Listen III June 2020

The General Norms: Listen I

and

The Specific Norms: Listen II

of the

Federation of St. Gertrude

The Monastery Norms: Listen III

“The Spirit’s Call into the Unknown Future”

Benedictine Sisters of Pontifical Right 1990

Monastery Immaculate Conception Ferdinand, Indiana Revised: 2020

Adopted by The Fifteenth Federation Chapter August 8-12, 1985

Revised by The Sixteenth Federation Chapter June 23-29, 1987

Approved by The Apostolic See November 16, 1989

Promulgated by The Federation President February 10, 1990

Latest Revision of Specific Norms Adopted 2017 Monastery Norms Adopted 1994 Revised Norms Adopted June 2020

CONGREGATIO PRO INSTITUTIS VITAE CONSECRATAE ET SOCIETATIBUS VITAE APOSTOLICAE Prot. n. S 67-1/86

DECREE

This Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life by virtue of its authority to erect, guide and promote institutes of consecrated life, after careful consideration of the constitutions presented by the Benedictine Federation of St. Gertrude, acceding to the request of the President and her Council, herewith approves, within the limits of canon law, these same constitutions as amended according to the observations of this Congregation. May the generous living of these constitutions encourage all the Sisters of the Federation to an ever-deeper commitment to their consecrated life in accordance with the spirit of St. Benedict and under the constant protection of St. Gertrude.

Given at Rome, November 16, 1989 Feast of Saint Gertrude

FEDERATION OF ST. GERTRUDE

Mount St. Benedict Monastery, 620 East Summit Ave. Crookston, MN 56716

DECREE OF PROMULGATION

I, Sister Mary Anselm Hammerling, OSB, President of the Federation of St. Gertrude, having obtained the consent of my Council, hereby promulgate THE GENERAL NORMS: LISTEN I and THE SPECIFIC NORMS: LISTEN II as the official documents of proper law for the Federation and its member monasteries as approved by Decree of the Apostolic See dated November 16, 1989, the Feast of St. Gertrude.

I hereby further declare that THE GENERAL NORMS: LISTEN I and THE SPECIFIC NORMS: LISTEN II shall take effect within the Federa- tion and its member monasteries on this day, February 10, 1990, the Feast of St. Scholastica.

Given at Mount St. Benedict Monastery, Crookston, Minnesota, U.S.A. February 10, 1990 Feast of Saint Scholastica

Sister Mary Anselm Hammerling, OSB

Our Lady of Grace Monastery St. Scholastica Monastery St. Martin Monastery Beech Grove, IN Fort Smith, AR Rapid City, SD

Our Lady of Peace Monastery Holy Spirit Monastery Sacred Heart Monastery Columbia, MO Grand Terrace, CA Richardton, ND

Monastery of St. Gertrude Queen of Angels Monastery Mother of God Monastery Cottonwood, ID Mt. Angel, OR Watertown, SD

Mount St. Benedict Monastery House of Bread Monastery St. Benedict’s Monastery Crookston, MN Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Monastery Immaculate Conception Sacred Heart Monastery Ferdinand, IN Yankton, SD

In process of dissolution: Affiliated Monastery 2008 Affiliated Monastery 2008 Monastery of St. Benedict Center Holy Wisdom Monastery Dwelling Place Monastery Madison, WI Madison, WI Martin, KY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Federation of St. Gertrude is grateful to the members of the Federation Chapters from 1967 through 1987 and to all the sisters of the member monasteries for their untiring efforts in bringing about an effective renewal of their monastic way of life. Their love and labor, as well as the legacy left by those who preceded them, have enabled the revision of these Federation documents to be realized.

The Federation of St. Gertrude is also deeply grateful to the various committee members and consultants whose love for the Church and the Benedictine way of life has encouraged this work of revision.

ABBREVIATIONS

RB The Rule of St. Benedict (RB 1980) H Heritage of the Federation of St. Gertrude I Introductory Norms G The General Norms: Listen I S The Special Norms: Listen II C The Code of Canon Law

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION HERITAGE OF MONASTERY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PROLOGUE SECTION I. HERITAGE OF THE FEDERATION OF ST. GERTRUDE SECTION II. INTRODUCTORY NORMS SECTION III. THE GENERAL NORMS AND THE SPECIFIC NORMS: THE FEDERATION A. MEMBERSHIP B. GOVERNMENT 1. The Federation Chapter 2. The Federation President 3. The Federation Council

C. VISITATIONS D. CONCILIATION PROCESS E. THE GENERAL NORMS AND THE SPECIFIC NORMS: AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS SECTION IV. THE GENERAL NORMS AND THE SPECIFIC NORMS: THE MEMBER MONASTERIES A. CALL TO COMMUNITY 1. The Prioress 2. The Monastic Chapter 3. The Monastic Council

B. CALL TO CONVERSION AND COMMITMENT 1. Monastic Formation 2. Monastic Stewardship 3. Monastic Profession 4. Permanent Transfer 5. Separation from Monastery

C. CALL TO PRAISE D. CALL TO PRESENCE EPILOGUE GLOSSARY CATALOGUE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Charism M 3. Attempting to fulfill God’s call through both prayer and work, the sisters of Monastery Immaculate Conception Ferdinand, Indiana, identify themselves through the Benedictine charism entrusted to them. Purpose M 4. We, the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana, are monastic women seeking God through the Benedictine tradition of community life, prayer, hospitality and service to others. By our life of prayer and work, we commit ourselves to be a presence of peace as we join our sisters and brothers in the common search for God. (Mission Statement, December 31, 2002)

The more immediate origins of the monastery may be attributed to St. Walburg Abbey, Eichstatt, Bavaria, Germany, founded in 1035. It was from this renowned institution that three nuns came to the United States in 1852 to establish the Order of St. Benedict for women in St. Mary’s, Elk County, Pennsylvania. At this time, the nuns were called to teach the children of German Catholic immigrants. From St. Joseph Monastery in St. Mary’s, the nuns soon branched to Erie, Pennsylvania (1856), to Covington, Kentucky (1859), and then from Covington, Kentucky to Ferdinand, Indiana in 1867.

On August 20, 1867, four Benedictines arrived in Ferdinand from Covington. Here they instructed the children of St. Ferdinand Parish. After adding a two-story brick building to their original framed home, these pioneer women in 1870 opened Academy Immaculate Conception, a boarding school for girls. The sisters operated the school from 1870 to 2000.

Between 1876 and l878, members of the Ferdinand foundation began teaching in St. Meinrad, Indiana; Rockport, Indiana; and Standing Rock, South Dakota. In 1878, the sisters sent teachers to Arkansas, where in 1879 they founded the first of five daughter houses. The other four were later established in Belcourt, North Dakota in 1956 (closed 2004), Beech Grove, Indiana in 1956, Grand Terrace, California in 1966 (closed 2012), and Martin, Kentucky in 1982. The contemplative community of Our Lady Queen Monastery originally was formed by members of the Walsh family in Durham, North Carolina, in 1970; the Ferdinand Benedictines established them in Labadieville, Louisiana in 1977, before they moved to Tickfaw, Louisiana and became independent of the Ferdinand monastery in 1990 (closed 2009).

By 1883, a growing community warranted building a larger monastery. The sisters chose a site northeast of St. Ferdinand Parish. Work was begun on a brick structure designed in a traditional monastic quadrangular style and in 1886, ninety-one sisters moved into their new home.

The Ferdinand Benedictines continued to extend their teaching apostolate to private, parochial, and public schools in Indiana into the 20th century. They also established their own training school for teachers, St. Benedict Normal College, which was accredited as a two-year state teachers’ training school in 1914.

By 1914, the chapel in the quadrangle had become too small for the increasing membership, and plans were begun with St. Louis architect Victor Klutho for a new church in the Byzantine- Romanesque style. Construction started in 1915, and the church was dedicated in 1924. Stained glass windows were installed in 1930. Restoration of this magnificent structure took place between 2001 and 2005.

In 1939, the Ferdinand monastery was admitted to the Congregation of St. Gertrude the Great, which was formed in 1937. A requirement for federation membership was the recitation of the Divine Office. Prior to 1939, the Ferdinand sisters prayed the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The entire Divine Office was chanted at Ferdinand for the first time on December 3, 1939. Today the sisters pray the monastic Liturgy of the Hours following directives of the Second Vatican Council.

On the occasion of the monastery’s 100th anniversary in 1967, membership in the religious community had grown from four to 417 professed members, with a one hundred-year total membership of 812 sisters. At that time, Ferdinand Benedictines were serving in elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions in Indiana and other states, in hospitals, in many social agencies, and in the foreign missions. Foreign missions were established in Coban, Guatamala in 1965 (transferred out of Ferdinand’s care in 1999) and Morropon, Piura, Peru in 1968.

Through the 1970’s and 1980’s, parochial school enrollments began to decline, and religious community membership began to drop. While continuing educational endeavors, sisters began to serve in different ministries: retreat work, peace and justice programs, pastoral care, parish administration, health care, and care for the homeless. In 1985, the Ferdinand Benedictines established a Development office (later called Mission Advancement) to help

support the sisters in their varied and numerous ministries and to help maintain the monastery’s physical plant.

In the wake of the Vatican II call for renewal of religious life, the Sisters of St. Benedict began extensive renewal programs and deepened their commitment to authentic monastic living. An Ongoing Formation Committee continues to provide community formation programs. As a result of renewal and reclamation of their Benedictine monastic roots, in 1991 Convent Immaculate Conception was renamed Monastery Immaculate Conception.

The community celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, St. Benedict Hall, built in 1935-1936, was completely evacuated and renovated. Included in the renovation was a newly designed infirmary. In 2005, the infirmary became a fully licensed health care center and was incorporated as Hildegard Health Center. In 2017-2018, a community health care clinic was established to serve other sisters, with three doctors contracted, and a floor was established for assisted living care.

The community has closed various institutions over the years. Closing St. Ann’s Nursing Home in 1969 and St. Benedict College in 1970, selling St. Joseph Hospital in 1989, closing Marian Heights Academy in 2000, transferring their Guatemalan dependent priory to another community in 1999, and closing Kordes Hall in 2018 all were difficult choices.

However, the community continues to adapt and serve the Church and the world of today. Benet Hall was repurposed to serve as low- income senior housing in 2016. Retreat programing has been offered on campus at Kordes Retreat Center (established in 1979), and more recently, through the community’s Spirituality Ministry and Benedictine Hospitality Center, opened in 2018. The Sisters of St. Benedict continue to offer hospitality to thousands of people who come to the monastery seeking respite, peace, and deeper spirituality. A monastery gift shop has served the public since 1996. A commercial monastery bakery has been in operation since 2005 and in 2014, the old art studio building became the home of St. Benedict’s Brew Works, owned and managed by Vince Luecke. Since 2015, the Sisters have run an Immigration Office to provide affordable immigration services to low-income and at-risk immigrant families.

The Sisters of St. Benedict celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2017; a high point of the year was a visit of the Peruvian sisters from the Morropon daughterhouse, Monasterio Paz de la Cruz.

During this year the sisters of Monastery Immaculate Conception also adopted a new, more particular community medal.

The Sisters of St. Benedict continue to share the Benedictine charism across the world. In 2014, the community helped start Wisdom Connections: Timeless Tradition, Technological Times, or T4. This program was created to assist women’s Benedictine communities with initial formation, capturing the wisdom of Benedictine scholars on video lectures, and creating a wider sense of community for sisters in initial formation and their directors. Since 2017, the program now serves both men’s and women’s Benedictine communities across the world and serves as a valuable resource for ongoing formation.

The community’s Oblates of St. Benedict, established in 1975 initially in connection with Saint Meinrad, continue to grow as vital sharers of the Benedictine charism. A number of oblates and other volunteers support the community in various ways.

Throughout the history of the monastery, and under different prioresses, the Sisters of St. Benedict have adapted to changing times while striving to remain true to the Benedictine tradition of seeking God.

PROLOGUE

“Listen carefully. . . to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. . . . .See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life.”

RB Prol. 1,20

The Benedictine sisters of the monasteries belonging to the Federation of St. Gertrude desire to respond daily to this invitation of the Lord. With the Gospel as their guide they profess to live in these times the values of Jesus as these values are embodied in the Rule of Benedict, The General Norms and The Specific Norms of the Federation.

They willingly embrace the monastic way of life to find the God who is always seeking them. Daily they seek their God in everyone and everything.

In response to the call of the Church, the Federation of St. Gertrude presents these texts as a contemporary articulation of the Benedictine charism as lived by its member monasteries.

SECTION I. HERITAGE OF THE FEDERATION OF ST. GERTRUDE

GOSPEL CALL H 1. The Gospel call to the evangelical life has taken many forms. Guided by the Holy Spirit, each founder or foundress of a religious community responds to the signs of the times and the needs of the Church in a unique way. American Benedictine sisters live the Christian life in accord with the Rule of Benedict, a dynamic monastic tradition, and the specific charism of their individual monasteries.

IDENTITY H 2. The Federation of St. Gertrude, established by the Apostolic See with pontifical right in 1937 as the Congregation of St. Gertrude the Great, is a monastic congregation according to universal law. It consists of autonomous monasteries of American Benedictine sisters who profess stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life and obedience according to the Rule of Benedict and The General Norms and The Specific Norms of the Federation of St. Gertrude. Each monastery, while situated in the local Church, is juridically related to the Federation as constituted by the Apostolic See in distinction from the autonomous monasteries as described in The Code of Canon Law (C 615).

CHARISM H 3. The charism entrusted to Benedictines is, in essence, to seek God in cenobitic community, to praise God through prayer and work, and to listen with eagerness to the Spirit’s call into the unknown future. The Federation of St. Gertrude, through The General Norms and The Specific Norms, articulates this charism as lived by the member monasteries. The Federation has no particular work, nor does it impose a particular work on all member monasteries.

PURPOSE H 4. The Federation of St. Gertrude is committed to preserve within its member monasteries the monastic way of life under the Rule of Benedict and according to the Benedictine charism. Its purpose is to safeguard the heritage and autonomy of the member monasteries. It provides a structure for mutual support and service among the member monasteries.

OFFICIAL FEDERATION DOCUMENTS H 5. The General Norms and The Specific Norms, subtitled Listen I and Listen II respectively, interpret the Gospel way of life according to the Rule of Benedict for the Federation of St. Gertrude. They are the official documents of the Federation.

The General Norms H 5.1 The General Norms focuses on the seeking of God as a call to community, conversion and commitment, praise, and presence. It describes the continuous call to holiness and the response in love expressed fully by Jesus Christ and claimed by Benedict. The General Norms guides the Federation and its monasteries in authentic living of the Benedictine charism in contemporary times. It is adopted by the Federation Chapter and submitted for approval to the Apostolic See.

