Rule and Foundational Documents
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Rule and Foundational Documents Frontispiece: facsimile reproduction of a page—chapter 22, “Rules Concern- ing the Good Order and Management of the Institute”—from the Rule of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the 1718 manuscript preserved in the Rome archives of the Institute. Photo E. Rousset (Jean-Baptiste de La Salle; Icono- graphie, Boulogne: Limet, 1979, plate 52). Rule and Foundational Documents John Baptist de La Salle Translated and edited by Augustine Loes, FSC, and Ronald Isetti Lasallian Publications Christian Brothers Conference Landover, Maryland Lasallian Publications Sponsored by the Regional Conference of Christian Brothers of the United States and Toronto Editorial Board Luke Salm, FSC, Chairman Paul Grass, FSC, Executive Director Daniel Burke, FSC William Mann, FSC Miguel Campos, FSC Donald C. Mouton, FSC Ronald Isetti Joseph Schmidt, FSC Augustine Loes, FSC From the French manuscripts, Pratique du Règlement journalier, Règles communes des Frères des Écoles chrétiennes, Règle du Frère Directeur d’une Maison de l’Institut d’après les manuscrits de 1705, 1713, 1718, et l’édition princeps de 1726 (Cahiers lasalliens 25; Rome: Maison Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, 1966); Mémoire sur l’Habit (Cahiers lasalliens 11, 349–54; Rome: Maison Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, 1962); Règles que je me suis imposées (Cahiers lasalliens 10, 114–16; Rome: Maison Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, 1979). Rule and Foundational Documents is volume 7 of Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle Copyright © 2002 by Christian Brothers Conference All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Control Number: 2002101169 ISBN 0-944808-25-5 (cloth) ISBN 0-944808-26-3 (paper) Cover: Portrait of M. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, Priest, Doctor in Theology, and Founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Engraving, by Jean- Baptist Scotin, based on a portrait painted by Pierre Léger that is now lost. Photo E. Rousset (Jean-Baptiste de La Salle; Iconographie, Boulogne: Limet, 1979, plate 9). This book is humbly and gratefully dedicated to Edwin Bannon, FSC, scholar, gentleman, and brother after the mind and heart of John Baptist de La Salle Lasallian Publications Sponsored by Christian Brothers Conference (Regional Conference of Christian Brothers of the United States of America and Toronto), the Lasallian Publications project includes eighteen volumes on the life, writings, and work of John Baptist de La Salle (1651–1719), Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and on the early history of the Brothers. Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle The Letters of John Baptist de La Salle. Translated and edited by Colman Molloy, FSC, and Augustine Loes, FSC. Volume 1 of Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 1988. The Rules of Christian Decorum and Civility. Translated by Richard Arnandez, FSC. Edited by Gregory Wright, FSC. Volume 2 of Lasal- lian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 1990. Collection of Various Short Treatises. Translated by William J. Battersby, FSC. Edited by Daniel Burke, FSC. Volume 3 of Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 1993. Meditations by John Baptist de La Salle. Translated by Richard Arnan- dez, FSC, and Augustine Loes, FSC. Edited by Augustine Loes, FSC, and Francis Huether, FSC. Volume 4 of Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 1994. Explanation of the Method of Interior Prayer. Translated by Richard Ar- nandez, FSC. Revised translation by Donald C. Mouton, FSC, edi- tor. Volume 5 of Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 1995. The Conduct of the Christian Schools. Translated by F. de La Fontaine- rie and Richard Arnandez, FSC. Edited with notes by William Mann, FSC. Volume 6 of Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 1996. Rule and Foundational Documents. Translated and edited by Augus- tine Loes, FSC, and Ronald Isetti. Volume 7 of Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 2002. The Duties of a Christian to God. Translated by Richard Arnandez, FSC. Edited by Alexis Doval. Volume 8 of Lasallian Sources: The Com- plete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 2002. Religious Instructions and Exercises of Piety for the Christian Schools. Translated by Richard Arnandez, FSC. Edited by Eugene Lappin, FSC. Volume 9 of Lasallian Sources: The Complete Works of John Baptist de La Salle, 2002. Lasallian Resources: Biographies of John Baptist de La Salle by His Contemporaries John Baptist de La Salle: Two Early Biographies. Dom François-Élie Maillefer, OSB, and Brother Bernard, FSC. Translated by William J. Quinn, FSC. Revised translation with notes by Donald C. Mouton, FSC. Edited by Paul Grass, FSC. Volume 1 of Lasallian Resources: Biographies of John Baptist de La Salle by His Contemporaries, 1996. The Life of John Baptist de La Salle, Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools; A