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J. X. P.
GERALD OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
PROVINCIAL
OF
6/1/71
THE PROVINCE OF ST. PATRICK.
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 Health in the Lord.
Having obtained the requisite permission from Most Rev. Father General, we have now to announce to you the Convocation of the Seventh Chapter of our Province, which will open on Friday within the Octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi, the 6th day of June next. The Capitular Fathers are requested to be at St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, not later than the evening of the 5th June, soo as to be present at the opening Session and prescribed Triduum, which will begin on the following day, the 6th June.
It is with regret that we have to announce the absence of Most Rev. Father General from our Seventh Provincial Chapter. Apart from the authority and prestige which his exalted position as Superior General of the Congregation would have given to the deliberations of the Capitular Fathers, his visit to our Province would have afforded the Religious an opportunity of expressing to him as the successor of our Father and Lawgiver, St. Paul of the Cross, their sentiments of respect and obedience. In a letter received on the 14th day of this month of April, Most Rev. Father General, while regretting his absence from our Chapter owing to official duties, informs us that Very Rev.

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Father Malcolm, First Consultor - 2 - General, will act as his delegate and preside at the elections.
In reviewing the events of the past three years in as far as they affect the Province of St. Patrick, the recent General Chapter held in Rome during the month of September of last year, deserves special notice. Meeting after an interval of eight years, it was but natural that considering the sad effects - both social and spiritual - which today exist in the world as a result of the fearful war which everywhere ravaged nations and peoples, many grave and serious problems affecting our Congregation should confront the Fathers assembled in General Chapter. The nature of these evils in so far as they concern us, and the means adopted that the true spirit of the Passionist life might be preserved, are already known to you from the promulgation of the Acts and Decrees of the same General Chapter. During our recent Visitation of this Province, we have explained some of these dangers which threaten our Congregation at the present time and the means which the Holy See wishes us to make use of in order to observe more perfectly the Rule of St. Paul of the Cross.
Notwithstanding the grave problems which affect the entire Congregation as can be seen from the Acts and Decrees of the above mentioned General Chapter, we in the Province of St. Patrick, though in some things have been unfaithful in guarding the sacred deposit given to us by our Father and Founder, have, nevertheless, much for which we feel grateful to Almighty God. In the steady progress - both spiritual and material - of our Province during the past three years, the Providence of God is clearly to be seen. The external work of the ministry continues to increase. Our Missions and Retreats are up to the standard - both in numbers and efficiency - of former years.

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The zeal and enthusiasm which our Fathers are manifesting in work of this kind and the splendid reports which we have received of the spiritual success of their labours, give us an assurance that in the future development of our Province, the Apostolic work of conducting Missions and Retreats will continue to have first place in our external ministry. For the Fathers engaged in Parish work and in charge of Confraternities and Sodalities we cannot express sufficiently our appreciation for the self sacrificing spirit which they have shown in looking after the spiritual needs of our people. We take this opportunity also, of thanking all the Religious of the Province - Priests, Students and Lay-Brothers - for the confidence which they have placed in us during our term of office and for the obedience which they have shown at all times in carrying out those duties imposed on them by their Superiors.
The increase in numbers of Professed Religious since the last Provincial Chapter, though considerable, has not been what we would have desired. This was caused not by reason of the fewness of applications for admission into the Congregation, but by the necessity of carefully examining the candidates who offered themselves to see if they have had a true Passionist vocation. A further reason was the limited accomodation of the Province. This latter difficulty has now to a great extent been overcome by the establishing of a canonical foundation in the Diocese of Galloway. The new Retreat of St. Michael's, Dankeith, Kilmarnock, Ayr, has met with general approval by our Religious. The property, which include spacious buildings capable of accomodating over forty Religious and extensive