The Specific Norms H 5.2 The Specific Norms is the title of the companion document governing the Federation of St. Gertrude and its member monasteries. It is approved and amended by the Federation Chapter.

OFFICIAL MONASTERY DOCUMENT H 6. The Monastery Norms, subtitled Listen Ill, is the official document governing each member monastery. The monastic chapter develops and approves these norms which are in accord with The General Norms and The Specific Norms. The Monastery Norms guides the life and government of the monastery according to its charism. A copy is filed in the office of The Federation President.

EUROPEAN ORIGINS H 7. The member monasteries of the Federation of St. Gertrude trace their roots to a Benedictine monastery in Eichstatt, Bavaria, and the three Benedictine monasteries in Switzerland: Maria Rickenbach, Sarnen, and Melchtal. In response to the call of the frontier Church of North America from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century, the established European monasteries of women sent missionary Benedictines to the continent to meet the needs of a growing immigrant population and of Native Americans. Adapting to the changing needs of time and place, these pioneers from enclosed monasteries set down new Benedictine shoots on North American soil – shoots that quickly grew into separate autonomous monasteries with a strong missionary orientation. Today these monasteries are part of the confederation of the Benedictines of the world.

AMERICAN ADAPTATION H 8. Courageous in initiating needed adaptations, yet faithful to their specifically Benedictine charism of seeking God in community and praising God through prayer and work, these Benedictines embraced a simple life style, common ownership, and service to the community and to the Church.

ORIGIN OF FEDERATION H 9. The Rule of Benedict recognizes the autonomous monastery as the basic unit of monastic life. Its members are united by their profession of stability. RB 64 The Rule also suggests that association between autonomous monasteries is advisable. Consequently, in the spirit of the Rule and in direct response to the request of the Apostolic See, three autonomous monasteries called the Federation of St. Gertrude into being. The Federation offered structure for encouraging and strengthening their Benedictine life.

APPROVAL OF FEDERATION H 10. On April 14, 1937, the Apostolic See granted tentative approval for the three monasteries of Sacred Heart, Yankton, SD; Mount St. Benedict, Crookston, MN; and Sacred Heart, Garrison, ND (now in Richardton), to found the Congregation of St. Gertrude the Great. On April 4, 1950, The Declarations and Constitutions of the Congregation received definitive approval and the new entity was authorized to continue to function as a monastic congregation.

TITLE CHANGE H 11. The official approval of the Church established a direct relationship between the Federation and the Apostolic See and granted the Federation and its member monasteries the status of pontifical right. In 1972, when the Congregation had increased to fifteen monasteries, the Federation Chapter changed its name from “Congregation of St. Gertrude the Great” to “Federation of St. Gertrude” to reflect more accurately the true nature of this type of monastic solidarity and its form of government.

RENEWAL H 12. In response to the call of the Second Vatican Council, the monasteries of the Federation collaborated to bring about an effective renewal of the monastic way of life as experienced in the Federation of St. Gertrude.

RENEWAL CHAPTER H 13 The Federation Renewal Chapter, convoked in 1967 in direct response to Perfectae Caritatis, reaffirmed that the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict, rooted in the Gospel, are the primary guides for the Federation. This Chapter called for an ongoing study of the Rule of Benedict and Benedictine tradition in the context of the signs of the times. Successive Federation Chapters revised the constitutional document of the Federation in light of the signs of the times, each monastery’s lived experience of the Rule, and the heritage of fifteen centuries of Benedictine living.

DEVELOPMENT OF LISTEN I, LISTEN II H 14. The Federation Chapter of 1974 approved a provisional document consisting of basic norms. The Chapters of 1976 and 1978 further developed this provisional document entitled Listen. This title refers to the opening call of RB Prol. the Prologue of the Rule: “Listen carefully.” The Chapter of 1980 refined and reorganized this document into two books: Listen I, which embraced the Federation’s spiritual norms, adapting the Rule of Benedict to the experience of Benedictine women within the American culture; and Listen II, which the Federation Chapter also mandated each monastery to develop its own additional norms in a document entitled Listen III.

REVISION OF LISTEN I, LISTEN II H 15. Following the promulgation of The Code of Canon Law, which took effect November 27, 1983, the Federation again revised Listen I and Listen II to preserve and promote the Benedictine charism of the Federation and the autonomy of its member monasteries. The Fifteenth Federation Chapter, convoked in 1984 and adjourned in 1985, completed and approved the revision. Listen I became the subtitle for The General Norms of the Federation; Listen II became the subtitle for The Specific Norms of the Federation. The 1985 text was further amended by the Sixteenth Federation Chapter in 1987.

AUTHORITY H 16. Authority within the Federation is exercised according to The General Norms. Authority within each monastery is exercised according to the Rule of Benedict, The General Norms and The Specific Norms of the Federation, and The Monastery Norms proper to each member monastery.

ACCOUNTABILITY H 17. Through the acts of the Federation Chapter, the Federation guides the 13

interpretation and adaptation of the Rule of Benedict for the member monasteries in the contemporary world. The Federation has the responsibility to call each monastery to be accountable for its observance of the Rule of Benedict in fidelity to its monastic charism in accord with The General Norms and The Specific Norms .

SECTION II. INTRODUCTORY NORMS

FORCE OF NORMS I 18. All member monasteries are bound to observe The General Norms, The Specific Norms and the acts of the Federation.

INTERPRETATION OF DOCUMENTS I 19. Interpretations of the Federation documents are issued as follows:

a. The Apostolic See alone may issue authentic interpretations of The General Norms. The President of the Federation may give practical applications in individual cases.

b. The President alone may issue authentic interpretations of The Specific Norms and other Federation documents.

DISPENSING FROM THE GENERAL NORMS I 20. For a grave reason, the Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, may dispense from the disciplinary laws of The General Norms. The President may not, however, dispense from procedural or penal laws.

DISPENSING FROM THE SPECIFIC NORMS I 21. For a grave reason, the Federation President, with the advice of the Federation Council, may dispense from the disciplinary laws of The Specific Norms. The President may not, however, dispense from procedural or penal laws.

LACUNAE IN LAW I 22. The Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, may provide for lacunae in law. She shall report her actions to the next Federation Chapter.

CONFERENCE CALL I 23. The Federation President may obtain the consent or advice of the Federation Council by a conference call when a meeting of the Council is not feasible, except in cases requiring a secret ballot. This act of the Council shall be ratified at the next Council meeting and included in the minutes of that meeting.

VOTING REQUIREMENTS I 24. For all acts requiring a vote, results of the balloting shall be determined on the basis of the number present and voting, unless otherwise stated in The General Norms, The Specific Norms, or The Monastery Norms. If the act requires approval by a certain proportion of all eligible chapter members present and voting, blank and invalid ballots and abstentions are counted as negative votes. 14

METHOD OF VOTING I 25. For the elections of the Federation President and Councilors and of the prioress, voting shall be by secret ballot. In all other matters, the method of voting is stated in The Specific Norms, The Monastery Norms, or is determined by the voting body. In all cases each member has one vote only.

BREAKING TIE VOTE I 26. In matters requiring consent, the presiding officer cannot vote to break a tie. If the vote is collegial, the presiding officer, if eligible, shall vote as an individual member of the body and may not cast an additional vote to break the tie.

AMENDMENT I 27. The General Norms may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter. Amendments must be submitted for approval to the Apostolic See. The Specific Norms may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter.

SECTION III. THE GENERAL NORMS: THE FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP MEMBERS G 28. The members of the Federation of St. Gertrude are autonomous Benedictine monasteries admitted to membership according to the requirements of The General Norms and The Specific Norms. Each monastery has its own government, elects its own prioress, establishes its own novitiate, admits members, and owns, administers, acquires and alienates its temporal goods.

SECTION III. THE SPECIFIC NORMS: THE FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERS S 28. The present member monasteries of the Federation, with the year of their admission, are as follows:

Sacred Heart Yankton, SD 1937 Mount St. Benedict Crookston, MN 1937 Sacred Heart Richardton, ND 1937 St. Martin Rapid City, SD 1939 Immaculate Conception Ferdinand, IN 1939 St. Gertrude Cottonwood, ID 1939 St. Benedict Madison, WI 1939 Queen of Angels Mt. Angel, OR 1952 St. Benedict’s Winnipeg, MB 1953 Our Lady of Grace Beech Grove, IN 1961 Mother of God Watertown, SD 1961 Queen of Peace Belcourt, ND 1963 St. Scholastica Fort Smith, AR 1964 Our Lady of Peace Columbia, MO 1969

Holy Spirit Grand Terrace, CA 1972 Spirit of Life Lakewood, CO 1987** Dwelling Place Martin, KY 1993*** House of Bread Nanaimo, BC 1993

*Suppressed 2007 **Suppressed 2003 ***Suppressed 2004

MEMBERS M 28. On October 7, 1939, the Convent of the Immaculate Conception (now known as Monastery Immaculate Conception), Ferdinand, Indiana, became a member of the Congregation of St. Gertrude the Great (now known as the Federation of St. Gertrude.)

ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP G 29. A monastery shall be admitted to full membership in the Federation:

a. when a dependent monastery established by a member monastery becomes independent and is admitted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter (S 29.1)

b. when an independent monastery not previously affiliated with the Federation obtains the necessary authorization from the Apostolic See and is accepted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter (S 29.2)

c. when a dependent monastery established by the Federation becomes independent and is admitted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter (S 29.3).

By admission to full membership in the Federation, a monastery obtains the status of pontifical right. The President notifies the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of the admission to full membership by submitting the name of the new member and the date of admission.

ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP S 29. Admission to the Federation is granted in accord with the established procedures.

Admission of Dependent Monastery S 29.1 The procedure for admitting to full membership in the Federation a monastery dependent upon a member monastery of the Federation shall be:

a. The quasi-chapter of the dependent monastery petitions the prioress and the council of the founding monastery for permission to move toward independent status.

b. The dependent monastery develops its own document, The Monastery Norms, and demonstrates to the founding monastery that it can meet the obligations of full membership in the Federation.

c. The prioress of the founding monastery, with the consent of the monastic chapter, requests the Federation President to conduct a canonical visitation.

d. The Federation President conducts the required canonical visitation to ascertain whether the monastery has met the requirements for admission to the Federation.

e. When the dependent monastery has met all the requirements, the chapter of the founding monastery grants independence which becomes effective upon admission to the Federation, unless other provisions have been made with the consent of the Federation President.

f. The Federation Chapter admits the newly independent monastery to the Federation.

Admission of Independent Monastery S. 29.2 The procedures for admitting to full membership in the Federation an independent monastery not previously affiliated with the Federation shall be:

a. The monastic chapter of the independent monastery, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, directs its prioress to request in writing admission to the Federation.

b. The Federation President communicates to the monastery seeking admission the following requirements for membership: RB 5 1) The monastery is one in which the members make monastic profession of stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience according to the Rule of Benedict. 2) The monastery is financially viable. 3) The monastic chapter accepts The General Norms and The Specific Norms of the Federation and the obligations of membership. 4) The monastery develops and approves its own document, The Monastery Norms.

c. The monastery applying for admission requests a canonical visitation by the Federation.

d. The monastery submits a copy of The Monastery Norms to the Federation President and Council for review.

e. The monastery submits a financial report to the Federation President and Council for review

f. The Federation President conducts a canonical visitation to ascertain whether the monastery has met the requirements for admission.

g. Following the visitation, the Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, recommends to the Federation Chapter a course of action regarding admission.

Admission of Federation-Sponsored Monastery S 29.3 a. A dependent monastery established by the Federation is granted independence by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter.

b. An independent monastery established by the Federation shall be admitted to the Federation in accord with the guidelines developed and promulgated by the Federation Chapter. 17

OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS G 30. As a member of the Federation, a monastery shall:

a. observe The General Norms and The Specific Norms

b. elect delegates to the ordinary and extraordinary Federation Chapters

c. implement the acts of the Federation Chapter

d. support the Federation financially according to the norms determined by the Federation Chapter

e. submit financial reports for review as required

f. offer mutual support and assistance to member monasteries when possible.

OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS S 30. Each member monastery shall submit annually a financial report according to the guidelines approved by the Federation President with the consent of the Federation Council.

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP G 31 A member monastery may withdraw or be dismissed from the Federation according to universal law and the following:

Withdrawal G 31.1 A monastery may withdraw from the Federation for a serious reason with the two- thirds (2/3) vote of the monastic chapter and upon the approval of the Federation President with the consent of the Federation Council.

Dismissal G 31.2 A monastery may be dismissed from the Federation for a serious reason and with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter.

SUPPRESSION OR DISSOLUTION OF MEMBER MONASTERIES G 32. A member monastery may be involuntarily suppressed when: a. the number of sisters becomes so few that the living of monastic life is seriously impaired or impossible b. the monastery is no longer able to meet its financial obligations.

SUPPRESSION OR DISSOLUTION OF MEMBER MONASTERIES S 32. The procedure for the suppression or dissolution of a monastery includes these steps: a. The Federation President, with the advice of the Federation Council, consults with the chapter of the monastery and with the local ordinary. b. The Federation President, in collaboration with the prioress of the monastery, arranges that 1) the remaining members of the dissolving monastery are accepted as members of another monastery or are given the option to leave the monastic life 2) the property of the monastery, after all debts are paid, is distributed 18

equitably for the future care of the remaining members of the dissolving monastery. Any surplus property is distributed in accord with universal law and The Monastery Norms.

SUPPRESSION OR DISSOLUTION OF MEMBER MONASTERIES M 32. b. The Federation President, in collaboration with the prioress of the monastery, arranges that:

2) In the event of the dissolution of the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, any surplus assets remaining after payment of all obligations shall be distributed to or for the benefit of organizations, causes or projects that in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana, Inc., will accomplish the general purposes for which this corporation was organized.

Involuntary Suppression G 32.1 In case of involuntary suppression the Federation President presents the matter to the Federation Chapter, which by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, may suppress a member monastery in accord with universal law and The Specific Norms.

Voluntary Dissolution G 32.2 In case of voluntary dissolution, the Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, dissolves the monastery in accord with universal law and The Specific Norms.

Voluntary Dissolution S 32.2 The prioress, with the consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the monastic chapter, requests voluntary dissolution of the monastery by submitting a written request to the Federation President.

GOVERNMENT DEFINITION OF FEDERATION G 33. The Federation of St. Gertrude, a union of autonomous Benedictine monasteries, is a monastic congregation of pontifical right.

GOVERNANCE G 34. The authority of the Federation is vested in the Federation Chapter when it is in session and in the Federation President assisted by the Federation Council between sessions of the Chapter in accord with The General Norms and The Specific Norms.

FUNCTION G 35. The function of the Federation is: a. to promote authentic living of the Gospel and of the Rule of Benedict in accord with the charism of each monastery and The General Norms and The Specific Norms

b. to interpret and apply the Rule of Benedict for American Benedictine sisters according to the signs of the times c. to interpret and apply ecclesiastical norms and directives to safeguard the heritage of the monasteries.

