Acts of the Thirteenth Provincial Chapter - 1899 - Passionist Historical Archives

Acts of the Thirteenth 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 21st to 27th, 1899.

PRELIMINARY.

Whilst our age is confessedly an age of wonderful material progress, and an ever-increasing intellectual development, it is an age in which we can hardly fail to recognize and to deplore a gradual moral and religious retrogression. The words of the Apostle St. Paul would seem to find application in this our age: ” In the latter days,” he says, ” shall come on dangerous times; men shall be lovers of themselves, of pleasure more than of God; having, indeed, the appearance of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” In politics, in science, in literature, there seems to breathe an atheistic spirit. Men seem to have grown tired of God and of His revelation; to have come to the conclusion, if possible, to dispense with the one and the other. There exists today, more than ever, perhaps, an insatiable greed for gold. A spirit of insubordination characterizes our age, whilst an excessive love of pleasure may be said to be a besetting sin. If we would effectually stem this ever widening torrent of moral evil, meet the wants of the moral and religious world of today, it must be, not by worldly wisdom, not by mere human prudence, not by adapting ourselves to the likes and dislikes of the proud, the covetous, the sensual. It must be by a directly opposite course. It must be by the actualization in our lives of Christ crucified. As Passionists, it must be by reproducing in ourselves the spirit of St. Paul of the Cross. What is better calculated to keep alive and foster within ourselves, as Passionists, this spirit of our Founder than the triennial gatherings, or Provincial Chapters prescribed by the Holy Rule, in which worthy Superiors are chosen to rule over the Province, and wise legislation enacted for its government. The time for holding one of these triennial meetings having again arrived, its convocation was announced by a circular letter of our Very Rev. Vice-Provincial, F. Joseph of the Mother of Mercy, bearing date, June 14, 1899.

In obedience to this summons the capitular fathers met in due time in the Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburg, Pa. On Friday morning, August 18, at the hour of 9 o’clock, the Fathers assembled for the purpose of holding the preliminary meetings. After the opening prayers had been recited, the Very Rev. President, F. John Baptist of the Nativity of the B. V. Mary, produced and read a letter of the Most Rev. F. General appointing him President of the Chapter. A temporary Secretary was now appointed in the person of the Very Rev. F. Charles of Holy Mary. The Fathers then delivered up their seals of office, together with their Litterae Patentes. They also handed in various documents required by Canon Law and our customs,viz: the certificates de celebratione Missarum, the faithful custody of the Archives, the inventories of the furniture of the church and house, as also the financial statement of each Retreat. A committee of two, FF. Stephen and Sebastian, were deputed to examine the financial reports thus submitted.

The Fathers met a second time at the hour of three in the afternoon. At this meeting various matters pertaining to the well-being of the Province, were proposed for consideration during the Chapter. Committees were, at the same time appointed to consider and report on the matters proposed. The remaining preliminary meetings were held on the 19th and 20th of August. After the oath, de secreto servando, had been taken by all the Fathers, the merits and demerits of those eligible to office were discussed. The merits of those extra gremio were first considered, afterwards the merits of the Fathers composing the Chapter.

In the afternoon of the 20th the Fathers assembled in choir to assist at Vespers. After which, they listened to a beautiful, clear and forcible discourse, delivered by the Very Rev. F. Robert of St. Joseph, in which he pointed out the qualities the Fathers should look for in those whom they would choose to govern the Province.

On the morning of the 21st, at 7 o’clock, the Solemn Mass de Spiritu Sancto was celebrated by the Very Rev. President, the capitular fathers assisting as ministers. At 9:30 o’clock, of the same morning, the entire religious Community had already assembled in the church for the opening of the Chapter, when it was found that one of the Fathers had not yet been able to produce the necessary documents relating to his Retreat, owing to an unexpected detention of his luggage. The opening of the Chapter was in consequence deferred until the afternoon.

FIRST SESSION.

