--- Page 1 ---
SEBASTIAN OF THE IMAGULATE CONCEPTION,
PROVINCIAL OF ST. PATRICK'S PROVINCE,
6/1/1/1
To the Very Revv. Pathers-Consultors, Rectors, Master of Novices, and to all the Priests, students, and Lay-Brothers of the said Province of the Congregation of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ - Peace and Blessing in the Lord.
Having obtained the requisite permission of the Most Rev. Pr. General we have now to announce to you the convocation of the first Provincial Chapter of our Province.
All will rejoice to learn that it is Pr. General's intention to preside at our Chapter, and thus afford us the necessary guidance and help that he alone can give. All the brothren will, we feel considerably, pray God through the intercession of our Holy Founder, that nothing unforeseen may arise to prevent his Paternity being with us.
The Chapter will be held at St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, towards the latter half of June. On learning from Pr. General the definite date that will suit his Paternity, we shall notify you.
This being our figst Provincial chapter, it would be difficult to exaggerate its importance, or to measure by any human norm its far-reaching effects. Our Province is only in its infancy. We are as yet but laying the foundations; and each and all know how essential it is that those foundations be laid and fashioned on the pattern given us by our Holy Founder in the Holy Rules, which he wrote under the special inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Our Province, built on any other foundation, must come to naught as far as we Passionists are concerned.
Now just as on the strength and soundness of the foundation a material structure depends for its future stability; and any defect in the foundation tells in time on the whole building or superstructure, no less so is it with a spiritual structure, as is a Province of the Congregation. "It cannot indeed be doubted that while Religious Orders are governed by a special and paternal Providence of God, it is none the the less true that in the ordinary exercise of that Providence,

--- Page 2 ---
God makes use of those who occupy His place on earth." Hence it is the teaching of the Masters of the spiritual life that the good or evil of Religious orders, and the Provinces and Communities that go to constitute them, depends in great measure upon those who are appointed for their government. In our Holy Founder's words: " The soundness of the members usually depends chiefly upon the head." History and experience both go to confirm this.
Realizing this, it behoves each Religious of St. Patrick's Province earnestly and ungrudgingly to help towards the much desired and blessed end, namely that the Superiors elected to govern our Province will be the most worthy and best qualified to govern - men whose ideals are the faithful observance of our Holy Rule, men who will lead by their daily example, thus imitating their Divine Model, Whose representatives they are, and of Whom the inspired writer says: "He began to do and to teach"; men who will unite example to authority in the Religious observance and the keeping of the vows. Well has it been said "there is nothing more contrary to reason and order than to separate example from authority - to dispense oneself from the observance of what one demands from others, to wish to be obeyed without meriting or deserving to be imitated, to render oneself absolute and yet not to be irreprehensible." Let us pray in fine for Superiors who will ever keep in mind the sacred trust reposed in them by our Holy Mother the Congregation, and expressed by our Holy Founder in the word of St. Bernard, inserted as the last words of our Holy Rule: "I beg you, Brethren, and much entreat you, so do and so stand fast in the Lord, most dearly beloved, ever solicitous about the keeping of the order, that the order may keep you." so be it. Amen."
We ordain that from the receipt of this letter till the 10th. of June the Religious shall recite daily in common during the evening meditation, five Paters, Aves, and Glorias in honour of our Holy Patrons, St. Michael, St. Joseph, St. Patrick, St. Paul of the Cross, Mix and St. Gabriel, with their respective antiphons and prayers.
Furthermore, from the 10th. June till three days before the

--- Page 3 ---
Chapter assemblies, the 'Veni Creator' with the versicle and prayer, the literary of the Blessed Virgin, with the antiphon and prayer 'Concede' shall be recited in addition to the above prayers. The Friduum, ordered by our holy Rule, shall be made in the manner prescribed in our Aitual, during which, as also on the day of the opening of the Chapter, the Clerks and Lay-Brothers shall offer their holy Communions for the same intention.
We remind the Rectors to bring with them their "Litterae Patentes" and seals of office, together with the following documents:-
(1) Certificate of the exact keeping of the Archives, signed by the Rector or Superior, and Vicar.(2) Certificate of the faithful celebration of Masses signed by all the priests of the house except the Rector or Superior.(3) Inventory of Retreat, Church and Sacrifice furniture, etc..(4) A correct financial statement of the Retreat, viz. the income and expenditure since the last Chapter, signed by the Rector and Vicar.(5) A faithful statement of the debts of the Retreat, showing the monies borrowed at interest and the percentage payable; monies borrowed without interest; all outstanding debts and those current to date, including rates, taxes, and mentioning the amount due to each creditor; and finally the amount of the balance in hand or in bank at the time of leaving office, signed by the Rector and Vicar.
The Capitular Fathers, including the Master of Novices, are required to be at st. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, not later than the evening of the first day of the Friduum, so as to take part in it and at the preliminary meetings.
Praying God through the intercession of our holy founder to impart to you his choicest blessings,
signed at st. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin,
the east of the Ascension, 9th May, 1929
Sebastian of the Immaculate Conception,
Provincial.
To be read properly to the Religious assembled in Choir or Recectory.