Presentation

CIC The 1917 Code of Canon Law.

OC  The Original Constitutions of the Missionary Society of St Paul, written by the Founder, the Servant of God, Joseph De Piro.

References are made to the impression typed and printed by the Postulation: Cause of Canonisation of Joseph De Piro, 1988.

The numbers I, II, and III  refer to the Books of the Original Constitutions.  The Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, etc) refer to the pages of the particular Book of the Original Constitutions.  The letters next to the Arabic numbers refer to the paragraphs of the particular page.  Even a single verse is considered a paragraph.

Commentary

Accountability 1  The fact that the bursars have to act under the direction of the superior is not something invented by De Piro.  It is CIC.  They have been nominated but them and their councils and theya are acountable to them.

Accountability 2  Accountability for money, very much emphasised.  Even in the section “Del Sacrestano Maggiore” (Cf III 48d.  Cf also analythical index).

Accountability 3  Big emphasis, whether in formation (Cf I 13b), or in missionary work (Cf I 15f), or in parish work (Cf I 21g-22a).

Accountability 4  Can it be that more than accountability, it is more a conception of obedience, authority and superiors in religious life, at least according to the Founder?  Because in certain cases there is too much of a centralisation and there is given a lot of importance to superiors and authority!

Accountability 5  Cf Bursar general.

Accountability – Formation  Cf Accountabilty 3

Accountability – Missionary work  Cf Accountabilty 3

Accountability – Parish  work  Cf Accountabilty 3.

Accountability – Reports:

Acts - Piety Cf Spiritual Exercises; Spiritual duties; Prayers.

Ad gentes – Migrants  The latter is secondary to the former (Cf I 3d).

Admonitor – Superior general  Treating the admonitor of the superior general the Founder presents the responsibilities of this member of the general council.  When the admonitor notices that the superior general does not carry on his duties as expected he has to act (Cf III 20b-d).  But before these paragraphs De Piro has another three that emphasise the attention the admonitor must pay for the material needs of the superior general: living, clothing, health, too much work and too many corporal penances (Cf III 19i-k).

Check whether Jesuits have it.  Or others.  In CIC.

Aim Cf Scope

Aim – Society  Cf Wholistic, non wholistic outlook. 

Apostolate  Cf Pastoral work; Work.

Apostolate – Interior life  Cf Interior life. 

Appendices  Why the appendices?  Was the Founder not well informed from the start about what had to be included in the OC?

Assessors  The Founder mentions these in relation to the first profession (Cf I 10e).

Assistants, General  Cf III 17g-19g.

No specification of their exact roles.

Attitudes – Officers MSSP  Besides the material responsibilities of the officers of the Society, province or house, the Founder emphasises the attitude of the MSSP officers.  Eg., superiors, formators, sacristan (Cf III 49h, 50i-51a), nurse (Cf III 53f), porter (Cf III 54j), etc.  One cannot say that De Piro eliminated the duty factor.  Far from this!  But he emphasised a lot that the officials carry on their duties motivated by charity.  In fact he never used the word amore but carita’.  “Amorosa” is used at times.

Authority 1  Cf Superiors; Obedience 1, 2, 3,4

Authority 2  Central in life of Society.  Determination of almost everything, eg., even sacrifices (Cf II 20f, 21a).

Authority, Absolute  Cf II 24e 

Balances  Examples:

Behaviour – Confessors  Cf Confessors – Code – Ethics.

Bible – Quotations – References  Cf Psalms – Quotations – References; St Paul – Quotations – References.

Brother catechists Cf Brothers; Lay brothers; Catechist brothers.

Brothers Cf Lay brothers; Catechist brothers; Brother catechists.

Brothers - Novitiate  Could it be that De Piro started the novitiate for the brothers separately from that of the others because of CIC 558 which says that “In religious institutes in which there are two classes of members, a novitiate prescribed for one class is not valid for the other”?  The OC do not distinguish between clerics and lay brothers.

Bursar - General  Cf III 20e.

Prudence and moderation in investments, etc.  De Piro’s own way of dealing with records in registers is reflected here.  Also order and accountability.

Bursar – Local  Again, order of accounts (cf Accountability 1, 2, 3, 4.  Cf also Accountability – Reports).

Responsibility:

Care Cf Love, Charity.

Care – Members - Society  Cf Members – Love  

“La nostra Compagnia, quale madre amorosa…” (Dei Funerali ed altri Suffragi [Cf III 69a]).  It is true that “madre” can give room for a maternalistic attitude.  And at times the Society was presented like this in the OC.  But the adjective “amorosa” puts things a bit in order.

“… viene colla carita che essa attinge dal Cuore Ssmo di Gesu’ e da quello di San Paolo suo Apostolo…” (Idem).  The words “… viene colla carita’… “ remind me of Paul’s words to the Romans, “…non abbiate alcun debito con nessuno se  non quello di un maore vicendevole…” (Rom 13:8).  The words, “…che essa attinge dal cuore Ssmo di Gesu’” are very significant.  The Company is educated, formed, to love through the love of Jesus Christ himself.