At 3 o’clock P.M. the religious Community was again called to the church. After the Vexilla Regis had been intoned the solemn procession moved from the church to the Chapter hall, followed by the President bearing the Cross. The usual prayers having been recited, the religious Community withdrew, the capitular fathers alone remaining. The President now delivered a brief, but very impressive and appropriate address in which he urged the importance of the work the Fathers were about to perform. The usual acts, prescribed by the ceremonial and our usage, having been gone through, the roll of electors was called, to which the following Fathers responded:

Very Rev. F. John Baptist of the Nativity of the B. V. Mary, President.
Very Rev. F. Joseph of the Mother of Mercy, Vice-Provincial.
Very Rev. F. Robert of St. Joseph, first Consultor.
Very Rev. F. Charles of Holy Mary, Rector of St. Paul’s Retreat, Pittsburg, Pa.
Very Rev. F. Stephen of Holy Mary, Rector of St. Mary’s Retreat, Dunkirk, N.Y.
Very Rev. F. Mark of the Passion, Rector of St. Michael’s Retreat, West Hoboken, N.J.
Very Rev. F. Edward of the Holy Ghost, Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Baltimore, Md.
Very Rev. F. Albert of the Cross, Rector of Holy Cross Retreat, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Very Rev. F. Denis of Holy Mary, Rector of Sacred Heart Retreat, Louisville, Ky.
Very Rev. F. Eugene of the Sacred Heart, Rector of Holy Cross Retreat, Buenos Ayres, S.A.
Very Rev. F. Sebastian of the Mother of Mercy, Rector of the Retreat of Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Louis, Mo.
Very Rev. F. Peter of the Mother of Mercy, Rector of St. Francis’ Retreat, St. Paul, Kansas.
Very Rev. F. George of St. Michael, Master of Novices.

When the absolution ad cautelam had been given, and the usual decrees, Contra Solicitantes, and those of the Council of Trent, were read, the Chapter was declared canonically convened. A canonical Secretary and two tellers were now to be chosen. The votes being taken, they were found to favor F. Charles of Holy Mary for the former, and FF. Albert of the Cross and Denis of Holy Mary for the latter. Before proceeding to the task of election, the Very Rev. President stated that as the Retreat of Holy Cross, Cincinnati, Ohio, would, for the space of a year or more, be in a condition of a simple hospice, it should be decided by the Fathers, whether or not, a regular Rector should be chosen, or a Superior appointed. The decision favored the election of a regular Rector.

The balloting for Provincial was now begun. The sixth ballot showed that Very Rev. F. Stephen of Holy Mary was elected. After the Secretary had framed and published the decree of his election, the Father arose and offered his resignation, alleging his unfitness for so important an office. The Very Rev. President, however, overruling all his objections, F. Stephen was forced to yield and to accept the onerous charge. The Community was now called to pay obedience to the newly elected Provincial. All then proceeded to the church, where solemn thanksgiving was offered. Thus ended the first session.

SECOND SESSION.

The second session was opened on the morning of the 22nd of August, at 8:30. The President announced that a first Consultor was now to be chosen. The balloting was commenced. As, however, no definite result was reached when the hour for adjourning had arrived, the session was brought to a close by prayer.

THIRD SESSION.

This session was opened, more solito, at the hour of 3 in the afternoon of the 22nd. The work of electing a first Consultor was resumed. Again, as in the morning, the persistent efforts of the electors proved unavailing. No decided result having been reached, the usual thanksgiving ended the session.

FOURTH SESSION.

At 9 o’clock on the morning of Wednesday the capitular fathers convened to hold the fourth session. After prayer had been offered by the President, the electors recommenced the work of electing a first Consultor. Their efforts were soon to be crowned with success; the fourth ballot deciding in favor of Very Rev. F. Mark of the Passion. The placet of the Chapter having been given, the Secretary published the decree of his election. F. Mark sincerely thanked the Fathers for the honor thus conferred upon him, assuring them that they would have no reason, he hoped, to regret their action in his regard.

A second Consultor was now to be chosen. At the third ballot it was found that Very Rev. F. Fidelis of the Cross was the choice of the electors. The decree of his election was at once published by the Secretary.