FUNCTION S 35. Other functions of the Federation are: a. to provide mutual support among member monasteries b. to protect the rights of member monasteries c. to protect the rights of individual sisters through the conciliation process of the Federation according to the principles of Gospel justice, charity, and peace.

NATURE G 36. The Federation, as a juridic person, possesses its own rights and goods. The juridical and administrative autonomy of the monasteries of the Federation, however, is such that the Federation bears no liability whatsoever for the debts or actions or omissions or obligations of any member monastery or of any sister of any member monastery.

NEW FOUNDATIONS G 37. The Federation may establish or sponsor a dependent monastery.

NEW FOUNDATIONS S 37. The Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, may establish or sponsor a dependent monastery in accord with the guidelines established by the Federation Chapter.

The Federation Chapter DESCRIPTION G 38. The Federation Chapter is the governing body of the Federation. It promotes the unity and the disciplined growth of the member monasteries while safeguarding their autonomy. It articulates the charism of the Federation, defines its goals, establishes The General Norms and approves The Specific Norms to strengthen each monastery’s commitment to the call of the Spirit, to the Rule of Benedict, and to its tradition. The Federation Chapter is the competent authority in those matters specified in The General Norms and The Specific Norms.

MEMBERS G 39. The members of the Federation Chapter are perpetually professed sisters. They consist of the following:

a. the President and Councilors of the Federation b. the prioress of each monastery c. the delegates of each monastery.

MEMBERS S 39. The monastic chapter of each member monastery elects two delegates to the Federation Chapter. a. The capitulars of the monastic chapter are eligible for election as delegates.

b. Delegates to the Federation Chapter are elected at least six months before the ordinary Federation Chapter to which they are elected is convened.

c. The duties of the delegates end at the conclusion of the Federation Chapter.

d. Each member monastery determines and defines in The Monastery Norms the qualifications and the method of electing delegates and their alternates.

e. The Federation President, with the advice of the Council, may give consent to a request from a member monastery to elect and send only one delegate to the Federation Chapter when there is a particular need. (Federation Chapter 1996)

MEMBERS M.39 d. The qualifications for being a Federation Chapter member are these: 1. Be a perpetually professed member of the monastery 2. Value monastic life and be able to articulate monastic values 3. Be able and willing to do the work required before and during the Federation Chapter 4. Have the ability to interact with others and be able to represent the monastery adequately.

A modified discernment process is used for discerning and electing two Federation Chapter delegates and two alternates who, together with the prioress, represent the community’s thought at the Federation Chapter. (This process is filed with the Election Board.)

DUTIES OF MEMBERS G 40. The duties of the members are in accord with The Specific Norms.

DUTIES OF MEMBERS S 40. The duties of members of the Federation Chapter are: a. to help their monastery prepare for the Federation Chapter b. to attend the Federation Chapter and participate in all its sessions.

OBSERVERS G 41. Observers to the Federation Chapter are designated in accord with The Specific Norms.

OBSERVERS S 41. The superiors of dependent monasteries are observers at the Federation Chapter. Other persons may be invited at the discretion of the President with the advice of the Council.

QUORUM G 42. The quorum required for valid transaction of business by the Federation Chapter shall be two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Federation Chapter.

OFFICERS OF FEDERATION G 43. The officers of the Federation arc as follows:

a. the Federation President b. the First Councilor c. the Federation Secretary d. the Federation Treasurer.

ELECTION OF OFFICIALS G 44. The Federation Chapter shall elect: a. the Federation President and Federation Councilors b. one of the Councilors as First Councilor c. the secretary and tellers of the Chapter elections d. other officials as necessary.

Election Committee G 44.1 The President shall appoint an election committee composed of members of the Federation Chapter who shall:

a. present an election process to the Federation Chapter for approval prior to the elections b. conduct the nominations and elections in the spirit of prayer and RB 64 discernment suggested by the Rule of Benedict.

FINANCES G 45. The Federation Chapter provides for the financing of Federation business.

Annual Assessment G 45.1 The Federation Chapter determines the annual assessment of member monasteries and other means of financing the Federation.

Finance Committee G 45.2 The Federation President, with the advice of the Federation Council, shall appoint a finance committee whose duties are: a. to review the Federation financial statement b. to review the Federation budget for the next fiscal period c. to review financial reports of member monasteries d. to make recommendations regarding the annual assessment of membership dues e. to provide consultative services regarding finances to member monasteries to ensure good stewardship within the Federation f. to perform other duties as assigned.

Finance Committee S 45.2 The term of members of the finance committee shall be three years. Members may be reappointed.

ORDINARY FEDERATION CHAPTER G 46. The ordinary Federation Chapter is held every three years on the dates and at the place determined by the preceding Chapter, or in special cases, by the Federation President with the advice of the Federation Council.

EXTRAORDINARY FEDERATION CHAPTER G 47. In case of necessity, an extraordinary Federation Chapter may be convoked by the Federation President with the consent of the Federation Council.

FEDERATION CHAPTER DECISIONS G 48. Although it makes every effort to reach a consensus, the Federation Chapter decides all important matters by a majority vote and by secret ballot, unless The General Norms and/or The Specific Norms or the Federation Chapter specify otherwise.

FEDERATION CHAPTER DECISIONS S 48. The Federation Chapter, a collegial body, shall: a. adopt by a two-thirds (2/3) vote all revisions and amendments of The General Norms for submission to the Apostolic See for approval b. approve by a -thirds (2/3) vote all revisions and amendments of The Specific Norms c. admit by a two-thirds (2/3) vote a monastery to the Federation as a full member in accord with S 29.1-S 29.3 d. accept the financial statement of the Federation e. approve the annual dues of the Federation f. approve the budget of the Federation at each ordinary Federation Chapter g. establish financial norms for member monasteries h. mandate the promulgation of the acts of the Federation Chapter i. approve the minutes of the Federation Chapter j. determine the dates and place for the next Federation Chapter k. approve adjunct documents that pertain to the functioning of the Federation.

FEDERATION CHAPTER MINUTES G 49. The official minutes of the Federation Chapter are approved by the Chapter, signed by the Federation President and Secretary; affixed with the Federation seal, and filed in the Federation archives. The minutes shall be distributed to the members within six months following the adjournment of the Chapter.

S 49. During the Chapter minutes of each day will be reviewed by the Chapter and approved and/or corrected. Following the Chapter, the President and the Council shall review and approve the minutes and distribute them to the delegates. (Federation Chapter, 2017)

BINDING FORCE OF CHAPTER ACTS G 50. An act of the Federation Chapter binds member monasteries and remains in force unless it is amended or abrogated by a sub-sequent Federation Chapter or by a directive of the Apostolic See.

The Federation President AUTHORITY G 51. The executive power of the Federation is vested in the office of President. She shall exercise the authority and responsibility accorded her by universal law, The General Norms and The Specific Norms, but without prejudice to the authority belonging to a prioress of an autonomous monastery. The Federation President has the right and duty: a. to promote the purpose of the Federation b. to provide spiritual and administrative leadership within the Federation in keeping with its charism and purpose c. to serve as the official representative of the Federation to the Apostolic See and other Church authorities 23

d. to serve as a channel of communication between the Apostolic See and member monasteries e. to convoke and preside at ordinary and extraordinary Federation Chapters f. to serve as visitator for ordinary and extraordinary visitations of monasteries or to appoint a delegate g. to issue, in serious matters and with the consent of the Federation Council, mandates to a prioress and/or a monastery following a visitation (S 61.5) h. to preside at and declare the election of a prioress or to appoint a delegate i. to preside at the installation of a prioress or to appoint a delegate j. to perform other duties assigned by universal law, The General Norms, The Specific Norms or the Federation Chapter.

The Federation President Authority S 51. The Federation President also has the right and duty: a. to authorize a prioress to appoint a sister from her monastery to act with full rights as her proxy at the Federation Chapter b. to call meetings of the Federation Council c. to appoint an election committee from among the members of the Federation Chapter and designate the chairperson d. to appoint, with the advice of the Federation Council, the Federation finance committee e. to appoint, with the advice of the Federation Council, other committees as needed f. to appoint, with the advice of the Federation Council, a Councilor to complete the unexpired term of a Council member whenever a vacancy occurs g. to assist a prioress in processing indults of transfer, exclaustration, and departure h. to facilitate the process of reconciliation for an aggrieved sister of a member monastery i. to appoint, with the advice of the Federation Council, Federation staff as needed j. to assist a member monastery that wishes to sponsor a group of Benedictine sisters seeking to become a dependent monastery within the Federation. k. In special cases, with the consent of the Federation Council, she the ( Federation President) may suspend the governance of a Monastery And make other provisions for governance. (Federation Chapter, 2017)

JURISDICTION G 52. The Federation President has jurisdiction over an autonomous monastery to the degree granted her by The General Norms, The Specific Norms, and the acts of the Federation Chapter. She does not have jurisdiction over individual sisters of a monastery, unless specifically stated by the above.

ELECTION G 53. The election of the Federation President is held in accord with the following norms.

ELECTION S 53 The election of the Federation President is in accord with the following norms.

Federation President G 53.1 To be eligible for election as Federation President, a sister must:

a. be a perpetually professed sister of one of the member monasteries b. have made perpetual profession at least five years previously.

Federation President S53.1 To be eligible, a sister must: a. be at least 35 years of age b. have the maturity, experience, and skills needed to carry out the purpose of the Federation effectively c. be able to devote adequate time in accord with the demands of the office.

Presiding Officer G 53.2 The presiding officer for the election of the Federation President is the First Councilor. If the First Councilor is a nominee for President, the presiding officer will be the Councilor, senior in profession, who is not a nominee.

Voters G53.3 The members present at the Federation Chapter elect the Federation President.

Term G53.4 The term of the Federation President is six years. She may be reelected for an additional three-year term. The President may be postulated by the Federation Chapter for an additional three-year term. The term of the incumbent ends upon the assumption of the office by her successor. The President-elect assumes her duties within three months following the election or as determined by the Federation Chapter.

Election Procedure G 53.5 The procedure for the election of the Federation President is in accord with the following norms:

a. An election requires a majority vote. 1) A sister who receives a majority vote on the first, second or third ballot is elected.

2) If no sister receives a majority vote on the third ballot, the names of the two sisters receiving the highest number of votes on the third ballot are placed on the fourth ballot.

3) If no sister receives a majority vote on the fourth ballot, the presiding officer, in the spirit of the Rule of Benedict, calls for further discernment and balloting until an election takes place.

b. The presiding officer, having obtained the consent of the President- elect, declares the election. 25

c. The President-elect takes the oath of office during a ceremony of blessing following the election. Minutes G53.6 The minutes of the election shall be recorded and signed.

Minutes S 53.6 The presiding officer, the secretary and the tellers of the election sign the minutes of the election proceedings.

VACANCY G 54. If the Federation President dies or resigns her office or becomes incapacitated or is removed, the First Councilor shall immediately assume the office of President in accord with The Specific Norms.

VACANCY S 54. If the next ordinary Federation Chapter is scheduled within eighteen months following the occurrence of the vacancy, the First Councilor holds the office of Federation President until the next Chapter. If the interim exceeds eighteen months the First Councilor convenes an extraordinary Federation Chapter within six months to elect a Federation President. The newly elected Federation President completes the unexpired term of her predecessor. She is eligible for reelection in her own right in accord with G 53.4

REMOVAL G 55. In grave circumstances, the Federation Council, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, may recommend to the Apostolic See the removal of the President. The President, when served with an order of dismissal, may have recourse to the Apostolic See in accord with universal law.

The Federation Council MEMBERSHIP G 56. The Federation Council is a body composed of at least five perpetually professed sisters from member monasteries who assist the Federation President in the governance of the Federation.

The Federation Council MEMBERSHIP S 56. The Federation Council consists of five members: a. two prioresses who are in office at the time of election b. three other sisters perpetually professed for at least five years

Quorum G 56.1 The quorum required for valid transaction of business by the Federation Council shall be at least three members.

ELECTION G 57. The Federation Chapter elects the Councilors.

ELECTION S 57. The election of the Federation Councilors is in accord with the following requirements: 26

a. the presiding officer is the Federation President, assisted by the secretary and tellers of the election b. the voters are the members of the Federation Chapter. Term G 57.1 The term of office is three years, with the possibility of reelection for an immediate second term.

Term S 57.1 The term begins at the conclusion of the Federation Chapter during which the Councilor was elected.

Election Procedure G 57.2 The procedure for the election of the Councilors is in accord with the following norms.

a. A sister who receives a majority vote on the first, second or third ballot is elected.

b. If no sister receives a majority vote on the third ballot, the names of the two sisters receiving the highest number of votes on the third ballot are placed on the fourth ballot.

c. If no sister receives a majority vote on the fourth ballot, the presiding officer, in the spirit of the Rule of Benedict, calls for further discernment and balloting until an election takes place.

First Councilor G 57.3 The Federation Chapter, by majority vote, determines which of the Councilors will serve as the First Councilor.

FUNCTION G 58. The function of the Federation Council is to give consent, to advise, or to assist the Federation President in her role of service to the Federation. The specific duties of the Council are described in The Specific Norms.

FUNCTION S 58. The duties of the Federation Council are:

a. to elect a Federation Secretary and a Treasurer from its own members

b. to give consent or advice to the Federation President as required by universal law, The General Norms, and The Specific Norms

c. to assist the Federation President in determining the process and agenda for the Federation Chapter and Council meetings

d. to be available to serve on visitation teams for both ordinary and extraordinary visitations

e. to act as mediator for appeals from member monasteries and/or individual sisters

f. to approve the distribution of assets in the event of the dissolution of a 27

monastery in accord with universal law, The General Norms, The Specific Norms, and The Monastery Norms

g. to determine the dates and place for the next Federation Chapter, if the dates and place set by the previous Chapter prove untenable

h. to carry out other duties as mandated by the Federation Chapter and/or the President.

VACANCY G 59. The Federation President, acting with the advice of the Federation Council, fills any vacancy that occurs on the Council between sessions of the ordinary Federation Chapter in accord with The Specific Norms.

VACANCY S 59 An appointment to fill a vacancy on the Federation Council is effective until the next ordinary Federation Chapter, when a regular election shall take place to fill the existing vacancy. If a Councilor appointed to complete a vacant Council position is elected to the Council, she serves a full three-year term in her own right and may be reelected for an immediate second term.

MEETINGS G 60. The frequency of meetings for the Federation Council shall be in accord with The Specific Norms.

MEETINGS S 60. The Federation Council shall meet at least once a year.

VISITATIONS

ORDINARY VISITATIONS G 61. The visitation is a process by which the Federation facilitate self- evaluation of member monasteries to encourage continuing growth in Benedictine living. The Federation conducts the ordinary visitation of each monastery at least once every five years.