Wha’s new is “…e da quello di San Paolo suo apostolo…”  It is not that frequent that Paul is presented as the educator of love in us.  In fact he is such an educator.  And this through his writings and life.

Cassock  Cf Habit; Perfection.

Catechism, Teaching of - Lay brothers Cf  Lay brothers - Catechism, Teaching of. 

Catechist brothers Cf Lay brothers; Brothers; Brother catechists.

Celibacy  Cf Chastity.

Chapter, General  Cf General Chapter.

Charitable institutes Cf Children. 

Charity Cf Love; Care; Perfection.

Charity  It is very relevant to notice how De Piro gave everyone one’s due.  I do not say that the Founder respected the poor.  I prefer to say that he respected everyone, wiothout distinction.  He respected the bishop (Cf III 55d).  He respected the doctor (Cf III 55e).  He respected the poor (Cf III 55f).

Charity - Society – Members  Cf  Care – Society - Members. 

Chastity  Meaning  Cf  II 10e. 

Means for living chastity:

Here it is worth remembering what De Piro said in the “ragioni pro e contro” when discerning his vocation for the priesthood; he referred to the “istinto animalesco”.

Chastity – Witness  Cf  II 11b.

Children  Cf Charitable institutes.

Children  I 17c sheds light on how De Piro conceived the children: “…la semplicita’ che accompagna la loro eta’…”, “…le loro tenere anime”.

Children – Formation  Ingredients:

kindness (soavita’) + strength/determination (fortezza) (Cf I 17c).

Methodology: eradication of defects (Cf Idem). Therefore:

Code – Ethics – Confessors  Cf Confessors – Code – Ethics.

 Common acts  Essential (Cf Analythical Index.  Cf also III 44h, III 46d).

Common life  Cf Community; Peculium.

Common life  Cf Common acts.

In the CIC, or better in the commentaries, there was the use of the phrase “community life”, but it was nothing more than “common life”: “In every organisation the community life shall be followed faithfully by all, even in those things pertaining to food, clothing and furniture…” (Cf CIC 580, 582, 594.  Woywod,  Vol I, n.504).  One must then realise that the many directives given in the presentations of the vow of poverty regarding the strictness of the administration of all sorts of property were done in favour of the vow itself and also to help the common life.  It is then mentioned again in CIC 2389 but here only the violation of community life and the punishment to be incurred are presented.

Community  Cf Common life; Peculium; Perfection - Members.

Community  The Founder never used the word “community” (except III 54b),  but only “common life”.  He does not have a section about it.  He has a section about charity.

Community – Perfection  Cf Perfection – Members.

Community – Vows  Cf Vows – Community.

Company  Cf Society: Congregation; Order; Institute.

Company The term most used by the Founder with reference to his foundation.

Conferences - Novices (1929-1930) - Original constitutions  It is worth comparing the OC with the conferences to the novices.

Confessions  During the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s the members of the Society met several persons who knew the Founder personally.  Several of these emphasised the fact that for De Piro the administration of the sacrament of reconciliation was quite central in his life.

Confessors – Behaviour  Cf Confessors – Code – Ethics.

Confessors – Code – Ethics  Cf I 19c

Confessors – Preparation:

More important:

Congregation Cf Company; Society; Order; Institute.

Consecration - God  No particular verb for the profession of vows.  Eg., “L’emissione…” (I 11b),  “…emettono…” (I 11d), “…riceve…” (I 11i), “…avra’ emesso…” (I 12b).  Does this mean that De Piro did not have it clear in his mind that it is God who calls us, that it is not we who decide to be consecrated to God, that we “only” accept God’s call to us? 

Consistency  Between what he put in the OC and how he himself lived.

Constitutions, Original Cf Original Constitutions.

Continence  Cf Chastity. 

Corporal penances  Cf Penances; Detachment.

Council, Extraordinary  Cf I 7b, 10f.

De Piro – OC  The more one studies the OC the more one can see De Piro himself in them.  Examples:

De Piro  Cf  Founder

Detachment 1 Cf Sacrifices; Mortifications; Corporal Penances; Perfection; Aim - Society.

Detachment 2  Cf  II 15f-16d.

In “Della Modestia” the Founder indicates what he means by detachment; it is hatred for the world (Cf II 16g).  Hatred he used also when dealing with laziness (Cf II 19f).

But then he immediately continues: “…e lo studio di piacere a Dio” (Cf II 16g).

The Founder seems to present the traditional model of spirituality: unlearning to learn, devoiding to fill, detaching to dedicate, etc.

Basis for detachment: we are consecrated to God and therefore we are completely his.  To live this we must detach ourselves from:

Aim of detachment: in order to dedicate own life only to the service of God (Cf Idem).   

Details 1  Too many for constitutions, although not an exception for the constitutions of those days.  Eg., II 23g- 24a; II 25h.

Details 2  Some details are too much.  One can agree that De Piro had to say who would take over in case the superior general dies (Cf III 5e, 19c-f).  But was there any need to say in the constitutions that the nurse has to leave with the one who takes over from him a list with the medicines (Cf III 53h)?  Or the use of the window at night (Cf III 54i)?

