The Rule Constitutions Additional Code
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THE RULE CONSTITUTIONS ADDITIONAL CODE AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECTS THE RULE CONSTITUTIONS ADDITIONAL CODE Rome 2012 This English translation is the authorized and faithful version of the official Spanish text approved by the Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. © EDITORIAL AVGVSTINVS General Dávila, 5 bajo D 28003 Madrid, Spain Superiorum permissu ISBN: Legal Deposit: Imprenta Calatrava, Salamanca CONGREGAZIONE PER GLI ISTITUTI DI VITA CONSACRATA E LE SOCIETÀ DI VITA APOSTOLICA Prot. N. A 68-1/2004 DECREE The Order of Augustinian Recollects, whose generalate is located in Rome, in its 54th General Chapter, has authorized, the adapted and revised texts of the Constitutions, already confirmed by the Apostolic See on 13th November, 1982 (Prot. A. 68-1/81). The superior general has presented to this Dicastery the new text, requesting its approval. Having thoroughly studied the document, into which several modifications have been introduced, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, by this present Decree approves this new text of the Constitutions. This Dicastery expresses its best wishes that the Order may continue to grow in conformity with its charism and and reaffirming its Augustinian Recollect identity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary. Vatican, 31st May, 2011 Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ✠ João Braz de Aviz Prefect ✠ Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. Archbishop Secretary ORDO AUGUSTINIANORUM RECOLLECTORUM GENERALATUS Prot.1-3/11.4 DECREE PROMULGATION OF THE OFFICIAL TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTIONS May the Lord grant that you observe all these precepts with love, as lovers of spiritual beauty …, not as slaves under the law, but as free men under grace. (Rule 8, 1) Beloved brothers: On May 31st of this year, the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life approved the text of our Constitutions, revised and adapted by the General Chapter of 2010. The approval of this constitutional text is the culmination of a process of revision and updating that began in the General Chapter of 2004. All the religious, secretariats, and institutes of the Order were invited to participate by contributing their suggestions. Several commissions were appointed to promote the study and drafting of the constitutional text, materials were prepared for retreats, and workshops and retreats on the Constitutions were organized. The General Chapter of 2010 was provided with a working document that facilitated its task of updating and adapting the Constitutions and the Additional Code. The Constitutions had already been renewed according to the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and the charism of the Order in the General Chapter of 1974. The General Chapter of 1980 ratified the texts of the Constitutions and of the Additional Code without significant modifications. Two years later, in 1982, the Congregation of Religious and Secular Institutes (Prot. N.A.68-1/81) definitively approved the new Constitutions, and that same year the Prior General promulgated the official texts of the Constitutions and of the Additional Code. A new edition was published in 1987, incorporating some significant changes made by the General Chapter of 1986. This edition, with slight modifications, has remained in force until the present. Our Constitutions, approved by the Church, are a renewed expression of the Augustinian Recollect charism. From the life and communion of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit emerge the life and mission of the Church and of the Order.1 The charism of Saint Augustine, lived anew in the origins of the Recollection and moulded into shape in the Forma de Vivir, is transmitted to others as an experience of the Spirit to be constantly lived, protected, deepened, and developed by those who desire to 1 Cf. Vita Consecrata, 36. follow Christ radically and continue his ecclesial mission. 2 The contemplative, communitarian, and apostolic character of the Order, expressed in the Constitutions, is our way to union with Christ, which permits us to grow in holiness and to offer to the Church the ever new vitality that we receive from the Spirit. The new constitutional text, enriched with references to Holy Scripture, to Saint Augustine, to the Forma de Vivir, and to the Magisterium of the Church, is offered to us as “an ever surging and unquenchable fountain of enlightening inspiration for our spiritual and community life”3 and for our mission. It must therefore be the basic textbook for our initial and continuous formation. We can refer to it for ways to discern the will of the Lord in the face of the numerous problems and pressures that at times seem to compromise our consecrated life, and also to bring to fruition new projects of evangelization, seeking at every moment the communion of the Order and the Church and service to all our brothers.4 The Additional Code is printed within the Constitutions