VISITATIONS

ORDINARY VISITATIONS S 61. The Federation conducts an ordinary visitation in accord with the following norms.

Purpose G 61.1 The purpose of the visitation is to assist the monastery in reviewing:

a. its monastic way of life in terms of monastic profession, prayer, common life, formation, fiscal management, and the works of the monastery.

b. The Monastery Norms.

Purpose S 61.1 The prioress contacts the Federation President to schedule the visitation 28

and to discuss the monastery’s plans for the process of self-evaluation.

Visitators G 61.2 The President, in accord with The Specific Norms, appoints the visitators, at least one of whom shall be either the President or a Federation Councilor.

Visitators S 61.2 The prioress, with the advice of the monastic council, recommends a list of visitators to the Federation President who appoints the visitators.

Expenses S 61.3 The Federation pays the expenses of one Federation visitator. (This is the president or her representative.) The monastery pays the expense of other visitators. The Federation President serves as a visitator gratuitously. (No stipend) The monastery gives stipends to the other visitators.

Report S 61.4 Before the closing of the visitation, the visitators present an oral report to the prioress. At the closing of the visitation, they present the final oral and/or written visitation report to the sisters and give them an opportunity to respond. If the final report is not given in writing at the closing of the visitation, it is sent to the prioress within two weeks. The prioress will send a copy of the report to each sister in the monastery. The visitators send a written report to the Federation President. Copies of the report are filed in the monastery archives and in the Federation archives.

Mandates S 61.5 Visitators may not issue a mandate directly to a prioress and/or monastery. However, for a serious reason, they may recommend a mandate to the President to issue to the prioress and/or monastery. The President, after consulting with the prioress and having obtained the consent of the Federation Council, may issue the mandate as requested.

Implementation S 61.6 Within one year following the conclusion of the visitation, the prioress with the advice of the monastic council, responds in writing to the President by submitting a progress report about the implementation of the recommendations received from the visitators and any mandate received from the President. Before the prioress submits the progress report to the Federation President, she informs the sisters of its contents in accord with The Monastery Norms.

(See Federation Adjunct Document: Guidelines for Canonical Visitation, 2005)

EXTRAORDINARY VISITATION G 62. The Federation President, for a serious reason and with the consent of the Federation Council, may require an extraordinary visitation of a member monastery: a. on her own initiative 29

b. at the written request of the prioress c. at the written request of the majority of the members of the monastic council d. at the written request of a certain percentage of the capitulars as determined by the Federation Chapter.

EXTRAORDINARY VISITATION S 62 An extraordinary visitation of a member monastery is conducted in accord with the guidelines established by the Federation Chapter.

S 62.1 One third (1/3) of the capitulars or the majority of the council of a member monastery may request an extraordinary visitation after they have informed the prioress. (Federation Chapter, 1996)

CONCILIATION PROCESS

NEED FOR CONCILIATION G 63. The Benedictine life is a call to seek God within community. Fidelity to this life calls for ongoing conversion, mutual love, and forgiveness. When serious differences occur and reconciliation between sisters of a monastery cannot be achieved at the monastery level, the aggrieved parties may, by mutual consent, request in writing the assistance of the Federation President.

CONCILIATION PROCESS

NEED FOR CONCILIATION S 63. The prioress shall strive to settle differences between a sister and herself, or between sisters, in such a way that rights of individuals are safeguarded, the authority of the prioress is protected, and peace prevails within the monastery. If conciliation cannot be reached on a monastery level, the matter is submitted to the Federation President.

CONCILIATION PROCESS

NEED FOR CONCILIATION M 63. The Monastery procedure for conciliation is as follows: Individuals will: 1. Strive to settle differences as they occur; 2. Consult with the prioress and/or a member of the leadership team if differences are unresolved. If the conflict affects the whole deanery or department, the individual in consultation with the prioress will decide whether it would be beneficial to bring the issue to the group for resolution. Whether or not a facilitator is present is ordinarily determined by the deanery. In some situations, the prioress may decide if a facilitator is needed.

If differences cannot be resolved in a deanery or department, a group or an individual may have recourse to one of the following procedures: 1. Talking with the prioress 2. If unable to discuss the matter with the prioress, contacting: a. a member of the leadership team, who takes the matter to the prioress. 30

b. an individual council member, who takes the matter to the prioress If the matter cannot be resolved by #1 or #2, the following steps may be taken: a. Write a letter to the council b. Request a meeting with the council

If the matter cannot be resolved at the monastic council level, the aggrieved parties have recourse to the Federation president and her council. (See Guidelines for Conciliation in Federation Adjunct Document.)

RESPONSE G 64. The Federation President, with the advice of the Federation Council, responds to the request for conciliation and ensures that: a. the rights of the individual sister are safeguarded b. the corporate rights of a monastery are safeguarded c. the rights that accompany a canonical office are safeguarded.

RESPONSE S 64. The Federation President responds to grievances in the following manner.

Conciliator S 64.1 The Federation President, with the advice of the Federation Council, determines the validity of the grievance submitted in writing. If the President considers the grievance to be valid, she:

a. serves as or appoints a conciliator and calls the parties in conflict to mutual dialogue in the presence of the conciliator

b. appoints a board of conciliation if the conciliator cannot effect a reconciliation between the aggrieved parties.

Board of Conciliation S 64.2 The board of conciliation shall be composed of persons selected for their wisdom and compassion, their sense of justice, and their ability to mediate grievances. This board shall consist of three members:

a. one person selected by the Federation President, with the advice of the Federation Council b. one person selected by the first aggrieved party c. one person selected by the second aggrieved party.

Settlement S 64.3 If the grievance is resolved, all related acts are signed by the Federation President and the parties to the dispute. The acts are notarized and filed in the archives of the Federation and of the monastery concerned.

RECOURSE TO APOSTOLIC SEE G 65. If the Federation President, with the advice of the Federation Council, cannot effect conciliation, the aggrieved parties may have recourse to the Apostolic See in accord with universal law.

THE GENERAL NORMS AND THE SPECIFIC NORMS: AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS

THE GENERAL NORMS G 66. The General Norms may be amended or revised by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter. Amendments and revisions are submitted to the Apostolic See for approval.

THE GENERAL NORMS AND THE SPECIFIC NORMS: AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS

THE GENERAL NORMS S 66. Proposals for amendments or revisions to The General Norms must be submitted in writing to the Federation President prior to the Federation Chapter unless two-thirds (2/3) of the Chapter waives the requirement of prior submission.

THE SPECIFIC NORMS G 67. The Specific Norms may be amended or revised by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Federation Chapter.

THE SPECIFIC NORMS S 67. Proposals for amendments or revisions to The Specific Norms must be submitted in writing before or during the Federation Chapter.

THE MONASTERY NORMS G 68. The Monastery Norms of each member monastery may be amended or revised by its monastic chapter. A copy of The Monastery Norms and all subsequent amendments are filed in the office of the Federation President and are reviewed regularly by the Federation President and Council.

THE MONASTERY NORMS S 68. The procedure for submitting proposals for amendments or revisions of The Monastery Norms is determined by the monastic chapter.

THE GENERAL NORMS AND THE SPECIFIC NORMS: AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS

THE MONASTERY NORMS M 68. Any part of Listen III may be amended at an official chapter meeting by a majority vote. To keep Listen III current, the sisters periodically (every 6-10 years) review/revise this document.

SECTION IV. THE GENERAL NORMS: THE MEMBER MONASTERIES

CALL TO COMMUNITY

GOSPEL CALL AND RESPONSE G 69. The General Norms of the Federation promotes a contemporary expression of monasticism as lived by American Benedictine sisters. It does this by calling member monasteries to listen and to respond to the Gospel call to community, conversion and commitment, praise, and presence.

SECTION IV. THE SPECIFIC NORMS: THE MEMBER MONASTERIES CALL TO COMMUNITY

GOSPEL CALL AND RESPONSE S 69. The Specific Norms of the Federation gives concrete form to each monastery’s response to the Gospel call to community, conversion and commitment, praise, and presence.

SECTION IV. THE SPECIFIC NORMS: THE MONASTERY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CALL TO COMMUNITY

GOSPEL CALL AND RESPONSE S. 69 The Specific Norms of Monastery Immaculate Conception’s call to community give concrete form to the Gospel’s call to community, conversion, commitment, praise, and presence.

SOURCE OF AUTHORITY G 70. The source and foundation of authority in a Benedictine monastery is the Spirit. Inspired by the Gospel, the Rule of Benedict, centuries of Benedictine tradition, and the changing conditions of the times, the way of life in each monastery is a communal witness to the reality of God’s presence among all people.

RULE OF BENEDICT G 71. The Rule of Benedict embodies the basic principles and values of cenobitic life. Monasteries of the Federation maintain this tradition of cenobitic monasticism, characterized by the common life under the Rule and a prioress.

DESCRIPTION OF MONASTERY G 72. A monastery is a canonically incorporated monastic community of sisters living the Gospel way of life in the Benedictine tradition. As such, it has the right to elect its own prioress, establish its own novitiate, incorporate new members, and own, administer, acquire and alienate its temporal goods. A monastery provides support for the development and growth of a Benedictine community. Through a balanced rhythm of prayer, work, leisure, and study, it promotes an environment conducive to the well-being of persons, the building of relationships, and service to others.

DESCRIPTION OF MONASTERY S 72. A monastery strives to create an environment that encourages its members to live their monastic profession by giving priority to seeking God in the context of community life, prayer and work. A monastery provides the space and time for:

a. regular daily communal Opus Dei b. daily Lectio Divina c. daily celebration of the Eucharist when possible d. frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation e. the Anointing of the Sick when needed f. self-directed and formal study g. solitude and silence h. work i. relaxation and leisure j. penitential practices and other forms of asceticism k annual retreats, days of recollection and spiritual direction.

DESCRIPTION OF MONASTERY

M. 72 The Monastic Council, with the help of the Ongoing Formation Committee, arranges for days of retreat, community enrichment and decision-making. Some of these days are community days (February, March, June, July October, December), monastic study/formation days, Familien Fest, New Year’s Day (announcing jubilarians for the current year), jubilees and professions.

Cloister G 72.1 Each monastery shall designate a cloister which is appropriate to monastic life in the contemporary world.

Cloister M.72.1The cloister of Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, Indiana consists of those areas in the monastery buildings that are open only to community members.

Generally, the sisters’ living areas are considered cloister. Guests may visit the sisters who are residents of Hildegard Health Center and 4th Floor Community Health (if the sister is unable to come to a parlor) and after a call is made to determine if a sister is able to have company. The prioress may lift a particular cloister designation for a good reason and for a limited time.

Residence G 72.2 The sisters shall live within the monastery or, with the consent of the prioress and in accordance with universal law, in another appropriate monastic residence.

Absence from Monastery G 72.3 The prioress may authorize an individual sister for a particular reason to live outside the monastery in accord with universal law.

LIABILITY OF MONASTERY G 73. No member monastery bears any liability whatsoever for the debts, actions, omissions or obligations of any other monastery or its dependencies or of any sister of any other member monastery.

NEW FOUNDATIONS G 74. A Benedictine monastery, by its very nature, becomes rooted in a

particular locality. As a monastery flourishes, it may establish new dependent monasteries in other localities in accord with monastic tradition and The Specific Norms.

NEW FOUNDATIONS S 74. The procedure for establishing a dependent monastery under the sponsorship of a member monastery is as follows: a. The monastic group requesting dependent status shall: 1) have sufficient members to live the common life 2) have sufficient members to celebrate the Opus Dei 3 have ascertained ways to be financially viable 4) have a place conducive to the living of the monastic life 5) have the written permission of the ordinary of the diocese in which the dependent monastery plans to locate 6) fulfill additional requirements specified in The Monastic Norms. b. The prioress of the founding monastery consults with the Federation President and Council about the advisability of establishing a dependent monastery c. The prioress, with the consent of the monastic chapter, establishes the dependent monastery. The consent requires a majority vote unless The Monastery Norms requires a greater majority. d. The prioress of the founding monastery, with the consent of the monastic council, prepares a founding charter setting forth the principal rights and duties of the dependent monastery and its superior e. The prioress, with the consent of the monastic chapter, grants the founding charter. f. The prioress, after consulting with the sisters of the dependent monastery, appoints the superior. g. The chapter of the founding monastery may delegate to the dependent monastery the right to establish a quasi-chapter and a novitiate according to the terms of the founding charter. h. The prioress of the founding monastery notifies the Federation President of the establishment of the dependent monastery.

NEW FOUNDATIONS M. 74. The procedure for establishing a dependent monastery under the sponsorship of Monastery Immaculate Conception is as follows: a request for establishing a dependent monastery is initiated in response to an invitation from a bishop to establish a new monastery or when the Ferdinand community or a group of sisters recognizes that: 1) a particular cultural milieu requires a different expression of the Benedictine life than that lived by the Ferdinand community, 2) or, a significant distance from the monastery is problematic for participation in the life of the Ferdinand community 3) or, other valid reasons call for establishment of a new monastery.

c. A two-thirds vote of the voting members present at the monastic chapter must approve the founding charter (prepared by the prioress of the founding monastery, with the consent of the monastic council).

f. The prioress, after discerning with the members of the dependent monastery, will appoint the superior of the dependent monastery. The superior is appointed for a period of five years. She may be reappointed

by the prioress for additional terms not to exceed twelve consecutive years.

g. When the monastic chapter deems appropriate, it will delegate the right to establish a quasi-chapter and a novitiate according to the terms of the founding charter.

i. If a dependent monastery, after a period of twelve years, shows no sign of retaining new members, the prioress conducts a special visitation. The purpose of this visitation is to evaluate the status and viability of the dependent monastery or to recommend its continuance until the next visitation. A special visitation and vote take place every three years until the dependent monastery reaches independence or is dissolved.

If a dependent monastery discerns a need of dissolution, it submits a written request to the founding monastery for permission to dissolve. The founding monastery may also initiate the process of dissolution. (See Federation Adjunct Document Guidelines for the Establishment of Dependent Monasteries.)

The Prioress

ROLE G 75. The prioress of a monastery holds the place which the Rule of Benedict assigns to the abbot. In accord with the spirit of the Rule, she is believed RB 3,64 “to hold the place of Christ in the monastery.” The prioress is the spiritual leader of the monastery and the chief steward of its temporal goods. She guides the formation of the sisters and directs the works of the monastery.

SOURCE OF AUTHORITY G 76. The authority of the prioress is derived from the Holy Spirit and the Rule of Benedict through the ministry of the Church. The monastic chapter in its collegial act of election vests that authority in the sister whom it calls forth to be prioress. By accepting the election, the prioress becomes a sign of the sisters’ unity in Christ.