Difficulties Cf Obstacles; Opposition; Disappointments.

Difficulties In I 8d De Piro has shown how he looked at opposition, difficulties, etc.

Diocesan priests – Society  Articles such as I 10d, 14b and 11h indicate that the Founder had in mind the acceptance of already ordained priests in the Company.

Dismissal  Reasons:

Distinction, No Cf Equality

Distinction – Priests – Lay brothers  Do the words in I 14b indicate a distinction between the requirements asked from students/priests and lay brothers regarding the perpetual profession?  Because while for the first two there are no reserves, for the lay brothers there are, “… se verranno trovati degni…”

District  Cf III 26h, i.

Disappointments Cf Difficulties, Obstacles, Opposition.

Dismissal  In the dismissal section (Cf III 63b, d) there is repeated one of the requirements for entry: the possibility of the individual to be formed.  Not that the individual is already formed.  At the same time there is the possibility to be formed.

Entry requirements 1  Cf Dismissal

Entry requirements 2  In I 4c De Piro mentions:

This is a wholistic outlook towards what is required of a future member of the Society!

Entry requirements 3  There are mainly two groups: 

General requirements:

CIC 538 can be considered as a canon presenting general requirements for religious life.  The conditions mentioned in it cannot be related to any paricular stage.  They are:

The prenovitiate:

The prenovitiate is presented in CIC 539-541.  In CIC 539 there is said which of the institutes have the duty to hold the prenovitiate.  In CIC 540:1 it is said that the prenovitiate is to be held in a house where candidates can be given special care.  In CIC 540: 2,3there is mention of no need for prenovices to have  aparticular habit and that in monasteries of nuns they are bound by the law of enclosure.  CIC 541 mentions the eight day retreat and the general confession before the novitiate.  This menas that in the CIC there are no specific conditions expected from the individual postulant except that:

De Piro joined together the general requirements with those for entry into the prenovitiate and presented them in the prenovitiate section.

I shall soon be presenting a parallelism of the conditions presented by the CIC and the Founder so that one can see where there is a similarity or where there is not. This is important because in this way one can have a clear idea where was the originality of the Founder.

It is important to note that the CIC, besides the general conditions, does not present any other conditions for the novitiate, but only the impediments.  De Piro in the prenovitiate section presents the impediments and other very significant conditions (Cf I 4c-6f).  At the same time one can see that here the Founder does not mention the practice of the evangelical counsels and the mental, moral and physical qualities necessary to bear the burdens and fulfill the offices of the religious life.  Probably this was done because they are referred to in the impediments.

It seems that the Founder:

A parallelism between the requirements for entry as presented by the Fiunder and the CIC:

A parallelism between the impediments for entry as presented by the Founder (Cf I 4e) and the CIC:

Entry requirements - Lay brothers Cf Lay brothers – Entry requirements.

Equality Cf Distinction, No.

Example Cf Witness.

Extraordinary council  Cf I 7b, 10f.

First profession  Cf Assessors (Cf I 10e).

First profession, After – Lay brothers Cf Lay brothers – First Profession, After. 

Formation - Accountability –Cf Accountabilty 3.

Formation – Children  Cf Children – Formation.

Formation – Novitiate Cf Novitiate – Formation.

Formation – Prenovitiate  Cf Prenovitiate – Formation.   

Formation – Prenovitiate - Lay brothers Cf Lay brothers – Formation - Prenovitiate.

Formation – Society - Saint Paul  Cf Care – Society. 

Founder  Cf De Piro.

Funerals - Suffrages  Compare suffrages to other constitutions.

General chapter  Check III 6d.  Is the general chapter not primary in importance?

Generosity 1  Cf Perfection.

Generosity 2  (1) In answer to God’s call by repressing bad inclinations, and acquiring sound virtues, and (2) in abandonment of worldly things (Cf II 12e). 

Habit 1  Cf Cassock; Perfection.

Habit 2  One can notice a consistency between the contents of such a section (Cf II 24g-25e) and the way De Prio lived in fact.

Holy Scripture  Cf Scripture.

Houses  Cf III 26d.

Humility 1  Cf Perfection.

Humility 2  De Piro was undoubtedly knowing what he was saying when he wrote that humility is necessary in a special way for those who work for others (Cf II 12f-13a)!!!

(1) In occasions of lack of success, acceptance with happiness the humiliations, and (2) in occasions of success, attribute everything to God (Cf II 13b).  One can therefore understand why the Servant of God handled life the way he did, especially when it came to the establishment of the Society.

God – Consecration  Cf Consecration – God.

Holy See – Procurator  Cf Procurator – Holy See.

Ignatian influence  Cf Jesuit spirituality; Ignatian spirituality; Spiritual Exercises – St Ignatius.

Ignatian influence  Eg., “Padre Preposto” (Cf I 5a; 11a; 12b, e, f; 13a, c, d).

Ignatian spirituality Cf Jesuit Spirituality; Spiritual Exercises – St Ignatius; Ignatian Influence.

Infidels  Cf Missionary work; Savages. 

