--- Page 1 ---
6/1/10/6
COMPENDIUM OF DECREES
OF
SAINT PATRICK'S PROVINCE
1956? 1955
After 10th challenge

--- Page 2 ---
1.
It is hereby declared that in this Province there exist Juridic customs by reason of which the fast and abstinence of Rule do not oblige:
a) on the Feast of St. Patrick,b) at supper, in favour of full-time evening Confessors,c) at supper, on Saturdays and on the vigils of important Feasts, in favour of priests who are to celebrate Holy Mass on the following morning at, or after, 10 o'clock.
2.
The Provincial Curia and each house shall keep a register of its notable benefactors and of their donations or services, so that future Superiors may be informed of those who are deserving of our remembrance.
3.
In accordance with the terms of No. 36 of our Regulations, the author to be followed in this Province in respect of the ceremonies of the Roman Rite shall be Adrian Fortescue, as revised and augmented by J. O'Connell.
4.
The Venerable Chapter, desiring that the Feast of the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion be celebrated with due solemnity in our churches, directs that the annual retreat be so arranged as not to include this Feast.
5.
The Venerable Chapter directs that the religious in Ireland shall attend the Novena to St. Patrick. When it is not expedient for the religious to attend the Public Novena, the Novena devotions shall be held in the Choir during evening prayer.
6.
The Venerable Chapter decrees that in all our Retreats in Scotland, the three Hail Marys after Compline, or in the church during Benediction, be recited for the Conversion of Scotland.
7.
Anxious that our Foreign Mission and those engaged on it should be remembered in our prayers, the Venerable Chapter decrees that, in all our Retreats, immediately before the 'Asperges' (or 'Vidi Aquam'), the following be added: 'For our Foreign Mission, Ave Maria, etc., Regina Missionum, ora pro nobis.'
8.
The Venerable Chapter decrees, in accordance with Decree No. 6, Section 3, of the 36th General Chapter, that in any Retreat of the Province it shall be sufficient for the religious, going out or coming in, to obtain the usual 'Benedicite' from the Local Superior, except during time of Visitation, or in particular cases as the Father Provincial may decide.

--- Page 3 ---
9.
The Chapter decrees that both radio and television are strictly forbidden in any part of the Retreat except with permission of Father Provincial.
10.
At the time of Visitation the Father Rector shall submit to the Father Visitor a report on the condition of the Retreat library, and of what has been done since the previous Visitation.
11.
The Venerable Chapter, while respecting such rights as may have been already acquired, decrees that, without the consent of the Local Chapter and the approval of the Provincial Curia, none but our own Religious be interred in the Cemeteries attached to our Retreats.
12.
The outside bell shall not be rung before or after the Night Office of Matins.
13.
Our cutlery shall be washed after use.
14.
Let no Rector be at liberty to change existing buildings, or to alter the pre-existing 'Order of Services' in the Churches, without the consent of the Father Provincial.
15.
The Venerable Chapter directs that the Local Superiors provide confessionals near the Choir for the confessions of the religious.
16.
The Venerable Chapter recommends that the Rector, when convoking the Local Chapter, should make known beforehand the matter to be treated of, except in particular cases when necessity or prudence may dictate otherwise; also, that when the importance of the decision which is to be taken demands it, he can use his discretion to adjourn the Chapter, so that all may have opportunity to give their decision adequate consideration.
17.
It is the wish of the Provincial Chapter that at the time of Visitation the Father Visitor should make enquiries concerning all Title Deeds, assuring himself that all such Deeds are readily available and suitably preserved, and that the number of surviving trustees is adequate.

--- Page 4 ---
18.
The Venerable Chapter, legislating against the possible abuse of intoxicating drinks, issues the following Decree, which takes the place of earlier legislation: -
(a) "That henceforward intoxicating drink is forbidden before dinner, outside the Retreat, except with the permission of the Superior; the same prohibition holds within the Retreat, at all times, except with the same permission."
(b) "That Superiors are warned of their grave responsibility in regard to the observance of these prescriptions, and are directed to impose on offenders suitable penalties."
19.
The Venerable Chapter decrees that the provisions of paragraph 107 of our Regulations forbidding any religious of our Congregation to print or publish anything whatsoever, without the previous revision, approbation, and express permission of the Higher Superiors, be extended to broadcasting - whether of music, lectures or sermons.
20.
The Venerable Chapter decrees that the occasional rest, being a reward for good conduct and heavy labour, cannot be looked upon by individual religious as a right. The granting of this rest and the determination of its place and duration is left to the Provincial, who will take into account the opinion of the Rector. The religious in every instance before leaving the Retreat must hand to the Rector his address and the key of his room.
21.
It is hereby decreed that during Missions and Retreats our Fathers are not to give rise to suspicion that they are profiting from the sale of books and articles of devotion, the Passionist Mission Manual excepted.
22.
The Superiors, Missioners and Confessors are earnestly exhorted to interest themselves in procuring suitable subjects for the Alumniate and Novitiate.
23.
The Venerable Chapter decrees: (1) That a Questionnaire drawn up by the Provincial Curia be sent to each Postulant before acceptance. (2) That the Postulants be medically examined at the beginning of each year by the House Doctor. (3) Also, that the Novices be medically examined before their three months', as well as before their eleven months' Chapter.