AUTHORITY AND LAW G 77. The prioress has all the powers and responsibilities which universal law grants to the major superior including those granted to the supreme moderator, without prejudice to the powers and responsibilities which have been conferred on the Federation President by The General Norms and The Specific Norms.

EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY G 78. The prioress guides the monastery in its living of the Rule of Benedict in accord with the charism of the monastery, The General Norms and The Specific Norms of the Federation, and the needs of the Church. In exercising her authority, the prioress listens attentively to the Spirit speaking through the Church, through the monastic chapter, the monastic council, and individual sisters in the spirit of mutual obedience. She has the right and duty:

a. to call and preside at the monastic chapter

b. to call and preside at the monastic council c. to assign sisters to the various works of the monastery d. to discuss with each sister on a regular basis her monastic life and work e. to supervise administration and use of the temporal goods of the monastery f. to admit a candidate to the pre-novitiate g. to admit, with the consent of the monastic chapter, candidates to the novitiate, to temporary profession, and to perpetual profession h. to admit, with the consent of the monastic chapter, a member of another Benedictine monastery to a period of probation and to permanent transfer to the monastery i. to admit, with the consent of the monastic chapter, a member from a non-Benedictine religious institute to a period of probation and perpetual profession. (Federation Chapter,1993) j. to readmit, with the consent of the monastic chapter, a former member to a period of probation or to the novitiate, to temporary profession and to perpetual profession (Federation Chapter, 1993) k. to grant, with the consent of the monastic council, an indult of departure from the monastery to a sister in temporary profession l. to approve, with the consent of the monastic council, and submit to the Apostolic See the request for an indult of departure from a monastery by a sister in perpetual profession m. to grant, with the consent of the monastic council, an indult of voluntary exclaustration n. to process a decree of dismissal in accord with universal law o. to implement the acts of the Federation Chapter p. to arrange with the Federation President for a canonical visitation of the monastery by the Federation, report the results of the visitation to each sister, and ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the visitators q. to perform other duties which may arise within the context of her office as prioress or which are specified in The General Norms or The Specific Norms.

EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY S 78. The prioress also has the right and duty to plan the agendas for: a. the monastic chapter in consultation with the monastic council and/or the capitulars b. the monastic council

ASSISTANTS G 79. The prioress, in the spirit of the Rule of Benedict and in accord with The Specific Norms, shall appoint perpetually professed sisters as assistants for the proper administration of the monastery. The duties of the assistants shall be clearly defined so that each will know the extent and limitations of her responsibilities. They are responsible to the prioress and they retain their office at her discretion. The prioress appoints: RB 65 a. a subprioress who fulfills the role which the Rule assigns to the prior and who takes the place of the prioress when she is absent or hindered from fulfilling her duties RB 58 b. a director of novices and other formation personnel as needed RB 31 c. a procurator d. the appointed members of the monastic council.

ASSISTANTS S 79. In addition to assistants listed in The General Norms, the prioress shall also appoint a. other assistants as needed b. committees as needed c. a sister, with the authorization of the Federation President, to act as her proxy at the Federation Chapter, if for some grave reason she is unable to attend the Chapter herself.

ELECTION OF PRIORESS G 80. A monastery prepares for the election of prioress in a spirit of prayer and discernment in accord with the Rule of Benedict and The Specific Norms. The election of a prioress may be anticipated by as much as six months and is governed by the following.

ELECTION OF PRIORESS S 80. A monastery makes provision in The Monastery Norms for: a. a preparatory period of prayerful discernment b. written notification by the subprioress to the capitulars and to the Federation President of the date and place of election c. a prayerful process of election in accord with The General Norms and The Specific Norms d. an installation ceremony.

ELECTION OF PRIORESS M.80 Monastery Immaculate Conception has established the following norms: a. Eighteen months prior to election, the prioress and monastic council appoint a task force for discernment/election of prioress. The duties of the task force are as follows: 1. Work with prioress and monastic council in arranging the details of the upcoming election. 2. Prepare process for discernment/election and present proposal to monastic chapter for approval. 3. Maintain contact with the persons selected by the prioress and council as facilitators of the discernment process 4. Co-ordinate and supervise all the preparations surrounding the discernment/election.

b. Twelve to 18 months prior to the end of the present term of office the prioress and the monastic council schedule the date and place for the next discernment/election. The discernment/election may take place as much as six months before the end of the term of the incumbent prioress. The prioress, the subprioress, or her designee, notifies all capitulars, the president of the federation, and the ordinary of the diocese of the date. The presiding officer of the election is the president of the federation or her delegate.

c. A prayerful process of discernment and election is presented to the monastic chapter for approval.

d. An installation task force is appointed by the prioress and monastic council several months prior to election. Its duty is to work with the incumbent prioress and monastic council in planning the installation

ceremony to be held on the date previously determined by the monastic council.

Eligibility G 80.1 A sister to be eligible for election as prioress must: a. be perpetually professed in a monastery of the Federation for at least five years b. have the qualifications for the office of prioress described in the Rule of Benedict, especially in Chapters 2 and 64.

Election Officials G 80.2 The officials of the election for prioress are the presiding officer, who is the Federation President or her delegate, the secretary and the tellers elected by the monastic chapter.

Election Officials S 80.2 The duties of the election officials shall be as follows: a. The presiding officer shall: 1) declare the election of the secretary and tellers 2) administer the oath to the secretary and tellers 3) witness the balloting and announce the results 4) ask the prioress-elect for her acceptance of the office 5) declare the election following the acceptance of the office by the prioress-elect 6) sign the minutes of the chapter of election. b. The tellers receive the ballots and verify that the number of ballots is equal to the number of capitulars present and voting. The first teller reads each ballot and passes it to the second teller to read aloud. The tellers sign the minutes of the chapter of election. c. The secretary of the election records the votes read by the second teller. The secretary prepares and signs the minutes of the chapter of election and files them in the archives of the monastery.

Election Officials M. 80.2 The election board members facilitate the procedure for the election and act as secretary and tellers of the election. Approval for the election board members to serve in this capacity must be given by a monastic chapter vote at the time prior to the election when the “Procedures for the Discernment/Election of the Prioress” are accepted.

Voters G 80.3 The capitulars who comprise the monastic chapter elect the prioress in accord with The Specific Norms.

Voters S 80.3 The capitulars present for the election are eligible to vote in the election unless prohibited by law. Voting by proxy, by mail, or by telephone shall not be permitted.

Voters M.80.3 The following steps have been approved: a. Members in initial formation participate in the discernment process but do not submit names or speak at the microphones. This decision is approved by the capitulars at some time before each election.

b. Members in initial formation may not vote in the canonical election. This responsibility is reserved for monastic chapter members.

c. Prior to the election of the prioress, the director of nursing or the administrator of Hildegard Health Center, the pastoral care coordinator, and the community health nurse draw up a list of those persons considered mentally incapable of making a free decision at that time. This list is submitted to the prioress and the subprioress for approval. This list of names as well as the names of those giving up their right to vote is presented to the Federation President or her delegate, who will visit these sisters and confirm the assessment.

Term G 80.4 The initial term of office for the prioress shall be a minimum of four years. A sister may be re-elected but may not serve more than twelve consecutive years.

Term S 80.4 The length of the term of office for the prioress shall be determined in The Monastery Norms.

Term M. 80.4 The length of the term of office for the Prioress is one term of six years. (Approved by Chapter July 27, 2012).

Postulation G 80.5 The Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, may grant a request for postulation in the election of a prioress.

Election Procedure G 80.6 The balloting for the election of prioress is in accord with the following: a. An election requires a majority vote unless The Monastery Norms requires a greater majority. 1) A sister who receives the majority vote on the first, second, third, or fourth ballot is elected. 2) If no sister receives the majority vote on the fourth ballot, only the names of the two sisters receiving the highest number of votes on the fourth ballot are placed on the fifth ballot. 3) If no sister receives a majority vote on the fifth ballot, the presiding officer, in the spirit of the Rule of Benedict, calls for further discernment and decides whether to continue the election or postpone it. If the presiding officer is a delegate of the Federation President, she consults with the President before making the decision to postpone or continue the election. b. The presiding officer, having obtained the consent of the prioress-elect, declares the election.

TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY G 81. The prioress-elect shall take the oath of office, assume office, and obtain the rights and duties of the office of prioress on the day of installation.

TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY S 81. The installation of the prioress-elect shall be in accord with G 51.i. and The Monastery Norms. The installation shall take place no more than thirty days before or thirty days after the expiration of the term of the incumbent. The incumbent remains in office until the day of installation of her successor.

TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY M 81. The president of the Federation presides at the installation.

VACANCY G 82. When a vacancy occurs in the office of prioress, an election is held within three months. The newly elected prioress begins a new term.

VACANCY S 82. In the event of a vacancy in the office of prioress, the following norms apply.

Interim Authority S 82.1 When the office of prioress is vacated before the expiration of the term, the subprioress exercises the authority of the prioress until the next election. She notifies the capitulars and the Federation President of the time and place of the election.

Line of Authority S 82.2 Each monastery shall determine in The Monastery Norms who shall exercise interim authority in the event that both the prioress and the subprioress are incapacitated.

Line of Authority M 82.2 In the event that both the prioress and the subprioress are incapacitated, the line of authority is as follows: The treasurer exercises interim authority. The person exercising interim authority calls a monastic council meeting and conducts interim business on an interim basis in consultation with the monastic council until such time as the monastic chapter can meet to conduct a discernment/election.

Resignation S 82.3 If a prioress is unable to discharge the duties of her office because of illness or for some other serious reason, she may resign her office after consulting the monastic council and the Federation President. The prioress submits a letter of resignation to the Federation President, who officially accepts the resignation. The prioress notifies the capitulars of her resignation.

REMOVAL G 83. In grave circumstances, the Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, may remove a prioress from office in accord with The Specified Norms.

REMOVAL S 83. If a prioress is unable to fulfill the duties of the office because of illness or incompetency, one of the following steps may be taken:

a. The subprioress, with the consent of the majority of the members of the monastic council, presents a written request to the Federation President asking her to take appropriate action. b. The majority of the members of the monastic council presents a written request to the Federation President asking her to take appropriate action.

Procedure S 83.1 The procedure for removing a prioress is as follows: a. The Federation President, with the advice of the Federation Council, evaluates the reasons for the request to remove the prioress whose ability to fulfill the duties of office is being questioned. b. The Federation President calls for an extraordinary visitation to determine the gravity of the situation. c. The visitators, in consultation with the Federation President, may recommend to the prioress that she resign. d. If the prioress refuses to resign, the Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, may remove her from office. e. The prioress may have recourse to the Apostolic See in accord with universal law

APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR G 84. In the event of the death, resignation or removal of a prioress and for a grave reason, the Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, may appoint an administrator for the monastery.

APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR S 84. The Federation President, with the consent of the Federation Council, may appoint an administrator for the monastery for a term not to exceed three years. The term is renewable.

The Monastic Chapter MEMBERSHIP G 85. The monastic chapter is the assembly of the capitulars convened by the prioress or her delegate to assist in decision-making. All sisters, by their perpetual profession, automatically become capitulars of the monastic chapter. The capitulars are the professed sisters who have the right to vote.

The Monastic Chapter MEMBERSHIP S 85. The monastery may grant some rights of capitulars to sisters in temporary profession in accord with The Monastery Norms.

The Monastic Chapter MEMBERSHIP M 85. Voting members of the monastic chapter consist of all perpetually professed sisters. a. Prior to each monastic chapter meeting the director of nursing or the administrator of Hildegard Health Center, the pastoral care coordinator, Community Health Nurse draw up a list of those persons considered mentally incapable of making a free decision at that time. This list is submitted to the prioress and the subprioress for approval. These

sisters so listed are not counted in determining the quorum nor given a ballot. This list is reviewed prior to each monastic chapter meeting when voting takes place.

b. Sisters in initial formation generally attend all chapter meetings other than chapters of admission.

FUNCTION G 86. The monastic chapter, in the spirit of the Rule, assists the prioress in making decisions regarding the spiritual and temporal welfare of the community. The prioress shares with the capitulars her decision-making responsibilities by seeking their consent or their advice in those areas which are required by universal law, the Rule of Benedict, The General Norms, The Specific Norms and The Monastery Norms.

FUNCTION S 86. The monastic chapter carries out its function in the following ways.

Collegial Acts S 86.1 The monastic chapter acts collegially when it: a. elects a prioress b. elects the secretary and tellers for the chapter of election c. elects sisters to the monastic council d. elects delegates to the Federation Chapter.

Consent S 86.2The consent of the monastic chapter is required: a. to establish, amend, or revise The Monastery Norms and other major policies of the monastery b. to admit new members to the novitiate, to temporary profession, and to perpetual profession c. to admit a member of another Benedictine monastery to a period of probation and to permanent transfer to the monastery d. to admit a member from a non-Benedictine religious institute to a period of probation and perpetual profession e. to readmit a former member to a period of probation or to the novitiate, to temporary profession and to perpetual profession f. to determine the composition and qualifications of members of the monastic council g. to accept and determine policies regarding the administration of trust funds and legacies and other gifts to which burdensome conditions are attached h. to assume debts in accord with S 105 and The Monastery Norms i. to alienate property in accord with S 106 and The Monastery Norms j. to approve an act which may adversely affect the spiritual or temporal welfare of the monastery k. to assume an obligation for more than seven years in accord with The Monastery Norms 1. to lease property belonging to the monastery in accord with S107 and The Monastery Norms m. to authorize expenditures in excess of the amount determined by S 104-104.2 n. to establish, change, or relinquish works of the monastery o. to establish or suppress a dependent monastery

p. to grant independent status to a dependent monastery q. to approve the annual budget of the monastery and authorize its expenditures in accord with The Monastery Norms r. to approve other matters presented to the monastic chapter as required by The Monastery Norms.

Advice S 86.3 The prioress, in the spirit of Benedictine tradition, seeks the advice of the monastic chapter regarding the following: a. the development of formation guidelines b. the investigation of possible new works of the monastery c. planning for the establishment of a dependent monastery d. other matters of importance to the monastery.

Delegation S 86.4 The monastic chapter, for a serious reason and by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, may delegate to the monastic council its right to consent in specific circumstances. This delegation of the right of chapter to consent should be reviewed periodically.

Delegation M 86.4 The right to consent has been delegated to the monastic council by the monastic chapter in the following specific circumstance: The monastic council admits a sister to the novitiate in the name of the community.

VALIDITY OF CHAPTER ACTS G 87. The capitulars when convened by the prioress or her delegate are the monastic chapter. The monastic chapter acts validly when: a. the capitulars are notified of the date, place and agenda in advance of the chapter and in accord with The Monastery Norms b. the necessary quorum, determined in The Monastery Norms at not less than half the chapter members, is present.