Institute Cf Congregation; Company; Society; Order.

Intention, Purity of  One can understand why the Founder lived the way he did.  Since those were his intentions (Cf II 15d), he could not have lived otherwise.  One can understand what made him continue his work in spite of the many difficulties he met (Cf II 15e).

Interior life  The soul of our external actions and hope of efficacy of apostolate (Cf II 18d).

Investments  Cf Accountability; Moderation; Prudence; Bursar General.

Jesuit spirituality  Cf Ignatian Spirituality; Spiritual Exercises – St Ignatius; Ignatian Influence.

Justice  Cf Charity.

Kingdom – Jesus Christ  Cf Provincials – Vicars.

Lay brothers 1 Cf Brothers; Catechist Brothers; Brother Catechists.

Lay brothers 2  In the CIC there exist the terms lay religious, lay brothers, and conversi.  Lay religious were those who did not receive the sacred orders.  They made part either of congregations which included priests in them, or those which were only or mostly laical.  Some of the lay religious were dedicated to teaching, hospital care, etc.  Other lay religious were dedicated to the manual work of their religious community (Cf Woywod Vol., 1, p. 211).   In our OC (Cf I 13g-14a) it is quite clear that De Piro meant mainly the latter type when presenting the lay brothers: “…pero’ la loro ordinaria occupazione consiste nel prestare gratuitamente e per amore di Dio, l’opera loro pei bisogni temporali della Compagnia…” (I 13g).  “A tal fine perche’ gli aspirtanti catechisti vengano ammessi richiedesi in loro:… (c) una cognizione di qualche utile arte meccanica,come sarebbe la calzoleria, la sartoria e simili, o anche di qualche arte liberale, ma questa in secondo luogo, (d) ferma salute e robustezza di corpo comprovata da visita medica, dovendo dedicarsio a una vita tutta di disagi e fatiche” (I 14a).  Even daily life at the Founder’s time proves this interpretation.

At the same time the Servant of God seems to be wanting to create a new type of lay brother because:

(1)  when coming to say what he meant by the name “brother catechists” he said that they are, “… quegli uomini di buona volonta’, che premurosi della salvezza dell’anima propria desiderono vivere a norma delle nostre regole” (I 13f).  Also, the candidates for the lay brotherhood were expected to have: “… una vera e provata pieta’, retta intenzione della gloria di Dio e salute delle anime, spirito di sacrificio e disposizione generosa ai patimenti ed anche alla morte per amore di Gesu’ Cristo” (I 13h-14a).  Therefore the Founder did not make any distinction between the intention which was expected to be in the mind of future candidates, whether they were for the priesthood or for the lay brotherhood.

(2)  De Piro wanted that they be called “brother catechists”.

(3)  In the OC the Founder was quite clear about their other work, besides the ordinary one: “Essi poi si dedicheranno all’istruzione religiosa e ad altri simili uffici…” (I 13g).

Lay brothers – Catechism, Teaching of  Cf Catechism; Teaching of - Lay brothers.

Lay brothers - Distinction – Priests  Cf Distinction - Lay Brothers – Priests.

Lay brothers - Entry requirements:

Lay brothers –Formation – Novitiate  Same as the others.

Lay brothers –Formation – Prenovitiate  Same as the others.

Lay brothers – Material aim

Ordinary: temporal needs of the Company (Cf I 13g).

Then: religious instruction (Cf Idem).  This aim is so important that De Piro mentions the attitude to teach catechism as one of the requirements for joining as brother catechists (Cf I 13h-14a).

Lay brothers – Means for living: living of Constitutions (Cf Idem).

Lay brothers – Name  Indicating their “…noble office” (I 13f). In the CIC there are no such phrases. 

CIC 1329-1333 present the duty of the pope, the bishops, the priests and the other clerics regarding the teaching of catechism both to children and to grown ups.  CIC 1334 mentions the specific responsibility of religious to do this (Cf also Woywod.  Vol., I. p. 101).   On June 29, 1923, Pius XI established the Special Department of Christian Doctrine at the Sacred Congregation of the Council.  On 19 March 1924, exactly a day after the approval of the first two parts of the OC, Pius XI published a letter in which he urged those  responsible for the studies of young religious to help them train in catechetics  (AAS XVI,133).  On June 24, 1924, Pius XI sent again a letter to all bishops, requesting all dioceses to send the Congregation information about what was being done by them in favour of the teaching of catechism.  De Piro could not have been influenced by these when calling the lay brothers “catechist brothers”.  That which made the Founder consider catechetics a noble office was the great lack of such a ministry at his time.

Lay brothers - prefect   After first profession.  Duties (Cf III 46a-49c):

In the CIC there was no mentioning of the spiritual prefect of the lay brothers.  The above mentioned duties were expected to be carried by the local superior (cf CIC 509, 565).

Lay brothers – First Profession, After  Programme of life: while having the rosary attached to the sach (Cf I 14d), and say daily the fifteen decades of the rosary (Cf I 15b), they must have a special devotion to Our Lady, imitating her as regards recollection, prayer, obedience, poverty, purity, always humble and active in the service to priests, whom they must respect deeply (Cf Idem). 