The Province having thus been provided with two Consultors, a Master of Novices for the Province in North America, was next to be elected. The votes being taken, the first ballot declared in favor of Very Rev. F. Denis of Holy Mary, the decree of whose election was, without delay, published by the Secretary. F. Denis, in his quiet, unassuming manner, thanked the Fathers.

The Novitiate in South America was now to be provided with a Master of Novices. The labors of the Fathers were speedily rewarded. The first ballot deciding their choice in the person of the Very Rev. F. John of the Assumption. As usual the decree of his election was published by the Secretary.

The various Retreats of the Province were now to receive a new Rector. The Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburg, Pa., came first in order. It was not long before this Retreat was disposed of, the ballot favoring the Rev. F. Michael of the Presentation. With the publication of the decree of his election and prayer by the President this session was closed.

FIFTH SESSION.

The electors reassembled in the Chapter room at the appointed hour of 3 P.M., Wednesday. The opening prayer having been recited, the work of election was resumed. The providing a Rector for St. Mary’s Retreat, Dunkirk, first claimed the attention of the Fathers. Several scrutinies ended the balloting in favor of Very Rev. F. Albert of the Cross. The publishing of the decree of election by the Secretary followed. The elected kindly thanked the Fathers.

A Superior for the Retreat of St. Michael, West Hoboken, was next to be chosen. After very few scrutinies Rev. F. Alphonsus of St. Liberatus was elected. The usual decree of the Secretary was forthwith published.

The capitular fathers now proceeded to ballot for a Rector for the Retreat of St. Joseph, Baltimore, Md. The Very Rev. F. Joseph of the Mother of Mercy was duly declared elected by the seventh ballot. The Secretary immediately publishing the decree of his election.

Proceeding to the next Retreat in order of our foundations, Holy Cross Retreat, Cincinnati, Ohio, but only three scrutinies were required to secure an election, in behalf of Very Rev. F. George of St. Michael. The newly elected, being present as one of the capitular fathers, thankfully accepted the office, nevertheless, assuring the Fathers that he would much prefer leading a quiet life in the Novitiate to the onerous and distracting duties inseparable from his new charge.

The Retreat of the Sacred Heart, Louisville, Ky., was as promptly provided with a Rector. But a few ballots deciding the choice of the electors, in the person of Rev. F. Felix of St. Joseph. The decree of whose election was at once published by the Secretary.

The Retreat of Holy Cross, Buenos Ayres, coming next in order, the Fathers now turned their attention to securing a Rector for this Retreat. The balloting was continued for some time, but the desired result was not reached when the hour for closing arrived. This session terminated in the usual manner.

SIXTH SESSION.

At the appointed hour on Thursday morning the Fathers again assembled in the Chapter room to continue the work of elections, which, in the last session, had progressed so rapidly. After the customary opening prayers, the balloting for a Rector for the Buenos Ayres Retreat, was recommenced. The balloting continued for a little while, when the votes were found to unite in the choice of Very Rev. F. Edward of the Holy Spirit. The placet of the Fathers being gladly given, the Secretary failed not to publish the decree of the Father’s election. This good Father had, indeed, during the balloting, repeatedly expressed his unwillingness to holding a canonical office in a foreign land. Now, however, that the will of God was so clearly manifested in his regard, he accepted. And whilst he had, indeed, held the office of Rector during two consecutive terms, the Holy See, as the Very Rev. President announced in an earlier session, had granted a dispensation, authorizing a third term if found necessary.

It now devolved on the Fathers to place a Superior over the Community of the Retreat of Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Louis. The votes soon centred in the Very Rev. F. Robert of St. Joseph. The Fathers gladly conceding their placet, the Secretary published the decree of his election. Father Robert recognized, in this decision of the Fathers, the will of God, and readily accepted the office. He added, however, that it was with deep regret that he would be thus constrained to curtail his much cherished work in the missionary field.