Biography in Three Books. Jean-Baptiste Blain. Translated by Richard Arnandez, FSC. Edited by Luke Salm, FSC. Published in separate bindings with continu- ous pagination, 2000. The Mind and Heart of John Baptist de La Salle. Jean-Baptiste Blain. Translated by Edwin Bannon, FSC. Edit- ed by Augustine Loes, FSC, 2002. The four books by Jean-Baptiste Blain are volume 2 of Lasallian Resources: Biographies of John Baptist de La Salle by His Contemporaries. Lasallian Resources: Early Documents John Baptist de La Salle: The Formative Years. Luke Salm, FSC. Volume 1 of Lasallian Resources: Early Documents, 1989. The First De La Salle Brothers; 1681–1719. Augustine Loes, FSC. Volume 2 of Lasallian Resources: Early Documents, 1999. Lasallian Resources: Current Lasallian Studies John Baptist de La Salle and Special Education: A Study of Saint Yon. Othmar Würth, FSC. Translated by Augustine Loes, FSC. Adapted by Francis Huether, FSC. Edited by Bonaventure Miner, FSC. Volume 1 of Lasallian Resources: Current Lasallian Studies, 1988. So Favored by Grace: Education in the Time of John Baptist de La Salle. Edited by Lawrence J. Colhocker, FSC. Volume 2 of Lasal- lian Resources: Current Lasallian Studies, 1991. Spirituality in the Time of John Baptist de La Salle. Edited by Robert C. Berger, FSC. Volume 3 of Lasallian Resources: Current Lasallian Studies, 1999. John Baptist de La Salle: The Message of His Catechism. Jean Pungier, FSC. Translated by Oswald Murdoch, FSC. Edited by Gerard Rummery, FSC. Volume 4 of Lasallian Resources: Current Lasallian Studies, 1999. Sacred Scripture in the Spirituality of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. Luis Varela Martínez, FSC. Translated by Francis Vesel, FSC. Edit- ed by Donald C. Mouton, FSC. Volume 5 of Lasallian Resources: Current Lasallian Studies, 2000. Contents Preface . xi Rule of 1705 and Rule of 1718 . 1 Introduction, by Luke Salm, FSC . 3 [Chapter 1] The Purpose and the Necessity of This Institute . 13 [Chapter 2] The Spirit of This Institute . 16 [Chapter 3] The Spirit of Community in This Institute and the Exercises Performed in Common in It . 20 [Chapter 4] The Exercises of Piety Practiced in This Institute . 22 [Chapter 5] The Exercises of Humiliation and Mortification Practiced in This Institute . 25 [Chapter 6] How the Brothers Ought to Conduct Themselves During Recreation . 29 Topics on Which the Brothers Ought to Converse During Recreation . 32 [Chapter 7] How the Brothers Ought to Conduct Themselves in School with Regard to Their Pupils . 36 [Chapter 8] How the Brothers Ought to Conduct Themselves When Correcting Their Pupils . 41 [Chapter 9] How the Brothers Ought to Conduct Themselves in School with Regard to Themselves, Brothers, and Outsiders . 44 [Chapter 10] The Days and Times When the Brothers Will Teach School and the Days on Which They Will Give a Holiday to Their Pupils . 50 [Chapter 11] The Inspector of Schools . 52 [Chapter 12] How the Brothers Ought to Conduct Themselves with Regard to the Brother Director . 53 [Chapter 13] How the Brothers Ought to Conduct Themselves Toward One Another . 58 [Chapter 14] How the Brothers Ought to Conduct Themselves with Regard to Outsiders . 62 [Chapter 15] How the Serving Brothers Ought to Conduct Themselves . 65 [Chapter 16] Regularity . 68 Rules Concerning Special Virtues [Chapter 17] Poverty . 71 [Chapter 18] [This chapter number first occurs in the Rule of 1725] viii Contents ✦ ix [Chapter 19] Chastity . 74 [Chapter 20] Obedience . 76 Chapter on Silence . 78 [Chapter 21] Modesty . 81 Rules Concerning the Good Order and Management of the Institute [Chapter 22] Illnesses; the Sick . 83 [Chapter 23] Prayers to Be Said for Deceased Brothers . 85 [Chapter 24] Travel . 90 [Chapter 25] Letters . 93 [Chapter 26] The Latin Language . 96 [Chapter 27] Daily Exercises . 97 [Chapter 28] Special Exercises for Sundays and Feasts . 104 [Chapter 29] Special Exercises for Holidays . 109 [Chapter 30] Special Practices on Certain Days of the Year . 112 [Chapter 31] Daily Regulations for Vacation Time . 137 [Chapter 32] Rule for the Time of the Common Retreat During Vacation . 139 Renewal of Vows . 141 Daily Exercises for the House of the Novitiate . 142 Memorandum on the Habit . 147 Introduction, by Ronald Isetti . 149 Memorandum . 181 Rules I Have Imposed on Myself . 193 Introduction, by Ronald Isetti . 195 Rules I Have Imposed on Myself . 199 Other Personal Documents . 203 Heroic Vow . 203 Formula of Vows . 204 Testament . 205 Rule of the Brother Director of a House of the Institute . 207 Appendix 1 “For a Better Understanding of Our Rule,” by Maurice Hermans, FSC . 217 Appendix 2 Chapter Numbers and Headings of the Rule of 1705, of 1718, and of 1726 . 257 Bibliography . 261 Index to Rule of 1705 and Rule of 1718 . 265 Preface The purpose of this volume is to introduce and present the thought and organization that John Baptist de La Salle, with the help of the original Brothers, brought to the creation of the Institute of the Broth- ers of the Christian Schools, also known today as the De La Salle Christian Brothers.