Lay brothers - Spiritual aim: salvation of own soul (Cf I 13f).

Laziness, Avoiding  Cf Perfection

Letters  Cf Perfection, Visits – Letters.

Local superior Everything!!!  A bit too much (Cf III 5c, III 58d, Superior - Local)!!!

Local superior – Assistants  Cf III 42e.

Love Cf Charity, Care.

Love  It is very relevant to notice how De Piro gave everyone one’s due.  I do not say that the Founder respected the poor.  I prefer to say that he respected everyone, wiothout distinction.  He respected the bishop (Cf III 55d).  He respected the doctor (Cf III 55e).  he respected the poor (Cf III 55f).

Mary  Cf Our Lady.

Master – Novices  Cf Novices – Master.

Members – love – Society  Cf Care – Members – Society. 

Members– Society  Articles I 10d and 11h indicate that the Founder had in mind the acceptance of already ordained priests in the Company.

Migrants - Ad gentes  Cf Ad Gentes – Migrants.  Cf also Cf I 3d.

Mission  Used even to refer to work in orphanages (I 17a).

Missionaries – personal - prayer  Cf Missionary work 2.

Missionaries – personal - spiritual aspect  Cf Missionary work 2.

Missionary work  Cf  Missions.

Missionary work 1  From I 16b one  can understand that the Founder has indicated that not all missionaries are expected to go to “pagan” countries.

From I 16b one can see that not yet evangelised peoples were called infidels or savages.

Missionary work 2  One admits that the constitutions of a society are not expected to elaborate at length on some one point or other.  At the same time De Piro did present his own convictions in some parts, eg., in the section about preaching (Cf I 17d-18c) and confessions (Cf I 18d-19d).  Especially in the section about the vow of missions he said almost nothing.  This could have been because he had already presented the section about the missionary work in “Dei Campi d’Azione”:

(1)  he presented the going to places which lacked evangelisers as the principal ministry of the Company (Cf I 15d).

(2)  When being in places which had not yet been evangelised the members must do parish work (Cf I 15e).

(3)  It must be noted here that the Founder did not only mention prayer and a good spiritual aspect in a particular paragraph of the section “Delle Missioni” and that’s that.  Rather he refers to this duty of the missionaries here and there, he goes to it more than once (Cf I  15g, 16c, 16e).

(4)  It is also important to say that the very end of this section the Founder indicates something which was not very usually mentioned in his days: “Terminata poi nel Signore l’opera loro, con sollecitudine si ritirono dal campo evangelizzato” (I 16e).  This is nothing but consistency on the part of De Piro.  He has emphasised that our work is in the not yet evangelised countries.  This is plantatio ecclesiae. This is another specification of the Company’s main charism.    

Missionary work - Accountability –Cf Accountabilty 3.

Missions  Cf Missionary work.

Missions  Peoples who lack missionaries (I 3b, 15d).  Parish work in places where there is lack of evangelisers (I 15e).

Missions – Parishes  Word and sacraments.

Missions – Vow  I expected something more in this section.  I pretended that the Founder would present the missionary work as first and foremost the work of the Church.  Probably this section is so short because De Piro had already presented the section “Dei Campi d’Azione” (Cf I 15d-16e).

Moderation  Cf Accountability, Investments, Prudence, Bursar general.

Moderator – Students  There has been no separate section about this in OC because there was material about him in I  12d-13e.  In this section there were mentioned the superior of students and the moderator of the professed.

Modesty 1  Cf Perfection, Aim - Society.

Modesty 2  The external part of detachment.  While detachment had to do with the internal feelings, etc., modesty deals with the outword behaviour.

Contents:

All this to imitate Jesus Christ.

He mentioned children twice.

How has he not mentioned women here?

Mortifications Cf Detachment; Sacrifices.

Nature – Scope - Society  What were the real nature and scope of the Society as presented by the Servant of God in the OC?

Can we say that the OC reflect the missionary nature of the Company? Eg., the section about the government (Cf III “Del Governo Speciale”)?  Eg., do the OC take into consideration that the missionaries have to live alone for a long time?  Eg., do the OC take into consideration the fact that the missionaries cannot live the vow of poverty the same way other members can?  Such material as that which indicates the money superiors are allowed to spend (Cf III 42h)!  £2.00 .0 are one thing in one country and another thing in another country!  Ok, there are the sections about the nature and scope of the Society (Cf I 3d and note, I 3e), the parishes (Cf I 21d-22a) and the vow of missions (Cf II 5b). Also, the Founder presents the vicars of missions and many a times he refers to the members as missionaries.  But still the missionary spirit seems to be restricted to certain areas of the OC.  Or rather, certain areas of the OC do not imply in any way that they make part of the constitutions of a missionary society.  At the same time there are instances where the Founder showed that he was keeping in mind the mission countries, eg., “Il Capitolo Provinciale … verra’ convocato dal Padre Provinciale … in un luogo che puo’ essere facilmente raggiunto…” (III 34d).