It next became the duty of the electors to provide the Retreat of St. Francis, St. Paul, Kansas, with a Rector. The third scrutiny decided the election, the votes uniting in the Rev. F. Boniface of Jesus. The Secretary published the decree of his election in due form.

There remained but one Retreat claiming the attention of the Fathers, the Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross, Sarmiento, Argentine Republic. The securing for it a Superior did not long detain the electors, as the first ballot elected Rev. F. Thomas of Holy Mary. The work of elections being thus happily ended, the Fathers closed the session with the customary thanksgiving.

SEVENTH SESSION.

In order that the Fathers composing the several committees, as also the Secretary, might be able to devote a little more time to their special work, no session was held in the afternoon of Thursday.

This seventh session opened, therefore, more solito, on Friday morning at 9 o’clock. The various matters, with which the committees had been charged, for consideration and discussion, were now taken up. The committee on spiritual matters was first called on to report. After considerable discussion the following points were agreed upon:

The Ven. Chapter, desirous of imparting to our annual retreat a spirit of deeper piety and of promoting their greater efficiency, enacts, that, with due permission from the Ordinary, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, to be brief and private, be given during the time of the evening meditation. And that in addition to the discourses, already introduced by custom there be a conference each day after Vespers.

It also decrees, that the Examens in choir, prescribed by our Holy Rule and frequently inculcated by General and Provincial Chapters, be given hereafter on Tuesdays instead of Thursdays.

In accordance with a decree of a General Chapter, bearing on this matter, and falling, moreover, within the range of spiritual matters, now under consideration, the conduct of our lay brothers was here discussed at some length. With regret the Fathers had to admit that the conduct of some, happily a few, is very reprehensible, and the Superiors were charged to adopt strong measures to bring about the correction of these individuals.

The report of the committee on discipline was next heard and considered. After several of the Fathers had expressed their opinion concerning the matters in question, the hour was found to be late and the session was closed with thanksgiving.

EIGHTH SESSION.

At the hour of three, on Friday afternoon, the Fathers met to hold the eighth session. After prayer by the President, the Acts of the Chapter thus far written were read and commented upon. The matters proposed in the previous session were then taken up. The capitular fathers finally united in the following decisions:

Religious who wish to avail themselves of the concessions relative to visiting Father or Mother during their last illness, or attending their funeral, may do so. But when traveling is involved, they must obtain the permission of the Provincial, who is at liberty to refuse it. It is, however, understood that religious who visited their parents during their last illness, will not be allowed to attend their funeral should the doing so necessitate a second journey. Furthermore, the concession is in favor of Father and Mother only, and does not extend to other relatives, unless such relatives live in the neighborhood of the Retreat where the religious resides.

It enacts that the use of coffee, in place of milk, beer or wine, at dinner is permitted.

The Chapter disapproves the use of hats of a light color, notwithstanding the fact that the use of such hats is getting to be general among the secular clergy.

It ordains that special permissions or dispensations granted by the Provincial are not available until shown in writing to the local Superior.

That our religious, when traveling, must do so recto tramite, unless they have a special permission from the Provincial to do otherwise.

In view of the report on education, the following enactments were made:

The horarium of observance, hitherto followed in our Retreat at Dunkirk, owing to serious inconveniences, and for better discipline in the Community, is to be changed as follows: Matins and Lauds, heretofore recited in common after the Rosary, will, in future, be said in the morning at the hour of 4:45. The discipline will be taken after the Rosary at night.

Regarding the financial relations between Rector and Director, it is decided that both Rector and Director abide by the written document drawn up by the Provincial and his Council two years ago and now kept in Dunkirk.

It is likewise ordained that on first class feasts the professed take their refreshments separate from the students, and that association between the professed and students be carefully avoided.

The report on miscellaneous matters was now submitted. After careful consideration the Ven. Chapter directs each of the local Superiors to make a record of special Benefactors, Benefactores insignes, of their respective Retreats, (whether in the shape of an album or an open tablet), and that it is to be continued and preserved by their successors in office, as a means of ready reference and of kind remembrance. In this record, besides their name and residence, also the nature or amount of their benefactions, and any other item of importance should be entered and specified. And, in order that this provision be retroactive in its benevolence, the said Superiors should be directed to include, as far as practicable, in this register, the names of past Benefactors, whether living or deceased.