--- Page 5 ---
24. The Venerable Chapter decided : (1) that the Provincial Curia provide a suitable house near the sea for the Students' Annual Vacation; (2) that a temporary superior, other than the Director of Students, be appointed to this house; (3) that a levy be imposed on the Retreats of the Province to meet the expenses of these vacations; (4) that the observance be regulated by an Horarium drawn up by the Provincial Curia.
25.
A three days' Retreat is to be given to the Students at the end of the Annual Vacation.
26.
In view of the importance of the Irish language for our missionary work, the Venerable Chapter ordains that the Father Provincial provide efficient teachers of Irish for our students, and furthermore that in houses of formal study, the reading in the refectory be in Irish at least once a week.
To encourage the study of Irish, and to enable our priests to conduct Missions and Retreats in Irish, the Venerable Chapter recommends that a certain number of priests, to be selected by the Provincial Curia, be sent to the Gaeltacht each year for a course of studies.
27.
The Chapter directs the Provincial Curia to see that our young priests, who have finished their formal study, be provided with books essential for their further studies.
28.
Mindful of the authority given to the Provincial Chapters by Decree No. 4, Section 3 of the 36th General Chapter and in accordance with Par. 236 of our Regulations, the Chapter desires the Provincial Curia to provide for the further training of our Lay-brothers after their first profession, as referred to in the same Decree. It recommends that their training should be for six years duration, during which time, without prejudice to the rights of the Local Superior, they should be under the direction of the Director of Students or an approved priest, to whom they shall be subject as the students are subject to their Director.
29.
The distinction between the ordinary clerical collar and that worn by Lay-brothers is to be clearly observed. The white and black portions of the Lay-brother's collar shall be approximately of equal depth.
30.
In partial fulfilment of Canon 509, Sec. 2, the Venerable Chapter decrees that the Rectors and Superiors are to provide our Lay-brothers with suitable books of Religious Instruction. The selection of such books is to be made by the Provincial Curia.

--- Page 6 ---
31.
The Chapter decrees that each Retreat shall annually contribute to a Central Fund an amount equal to 1% of its gross annual income, the sum to be administered by the Provincial Curia for the purchase of books and periodicals for the Libraries of the Province.
32.
The Chapter directs the attention of the Superiors of the Province to Decree No. 37, Section VI, of the 35th General Chapter: "On the death of the father or mother of a lay-brother, novice or cleric of our Congregation, one low Mass is to be offered for their repose in the Retreat where the above mentioned religious is stationed."
33.
The Chapter confides to the Provincial, with the consent of his full Council, the power conferred on it by Par. 12 of the Holy Rule to specify, subject to the approval of the General Curia, what garments the religious may wear under the tunic.
34.
With reference to Par. 330 of the Holy Rule, the Chapter decrees that three Masses shall be celebrated by each priest on the death of any religious or novice of the Province.
35.
With reference to our Ritual, the Chapter decrees:
a) the Angelus Domini and the Regina Coeli shall be said in Latin. X
b) the evening rosary by the community shall likewise be said in Latin. X
c) in all our houses, immediately after the evening prayers listed in the Ritual of the Congregation, the following shall be added:
"For our Foreign Mission, Ave Maria, etc., Regina Missionum, ora pro nobis."
36.
By a decision of the General Curia, made on December 15th, 1956, (Acta Cong. Vol. XX, pp.53,54) it is permitted to celebrate in a suitable way the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of ordination in the case of a priest, as also the Golden Jubilee of his religious profession, and the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of religious profession in the case of a brother, the Chapter decrees that on the above-mentioned occasions such religious shall enjoy the following privileges:
a) A Solemn High Mass with community festivities in the house in which they are 'de familia'.
b) An additional vacation of two weeks, the location of which shall be approved by Father Provincial.

