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JESU CHRISTI PASSIO
FERGUS OF THE SACRED HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY
PROVINCIAL
OF
THE PROVINCE OF SAINT PATRICK
To the Capitular Fathers and to all the religious
Grace and Peace in the Lord.
જેવું વિશ્વનું વિશેષ જ્ઞાન વિશેષ જ્ઞાન વિશેષ જ્ઞાન વિશેષ જ્ઞાન વિશેષ જ્ઞાન વિશેષ જ્ઞાન વિશેષ જ્ઞાન વિશેષ
In a letter dated November 15th, 1958, Most Reverend Father General states:
"Your Chapter and the one in England are usually held in the month of May. I am naming May 14th for yours. The Capitular Fathers will please assemble at Mount Argus not later than supper time of that day, and the first preliminary session will be on May 15th. It would be well to arrange to have the beginning of the Tridum the evening of the 14th after supper."
In conformity with the wishes of Father General, and authorized by Paragraph 258 of our Holy Rules, we now summon all those mentioned in the same paragraph who enjoy the right of suffrage to convene for our Eleventh Provincial Chapter at Saint Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, on the evening of May 14th, 1959.
We remind the Capitular Fathers, in so far as it applies to them, to bring with them their "Litterae Patentes" and seals of office together with the following documents:
1) Certificates of the exact keeping of the archives, signed by the Rector and Vicar;2) Certificates of the faithful celebration of Masses signed by the priests of the community;3) An inventory of the Retreat, and of the Church and Sacristy;4) A financial statement of the Retreat showing the income and expenditure from the last Provincial Chapter to the end of April of this year, signed by the Rector and Vicar;

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5) A statement of the debts of the Retreat and of money borrowed; the amount of the Balance in hand and in the Bank, signed by the Rector and Vicar;6) A record of the Choir Chapters and Examens held since the last Provincial Chapter.
The Eleventh Provincial Chapter will not differ in either scope or object from those which have preceded it. It will concern itself with the election of Superiors, with the abolition of abuses, if such exist, and with such new legislation as may be judged opportune. These are tasks which are not rendered more easy to the Capitular Fathers by reason of familiarity with procedure or because the Province is now established more than thirty years. Experience merely serves, indeed, to emphasise both the importance and the difficult nature of the work to be accomplished.
The hurried pace of the world around us, the tensions proper to our times, the effort entailed in withdrawal from men that we may attach ourselves to God, the desire for a suitable apostolate, all combine to demand that with the passing of the years adaptations be made in the code of life which governs us. On many occasions and over many years of late Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, stressed the twofold need of fitting adjustments and of the renewal of the particular spirit of each Order and Congregation. The General Congress on the States of Perfection held in Rome in 1950 had for its central theme, as we are all aware, the accomodata renovatio of Religious Institutes, the revival of the primitive spirit of the Order adapted to the needs of the present day. Such adaptation may be made not only at the level of a General Chapter but also, with due approval of higher authority, at that of a Provincial Chapter.
If there is a danger that we do not think with the mind of St. Paul of the Cross or that his spirit is languishing in our communities it is the right and duty of the Provincial Chapter to concern itself with such a state, to reform our structure, to refashion the means to the end so that we do not become atrophied or malignant cells in the Mystical Body of Christ. Extreme conservativism must be avoided on the one hand and a mania for novelty on the other. While seeking adjustments in the accidental structure of our life we must ever remember the exhortation made at the Congress in Rome: "Renew your spirit or die".
A challenge has been made to Religious Superiors, whether singly or collectively, as in Chapter, to keep in step with their Holy Founder and also with modern advancement. If the task is undertaken and the challenge rightly answered our light will shine yet more brightly before God and men, we shall rest secure in the knowledge that our regulations are still capable of making us saints. Our daily prayer should be that of the chastened and tractable Saul: "Lord, what wouldst Thou have us to do ?"

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If all things are commended to God and left in His hands there is no room for anxiety or for worrying. The peace of the Spirit produces patience, the ability to leave results to God. It is for us to do the best we can by prayer, not attempting by our prayer to change the Will of God but to see that Holy Will fulfilled.
We prescribe that at the beginning of evening meditation from Thursday, March 12th, a Pater, Ave and Gloria with the respective antiphon, versicle and prayer, be recited in honour of our Holy Patrons: St. Michael; St. Joseph; St. Patrick; St. Paul of the Cross; St. Gabriel. From Friday, May 1st, the above prayers shall be preceded by the Veni Creator and the Litany of Our Lady with the respective versicle and prayer. During the Triduum the clerics and brothers are exhorted to pray, especially when they receive Holy Communion, for the success of the Chapter.
Following the statement made in Par. 26 of our Book of Customs and relying on the correctness of the same, we hereby nominate the existing Vicars to be Superiors ad interim after the departure of the Capitular Fathers for the Chapter.
Religious who wish to propose matters for discussion in the Chapter should send their propositions in writing to the Provincial not later than the middle of April. We request that these proposals be clearly expressed so that there be no doubt as to what is intended.
We beg Our Divine Lord through the intercession of His Sorrowful Mother to enrich all the religious of our Province with an abundant measure of the graces which He has merited for us by His Sacred Passion and Death.
Given at St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, on the 13th day of February, 1959.
Provincial.
(To be read in the choir or refectory, all the religious being present.)