themselves in italic type, with one consecutive enumeration. Both the Constitutions and the Additional Code have the same force of law for everyone, even though they are different juridical texts. Finally, in virtue of this letter and by the authority of my office, and with the consent of the General Council, we hereby promulgate the official text of the Constitutions and of the Additional Code in English, revised and brought up to date by the 54th General Chapter, and with the modifications inserted at the request of the Holy See, and we order that they become effective immediately throughout the Order. Issued in Rome, August 28th, 2011, the solemnity of our Father Saint Augustine. Fr. Miguel Miró Miró Prior General Fr. Sergio Camarena Lara Secretary General 2 Cf. Constitutions nº 2. 3 FR. JAVIER RUIZ, Prot. n. 1-6/79 (82). 4 Cf. Vita Consecrata, 73. ABBREVIATIONS OF DOCUMENTS AA Apostolicam actuositatem: Vatican II. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity. AAS Acta Apostolicae Sedis. AG Ad gentes: Vatican II. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church (7, 12, 1965). AO Acta Ordinis. Bull. Bullarium O.A.R. C Canon. CD Christus Dominus: Vatican II. Decree concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church (28, 10, 1965). CEC Catechism of the Catholic Church: Pope John Paul II (11, 10, 1992). CLER Clericalia instituta: Decree of the Congregation for Religious Institutes (27, 11, 1969). Const. 1637 Constitutions of the Discalced Friars of the Order of Saint Augustine (1637). CP Communio et progressio: Pastoral Instructions on the Means of Social Communication (18, 5, 1971). CPMS Consecrated Persons and their Mission in Schools. Congregation for Catholic Education (28, 10, 2002). CSTTM The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium: Congregation for Catholic Education: (28, 12,1997). CT Catechesi tradendae: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II on Catechesis in our Time (16, 10, 1979). CV Caritas in veritate: Encyclical Letter of Pope Benedict XVI (29, 6, 2009). DFRI Directives on Formation in Religious Institutes. Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated life (2, 2, 1990). EE Essential Elements in the Church’s Teaching on Religious Life: Congregation for Religious Institutes (31, 5, 1983). EN Evangelii nuntiandi: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI (8, 12, 1975). ES Ecclesiae sanctae: Motu proprio of Pope Paul VI. Implementing CD, PO, PC and AG (6, 8, 1966). ET Evangelica testificatio: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI on the Renewal of Religious Life according to the Teaching of the Second Vatican Council (29, 6, 1971). ETCS Educating together in the Catholic School: Congregation for Catholic Education (8, 9, 2007). FC Familiaris consortio: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II (22, 11, 1981). FLC Fraternal Life in Community: Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (2, 2, 1994). FV Forma de Vivir de los frailes Agustinos Descalzos, ordenada por el provincial y definidores de la provincial de Castilla (cf. Appendix). GE Gravissimum educationis: Vatican II. Declaration on Christian Education (28, 10, 1965). GILH General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours. Congregation for the Divine Worship (2, 2, 1971). GS Gadium et spes: Vatican II. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (7, 12, 1965). HGRD Historia General de los Religiosos Descalzos del Orden del Gran Padre San Agustín, I. HV Humanae vitae: Encylical Letter of Pope Paul VI (25, 7, 1968). IICF Inter-Institute Collaboration for Formation: Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (8, 12,1998). IM Inter mirifica: Vatican II. Decree on the Media of Social Communications (4, 12, 1963). LG Lumen gentium: Vatican II. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (21, 11, 1964). MC Marialis cultus: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI for the Right Ordering and Development of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (2, 2, 1974). MM Mater et Magistra: Encyclical Letter of Pope John XXIII (15, 5, 1961). MR Mutuae relationis: Congregation for the Religious and Congregation for the Bishops (14, 5, 1978). MSL De musica in sacra liturgia: Sacred Congregation for Rites (3, 3, 1967). NVE New Vocations for a New Europe: Final Document of the Congress on Vocation to the Priesthood and to Consecrated Life in Europe (10, 5, 1997). OT Optatam totius: Vatican II. Decree on Priestly Training (28, 10, 1965). PAENIT Paenitemini: Apostolic Constitution on Fast and Abstinence of Pope Paul VI (17, 2, 1966). PC Perfectae caritatis: Vatican II. Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life (28, 10, 1965). PO Presbyterorum ordinis: Vatican II. Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests (7, 12, 1965). PP Populorum progressio: Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI (26, 3, 1967). RC Renovationis causam: Instruction on the Renewal of Religious Formation (6, 1, 1969). RD Redemptionis donum: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II (25, 3, 1984).