--- Page 7 ---
37.
The Chapter decrees that the three Hail Marys, traditionally said during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, shall in future be said "For Christian Unity"; to which, in our churches in Ireland shall be added "and for the sanctification of Ireland."
38.
The Chapter decrees that (a) in each of our houses a special Mass, to be publicly announced where convenient, shall be offered once a month for an increase in Passionist vocations, and that, when the rubrics permit, this should be an appropriate Votive Mass.
The Chapter further decrees that (b) a suitable prayer for this intention be composed and published in leaflet form; the times and places for the recitation of this prayer to be determined by the Provincial, with the consent of his full Council.

--- Page 8 ---
39.
In accordance with par. 198 of the Regulations, the Chapter decrees that, in place of the customary Novenas, five or six times a year there shall be a Day of Recollection for the brethern on a day to be determined by the Local Superior. On these days there shall be at least one lecture in choir, and the Stations of the Cross shall be said in the evening.
40.
The Provincial Chapter leaves it to Father Provincial, in consultation with the various local Superiors, to arrange the time of the annual spiritual exercises for their respective houses. With regard to the observance of silence, the Chapter decrees that the custom of the Province in this matter remain unchanged.
41.
In accord with par. 295 of the Regulations, the Provincial Chapter fixes the following norms for the duration of rest after ministry:
a) Eight days after two week's mission;b) Six days after one week's mission, ten day community retreat or diocesan clergy retreat;c) Three days after community triduum or equivalent;d) One day after a Day of Recollection or a week-end retreat.
It is understood that the period of rest is to be computed from the day after return to the house. Whilst on rest, the brethern are exhorted to acquiesce 'n the reasonable wishes of the Superior should he deem it necessary to utilise their services.
42.
The Chapter decrees that, when a suitable translation has been approved by the Provincial with his full Council, all prayers listed in the Ritual of the Congregation for recitation in common shall be said in the vernacular.
43.
Considering the great need for an increase in vocations for our Province, the Chapter decrees that the special prayer for vocations already in use shall be recited in unison by the whole community in all houses of the Province, following the Hail Mary which is said for the foreign missions.
44.
The Chapter decrees: a) that the financial statement of the house be read every three months to the community assembled at the monthly chapter; b) that, in course of the Visitation, the Provincial shall acquaint each community with the general financial situation of the Province.

--- Page 9 ---
45.
The Chapter decrees that each Retreat and quasi-Retreat of the Province shall contribute to the Central Fund an amount equal to one per cent of its gross annual income, the sum to be administered by the Provincial with his council, in consultation with the Provincial Librarian, for the maintenance and expansion of the libraries of the Province, due consideration always being given to the special needs of houses of studies.
46.
The Chapter decrees: a) that during the annual summer vacation, the students shall continue to follow the horarium already drawn up for them by the Provincial with his council, in accordance with the decree of the Sixth Provincial Chapter; b) that they shall devote at least 21 days, not necessarily consecutive, of their summer vacation to light study and pursuits of an intellectual and cultural character, as prescribed by the General Directory of Studies, art. 79, par. 3.
47.
The Chapter decrees that it be left to the Provincial with his council to lay down the rules regarding the intellectual and technical training of our brothers, referred to in Par. 268 of the Regulations.

--- Page 10 ---
REFERENCES
"The Chapter discussed the unsatisfactory nature of the existing 'Compendium of Decrees', and recommended that the Provincial Curia should examine into the matter, so as to be able to recommend to the next Provincial Chapter which Decrees should be retained and which abrogated, the final decision in each case to remain with the Capitular Fathers."
(Twelfth Session, Ninth Prov. Chapter, April, 1953.)
"By secret ballot, the Chapter ..... rescinded those Decrees of past Chapters which the Capitulars had discussed in previous Sessions and had deemed to be superfluous. The revised Decrees were then voted upon, by secret ballot and approved in their revised form. Finally, the new Decrees were approved by secret Ballot."
(Final Session, Tenth Prov. Chapter, May, 1956.)
(J. signifies St. Joseph's Province; P signifies St. Patrick's Province.)
No. of Decree
Chapter which enacted the Decree
1.10th P.
2.10th P.
3.10th P.
4.8th P.
5.8th P.
6.4th P.
7.9th P.
8.9th P.
9.1st P. (revised)
10.10th P.
11.8th P.
12.10th P.
13.10th P.
14.8th J. (revised)
15.2nd P.
16.9th P.
17.5th P. (revised)
18.6th P.
19.4th P.
20.22nd J.

--- Page 11 ---
No. of Decree
Chapter which enacted the Decree
21.
11th J. (revised)
22.
21st J.
23.
5th P.
24.
5th P.
25.
16th J.
26.
3rd P. & 6th P. (revised)
27.
6th P.
28.
9th P. (revised)
29.
24th J. (revised)
30.
1st P.