Novices – Master  Cf III 44d-45i.  Cf also “Del Noviziato” and CIC 559 f.

In the section “Del Superiore Locale” there are presented more characteristics, virtues, etc, than here.

Novitiate – Brothers  Cf Brothers – Novitiate.

Novitiate – Formation  Cf Novitiate – Scope; Brothers – Novitiate.

Novitiate – Scope  (Cf I 7a-10b.  Cf also “Del Maestro dei Novizi” III 44d-45i):

Nurse  Cf also Sick.

Obedience 1  Cf Authority; Superiors; Officers.

Obedience 2  In I 7f-8a there seems to be in indication of the particular characteristic of the Society; the Founder is indicating that since the novitiate the members must be formed to grow in a special way in obedience.  

Obedience 3  In the section about the vow of obedience De Piro gives a really balanced presentation.  After the obedience towards God and the Holy See, the Founder tells us what he means by the obedience towards superiors (Cf II 4c.  Cf also the section “Verso I Superiori” II 21b-22a):

            Internally: keep them as being instead of Jesus Christ.  Internal reverence and love.

            Externally: be quick, perfect, and humble to obey, without excuses and murmurs, even when asked to do hard things … and this not only externally.

            Again, internally: resignation and abnegation of own judgement; conformity of own judgement with that of superiors.

            Again, externally: Expose difficulties…

            Again, internally: …but with great humility.

Obedience 4  As regards obedience CIC 593 mentions both superiors and subjects.  De Piro is not that clear as regards the fact that even superiors are bound with the vow of obedience, at least in II 3c-5a.  At the same time it is also true that in such sections as II 21b-22a and Book III there are indications of the otherwise.

Obedience – God  Perfection of virtue of consecration to God (Cf II 3c- 4a.  Cf also Aim - Society).

Obedience – Holy See  “… una sommissione la piu’ figliale ed assoluta alla Santa Sede…, alla quale la nostra Compagnia si gloria di professare la piu’ speciale e segnalata soggezione” (II 4b).  This after so much trouble to get the titolo missionis, the decretum laudis, the filiation with Propaganda Fidei!!!  And he did not get them!!!

I still cannot understand in what consists this “…speciale e segnalata soggezione”.  “All religious are subject to the Roman Pontiff as their highest superior, whom they are bound to obey also in virtue of the vow of obedience” (CIC 499:1).  Also, I cannot understand why De Piro did not mention the obedience to the bishops.  It was the time when the Society was still diocesan and therefore dependent on the bishop of the diocese.

Cf also Aim – Society.

Obedience – Saint Paul  The Apostle, an example of obedience (Cf II 3c).

Obedience – Superiors 1  Cf Obedience 3; Aim – Society.

Obedience – Superiors 2 

Internally:

Externally:

Although the Founder is here presenting the obedience to superiors, he reminds the members that they are obeying first and foremost God himself (Cf II 3d-4a, 4c, 4d).

De Piro used the word “subjects” in III 32b, 45e.  More than this he used the word “others”, “each”, and “missionaries”.

Obstacles Cf Disappointments; Difficulties; Opposition.

Officers Cf Superiors; Authority; Obedience 1; 2; 3; 4.

Officers MSSP - Attitudes  Besides the material responsibilities of the officers of the Society, province or house, the Founder emphasises the attitude of the MSSP officers.  Eg., superiors, formators, sacristan (Cf III 49h, 50i), nurse (Cf III 90f-53f), porter (Cf III 54j), etc.  One cannot say that De Piro eliminated the duty factor.  Far from this!  But he emphasised a lot that the officers carry on their duties motivated by charity.  In fact he never used the word amore but carita’.

Opposition  Cf Obstacles; Disappointments; Difficulties.

Order Cf Institute; Congregation; Company; Society.

Order – Vows Cf Vows – Order.

Orderliness  Cf Room 2.

Original Constitutions  Cf Constitutions; Original.

Original Constitutions  What made the Founder prepare only the first and second parts of the OC, and did not include the third part?  If he had seen other constitutions, which he did because among his books we have found some samples, he would have realised that the part about the Government was essential!

When studying the OC one must keep in mind the fact that Books I and II were finished up to March 1924 while Book III up to 5 October 1932.  This is important especially if one were to relate the material in the OC to other material of De Piro elsewhere.

Original Constitutions, Chapters of  Study the order of chapters.  Then study the order of sections of each chapter.

Original Constitutions – Conferences to novices (1929-1930)  It is worth comparing the OC with the conferences to the novices.

Original Constitutions – Examination  Why has Archbishop Mauro Caruana asked a Jesuit to examine the OC?  Does this indicate in itself that the OC were made on the Jesuit ones?  The Archbishop was very near to De Piro and therefore he could have known the thought of the Founder well.

Who was this Jesuit who examined the OC?  Not the name and surname, I mean, because these we know.  Was he a canonist or a specialist in religious life?

Our Lady  Cf Analythical Index.

Own perfection  Cf Perfection – Own. 

Parish  work - Accountability –Cf Accountabilty 3.  

Pastoral work Cf Apostolate; Work.