VALIDITY OF CHAPTER ACTS M. 87. Capitulars are notified of the time, place, and agenda of the monastic chapter meeting at least three weeks in advance of the meeting. Ordinarily the prioress notifies the capitulars through e-mail. In the case of an emergency meeting, capitulars are notified via telephone or email. In such cases, the agenda will be sent to the capitulars as soon as possible. If, in some circumstance, the community makes a decision by a mail ballot, the decision must be ratified at the next chapter meeting.

The quorum required for a chapter decision is 55% of the chapter members.

For the election of prioress, voting shall be by secret ballot following an extensive discernment process. For the election of council members and federation chapter delegates voting shall be by secret ballot following a modified discernment process. Ordinarily the monastic chapter by discernment and consensus building makes decisions by secret ballot. However, the prioress may ask the monastic chapter to approve a “hand” vote. If even one member of the chapter asks for a written ballot, the

vote will be taken in that manner. The right to abstain is presented on a “hand” vote just as it is when a written vote is taken. If, in some circumstance, the community makes a decision by a mail ballot, the decision must then be ratified at the next chapter meeting.

MEETINGS G 88. The monastic chapter shall be convened at least once a year in accord with The Monastery Norms.

MEETINGS M 88. Ordinarily, the monastic Chapter meets five times each year: March, June, July, October, and December. Additional meetings are called as necessary.

The Monastic Council MEMBERSHIP G 89. The monastic council is a body composed of sisters both elected by the monastic chapter and appointed by the prioress in accord with The Specific Norms.

The Monastic Council

MEMBERSHIP S 89. The number and qualifications of members, ratio of appointed to elected members, terms of office, quorum, and frequency of meetings of the monastic council are determined by The Monastery Norms.

The Monastic Council

MEMBERSHIP M.89 The Monastic Council is composed of 6 elected members and 3 members appointed by the prioress.

Term The community elects two council members each year at the July chapter meeting through a discernment process followed by a vote. (The details of the election process are filed with the election board materials.)

The elected monastic council members hold office for three years and are eligible for not more than two consecutive terms. Terms of council members are staggered so that one-third of the members are elected each year. Should a sister elected to replace a member of the council serve less than one-half the term (1 ½ years), she is eligible for two more consecutive terms. Should a sister elected to replace a member of the monastic council serve more than one-half the term, she is eligible for only one additional consecutive term.

One of the members appointed by the prioress traditionally has been the secretary/treasurer of the community. The subprioress is also traditionally an appointed member and in recent years the third member has been the monastery coordinator.

FUNCTION G 90. The monastic council as a body functions in two ways:

a. it gives consent to the prioress in those matters required by law RB 3 b. it gives advice to the prioress in accord with the Rule of Benedict and as required by law.

FUNCTION S 90. The monastic council carries out its function in the following ways.

Consent S 90.1 The consent of the monastic council is required by the prioress: a. to grant an indult of exclaustration to a sister b. to allow a sister to transfer from the monastery c. to grant to a sister in temporary profession an indult of departure from the monastery d. to authorize extraordinary expenditures e. to consider other matters required by law.

Advice S 90.2 The advice of the monastic council is required by the prioress: a. to request an indult of departure from the monastery for a sister in perpetual vows b. to decide matters of importance which affect the spiritual welfare of the monastery c. to decide matters of importance which pertain to the administration of the temporal goods of the monastery d to determine matters to be placed on the agenda of the monastic chapter e. to consider the matters required by law.

Frequency of meetings Ordinarily the monastic council meets for a full day monthly.

Quorum In order to conduct business, a majority of members is needed.

Board of Directors The monastic council serves as the board of directors for the Sisters of St. Benedict, Ferdinand, Indiana, Inc. Board of Directors’ meetings are scheduled separately from monastic council meeting with separate minutes.

The officers of the corporation of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana Inc. are the president (prioress), vice president (subprioress), and secretary-treasurer (treasurer).

CALL TO CONVERSION AND COMMITMENT

BENEDICTINE VOCATION G 91. A vocation to the Benedictine way of life is a call to seek God in a cenobitic community and to live the Christian life under the Rule of Benedict and a prioress. A response to this call demands conversion.

CONVERSION G 92. Conversion, in the Gospel sense, is a daily turning from oneself to God, a lifelong process by which a sister seeks the will of God through a deepening of her baptismal commitment. For a Benedictine sister, conversion takes place within the context of a community of women committed to the same monastic way of life. Under the influence of the Spirit, the sister endeavors to put on Christ through a lifelong conversion. Monastic profession enables her to continue the conversion process.

Monastic Formation

INCORPORATION G 93. Formation is the process of incorporating a member into a faith community committed to the monastic way of life. The aim of RB 58 monastic formation is to enable the sister to center herself in God. The sister who seeks God according to the Rule of Benedict RB 7,72 undertakes the asceticism of monastic life in the spirit of moderation rather than austerity and in the spirit of humility and joy.

PROCESS G 94. The formation process involves two general phases of development: initial and ongoing formation.

a. Initial formation includes the stages of pre-novitiate, novitiate, and temporary profession. A sister progresses through these three stages of initial formation in order to prepare herself for permanent incorporation into a particular monastery.

b. Ongoing formation is that phase of formation which continues from the time of perpetual profession until a sister’s death. A sister takes responsibility for her ongoing formation within the context of community and under the guidance of the prioress.

Formation, whether initial or ongoing, is the responsibility of each RB 58 sister, who, in accord with the Rule of Benedict, must truly seek God and be eager for the Work of God, for obedience, and for trials.

CALL TO CONVERSION AND COMMITMENT

Monastic Formation PROCESS S 94. Each monastery develops formation norms in the spirit of the Rule of Benedict and the heritage of the monastery, and in accord with The General Norms, The Specific Norms, and universal law.

Formation Norms S 94.1 The formation norms shall be stated in The Monastery Norms, and shall include: a. formation policies and programs b. criteria for admission into the novitiate c. criteria for admission to temporary profession d. criteria for admission to perpetual profession.

Agreement S 94.2 Before admission to the novitiate, the candidate signs an agreement stating that her maintenance, education, and other benefits of community life are just and sufficient compensation for whatever work she may do while she is a member of the monastery. The document, to be valid in civil law, is signed before witnesses and filed in the monastery archives.

CALL TO CONVERSION AND COMMITMENT

Monastic Formation

S 94.2 A Vocation Handbook and an Initial Formation Handbook contain detailed descriptions of all vocation and formation policies and programs as well as the responsibilities of the community, the directors, the respective teams, and the persons in each stage of discernment and formation. These handbooks are available in the monastery’s administrative offices, the Reading Room, and Library.

ADMISSION G 95. In the monastic tradition, the prioress, with the consent of the monastic chapter, admits to the novitiate, to temporary profession, and to perpetual profession.

NOVICE DIRECTOR G 96. The prioress appoints as a director of novices a sister in perpetual profession who, under her direction, is responsible for the initial formation of those who seek to be incorporated into the monastic community.

NOVITIATE G 97. A monastery establishes its own novitiate. For validity the duration of the novitiate shall be for a period of not less than twelve months nor more than twenty-four months in accord with universal law and The Specific Norms.

NOVITIATE S 97. A monastery specifies the exact duration of the novitiate in The Monastery Norms.

Departure G 97.1 During the novitiate a novice may freely leave the monastery or be dismissed by the prioress. At the conclusion of the novitiate she may be admitted to temporary profession or she may leave the monastery.

MONASTIC COMMITMENT G 98. Initial formation prepares the sister for her monastic profession to live faithfully the Christian life within a particular monastery according to the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict. Each sister expresses her commitment through a public monastic profession, first for a limited time and then for a lifetime.

Sign of Consecration G 98.1 The religious dress of the Benedictine sister is determined by each member monastery. Marked by simplicity, her dress is a sign of monastic consecration and a witness to poverty. According to the Rule of Benedict,

clothing varies with local conditions and the work of the sister. At the time of her monastic profession each sister is given a ring appropriate to her monastery to wear as a sign of her consecration.

MONASTIC PROFESSION G 99. The monastic tradition rooted in the Rule of Benedict calls for a profession of stability in the monastery, fidelity to the monastic way of life (conversatio), and obedience. Monastic profession in a cenobitic community implicitly includes consecrated celibacy and monastic poverty. Upon completion of the novitiate, the novice may be admitted to temporary profession. The duration of temporary profession is to be a minimum of three and a maximum of six years as specified in The Monastery Norms. If necessary, in an individual case, the period of temporary profession may be extended by the prioress, but the total time during which the sister is bound by temporary profession shall not extend beyond nine years. During the period of temporary profession, the sister may be dismissed by the prioress for a serious reason. At the conclusion of the period of temporary profession, a sister may be admitted to perpetual profession or she may leave the monastery.

STABILITY G 100. By professing stability, a sister promises to seek God in the monastery of her profession until death. By establishing a personal commitment to this particular monastic community, she witnesses to the unchanging faithfulness of God. By remaining steadfast in relationship to her prioress and sisters, the sister will progress in this way of life and in faith, and will run on the path of God’s commandments with heart overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love (RB Prol. 49).

FIDELITY T0 MONASTIC WAY OF LIFE G 101. By professing fidelity to the monastic way of life, a sister promises to seek God by embracing the pattern of cenobitic living inspired by the Rule of Benedict. She commits herself to the ongoing conversion essential to the Christian way of life as it unfolds according to the charism of the monastery in which she is professed. Thus in her lifelong conversion to Christ, she grows in faith, hope, and love, willingly supporting her prioress and her sisters as together they seek God.

Celibacy G 101.1By professing fidelity to the monastic way of life, a sister implicitly promises consecrated celibacy. She relinquishes the right to marry and commits herself to total continence. In living celibately she frees herself to love Christ within a cenobitic community and to love and serve others RB 4 without distinction. She prefers nothing to the love of Christ and therefore promotes the reign of God through her fidelity to the monastic way of life.

Celibacy S 101.1Through prayer, loving service and asceticism, a monastery creates an environment conducive to deepening a personal commitment to Christ, supporting the celibate way of life of its sisters, and encouraging chaste friendships within and beyond the monastery.

Monastic Poverty G101.2 By professing fidelity to the monastic way of life, a sister also implicitly

promises poverty. Through her commitment to monastic poverty, she agrees to hold all goods in common with her sisters and to renounce the accumulation and possession of material goods. Fidelity to the Gospel RB 55 vision, as reflected in the Rule of Benedict, impels her to live and serve in the spirit of stewardship and monastic poverty by sharing who she is and using what she has for the transformation of culture. With her sisters Prol. 49she acknowledges that the good gifts they share in common—material goods, talents, time, energy, the work of their hands—are blessings to hold in trust, to use justly and equitably, and to share with those in need.

The sister promises to live monastic poverty as a way of detaching herself from self-centeredness and from material goods in order that she may seek God more freely and be more open and available to others. Therefore, her life style is marked by gratitude, simplicity, moderation, reverence for creation and trust in God. In keeping with monastic tradition, a Benedictine sister gives concrete expression to monastic poverty as follows:

a. At the time of temporary profession, she shall renounce the personal use and the administration of her property but shall retain the ownership of the property. She may not use her property for her own personal benefit, but, in trust, shall depend upon the monastery through the prioress for her needs.

RB 33 b. In accord with the ideal of Benedict, that private ownership be rooted out of the monastery, the sister with the consent of the prioress, at the time of or after perpetual profession, may choose to renounce her property totally, including the right to acquire personal property in the future.

c. A monastery in The Monastery Norms may either encourage or require all new members to make total renunciation at the time of perpetual profession. A monastery may encourage but not require present members to make total renunciation.

Monastic Poverty S 101.2A monastery under the direction of the prioress shall provide for its sisters all things necessary for monastic life and work. Since monastic poverty demands total dependence on the monastery, distribution is made to each RB 55 one according to need, as directed in the Rule of Benedict.

Renunciation S 101.3The concrete expression of monastic poverty requires the following:

a. Just prior to temporary profession a sister shall cede the use and administration but not the ownership of her property. She may cede the use and the administration to whomever she wishes unless The Monastery Norms determines that all use and administration must be ceded to the monastery. This renunciation of use and administration shall be made in a document valid in civil law. A sister in temporary profession may not renounce the ownership of her property.

b. The original ceding of the use and the administration continues throughout the sister’s monastic life unless she or the monastery decides in favor of total renunciation. The prioress for a serious

reason may permit a sister to change her will and the documents which govern the use and the administration of her property.

c. Just prior to perpetual profession a sister shall draw up a will valid in civil law. If she retains ownership of property, she may designate as her beneficiaries whomever she wishes unless The Monastery Norms determines that the sister must designate the monastery as beneficiary. If the sister is to make total renunciation she shall draw up a will designating the monastery as her beneficiary and shall also execute a document of total renunciation valid in civil law.

c. If a sister makes total renunciation, anything she acquires in any manner whatsoever belongs to the monastery. However, she shall remain empowered to perform any and all acts which, by civil law, are necessary in order for her to acquire property in any way whatsoever. The goods she acquires in civil law belong to the monastery. The sister shall immediately convey the property to the monastery unless by reason of civil law, the title or the benefits cannot be relinquished by the sister. In the latter case, however, she shall turn over the income from the property to the monastery.

Monastic Poverty M.101.2 Each sister signs a last will and testament at the time of perpetual profession. In addition, a sister who entered community prior to April 1988, signs a document to indicate how she chooses to express monastic poverty from among the following choices:

1. Assignment and Renunciation of Property—relinquish all ownership of inheritance monies or property received or yet to be received; 2. Conditional Assignment—retain right to ownership of any inheritance but give control of inheritance monies to the community; 3. Agreement—retain right to ownership of any inheritance but give control of inheritance money to some party outside community.

A person entering community as a postulant after April 1988 makes total renunciation at the time of her perpetual profession.

OBEDIENCE G 102. A sister by professing obedience commits herself to listen attentively and to respond eagerly to the will of God as revealed in RB 5,71 Scripture, the Rule of Benedict, the prioress, the community, the events of human history, the call of the Church, the cry of the oppressed, and in herself. Obedience is a mutual blessing to be shown by all, not only to the prioress, but also to one another as sisters. A sister, by professing obedience, shall acknowledge and accept the authority of the prioress as together they discern the will of God. She shall participate in community decisions and obey in trust the decisions of the prioress and the community in accord with the Rule of Benedict, The General Norms and The Specific Norms.

A sister is called by her monastic profession to respond in obedience to her community, to her prioress as its spiritual leader and to the Church with the Pope as its chief pastor.

OBEDIENCE S 102. A sister who has professed obedience shall not enter into a civil suit without the previous consent of the prioress.

Monastic Stewardship

ORDINARY EXPENDITURES G 103. Since the communal dimension of monastic poverty lies in common ownership and the wise stewardship of goods, the monastic chapter approves the ordinary financial expenditures of the monastery.