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grounds has much to recommend it as a Retreat house and Missionary centre. It is moreover established in the solitude desired by our Holy Rule and thus offers a special opportunity for the cultivating of the true Passionist spirit. In the near future when the full religious observance is established, we have every confidence that it will become a source of great spiritual activity. To the Lord Bishop of Galloway who invited us to establish a canonical foundation in his Diocese, the Passionists are deeply indebted.
It has given us great satisfaction that during our Provincialate an opportunity was afforded us of carrying out the wishes of the Capitular Fathers as can be seen from the Acts of former Provincial chapters. At the request of the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith and with the consent of Most Rev. Father General, four Fathers of St. Patrick's Province are now engaged in missionary work in the Prefecture of Dodoma, Tanganyika, E. Africa. It is to be hoped that within a short time the Religious of this Province will have granted officially to them by the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, a definite territory in that country and with the increase of Apostolic labourers, the good work of the Foreign Missions so happily being done at present will increase and multiply. We take this opportunity of expressing our gratitude to the Fathers who, with a generosity and zeal truly divine, are already engaged in missionary work in E. Africa.
The holding of a Provincial Chapter is an event which deeply concerns us all, whether we be Superiors or Subjects. In it are chosen those who, under God, are destined for three years to govern the Province and the various Retreats of which it is composed. The well-being of an Order and the spiritual and temporal happiness of

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the Religious depends in great measure on the character of the Superiors since "the soundness of the members largely depends on the head", and "on the right and prudent conduct of the Rectors depends not only the right and prudent government of the Retreats, but also the greater perfection of the entire Congregation".
In this Chapter, also, many problems - though peculiar to the entire Congregation - will be - in so far as they affect the development and spiritual activity of this Province - a matter of serious consideration. It has been rightly said that an organism if it is to maintain a healthy and vigorous existence must seek to adopt itself to its environment: our Congregation, therefore, is not exempt from the general law. Hence while zealously guarding the true Passionist spirit and endeavouring to keep with fidelity and exactitude our Rules and Constitutions, the coming Chapter will give to the Capitular Fathers an opportunity of introducing those measures which - considering the conditions both social and spiritual in the world at the present time - may tend to the advancement and prosperity of the Province.
It is evident, then, that a work of this kind on which depends the good of the Province and the peace and happiness of the Religious, cannot succeed without Divine assistance. That the Capitular Fathers may in all their deliberations, act wisely, and in their choice of Superiors, select prudent and holy men the help and guidance of Almighty God will be needed. The work of this Chapter, therefore, without Divine blessing will be fruitless: "unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Ps.126,-1). That such aid will be given to us we have the infallible promise of Christ Himself: "ask and it shall be given to you: seek and you shall find:

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knock and it shall be opened to you" Luke XI.9. Hence the prayers which will be offered during the next few weeks asking God's Mother to intercede for us, invoking our Father and Founder together with St. Joseph our Patron, St. Michael our Protector and all the Passionist Saints, will undoubtedly obtain for us grace and enlightenment through the Holy Ghost, to enable us to do what will be best for the welfare of the Province, the good of the Congregation and the glory of God.
For this purpose, therefore, we ordain that from the reading of this Convocatory letter, the Feast of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the 23rd day of April, until the Feast of Pentecost, the 25th day of 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 Pentecost Sunday until the 11th day of June, the Veni Creator with Versicle and prayer and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin with the Antiphon and prayer 'Concede' shall be recited in addition to the above prayers. The Triduum ordered by our Holy Rule in the manner prescribed in our Ritual shall begin on the evening of June 6th. During the Triduum and also on the morning of the election of Superiors, the Clerics and Lay-Brothers shall offer their Holy Communions for the same intentions.
X We remind the Rectors to bring with them the "Litterae Patentes" and seals of office together with the following documents:
1. Certificates 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, except the Rector or Superior.

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3. Inventory of the Retreat, Church, Sacristy, Furniture etc.4. A correct Financial Statement of the Retreat:- namely the income and expenditure since the last Provincial Chapter, noting any extraordinary expenditure and income, signed by Rector or Superior and Vicar.5. A faithful statement of the debts of the Retreat, showing monies borrowed at interest, and percentage payable; monies borrowed without interest; all outstanding debts and those current to date, including rent, taxes etc., and mentioning the amount due to each creditor; and finally the amount of the balance in hand or in the bank at the time of leaving office, signed by the Rector or Superior and Vicar.6. A record of Chapters and Examens held in Choir since the last Provincial Chapter.
Asking the Divine Heart of Jesus through the intercession of the Mother of Sorrows to impart to you His choicest graces.
Given at St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, the 19th day of April, 1947.
GERALD OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
Provincial.