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SEBASTIAN OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Provincial of St. Patrick's Province.
6/1/21
To the Very Rev. Fathers-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.
According to the prescriptions of our Holy Rules the Second Provincial Chapter of this Province is due this year. With the approbation of the Most Rev. Father General it will be held in St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, beginning on 23rd. May, on which date all the Capitular Fathers shall assemble to take part in the Tridum and the preliminary meetings of the Chapter.
You will no doubt be corry to learn that our Father General will be unable to come for our Chapter, altho' we had hoped that he would preside. In his paternal considerateness he has appointed V. Rev. Mr. Bonaventure, First General Consultor to supply his place, and to help in the Chapter's deliberations and elections.
We have much to be grateful to God for His Paternal Providence in regard to our Province during the past three years. We have secured a new foundation in the Archdiocese of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh, and this too with the good-will of the Archbishop and the Canons. The property thus secured is in every way suite to our life of full opportunity; and as far as can be judged, by this foundation a fruitful field of work for God and souls has been opened to us.
Much-needed alterations and additions have been elected at St. Carriel's Retreat. The Retreat of Holy Cross, Ardoyne, has been completed as was originally intended, a work which could not be accomplished until now through lack of funds.
We all realise the importance and far-reaching effects of a Provincial Chapter. In regard to our own Province, which is still in its infancy, these effects could hardly be exaggerated. Much, if not all for the future depends upon those nonselected for laying the foundations, viz. on those elected as Superiors. They should be Religious imbued with the spirit of our Holy founder, which spirit he often explained, especially when dying, saying that: "our spirit is a spirit of prayer, of solitude and of poverty, without which the Congregation will neither prosper nor endure." Religious fully conscious that this spirit can be preserved and narrowed only by an exact and faithful observance of our Holy Rule will not betray the trust reposed in them by our Holy Mother, the Congregation. They will not permit it to be made subservient to other things, but rather will make all other things subservient to it. Such Religious will be fortified with the knowledge and belief that our Holy Rule is the manifestation of God's Will to us; and that it is only by keeping and doing God's Will - Faithfully observing our Holy Rule - that we shall attain to that holiness of life required of us, and shall accomplish the special work assigned to the Congregation in God's Church. Thus and thus only shall we be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world." For it cannot be doubted that, while Religious forces are governed by a

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special and paternal Providence of God, it is none the less true that in the ordinary exercise of that Providence, God makes use of those who occupy His place on earth. Experience goes to prove that the good or evil of Religious orders, and of the Provinces and Communities that constitute them, depends in great measure on those who are elected to govern. In the words of our Holy Founder: "The soundness of the members usually depends chiefly on the head."
Should it not then be the direct personal interest of each son of the Province of St. Patrick that at the coming Chapter those elected to guide and rule the Province under God, for the next three years, should be those who show forth in their own lives the virtues and good works which they desire in their subjects, those who shall be the vigilant custodians of the Holy Rule, and who, by their own example, shall lead in its faithful observance "jealous for the keeping of the Order, that the Order may keep you."
Realising to the full that "unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it" (Ps. oxxvi 1.2). we would earnestly exhort each Religious of the Province to ask the Holy Spirit in fervent prayer to be with the Capitulars, use to direct and govern their deliberations, and to enlighten them in their choice of Superiors.
To this happy issue we ordain that from the receipt of this letter until 1st. May 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 and St. Gabriel, with their respective antiphons and prayers. Furthermore, from 1st. May until three days before the Chapter assembles the "Verin Creator" with the versicle and prayer, the Litary of the Blessed Virgin, with the antiphon and prayer "Concede" shall be recited in addition to the above prayers. The Tridum ordered by our Holy Rule shall be made in the manner prescribed in our Ritual, during which and also on the day of the opening of the Chapter, the clerks and laybrothers shall offer their Holy Communions for the same intention.
We remind the Rectors to bring 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) Certificates of the faithful celebration of Masses, signed by all the priests of the Retreat, except the Rector or Superior.3) Inventory of the Retreat, Church and Sacrificy furniture, etc.4) A correct financial statement of the Retreat, viz. the income and expenditure since the last Chapter, noting any extraordinary income or expenditure, signed by the Rector or Superior, and Vicar.5) A faithful statement of the debts of the Retreat, showing to moneys borrowed at interest, and the percentage payable; moneys borrowed without interest, all outstanding debts and those current to date, including rents, taxes etc., 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 or Superior and Vicar.

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Praying God through the intercession of our Immaculate Mother Mary, and our Holy Founder, to impart to you His choicest blessings.
Given at St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus Dublin,
The Peast of St. Joseph, 13th. April 1932,
Yours fraternally in Jesus Christ.
Seventien of the Immaculate Conception.
Provincial.
To be read publicly to the religious assembled in Choir
or Refectory.
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