Monastic Stewardship

ORDINARY EXPENDITURES S 103. Each monastery shall establish norms for the financial management of ordinary expenditures as stated in The Monastery Norms.

Annual Budget S 103.1 A monastery shall establish an annual budget which is approved by the monastic chapter.

Authorization by Prioress S 103.2 The prioress, on her own authority, may authorize expenditures which are not included in the budget but are not in excess of $3,000 or $20 per capitular, whichever is greater. The Monastery Norms may establish a different amount and add other conditions.

Monastic Stewardship

ORDINARY EXPENDITURES M 103 Each sister submits an annual needs budget to the prioress for approval. This budget includes personal needs, professional needs (except for education), spiritual needs and extraordinary travel. “Personal needs” includes clothing, correspondence, driver’s license, gifts, hair care, hobbies, leisure, medical (non-prescription), personal hygiene, telephone, personal, printed and electronic media.

A sister needing/wanting to pursue additional training submits a budget to the subprioress for approval. A sister requesting sabbatical time submits a request to the prioress.

Requisition for amounts outside the scope of these budgets is submitted to the prioress for approval.

Provision is made within the monastery budget for medical expenses, monastery business and family emergencies and travel for family funerals.

M 103.2 The prioress on her own authority, may authorize expenditures which are not included in the budget, but are not in excess of $3000 or $20 per capitular, whichever is greater.

EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURES G 104. The prioress, the monastic council, and the monastic chapter may not

authorize extraordinary financial expenditures in excess of the amount set by the Federation Chapter.

EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURES S 104. Extraordinary expenditures are governed by the following.

Authorization by Council S 104.1The prioress shall obtain the consent of the monastic council to authorize expenditures not included in the budget which are more than the amount specified in S 103.2 but not in excess of $10,000 or $50 per capitular, whichever is greater. The Monastery Norms may establish a different amount and add other conditions.

S 104.1The prioress shall obtain the consent of the Monastic Council to authorize expenditures not included in the budget which are more than the amount specified in M103.2 but not in excess of $50,000 per incident.

Authorization by Chapter S 104.2The prioress shall obtain the consent of the monastic chapter to authorize expenditures in excess of $10,000 or $50 per capitular, whichever is greater. The Monastery Norms may establish a different amount and add other conditions.

EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURES S 104.1The prioress shall obtain the consent of the Monastic Council to authorize expenditures not included in the budget which are more than the amount specified in M103.2 but not in excess of $50,000 per incident. (June 15, 2013 Monastic Chapter Vote)

S 104.2The prioress shall obtain the consent of the Monastic Chapter to authorize expenditures in excess of $50,000 but not to exceed a total debt as stipulated in Listen II S 105 (June 15, 2013 Monastic Chapter Vote)

DEBT LIMITATION G 105. A monastery may not accumulate a debt in excess of the amount designated in The Specific Norms without the consent of the Federation President and Council.

DEBT LIMITATION S 105 The prioress shall obtain the consent of the Federation President and Council when the monastery wishes to incur an obligation which would create a total debt beyond the sum fixed by the Apostolic See.* (Federation Chapter, 1993) *In 2011 this amount was $5,705,000.

S 105.1The Federation President, with the consent of the Council may place greater restrictions on a monastery for specific circumstances. (Federation Chapter, 1993)

ALIENATION OF PROPERTY G 106. A monastery may not alienate property valued in excess of the amount set by The Specific Norms without the consent of the Federation President and Council.

ALIENATION OF PROPERTY S 106. The prioress shall obtain the consent of the Federation President and Council when the monastery wishes to alienate property whose value exceeds the amount determined by the Apostolic See.* (Federation Chapter, 1993) *In 2011 this amount was $5,705,000.

S 106.1 The Federation President, with the consent of the Council may place greater restrictions on a monastery for specific circumstances. (Federation Chapter, 1993)

ALIENATION OF PROPERTY M106 The prioress shall obtain the consent of the Federation President and Council when the monastery wishes to alienate property whose value exceeds the amount determined by the Apostolic Se. (Federation Chapter, 1993) In 2019 this amount was $5,705,000). Consult the NACB web page to note any additional changes in the amount.

LEASING OF PROPERTY G 107. A monastery may not lease property for a period of time in excess of the duration set by The Specific Norms.

LEASING OF PROPERTY S 107. The prioress shall obtain the consent of the Federation President and Council when the monastery wishes to lease its property for a period of fifteen years or longer.

Monastic Profession

SUPPORT FOR MONASTIC LIFE G 108. Prayer, mutual encouragement, asceticism, and other monastic observances help the sister to be faithful to her commitment.

BAPTISMAL COMMITMENT G109. Through her public monastic profession, a sister strengthens her baptismal commitment to God in Christ and enters into a covenant with the sisters of the monastery.

DOCUMENT OF PROFESSION G 110. The prioress receives the temporary and perpetual profession of a sister. The formula of monastic profession is:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I, Sister (name) baptized in the diocese of [name] promise to God [for — years or perpetually] stability in this monastery, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience according to the Rule of Benedict, the norms of the Federation of St. Gertrude and the living tradition of this monastery. I make this monastic profession before God and the saints, before Sister [name], prioress, and the sisters of [name of monastery].

In witness thereof, I have written this document and have signed it here [name of monastery and place] on the [number] day of [month] in the year [year].

An introduction and/or conclusion approved by the prioress may be added. (Federation Chapter 2003 – Vatican Approval February 10, 2004)

Monastic Profession

DOCUMENT OF PROFESSION S 110. The document of profession, signed by the sister, is permanently filed in the archives of the monastery. A notification of perpetual profession is sent to the parish where the sister was baptized.

ONGOING FORMATION G 111. Benedictine formation is a lifelong process of daily conversion within a dynamic, monastic faith community. The entire community is responsible, under the direction of the prioress, for the ongoing formation of all sisters. The monastery fulfills this responsibility when it provides the environment for the sisters to share their life together in faith and to continue their own daily effort toward growth in Christ.

ONGOING FORMATION S 111. A monastery, in the spirit of the Rule of Benedict and its own heritage, provides opportunities which facilitate the physical well-being and ongoing spiritual, intellectual, emotional and social formation of the sisters. A monastery, under the direction of the prioress, provides each of its sisters with opportunities for lifelong personal growth, for deepening her appreciation of the monastic call, and for necessary professional development.

ONGOING FORMATION M 111. The mission of ongoing formation is to nurture the spiritual, personal and communal life of the community and its members

Permanent Transfer

BENEDICTINE MONASTERY TO BENEDICTINE MONASTERY G 112. A professed Benedictine sister may for serious reasons request a transfer from one Benedictine monastery to another. When the request is approved and the transfer begun, the sister’s rights and obligations are suspended in the monastery she is leaving, and she is bound to observe the norms of the new monastery. The permanent transfer is effected when the sister transfers her stability to the new monastery.

Permanent Transfer

BENEDICTINE MONASTERY TO BENEDICTINE MONASTERY S 112. The transfer of a sister from one Benedictine monastery to another shall follow the procedures of C 684 Par. 3. The receiving monastery shall establish in The Monastery Norms a probationary period not to exceed three years.

Permanent Transfer

BENEDICTINE MONASTERY TO BENDICTINE MONASTERY M 112. A period of residency or guest status of 9 to 12 months in the monastery

is required before the sister begins the transfer process. The probationary period for transfer from another monastery will not exceed three years, and may be a shorter period, as determined by the specific circumstances. The transfer of a professed Benedictine woman from one Benedictine monastery effected with the consent of the two prioresses involved and the consent of the monastic chapter to which the Benedictine is transferring.

BENEDICTINE MONASTERY TO NON-BENEDICTINE INSTITUTE G 113. A perpetually professed Benedictine sister may for serious reasons request a transfer from a monastery of the Federation to another religious institute. When the request is approved and the transfer begun, the sister’s rights and obligations are suspended in the monastery which she is leaving, and she is bound to observe the laws of the institute she is entering.

BENEDICTINE MONASTERY TO NON-BENEDICTINE INSTITUTE S 113. The transfer of a perpetually professed Benedictine sister from a member monastery to a non-Benedictine institute shall follow the norms of universal law and the constitutions of the institute. (C 684).

NON-BENEDICTINE INSTITUTE TO BENEDICTINE MONASTERY G 114. A perpetually professed sister from a non-Benedictine institute may for serious reasons request a transfer to a monastery of the Federation. As soon as the request is approved and the transfer begun, the sister’s rights and obligations are suspended in the institute she is leaving, and she is bound to observe the norms of the monastery to which she is transferring. The permanent transfer is effected by monastic profession.

NON-BENEDICTINE INSTITUTE TO BENEDICTINE MONASTERY S 114. The transfer of a perpetually professed sister of a non-Benedictine institute to a monastery of the Federation shall follow the norms of universal law and The Monastery Norms which establish the length and manner of probation preceding profession (C 684).

NON-BENEDICTINE INSTITUE TO BENEDICTINE MONASTERY M 114 When a perpetually professed sister’s request to transfer to Monastery Immaculate Conception from a non-Benedictine institute is approved, she shall complete a probationary period of at least three years. For a non- Benedictine transferring into the community, consent is required of her major superior, the receiving prioress, and the monastic chapter to which the sister is transferring. Her transfer is effected by monastic profession.

A Transfer Handbook contains detailed descriptions of policies, procedures, and documents relating to the transfer process. This handbook is available in the monastery’s administrative offices.

DOCUMENT OF TRANSFER G 115. A document of permanent transfer bears the signature of the sister, of the prioress of the receiving monastery, and of the prioress or major superior of the sister’s former institute. The proper seals are affixed by each. This document is filed in the archives of the receiving monastery. The parish where a sister was baptized is notified of the transfer.

Separation from Monastery SEPARATION G 116. In processing a separation from the monastery, the prioress exercises the functions assigned in universal law to the supreme moderator, unless stated otherwise in The General Norms and The Specific Norms.

Separation from Monastery SEPARATION S 116. The prioress, with the consent of the monastic council, grants the separation from the monastery. In all cases confidentiality is observed.

Departure of Temporarily Professed S 116.1 When a sister in temporary profession asks, for a serious reason, to terminate her membership in the monastery, the prioress, with the consent of the monastic council, grants an indult of departure to the sister.

Voluntary Exclaustration S 116.2 The prioress, with the consent of the monastic council, may, for a serious reason, grant an indult of exclaustration up to a period of three years, to a sister in perpetual profession, in accord with universal law.

Extension of Exclaustration S 116.3 The extension of an indult of exclaustration beyond a period of three years is reserved to the Apostolic See.

DEPARTURE OF PERPETUALLY PROFESSED G 117. The granting of an indult of departure to a sister in perpetual profession is reserved to the Apostolic See in accord with universal law.

DEPARTURE OF PERPETUALLY PROFESSED S 117. A sister in perpetual profession requesting an indult of departure presents her written petition to the prioress, who forwards it, together with her opinion and that of the monastic council, to the Apostolic See.

IMPOSED EXCLAUSTRATION G 118. In the event of an imposed exclaustration of a perpetually professed sister, the prioress, with the consent of the monastic council, submits the case to the Federation President and the Federation Council, who acting collegially, make and forward their decision for confirmation to the Apostolic See.

IMPOSED EXCLAUSTRATION

S 118. Exclaustration may be imposed on a perpetually professed sister for any of the following reasons: a. refusal to obey in serious matters b. repeated neglect of the obligations of the monastic way of life c. refusal to accept the common law of labor when clearly able to do so d. bringing discredit to religious life and the Church through inappropriate behavior e. consistently demonstrating a bitter, warped view of religious life f. any other serious reason given in law.

LIABILITY OF MONASTERY G 119. If a sister does not return to the monastery at the end of a period of exclaustration or other lawful absence, or if a sister is unlawfully absent from the monastery, the monastery is not liable for any debts or actions or omissions or obligations whatsoever incurred by the sister. The prioress shall give adequate notice of this fact to the sister.

DISMISSAL G 120. In the canons pertaining to the dismissal of a sister, the prioress shall fulfill the function designated for the major superior and the Federation President shall fulfill the function designated for the supreme moderator. The procedure for expulsion and/or dismissal of a Sister shall follow the norms of universal law.

DISMISSAL S 120. In the case of a grave offense, the prioress makes an effort to lead the erring sister to conversion and repentance. If such efforts are of no avail, a process of enforced dismissal is begun in accord with universal law and The Specific Norms.

Expulsion S 120.1In case of grave imminent harm to the monastery, the prioress may expel the erring sister from the monastery or other monastic residence; then she may begin the process of dismissal in accord with universal law.

Reasons for Dismissal of Perpetually Professed S 120.2Dismissal of a sister in perpetual profession may be imposed for any of the reasons mentioned in C 696 or for other reasons that are grave, external, imputable, and juridically proven, such as: a. habitual neglect of the obligations of the monastic way of life b. repeated violations of her monastic commitment c. obstinate disobedience in grave matters to lawful requests of the prioress d. grave scandal arising from her behavior e. obstinate upholding or spreading of teachings condemned by the magisterium of the Church f. publicly upholding materialistic or atheistic ideologies g. unlawful absence from the monastery, if the absence is prolonged beyond six months h. any other reason given by law.

Reasons for Dismissal of Temporarily Professed S 120.3A sister in temporary profession may be dismissed for any of the grave reasons mentioned in C 696, as well as for the following less grave reasons: a. repeated resistance to taking responsibility for the common welfare and for her own human and spiritual development b. repeated resistance to personal and communal prayer c. repeated refusal to participate in the mission of the monastery in the light of its charism d. repeated resistance to authority within the monastery.

EFFECT OF DISMISSAL G 121. By a lawful dismissal, a sister’s rights and obligations derived from monastic profession automatically cease.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS G 122. In the spirit of justice and charity, the prioress, with the consent of the monastic council, determines an equitable amount of financial aid or other assistance necessary for a former member to establish herself in the lay state. A sister who receives an indult of departure or is lawfully dismissed from the monastery cannot claim any recompense from the monastery for any work done while a member.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF SEPARATION G 123. The official documents of separation shall be drawn up and filed as required by universal law and The Specific Norms.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF SEPARATION S 123. The official documents of separation shall be filed in the following manner.

Archives S 123.1After a sister receives an indult of departure or a decree of dismissal, the following data are filed in the archives of the monastery: a. the reasons for the indult or dismissal b. any action of the prioress and the monastic council related to the decree c. the indult of departure or the decree of dismissal.

Parish S 123.2Notification of the indult of departure or decree of dismissal shall be sent to the parish where the perpetually professed sister was baptized.

READMISSION TO MONASTERY G 124. In the spirit of the Rule of Benedict, a former member of a monastery may be readmitted in accord with universal law and The Specific Norms.

READMISSION TO MONASTERY S 124. The readmission of a former member is in accord with The Monastery Norms.