Pastoral work 1  Regarding the work of members both in mission countries and in the orphanages the Founder says almost the same thing, re the wholistic attitude: “The missionaries… who have to evangelise the unbelieving people must not refuse to educate the savages in the duties of the civil life…” (I 16b).  “All (the members), helped by the spirit of sacrifice, must pay attention to be continuously of edification and good example to the children, not only… in that which pertains to the morality, but also regarding civil manners…” (I 17b).

Pastoral work 2  The wholistic outlook of De Piro is again expressed, this time while dealing with the relationship between the spiritual duties and the apostolate or pastoral work of the MSSP member.

To start with, the Founder synonymises sanctification with perfection and says that these are acquired through the practicing of the spiritual duties prescribed in the OC.

Then it is important to note that the Founder does not dichotomise between the spiritual and the apostolic aspect of our life.  On the opposite his words are clearly the opposite: “… percio ognuno, con animo costante, procuri nel proprio ministero o ufficio qualsiasi, di non omettere l’acqisto di quella perfezione…” (II 11e-12a).  The member must acquire perfection not apart from his apostolate but in the apostolate. Linking II 11e-12a and 12b together one would have this:

De Piro did not use the word spirituality but sanctification and perfection.  He only used the phrase spiritual duties.  Could this be because he did not want to limit perfection and  sanctification to the spiritual aspect?  Did he want to include the whole person, body and soul, when dealing with perfection and sanctification?

Peculium  The small amount of money, goods, or money value, left for the free disposition of the individual religious.

It is important to note here (Cf CIC 594 to see whether what follows is to be related to common life or poverty.  Cf also Woywod.  Vol 1. n.505) that the Founder did not even mention the peculium because he could not have done it.  The Council of Trent had denied it and the 1917 CIC gave permission only to “… imemorial and centenary customs to continue existing”.  In our case there were no “… immemorial and centenary customs.”

Penances  Cf Perfection; Sacrifices; Detachment; Corporal penances.

Perfection  The observance, zeal, practice, of the virtues of the spiritual duties.

Would it be right to say that De Piro did not use the word spirituality but perfection or sanctification?  If yes, could this be because he did not want to limit perfection and sanctification to the spiritual aspect of the human being but wanted to include the whole person, body and soul?

It is worth studying the order in which the virtues were presented:

Exercises of piety:

Cf also Aim – Society.

Perfection – Members Of same community (Cf II 11c).  In fact here it does not go further than that.  In other parts there is emphasis on effect on laity through our spirituality (eg., I 15g-16a).

Contents and means of perfection:

The order is most interesting.

It is also interesting to notice that the Servant of God almost limited perfection to relationships among members and others.  Ok, he mentions the acquisition of virtues, but it could be that he saw in healthy relationships the living of the Trinitarian life itself, a life of relationships.  And this is what we must understand in fact by perfection, living God’s own life.  Therefore community = means for perfection (Cf II 11d).  This may sound a bit passive.  Therefore: healthy relationships = the means for perfection (Cf Idem).

Characteristic of perfection: Constancy (Cf II 11e-12a).

Relationship between perfection, the sacred rules of spirituality and the ministry cf  II 11e-12b):

A wholistic outlook at the beginning of the 20 century.  This is incarnational spirituality.

Perfection – Own  Cf II 11c.

Perpetual profession  Do the words in I 8e indicate a distinction between the requirements asked from the priests/students and the lay brothers regarding the perpetual profession?  Because while for the priests/students there are no reserves, for the lay brothers there are, “… se verranno trovati degni…”

Perseverence  Not so much in religious life, but rather in faithfulness and obedience to rules of Company (Cf I 4d).

Personal experience – OC  It seems to me that in certain sections De Piro really gets out his own personal convictions (eg., I 17d-18c; 18d-19d), while in others he is only juridical or he only refers to the CIC and similar rules (eg., I 21d-22b).  If this is true can it be because as regards some aspects he has had a personal experience while in the case of others he did not have any?

Piety, Acts of   Cf II 18e-19e.  Cf also Acts – Piety.

Perfection of interior life which is the soul of all external actions and the hope of efficacy of apostolate (Cf II 18d).

Daily:

Weekly: confession; via Crucis.

Monthly: day retreat.

Yearly: eight day retreat; renewal of profession of vows.

All these in common.

Plantatio ecclesiae  Cf Missionary work 2.

Postulancy Cf Prenovitiate.

Poverty  Cf II 5c-10d, besides the section “Del Voto di Poverta’” cf “Dell’Economo Generale”, “Dell’Economo Provinciale”, and “Dell’Economo Locale”. 

Basis: All goods pertain to God, the Church and the Company (Cf II 9b).

Contents:

Mostly a list of prohibitions and many details.  Mind you, they are asked for by CIC.

Perfection: heart free and detached from terrestrial goods (Cf II 5c).

No mention of peculium (Cf “Peculium” in this Commentary).

Prayer – Missionaries  Cf Missionary work 2.

Preaching  The object of the members’ preaching: the Word of God (I 17d). 

Very useful to do something good for the persons saved by Jesus Christ (Cf Idem).