The Chapter enjoins on all Rectors of Retreats having parishes attached, to keep a separate journal, or day book, of income or outlay of the parish, exclusively, so itemized so as to stand episcopal inspection or the examination of a court of law. Furthermore, it directs that the Provincial, during his official visitation, look over these parochial accounts and see that they are kept in accord with the foregoing enactments.

In this connection the Fathers unanimously decided that as our Retreat at Cincinnati, Ohio, has been condemned by public authority as unsafe, it should be replaced by another structure as soon as practicable, and that the other Retreats contribute facultate obtenta, in proportion of their surplus and resources, to the erection of a new edifice. Prayer, by the President, here brought the session to a close.

NINTH SESSION.

At 8:30 o’clock, Saturday morning, the sound of the bell again called the electors to the Chapter hall. The first matter brought to the notice of the Fathers at this meeting was that a letter had been received, during the Chapter, in which it was stated that an offer for a new foundation, near a large western city, had recently been made. The matter was carefully considered. All the Fathers recognized the necessity of a new foundation. They, therefore, willingly acquiesced in the project, but would leave it entirely in the Provincial and his Council.

During the session two forms of the ministry of the word were brought to the attention of the assembled Fathers, viz: the Eucharistic week and the missions to non-Catholics. After a somewhat prolonged discussion, the capitular fathers expressed their approbation of the value and importance of both. They declared their belief that the exercises of the Eucharistic week and the missions to non-Catholics can be conducted by our missionaries in a manner which is in entire harmony with the letter and spirit of our Holy Rule. The Ven. Chapter, however, disapproves of soliciting such work, and of publishing that we devote ourselves to it in an especial manner. It furthermore decrees that none of our missionaries may give either the exercises of the Eucharistic week or missions to non-Catholics unless with the permission of the Very Rev. F. Provincial and in accordance with his instructions.

The Fathers here think it well to add: Since some of our Fathers already belong to the Priests’ Eucharistic League and others may join it, the Ven. Chapter charges the Very Rev. F. Provincial to propose the name of a Father to the General Director for appointment to the office of Director for the Passionists of America. On motion of one of the Fathers, as the hour was far advanced, the session closed with prayer.

TENTH SESSION.

On Sunday morning, August 27th, the Fathers reassembled in the Chapter room to hold the last session. After the opening of the session by prayer the Very Rev. President read a telegram from F. Thomas of Holy Mary, declaring that he would not accept the office of Rector of St. Paul’s Retreat at Sarmiento, S.A. The ballot box was passed, after discussion, and his resignation accepted unanimously. The Fathers hereupon proceeded to a new election. The ballots at once decided their choice in behalf of Very Rev. F. Eugene of the Sacred Heart. The Secretary, without delay, published the decree of his election. After his election the good Father Eugene urgently begged the Fathers not to insist on his accepting the office, which he there and then resigned, alleging the feeble state of his health and his disapprobation of serving during a third term. All his remonstrances, however, proved of no avail, the vote of the Fathers deciding in the negative, and persisting in their determination not to accept his resignation.

The President then asked the Fathers whether they had anything further to propose when all answered in the negative. He again asked if they thought proper to bring the Chapter to a close, to which he received an affirmative answer.

The President now confirmed the elections of the Rectors and the Master of Novices, after which the newly elected made the required profession of faith. The Secretary now read the Acts of the Chapter. Hereupon the Fathers, with one voice, thanked the Very Rev. President for the zeal, wisdom and charity with which he had directed the deliberations of the Chapter. Finally the electors returned fervent thanks to God for His guidance granted them through the intercession of our Holy Founder, and gladly affixed their signatures as follows:

Carolus a Virgine Maria,
Secretarius Capitularis.

Acts of the Thirteenth 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 21st to 27th, 1899.