READMISSION TO MONASTERY M 124. A person who was at one time a perpetually professed member of the monastery and then seeks readmission must: 1. Meet with the prioress to state her intent; 2. Present a written request to the prioress stating her intent and her reasons for this request; 3. Give proof of no impediments to being readmitted to the monastery; 4. Present a summary of her ministerial life and spiritual life since her departure.

The prioress presents this information to the monastic chapter which makes the decision concerning readmission to the monastery. The person who is readmitted to the monastery enters into an appropriate probationary period to be determined by the prioress in each individual case.

CALL TO PRAISE MONASTIC PRAYER G 125. An essential element of Benedictine life is prayer, both communal and

individual. Therefore, a sister joins a monastery so that she may lead a life dedicated to the seeking of God together with other members who have made the same commitment.

CALL TO PRAISE

MONASTIC PRAYER S 125. The communal prayer of the monastery is sustained by the following.

Horarium S 125.1 Each monastery arranges its schedule so that the regular daily Opus Dei is central in the prayer life of the sisters. Each monastery provides quiet time in the daily schedule for Lectio Divina, personal prayer and preparation for the liturgy.

Horarium 125.1 The monastery and each mission deanery formulate the monastic horarium appropriate to their circumstances. This includes a regular rhythm of prayer, community gatherings, meals together, and times for solitude and lectio.

Resources S 125.2 A monastery makes available competent personnel and material resources for creating an environment conducive to the development of the contemplative and liturgical aspects of monastic life.

RESOURCES M 125.2 Each sister is responsible to work toward pursuing an integrated schedule of prayer, work, and leisure so these elements of Benedictine life foster and support an environment conducive to prayer, reading, and study. Liturgy of the Hours books are provided for each deanery. The prioress and her leadership team provide direction for the community in the development of the contemplative and liturgical aspects of monastic life. (See Administrative Handbook)

OPUS DEl G 126. According to the Rule of Benedict, the daily Opus Dei is the recurring sign of the monastery’s unity with Christ and among its sisters. RB 49 To praise and glorify God, with Christ and in Christ, a monastery shall celebrate the Opus Dei in common daily.

OPUS DEl S 126. The Opus Dei is structured according to the elements inherent in the monastic tradition: hymns, psalms, readings, silence, and prayers.

M 126. The Liturgy of the Hours, an essential element of monastic life, is a daily commitment of each sister. At the monastery, the Liturgy of the Hours is ordinarily celebrated three times a day—morning, midday, and evening. Compline may be prayed privately or communally. Sisters share reflections on the readings at evening prayer on Saturdays and special feasts.

On the mission deaneries, the Liturgy of the Hours is ordinarily celebrated

twice daily—morning and evening. Compline may be prayed privately or communally.

SACRAMENTAL LIFE G 127. A monastery shall esteem the liturgy as a source of spiritual enrichment for its members. The Eucharist, like the Opus Dei, is a privileged time of liturgical celebration, when a monastery situates its lived experience of common life within the context of the Paschal Mystery of Christ. Following the rhythm of the day and the cycle of the seasons, the recurring memorial of the Lord’s death and resurrection calls a sister to an attitude of continued praise.

SACRAMENTAL LIFE S 127. A monastery provides for the daily celebration of Eucharist when possible, frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the Anointing of the Sick when needed. The prioress takes care that the freedom due the sisters concerning the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the direction of conscience is safeguarded.

SACRAMENTAL LIFE M 127. A sister is encouraged to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist as often as possible, to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis, and to receive the sacrament of anointing of the sick when she feels the need.

The community provides an opportunity for the daily celebration of the Eucharist in the monastery church and in Hildegard Health Care chapel. Communal celebrations of the sacrament of reconciliation are scheduled periodically during the year, including Advent and Lent.

Opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation is scheduled weekly and during the motherhouse retreat. Sisters are also free to make individual appointments for this sacrament.

The sacrament of anointing of the sick is scheduled periodically in the monastery church. It is also scheduled in Hildegard Health Care at least two or three times each year or as needed by individuals.

LECTIO DIVINA G 128. A sister prepares for the Opus Dei and Eucharist by pondering the Word of God in Lectio Divina. This tradition of reflective spiritual reading is the principal nourishment for individual and communal prayer.

LECTIO DIVINA S 128. The monastery encourages the sister to be faithful to Lectio Divina by providing time and space for silence and solitude, study and leisure.

LECTIO DIVINA M 128. The monastery provides a time each day in the horarium for Lectio Divina and encourages the sisters to be faithful to the scheduled time or another time suitable to their individual schedules.

DEVOTIONAL LIFE G 129. A sister under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit nurtures a devotional life

shaped by the communal and liturgical prayer of the monastery. The monastery provides the time and resources for the continuing spiritual development of its sisters.

DEVOTIONAL LIFE S 129. A monastery fosters exercises of piety appropriate to its heritage, the liturgical seasons, and the honor due God, Mary the Mother of God, and the saints. The Monastery Norms specifies the ways a monastery provides for the continuing spiritual development of its sisters, such as community renewal, annual retreat, days of recollection and other opportunities.

DEVOTIONAL LIFE M 129.The monastery and the Benedictine Hospitality Center offer a variety of retreats to meet each sister’s spiritual needs. Ordinarily a sister will choose one of these for her annual retreat. A monthly day of recollection is ordinarily scheduled at the monastery. This practice is encouraged for mission deaneries, either communally or individually.

Sisters are expected to participate in the designated ongoing formation workshops. Sisters are also encouraged to participate in personal growth workshops and other opportunities scheduled at the monastery. The community supports sisters in seeking spiritual direction as a means of growing in knowledge and understanding of themselves, God, and others.

Suffrages S 129.1When a sister or a novice dies, the monastery notifies the Federation President and each member monastery of her death. Each monastery celebrates the Eucharist for her and, during the ensuing month, offers public prayer for the deceased sister by name.

Suffrages M129.1 On the day preceding a sister’s funeral, the body of the sister is received by the community during Midday Prayer. At the monastery, a vigil service is held on the evening before the burial. The Office of the Dead is recited for the deceased sister.

Masses for a sister are offered once a month for a year after the sister’s death. A candle is kept burning in the Blessed Virgin Room for thirty days after a sister’s death.

The names of deceased sisters of the federation and the monastery are listed in the weekly announcements, so that all sisters will commemorate these sisters during Evening Prayer for thirty days. A deceased sister of the monastery is commemorated at Evening Prayer on the anniversary of her death. The sister’s name is also recorded on the necrology board. Each month a Mass is offered for deceased sisters of the federation.

The sisters commemorate during Evening Prayer a deceased monk from St. Meinrad archabbey for a period of thirty days after his death. A parent or a sibling of a sister is commemorated during Evening Prayer from the time of death through the funeral.

CALL TO PRESENCE

MONASTIC WITNESS G 130. A monastery, rooted in a particular locality, is a sign of God’s presence in the world. By the witness of the life of its members, it shares in the mission of the Church. In the light of its charism, a monastery may undertake any kind of work, provided the work is compatible with the cenobitic way of life, is suited to the talents of the sisters, and responds to the needs of the people of God.

CALL TO PRESENCE

MONASTIC WITNESS S 130. The monastic works, determined in a spirit of mutual discernment between the sisters and the prioress, are of two kinds: a. works of the monastery established by the monastic chapter b. works of individual sisters assigned by the prioress.

CALL TO PRESENCE

MONASTIC WITNESS M 130.The monastery initiates a corporate ministry by engaging in a discernment process that determines the feasibility of the ministry with regard to personnel, finances, facilities and need. A monastic chapter vote confirms the discernment process. The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana sponsor Benedictine Hospitality Center, the Monastery Gift Shop, and the Event Center. The community has also remodeled the former Benet Hall into an affordable senior living facility.

In addition to the above, the sisters have also leased adjacent land to Scenic Hills at the Monastery, a senior living and nursing facility and to an area group who own and manage St. Benedict’s BrewWorks. In addition, the sisters are engaged in a variety of ministries.

WORK G 131. A sister, as a member of the monastery, proclaims Christ and the Gospel by bringing God’s presence to the world and to the Church by her life and by her work, both within and beyond the monastery. She is true to the B 48 Benedictine tradition of work when she seeks Christ in mutual service with her sisters, caring for all people from birth to death, especially the poor, the sick, the uneducated, the oppressed, the guest, and all those who search for meaning in life.

WORK S 131. The prioress, in collaboration with each sister, promotes meaningful work to enable a sister to participate in the mission of the Church in accord with her personal gifts and the charism of the monastery. Each sister, by reason of her monastic commitment, accepts the common law of labor. In accord with the Rule of Benedict, she assumes responsibility for sharing God’s gracious presence in all she is and all she does, and for contributing to the support of the monastery.

WORK M 131 Work is integral to the monastic way of life.

INTEGRATION G 132. The life of a sister shall reflect balance and moderation so that she may experience an integration of silence, prayer, work, study, and leisure.

INTEGRATION S132. A monastery establishes guidelines regarding the works of the monastery. These guidelines contain criteria ascertaining how the works of the sisters are compatible with monastic life, give adequate expression to the unique gifts of the sisters, and respond to contemporary needs of the monastery, the Church, and the world. Each monastery provides opportunities for the professional preparation necessary for the sister to fulfill her labor of obedience effectively.

INTEGRATION M 132. In choosing a ministry, each sister, together with the prioress or subprioress, will evaluate and discern choice of ministry in light of the principles outlined in the “Policy for Ministry Discernment.” (See Community Policies)

A sister considering a change in ministry or residence schedules a meeting with the prioress. After that conversation, the sister schedules a meeting with the subprioress to discuss further steps.

EXTENSION OF GOD’S REIGN G 133. Graced by the spirit of hospitality, a sister brings reverence, acceptance, and availability to her service of others. Through her life and her service, she not only meets the needs of those who call upon her, but together with them extends the reign of God in peace and justice.

GLOSSARY

ADJUNCT DOCUMENT A document of guidelines approved by the Federation Chapter to supplement The Specific Norms in a particular area.

ADVICE The act of consulting or obtaining suggestions which does not bind the person seeking consultation.

APOSTOLIC SEE The Roman Pontiff or the Roman Curia who act by his authority and in his name.

AUTONOMOUS A member monastery of the Federation of St. Gertrude that elects its own MONASTERY prioress, admits new members, and owns, administers, acquires and alienates its own temporal goods.

CAPITULARS The voting members of the monastic chapter.

CENOBITIC COMMUNITY Monastic living under the Rule of Benedict and a prioress.

COLLEGIAL ACT An act in which the presiding officer, if permitted by law, votes as a member of the voting body and has no authority to prevent the effect of the vote, as in an election.

CONFEDERATION The association of Benedictine monastic congregations and federations of men and women.

CONSENT An act by which a body gives authority for someone to act (C 127).

CONVERSATIO The monastic vow which means fidelity to the monastic way of life, as translated in RB 1980.

CONVERSION The lifelong process of turning from self to God in the Gospel sense.

COUNCILOR The term applied to members of two bodies a. members of the monastic council b. members of the Federation Council.

DELEGATES The sisters elected by each member monastery to be members of the Federation Chapter.

DISSOLUTION The voluntary termination of a monastery as a canonical entity, at its own request.

EXCLAUSTRATION The permission granted to a sister to live away from her monastery for a limited time in order to evaluate her vocation. She is still bound by her monastic profession but is free from those communal obligations of religious life incompatible with her new living condition. Exclaustration, whether voluntary or imposed, deprives a sister of the right to vote and to be elected.

EXTRAORDINARY Those expenditures which are not included in the budget and which require EXPENDITURES additional authorization.

FEDERATION The Federation of St. Gertrude, established by the Apostolic See with pontifical right in 1937 as the Congregation of St. Gertrude the Great, is a monastic congregation according to universal law. It consists of autonomous monasteries of Benedictine sisters who profess stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life and obedience to the Rule of Benedict, The General Norms and The Specific Norms of the Federation of St. Gertrude. In 2005, it also added affiliated monasteries.

HERITAGE “Heritage” as used in the norms of the Federation is equivalent to “patrimony” as used in The Code of Canon Law. It includes the nature, purpose, spirit, and character of the Federation and its member monasteries as determined by their unique traditions rooted in the Rule of Benedict.

LAW A general term referring to both written and unwritten regulations that have been promulgated by universal law, Federation or monastery norms or customs.

LECTIO DIVINA The monastic tradition of reflective reading of Scripture.

MEMBER A term used in three ways: a. a monastery is a member of the Federation b. a sister is a member of the monastery of her profession c. a sister is a member of the Federation Chapter when she holds voting rights for that session.

MONASTERY A term used in place of “convent” or “priory” to refer to a community of women bonded by their profession of stability.

NORM A written law.

OPUS DEI The monastic Liturgy of the Hours.

ORDINARY Those expenditures included in the budget or authorized by virtue of one’s EXPENDITURES office.

PARTICULAR/ Law unique to a specific institute in the Church. The particular/ PROPER LAW proper law of the Federation of St Gertrude includes: a. The General Norms: Listen I Basic laws that require the consent of the Federation Chapter and the approval of the Apostolic See (also referred to as “constitutions” and/or “fundamental law). b. The Specific Norms: Listen II Supplementary laws that require the approval of the Federation Chapter, but do not need the approval of the Apostolic See (also referred to as “secondary law”). c. The Monastery Norms: Listen III Supplementary laws for each monastery that require the approval of the monastic chapter.

PONTIFICAL RIGHT The indication that a religious institute was established by and is under the direct jurisdiction of the Apostolic See.

POSTULATION A vote which indicates a preference for a sister who is canonically ineligible for a particular office and which included the formal request for a dispensation from the canonical impediment.

QUASI-CHAPTER The perpetually professed members of a dependent monastery to whom the monastic chapter of the founding monastery delegates the authority to function in the manner of a chapter, according to the specific terms of the founding charter.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTE A monastic congregation/federation, an independent monastery, or an apostolic congregation.

RENUNCIATION A formal, voluntary act by which a sister gives up he right to use and administer property.

SUPPRESSION The involuntary termination of a monastery as a canonical entity by the competent authority.

TOTAL RENUNCIATION A formal, voluntary act by which a sister gives up the right to use, administer and own property.

UNIVERSAL LAW The Code of Canon Law and decrees issued by the Apostolic See.

VOTE Majority: over half of the votes cast for a candidate or proposal. Two-thirds: two thirds (2/3) or more of the votes cast for a candidate or proposal.

VOTING NUMBERS If an act requires approval by a certain proportion of all eligible chapter member present and voting, blank and invalid ballots and abstentions are counted as negative votes.

USE OF LANGUAGE In these documents the following verbs are used deliberately to indicate certain meanings: Is/was - description Shall - obligation May - option Should/would - exhortation