home in solitude and prayer. Hence the amount of labor which has necessitated absence from home and the common observance should be lessened, so as to afford ample time to recuperate and preserve both spiritual and physical strength.

Moreover, that point of our Holy Rule, Chap. XXXI., should be faithfully observed which speaks of the confidence that our Religious should have in their Superiors,—”especially when they return from apostolic missions,” * * * “and to make a seasonable disclosure of whatever they may have observed reprehensible in their companion, that the evil may not be without prompt remedy, and being neglected, gather strength.”

The observance of this rule will enable our higher Superiors to check any abuses introduced, and deter unfaithful missionaries from giving bad example. Experience has taught us that better results are obtained by a few holy and zealous laborers, than by many who are lacking these essential qualifications. Hence this Ven. Chapter implores the Fr. Provincial to employ only such on missions as give edification and live blameless lives at home and abroad.

Next the report of the Committee on Poverty was read and thoroughly discussed. The following points were agreed upon :—

1st. In order that the cloth for our habits and mantles may be of uniform texture and quality, Fr. Provincial is requested to select some manufacturer from whom all the Very Rev. FF. Rectors shall be obliged to purchase their supplies.

2nd. That in the burial of our Religious nothing shall be used that shall in any way offend against the poverty and austerity enjoined by our Holy Rule.

3rd. That Superiors must guard against abuses in the matter of smoking; that smoking in our daily recreations is condemned, and that the Religious be cautioned against keeping on hand a supply of cigars, in violation of their Vow of Poverty.

4th. That Superiors of missions have no authority to grant permissions for the purchase of articles of clothing, etc., except in so far as such articles may become strictly necessary during time of mission.

5th. That when a Religious is transferred from one Retreat to another, he should be provided with everything needed in the way of clothing, etc., by the Rector of the Retreat which he is leaving, and should the Rector of the Retreat to which the Religious is transferred, find that this has not been done, and that in consequence he is obliged to purchase such clothing, etc., for the Religious, he can send the bills for the same to the former Rector, provided he does so within one month after the transfer.

The session was now closed with the usual prayers.

EIGHTH SESSION.

On Saturday morning at 9 o’clock, the eighth session was opened with prayer, and the Fathers proceeded to their work. The report of the Committee on the Spiritual Life was read, and the following points adopted:—

1st. To preserve the spirit of solitude, and keep our Religious from all unnecessary intercourse with the world, the Ven. Chapter decides that our Brethren shall not be permitted to join Catholic Fraternal Organizations.

2nd. As one of our chief cares is for the spiritual welfare of our young Religious, the Ven. Chapter recommends that the greatest prudence be used in the choice of the Directors for our Students. It declares that the Directors must be left free to fulfil the duties of their office, to which they should devote all their attention and efforts; that therefore, they should not be employed regularly in work which belongs to the parish priest, or in our Churches as ordinary confessors, or in frequent Sunday work and preaching away from home.

3rd. The Ven. Chapter decrees that our custom of not allowing the Students to go to their homes for their first Mass, must be observed.

After thoroughly discussing some other points of importance, the session was closed with prayer.

NINTH SESSION.

This last session convened at 9 A. M. Monday morning, September 4th. In accordance with a decree of one of our General Chapters, the Capitular Fathers took into consideration the conduct of our Lay-Brothers. They found that whilst some minor points needed correction, nothing of a serious nature was disclosed, except in the case of one Brother, who, in the unanimous opinion of the Fathers, was regarded as incorrigible, and the Very Rev. Fr. Provincial was requested to take steps for his removal from the Congregation.

The Acts of the Chapter were now read and approved, and the elections of the Rectors and Master of Novices confirmed by the Very Rev. Fr. President in the name of our Most Rev. Fr. General.

Father President now asked if the Capitulars had anything further to propose, and all answered in the negative. Accordingly, after the newly elected had made the required profession of faith, the Fathers were asked if they thought it proper to bring the Chapter to a close, and all answered in the affirmative; but before affixing their signatures to these Acts, they offered most hearty thanks to the Very Rev. President for the zeal, wisdom and charity with which he had directed the deliberations of the Chapter.

Finally, with joyful hearts, the Fathers returned sincere thanks to Almighty God who had been so bountiful with His graces during these days, and cheer-fully affixed their signatures as follows :—

Very Rev. Fr. Fidelis of the Cross, Master of Novices, and President of the Chapter.
Very Rev. Fr. Felix of St. Joseph, Vice-Provincial.
Very Rev. Fr. George of St. Michael, 1st Provincial Consultor.
Very Rev. Fr. Robert of St. Joseph, 2nd Provincial Consultor.
Very Rev. Fr. Michael of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rector of St. Paul’s Retreat, Pittsburg, Pa.
Very Rev. Fr. Mark of the Passion, Rector of St. Mary’s Retreat, Dunkirk, New York.
Very Rev. Fr. Justin of the Infant Jesus, Rector of St. Michael’s Retreat, West Hoboken, N. J.
Very Rev. Fr. Charles of Holy Mary, Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Baltimore, Md.
Very Rev. Fr. Stanislaus of the Most Holy Redeemer, Rector of Holy Cross Retreat, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Very Rev. Fr. Casimir of the Holy Lance, Rector of the Retreat of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Normandy, Mo.
Very Rev. Fr. Raymond of the Assumption, Rector of St. Francis’ Retreat, St. Paul, Kansas.

Stanislaus A SS. Redemptore,
Secretarius Capitularis.