Preaching – Contents 1  The odour of the love of Jesus Christ (I 17e).

Preaching – Contents 2  All the missionaries must procure to preach:

Preaching – Means – Success  If preacher is already living what he is preaching (Cf I 18a).

Preaching – Members  Members must be well prepared to administer the Word of God.

Preaching – Members – Preparation  (1) Comprehend well the love of Jesus Christ; (2) comprehend well their responsibility to spread always and everywhere his odour (Cf I 17e).

Preaching – St Paul  Could it be that De Piro referred more than once to St Paul in the section about preaching because he considered the Apostle as the preacher par excellence (Cf I 17e [2 Cor2:15]; I 17e [Tit 2:7,8]; I 18a [1Cor2:1-5])?

Preaching – Scope  Formation of the spirit of Jesus Christ in the souls of individuals (Cf I 18a).

Prefect - Lay brothers Cf Lay brothers – Prefect.

Prenovitiate Cf Postulancy.

Prenovitiate – Entry requirements  Cf Entry requirements 3.

Prenovitiate – Formation  Cf Prenovitiate – Scope.

Prenovitiate – Formation – Lay brothers Cf Lay brothers – Formation – Prenovitiate.

Prenovitiate –  Lay brothers  In the case of lay brothers it must be one year.

Prenovitiate – Scope:

Priests - Lay brothers - Distinction  Cf Distinction - Lay Brothers – Priests.

Procurator – Holy See  Cf III 23b-24c.  Cf also CIC 517; Woywod, Vol 1, p.,194, n., 397; Bouscaren, pp., 247-248.

Profession, first 1  Cf  First profession.

Profession, first 2  Cf Consecration – God.

Profession, perpetual Cf Perpetual profession.

Prophecy  Cf Witness.

Provinces  Cf III 26b, c.

Provincials – Vicars  Cf III 25i-34b.

All the paragraphs  are mostly juridical, but the last one (Cf III 32b) is different.  This last paragraph balances a bit the juridical characteristic of the section.  Especially by means of the last words the Founder wanted to show that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ prospers through the love and helathy relationship between the superior and the subject.

Prudence  Cf Accountability; Investments; Moderation; Bursart general.

Psalms – Quotations – References:

Ps 33:1 (Cf III 17c), Ps 39:11           (Cf III 17c).

Punctuality  Cf Perfection.

Reciprocal love – Society   “… viene colla carita’ che essa attinge dal Cuore Ssmo di Gesu’ …” (“Dei Funerali ed Altri Suffragi” [Cf III 69a]).  The words “… viene colla carita’… “ remind me of Paul’s words to the Romans, “…non abbiate alcun debito con nessuno se  non quello di un amore vicendevole…” (Rom 13:8).  The words, “…che essa attinge dal cuore Ssmo di Gesu’” are very significant.  The Company is educated, formed, to love through the love of Jesus Christ himself.

Reconciliation, Sacrament of Cf Confessions; Confessors – Reconciliation.

Recreation  Cf Perfection.

Refectory  Cf Perfection.

Relationships  Cf Perfection – Members; Provincials-Vicars.

Reports  Cf Accountability – Reports.

Requirements, Entry  Cf Entry requirements.

Residence  Cf III 26e-h, j-27a.

Respect  It is very relevant to notice how De Piro gave everyone one’s due.  I do not say that the Founder respected the poor.  I prefer to say that he respected everyone, wiothout distinction.  He respected the bishop (Cf III 55d).  He respected the doctor (Cf III 55e).  he respected the poor (Cf III 55f).

Room 1  Cf Perfection.

Room 2  The one who insisted that we must not be preoccupied on worldly things is insisting so much on the order of the room (Cf II 24d).  Orderliness was one of his strong points.

Sacrament - Reconciliation, Cf Confessions; Confessors – Preparation.

Sacraments  Cf Missions – Parishes;  Word.

Sacred Heart – Society  Cf Care – Society - Members.

Sacrifices Cf Mortifications, Detachment, Penances.

Sacrifices  Regarding mortification, sacrifices, detachment, etc, the Founder is quite explicit about the need of the wholictic attitude: “Ricordandovi tutti i membri…

(a) unitament alla mortificazione delle passioni interne, (b) procurino di moderare giusto il proprio stato, anche le azioni esterne” (II 16e).  The sections “Del Distacco” and “Della Modestia”follow each other.  While in the former section De Piro emphasises the internal disposition, in the latter he presents a list of objects which we have to use modestly (Cf also  “Admonitor – Superior general” in this Commentary).

Sacristan major  Cf III 46h-49c.

Through this section and the next one, the sacristan minor, one can have an idea what was De Piro’s attitude towards the sacred.

Responsibilities:

The Founder continuously emphasises a healthy environment in church and therefore for prayer.

Sacristan Minor  Responsibilities:

Saint Paul – Formation – Society  Cf Formation – Society – Saint Paul.

Saint Paul – Obedience  Cf Obedience – Saint Paul.

Saint Paul – Preaching Cf Preaching – St Paul.

Saint Paul – Quotations – References: