Constitution of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity
[Note: Words in italics are direct quotes from Fr. Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M.]
1. Our Lord had very much at heart the creating of a spirit, a missionary spirit, an evangelical burning that would sweep over the whole world. He came to cast a fire on the earth, and he willed that it would be enkindled (Lk 12:49). The Holy Spirit has enkindled this fire in our hearts. This is our heritage: an apostolic spirit, a Gospel spirit, a Catholic spirit. The Missionary Cenacle spirit is charity, charity aflame.
2. We, the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, are a clerical Institute of pontifical right, one branch of an apostolic family, who have been called by God to be missionaries in the Church. We have a special relationship with the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity. Together, our religious and lay branches comprise the Missionary Cenacle Family.
2.1 Our Institute is comprised of priests, deacons, Missionary Brothers and Student Brothers who are preparing for the priesthood.
2.2 In our common vocation as religious and apostolic men, each is called primarily to holiness of life while sharing fully in the apostolic goals of the Institute. For some there is combined a vocation to the religious life and a vocation to the priesthood. Between those who are Brothers and those who are priests, there are only those distinctions consequent upon Holy Orders.
2.3 Our religious habit, described in the Directory, shall be a distinctive sign of our consecration and a testimony of our poverty as Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity.
3. By our lives as Missionary Servants we seek first to glorify the Triune God. We follow in the footsteps of the apostles who, filled with the Holy Spirit, went forth from the Cenacle to spread everywhere the knowledge and love of Jesus. We live and work that God's name may be hallowed, that his kingdom come, that his holy will be done (Mt 6:9-10).
4. The missionary thought, the missionary idea, the mission spirit should be dominant in our Missionary Cenacles. We meet the pressing needs of our day by undertake works that the Church wants, that are good and necessary, and that have a note of abandonment about the In all our apostolic commitments, we recognize authority of the bishops and their special role as signs of unity and as pastors in the local churches.
4.1 We shall enter into contracts between the Institute and the Ordinary of the place where we carry on apostolate. These agreements should be sufficiently detailed so that there will be little doubt confusion. The confreres involved in the apostolate should be informed about the details of s contracts.
4.2 We shall cooperate with the clergy in those dioceses where missionary cenacles are located.
5. Our specific mission is the preservation of the faith in the areas and among those people who are spiritually neglected and abandoned, especially the poor. Our chief effort is to develop a missionary spirit in the laity the goal that every Catholic be an apostle.
5.1 Thus our apostolate involves those who, because the present circumstances of their lives, have little or no opportunity to practice the true Christ faith which they have, so to speak, by birthright.
5.2 In all our works we are to manifest a particular concern for youth, especially for their spiritual moral development.
6. We are to have an ardent zeal for the poor, for those desolate in all things spiritual and for victims of injustice. Charity urges us to action on behalf of justice as an integral part of announcing the coming of the kingdom.
6.1 Thus we work by preference among the economically poor in both rural and urban areas in whatever way the apostolate might be best carried out. We labor to preach the Gospel, to correct injustices and to care for immigrants and minorities. We do this in response to the social teachings of the Church.
7. The Cenacle spirit is a Catholic spirit, a living, burning, operating love of God and neighbor. - We are to share this spirit by promoting and supporting the ministries of the laity in the mission of the Church. We acknowledge "different gifts but the same Spirit, different ministries but the same Lord" (1 Cor 12:24).
7.1 Thus we foster lay involvement in the mission and ministries of the Church not only as a particular aim, but as a part of all our apostolic efforts. We shall carry out each of our apostolates in such a way that our activity is marked by the recognition, the encouragement and the fullest possible development of the laity in the work of the Church.
8. We are to call forth apostolic men and women from everyday walks of life to become lay associates in the Missionary Cenacle Family. A family spirit should be demonstrated by loving regard among the members of the branches and, when feasible, by collaboration in apostolic works. It is our particular responsibility as religious members of this family to conserve this Cenacle spirit and be the sanctuary where that fire is kept. Father Judge declared that
if the right spirit is maintained, if the primitive spirit is passed down, this family idea will engender the most beautiful fruits for the honor and glory of God and for the edification of the Church.
SPIRITUAL LIFE
9. The Cenacle spirit is a Christlike spirit of "faith working through love" (Gal 5:6). We are to confess in hearts the mysteries of faith: the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. We aspire to a devotional knowledge of these mysteries, is, a deeply personal and interior 'faith that is restless it finds expression in good works; our good works, in t nourish our life of faith and bear fruit in apostolic holiness.
10. We are to have a personal love of God our Father, o Son Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit who abides with In a particular way we cherish in our prayer and labor the naked, abandoned Jesus on Calvary. We express our love through personal service to his poor and abandoned members.
11. We are to make the Holy Spirit better known and loved. By steadfast prayer in our Cenacles we seek to attract the Holy Spirit so that our own hearts may be enkindled with God's love and that we may spread this fire to others. We ask to be filled with the gifts of the Spirit, wisdom and fortitude especially.
12. The Cenacle spirit is a Gospel spirit. In order to follow Jesus more closely, as set forth in the Gospels, we profess by public vows the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience as a fuller expression of our baptismal consecration. The uncompromising message of the Gospels calls us to exercise our prophetic role as witnesses to truth.
13. Vowed life in community unites us in faith, hope and love. We strive to emulate the early Christians who had one heart and one mind and were nourished by the teaching of the apostles, the breaking of the bread, and the common prayers (Acts 2:42; 4:32).
13.1 Each confrere shall show respect and brotherly love for his confreres. In all his actions he shall strive to be responsive to the needs of his brothers and the requirements of communal living.
14. We shall hold the Word of God in high esteem. We cherish the Gospels in particular because they depict Jesus showing by word and example the way of the Father. By reflection on the providence of everyday life in the light of the Gospels we come to a devotional knowledge of the mysteries of faith and a deeper understanding of our own experience. Each shall have a copy of the Sacred Scriptures and make frequent use of them in prayer and proclamation.
15. The Eucharist is the center and sun of our apostolic lives. We are to worship God in the daily celebration of Eucharist, our sacramental participation in the mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection. We should so prepare and celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy that it will b genuine expression of community and source of apostolic vitality. We are to have reverence for sacramental presence of the Lord Jesus and for all that are related to the Eucharist, especially the priesthood.
16. Because of our need for God's mercy in our brokenness, we are to approach the Sacrament of Penance frequently for reconciliation and healing. By our experience of sacramental forgiveness, we grow in mercy and compassion towards others.
17. The Cenacle spirit is a prayerful spirit. We recognize t only a spiritual person can lead an apostolic life, and that cannot be spiritual without prayer. Great value shall be placed upon periods of prayerful silence recollection. We are to devote suitable time each day to personal prayer, meditation, and spiritual read Our reading should include Missionary Cenacle writings, and in keeping with our maxim sentire cum ecclesia we are to reflect prayerfully on the documents of Church.
18. Periodically we shall seek extended times of prayer recollection. We are each to make an annual retreat. In order that we may be more attentive to the lights impulses of the Holy Spirit in our following of Christ are encouraged to seek personal spiritual direction.
19. We are to glorify the Triune God through common prayer, especially the Liturgy of the Hours. We pray together to promote greater zeal in the apostolate, more supportive community life and stronger bonds within the Missionary Cenacle Family. We shall encourage others to share our prayer.
19.1 In each missionary cenacle the confreres shall gather daily for prayer at times and in a manner suitable to their apostolic commitments.
20. Our prayer should not be narrow, personal prayer; it should reach the throne of God only after having touched the farthest bounds of God's creation and mourned in every human misery and rejoiced in God's goodness. We are to pray, therefore, for the needs of the entire Church, especially for the Holy Father, for bishops and for priests; we pray for youth and for those who are sick, suffering, or abandoned. We have a special obligation to pray for our living and deceased relatives, friends, benefactors, and members of the Missionary Cenacle Family.
20.1 Let the confreres remember their departed brothers. Each shall be faithful in offering the suffrages as expressed in the Directory.
21. In our religious family we have a special devotion to Mary, Queen of the Missionary Cenacle, to Joseph, an unfailing and powerful friend, to the Apostles, ardent followers of Jesus, and to Vincent de Paul, patron of charity and humility.
22. The Cenacle spirit is an apostolic spirit, which finds its perfection in zeal, the white heat of charity. We are to become perfect in the spirit and virtues of the Cenacle, t and die simple, prudent, humble, charitable...men...sacrifice, of patience, of self-denial whose lives are spent consecrated to the service of God the Father, Son and Spirit.
22.1 The confreres shall reflect frequently on the Book of Customs and strive to make the virtues, practices and devotions of the Missionary Cenacle operative in their lives.
23. Christ calls us to follow him with liberty of spirit a share in his emptying of self for others (Phil 2:7). He was celibate and poor (Mt 8:20; Lk 9:58) and obedient until death (Phil2:8). We freely vow chastity, poverty and obedience as a personal response in faith to whose love the Holy Spirit has poured out in our hearts (Rom 5:5).
24. Our religious profession binds us to the Church and its mystery in a special way. By profession of vows we are joined together for the sake of apostolic mission, through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Our vows should help us express a more generous love of one another community; community life, in turn, should contribute to the faithful living of the vows.
25. We imitate the single-hearted love of Jesus who himself for us as an offering to God (Eph 5:1). Our gift of self in consecrated chastity should liberate our hearts to love and to be loved by all those given us in community and ministry. Our chastity should find expression in a warm and selfless love of others.
25.1 The celibate life demands a noble heart and the willingness to embrace the asceticism it may entail. Indeed, when it is accepted for the love of God, the sacrifices it can bring with it are themselves a witness to the cross so willingly accepted by Christ for the love of mankind. When lived in the brotherhood of community, celibacy is assisted and strengthened by the companionship of like-minded men.
26. By the vow of chastity, we promise to remain celibate and to lead lives of perfect continence for the love of God and for the sake of the kingdom (Mt 19:22). By accepting the gift of celibacy, we express our preferential love of the Lord Jesus.
26.1 Among the means for safeguarding the vow of chastity are prayer, especially to the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, prudence and fraternal support.
27. In the spirit of the Missionary Cenacle, we are to offer each other support and understanding, rejoicing with
those who rejoice and sorrowing with those who sorrow. Ina special way, our love is given to the sick and aging who are our particular treasure in community.
27.1 Confreres who are sick should know that in a special way they are united with the suffering Christ for the salvation of the world. They will daily grow in holiness if they accept their sickness "with faith from the hand of their heave Father, and if they cooperate with the divine by showing every man through their earthly activities the love with which God has loved world" (Mt 5: 1-16).
27.2 The health of the members of the Institute should be looked upon as a responsibility both of individual and of the Institute.
27.3 We should seek out regular periods of rest relaxation to assure a well-ordered life.
28. We imitate the poverty of Jesus who for our sake "m himself poor though he was rich, so that we mi become rich through his poverty" (2 Cor 8:9). The virtue of poverty inspires us to be totally dependent upon the providence of God, to be subject to the common law of labor, to heed the cry of the poor and to simply, holding all things in common.
28.1 Religious poverty is intimately associated with common life. Community life provides incentive and the help to strive in a better more practical fashion for the acquisition of evangelical virtue.
28.2 Our missionary cenacles shall always be simple and modest.
29. By the vow of evangelical poverty, we renounce right to dispose of and to use anything that has mat value without permission. We retain the radical r to own and acquire goods.
29.1 The professed members of the Institute retain the radical ownership of their patrimony and worldly goods and the right to acquire more. They may not, however, give them away except as provided for in the Directory.
29.2 As to the administration, acquisition, cession, and disposition of goods related to the profession of poverty, the confreres will follow current church law. For a just cause, the General Custodian may permit changes in these matters.
29.3 A renunciation of part of one's patrimony may be made with the permission of the General Custodian at the time of perpetual profession or at any time thereafter. A renunciation of all of one's patrimony, which includes the giving up of one's right to acquire or to own anything in the future, may be made with the permission of the General Custodian only after a minimum of ten years from the time of first profession of vows.
29.4 Stipends, salaries, pensions, insurance benefits and all forms of gifts other than patrimony given to a confrere belong to the Institute.
29.5 A last will and testament, valid in civil law, shall be made by each confrere before first profession or, at least previous to final profession. For a just cause, the General Custodian may permit a change in this matter.
29.6 A confrere may not act in the name of the lnstitute or as its agent unless he has a mandate through a provision of this Constitution, the Director authorization, in writing, from the General Custodian. The Institute shall consider itself civilly responsible only for members who act accordingly.
30. We are to be responsible stewards of the material go entrusted to us. Our Cenacle heritage, moreover, directs us to be generous in sharing with others an offering hospitality.
30.1 There is the obligation of the individual members to practice the virtue of poverty. But there is also a corporate poverty which we, as an Institute are obliged to evidence to the world. This is primarily a result of the aggregate poverty of individuals. Those in administration particular should foster a sense of corporate poverty am the confreres and exercise in their decisions in a true spirit of poverty.
30.2 We shall prudently avoid involvement with others in their legal affairs, in the drawing up of wills, in purely domestic matters.
30.3 We shall exercise prudence in discussing affairs of the Institute both among ourselves with others outside the Institute.
30.4 We shall show Christian hospitality to others in the places set aside for that purpose in our missionary cenacles.
31. We imitate the obedience of Jesus, who "humbled self, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross" (Phil2:8). The virtue of obedience is grounded in faith and love, generosity and forgetfulness of self. Our obedience should be humble and of the heart, simple and entire, constant and strong in everything.
32. By the vow of obedience, we pledge to obey those persons who exercise authority in everything that pertains to the observance of the Constitution and the integrity of our religious profession. We are to obey the Holy Father in virtue of our vow of obedience and to show him a particular loyalty.
32.1 The General Custodian shall command in virtue of holy obedience only rarely, for a grave reason and with care and prudence. Moreover, a formal precept shall be given in writing or at least in the presence of two witnesses.
32.2 We shall perform the works of the Institute according to the prescriptions of the Holy See and the Constitution; and in conformity with canon law, according to the norms of the agreement between the local ordinary and the Institute. Periodic evaluation and planning will ensure continuing response to the pressing needs of our day and fidelity to our aims and mission.
32.3 A confrere shall not give up his formal assignment without the permission of the General Custodian.
32.4 The confreres will neither undertake nor abandon any work other than that agreed upon, no matter how good it may be, and even though it be conformable to the special ends of the Institute without permission of the General Custodian.
33. Relying on the Holy Spirit, we are to seek together to discover God's Will in a climate of respect and trust. With genuine love, we call each other to grow in apostolic holiness through encouragement and mutually appropriate accountability. This practice of taking counsel in matters of common life and mission is a cherished tradition in the Missionary Cenacle. A prayer and counsel, we humbly accept the decision those in authority.
33.1 Love for the Church and the Institute has prompted us to adopt a process of conciliation. Consequently if such conciliation is desired, then procedures as outlined in the Directory and church shall be followed.
MINISTRY OF AUTHORITY
34. Religious authority is exercised by those chosen to call us to be faithful to our vocation as Missionary Servants. The functions of this authority are to assist each other to seek the will of God, to promote a true spirit of community and to unite us in pursuing our apostolic goals.
35. This authority, a ministry after the example of Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve (Mt 20:28), is to be exercised according to the Constitution and other statutes of common and particular law.
36. We recognize the value of counsel and consultation in important matters of common concern. In house council, we are to share the responsibility for decisions affecting the local community. Local Custodians and other designated persons exercise personal authority within their mandate.
36.1 An established residence of the Institute shall be called a missionary cenacle.
36.2 Superiors of local communities shall be called local Custodians. They must be confreres in perpetual vows for three years. They are appointed by the General Custodian with the deliberative vote of his Council after suitable consultation.
36.3 The special duty of the local Custodian is to coordinate local efforts towards the common aims of the Institute. Local Custodians are to regard concern for the individual and community leadership as their most important tasks. The particular duties of the local Custodian are specified in the Directory.
36.4 The term of a local Custodian is three years.
36.5 Local Custodians cannot be deposed or transferred except for grave reasons and by the General Custodian with the deliberative vote of his Council.
36.6 The local Custodian shall govern the confreres in accord with prescriptions of ecclesiastical law, the Constitution and the current legislation of the Institute.
36.7 The local Custodian is ordinarily assisted minimum of two councilors, chosen by General Custodian with the consent of Council.
36.8 The local Custodian shall ordinarily assemble the Council every month.
36.9 The local Custodian must ask the advice of Council in matters of importance. The Council, as a rule, has only a consultative vote, but for expenditures they shall observe the Directory.
36.10 Over and above the advice sought of the Council the local Custodian should assemble the confreres regularly to hear their opinions.
36.11 The local Treasurer is chosen by the Gen Custodian with the deliberative vote of Council.
37.33 Not only the Institute, but also each house may acquire, possess, administer and alienate temporal goods and fixed revenues in accordance with civil and church law.
37.34 Of the temporal goods of the Institute, some are possessed and administered by the Institute as a whole and others by individual missionary cenacles. All the goods, movable and immovable, of the Institute as a whole are administered by the Treasurer General under the direction of the General Custodian and the vigilance of his Council. All other goods are administered by local treasurers under the direction of local custodians.
37.35 If there is a question of alienation of property, the value of which exceeds the sum allowed by the Holy See or of contracting debts and obligations beyond the indicated sum or of the alienation of precious goods, the contract is void if proper permission has not been obtained.
37.36 When requesting consent of proper ecclesiastical authority to contract a debt or obligation, the current norms of common law will be followed.
37.37 For alienation of the Institute's movable or immovable goods, there must be an appraisal of their value given in writing by at least two experts, with reasons of necessity or obvious usefulness and permission of higher authorities.
Visitation of the Institute
37.38 The General Custodian, either in person or by delegate, shall make the visitation of each missionary cenacle at least once during his term of office. He should see all the confreres at least once during that period. He may order extraordinary visitation of the entire Institute of any particular missionary cenacle when he deems that circumstances demand it.
37.39 The purposes of this visitation include ascertaining the general welfare of the Institute, revitalizing local community life and calling each confrere to renewed fidelity to the Constitution.
37.40 The Visitor must be a confrere in perpetual vows. In choosing a visitor the General Cu than should not select a member of the house be visited and, above all, never one who is governing or has governed therein, except a lapse of six years.
37.41 The General Custodian always retains his ordinary powers whether he appoints a Visitor the whole Institute or to part of it.
38. Full authority in the Institute shall be exercised in extraordinary manner by the General Cenacle, which convened to elect the General Custodian and General Council, to protect the spiritual patrimony of the Institute, to foster its appropriate renewal and to legislate for the entire Institute in those matters that touch u policy, works, and the general good.
General Cenacle
Convocation of Members
38.1 The convening of the ordinary General Cenacle is determined by the General Cenacle immediately preceding it, but not to exceed six years and each time the office of the General Custodian becomes vacant because of his death, resignation or deposition.
38.2 The General Custodian has the right to call an extraordinary General Cenacle of Affairs when he and a majority of the General Councilors judge that this will be beneficial for the Institute.
38.3 Convocation of the General Cenacle shall be announced by the General Custodian at least six months in advance, or in his absence by the Vicar General within three months after the office becomes vacant. The General Custodian has the power, with the deliberative vote of his Council, to anticipate or postpone the date of the General Cenacle for a just reason, but not by more than three months.
38.4 The membership of the General Cenacle is determined by the General Cenacle immediately preceding it. The elected delegates must constitute the majority of the members of the General Cenacle. The ex officio members of the General Cenacle are:
1) The General Custodian;
3) The immediate past General Custodian.
Norms For Elections and Procedures to be Followed
38.5 Norms for the elections of delegates and general officers as well as the procedures to be followed during the course of the General Cenacle are found in the "Conduct of the General Cenacle." These norms may be altered only by a General Cenacle.
Election of the General Custodian
38.6 To be elected to the office of the General Custodian a confrere must be a priest, have completed his thirty-fifth year and have completed seven years since his perpetual profession.
38.7 The term of the office of the General Custodian is determined by the General Cenacle immediately preceding it and is specified in the Directory, but is not to be less than four years nor exceed six. When he has completed his first term, he may be immediately elected for another term but not for three successive terms. If the General Custodian dies before the end of his term or in some other way the office becomes vacant, the Vicar General shall convoke the General Cenacle within three months, so that the election is not delayed beyond six months following the vacancy.
38.8 The election of the General Custodian is made by secret ballot and by absolute majority. If, in the first three valid ballots, no one has received an absolute majority of the votes, a fourth ballot shall be taken in which only those two priests who have received the largest number of votes shall have a passive, but not an active voice. If such priests number more than two, the two oldest in vocation shall have passive but not active voice in the fourth balloting. Vocational precedence shall be determined from the first profession and by age if they were professed the same day. If in this fourth ballot the vote is a tie, he is elected who is the older as set forth above.
Election of the General Councilors
38.9 After the election of the General Custodian, the General Cenacle will also elect at least four General Councilors whose terms of office will be the same as that of the General Custodian.
To be elected to the office of Councilor a confrere must have completed his thirtieth year and must have completed four years since his perpetual profession. The first Councilor elected is the Vicar General. To be elected Vicar General, one must be a priest. These Councilors shall remain in the office until the next ordinary General Cenacle. They may be elected for a second term, but not for three successive terms.
38.10 In the General Cenacle the most important matters that concern the whole Institute shall be discussed. Each member of the General Cenacle is free to propose any such matter. The General Custodian presides over the deliberations.
38.11 It is within the province of the General Cenacle to determine the practical application of the Constitution, to care for the good conduct of the Institute itself and of its houses with timely regulations. Decrees of previous General Cenacles and those of the General Custodian, since t last General Cenacle are subject to review, a may be abrogated, modified or confirmed.
38.12 The authentic interpretation of the Constitution belongs to the Holy See. If the General Cenacle wishes to change any part of the Constitution such changes must be approved by two-thirds its members and the request submitted to the Holy See. Changes in the Directory require simple majority of the members of the General Cenacle.
MEMBERSHIP
39. The apostolic spirit is a rare spirit, a priceless spirit, a spirit high above that of those who are ordinarily devout. This is the life of those great, self-denying, sacrificing lovers of Jesus Christ who leave everything and dispose themselves to go anywhere.
40. We are each to encourage and foster vocations to our religious Institute. We look for candidates who, in addition to meeting the canonical requirements, manifest a love of God, a zeal for neighbor, and a spirit of sacrifice. The candidates are to be acquainted with the life and spirit of the Missionary Cenacle.
40.1 The responsibility of establishing norms for the admission and dismissal of candidates belongs to the General Custodian and his Council according to the Code of Canon Law and the Directory.
40.2 Candidacy, which takes place prior to entrance to novitiate, is a period of formal preparation for admission to the Institute.
40.3 During the time of candidacy, the candidate shall take part in a planned program aimed at leading him to a mature commitment to and integration into the Institute as a novice. The period of candidacy shall include an academic and apostolic program as well as one aimed at the development of the personal spiritual life of the candidate as a member of our religious family.
40.4 The length and place of the candidacy shall be determined by the Directory.
41. The novices are introduced to the nature and practice of the vows, according to our charism. At thecompletion of the novitiate, those novices who are admitted to the Institute make profession of vows according to the Constitution. This commitment must be renewed until the time for profession of perpetual vows.
41.1 Candidates shall be admitted to the novitiate by the General Custodian with the deliberative of his Council.
41.2 Valid and lawful admission to novitiate requires physical, psychological, intellectual, spiritual canonical qualifications following current c law and the current legislation of the Institute.
41.3 The Director of the novitiate program is el by the General Custodian with the deliberative vote of his Council. He must have completed his thirty-fifth year and the seventh from his perpetual religious profession. His term shall be three years, but he may be re-elected for successive terms.
41.4 The Director of the novitiate program shall exemplary religious who has special inter and aptitude for guiding young men of the teat age in their religious vocation.
41.5 The novitiate year marks the formal beginning of the novice's life in the Institute. It is a during which he has the opportunity deeply to consider his vocation, to experience the Institute's way of life, to become formed in and heart by the spirit of the Institute and t his suitability for life in the Institute.
41.6 In order to be valid, the novitiate must last twelve months and must be spent in the novitiate community. The manner of conducting it shall follow the Code of Canon Law and the Directory.
41.7 The clerical and Missionary Brother novices shall share a common novitiate.
41.8 The novitiate shall be located in suitable places chosen for this purpose by the General Custodian and his Council with appropriate consultation.
41.9 The novitiate shall begin and end with a retreat of eight full days. The novitiate shall be conducted in a way determined after appropriate consultation and with the approval of the General Custodian and his Council. Suitable ceremonies should mark the beginning of the novitiate period.
41.10 Absences from the novitiate group and house, which either at intervals or continuously, exceed three months render the novitiate invalid. For absences lasting less than fifteen days, the General Custodian and his Council shall determine whether this absence shall be made up; absences of more than fifteen days must be made up. In individual cases, prolongation of the novitiate can be required by the General Custodian with the consent of his Council after consultation with the Director of the novitiate program.
41.11 The novices enjoy all privileges and spiritual favors granted to the Institute. If they die as novices, they have a right to the suffrages prescribed for professed confreres.
41.12 A novice is always free to leave the Institute.
For any just reason he may be dismissed by the General Custodian with his Council or, in case of grave scandal even by the Director of the novitiate program. This should always be done due regard for personal dignity in a spirit Christian charity.
41.13 Prior to his profession, the novice will make appropriate disposition of his goods according to current church law.
42. Profession of the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience is made to the Triune God, according to Constitution and is received by the General Custodian. Since all members profess vows according to the Constitution, all are equally obliged to its observation. Separation from the Institute is to be effected charity and equity according to the common law.
42.1 At the conclusion of the novitiate period, response to the call of Christ shall be affirmed by the candidate by a religious profession through which he commits himself to Christ, as well a the life of a Missionary Servant of the Most Trinity for a period of time, as one who aspires to be ordained in the service of Church, or as one who dedicates his life Missionary Brother.
42.2 Temporary profession shall be made according to the prescription of current church law and current legislation of the Institute.
42.3 By temporary vows the novice becomes a professed member of the Institute which entitles him to participate fully in the life of the Missionary Cenacle in so far as his present responsibilities allow, with the exception of active and passive voice in the General Cenacle and other exceptions in our particular law. In case of death he enjoys the same suffrages as one perpetually professed.
42.4 Temporary religious profession is to be made annually for at least three years until the time for perpetual profession. When the period for which profession has been made has expired, there should be no delay in renewing profession. The General Custodian and his Council may prolong the period of temporary profession, but not by more than three years. For a good reason, moreover, he may allow temporary profession to be renewed not more than a month in advance.
42.5 After the period of temporary profession has expired, the religious is free to leave the lnstitute if he does not wish either to renew his temporary profession or to make perpetual profession.
42.6 A temporarily professed member maybe refused permission to renew his vows or to make final profession because of physical or psychological factors if they make him unsuitable for life in the Institute unless his illness has been incurred through the Institute's negligence or through work performed in the Institute.
42.7 The formula of profession shall be: "O God Father, through God the Son, in union with the Holy Spirit, through your life shared in mysteries of the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation, in honor of Mary, Queen of the Missionary Cenacle, and Joseph, her husband, 1, N.N. vow and promise in your presence, (General Custodian or his delegate) an gathered here, Chastity, Poverty and Obedience (period of time or "even unto death") according to the Constitution of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity." A confrere may an introduction and/or a conclusion to this formula subject to the approval of the General Custodian.
42.8 The General Custodian and his Council provide for houses and programs of forma for both Missionary and Student Brothers.
42.9 Careful attention shall be given to the spiritual life and discipline of the Student and Missionary Brothers. The spirituality of each Br should be deepened through his respective grams of study, with particular attention t study of theology and Sacred Scripture, as w to his apostolic involvement. A deep apostolic spirituality should in turn enable h bring greater discernment both to his studies to his apostolic involvements. The Brother should recognize that knowledge is power that when knowledge and virtue companion one another, a moral power of the highest degree is engendered.
42.10 The spiritual life and discipline of the Student and Missionary Brothers shall be nourished through their growth in communal and personal prayer, apostolic involvement, community life and growing sense of dedication to the Institute and its apostolates.
42.11 Subsequent to first profession, Missionary and Student Brothers shall continue in the formation program according to the norms established in the Directory and Handbook of Formation.
42.12 Only those Student and Missionary Brothers who demonstrate growth in spiritual maturity shall be advanced to perpetual profession, to ministries or to sacred orders.
Ministries and Holy Orders
42.13 Previous to admission to the theology program, Student Brothers shall have received adequate preparation in those academic subjects ancillary to Sacred Scripture and theology, especially the study of philosophy.
42.14 Since it is the role of the priest as the Church's representative to bear God's Word to the world, the ministry of preaching shall be held in special esteem by all members of the Institute. They shall achieve a deep understanding prerequisite to communication through frequent meditation on God's Word.
42.15 Student Brothers should be effectively prepared to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a spirit of elegant simplicity.
42.16 The General Custodian has the right to acc the petitions for admission to the ministries. These petitions must be freely made out signed by those confreres who are aspirants admission to the ministries of lector and acolyte.
42.17 The General Custodian has the right to confer the ministries, using the approved liturgical rites.
42.18 The General Custodian may issue dismissorial letters for all orders. The General Custodian may prohibit the conferral of orders for canonical cause, keeping in mind the right to have recourse to the Holy See.
42.19 The intervals established by ecclesiastical authority between the conferral of ministries orders must be observed. Deacons called to the priesthood are not to be ordained until they completed the course of studies prescribed by norms of the Holy See and have spent some in the exercise of the deaconate as determined by the General Custodian.
Departure
42.20 In matters relating to voluntary and involuntary departure, current church law is to be observed with due regard for personal dignity in a spirit of Christian charity.
Observance of the Constitution and Directory
42.21 Each confrere shall observe the Constitution, though it does not bind under sin.
42.22 The Directory of the Institute further specifies the observance of this Constitution.
42.23 Jesus is the Way and the Truth and our very Life. The Constitution will help powerfully to walk in this Way, to live this Truth and to find this Life. The confreres shall esteem the Constitution and Directory, hold them sacred and keep them faithfully. They shall read them, meditate upon them and aspire to live them.
43. Fidelity to our vocation demands that we continue our spiritual, apostolic, academic, personal and social development, within our common goals and mission. We have gifts that differ according to the favor bestowed on each of us (Rom 12:6). In community we should be challenged to discover, develop, and use our gifts, lest the grace of God be given in vain (1 Cor l5:10). This is a lifelong process and, as we advance in age, we are to follow Jesus ever more faithfully in the power of the Spirit, until that day when, with him we enter into the glory of the Father.
Do give this much thought, do hold yourselves responsible for the future of the Cenacle; do remember that as you are, so others will be. What more beautiful legacy can you leave than that of an example and life fragrant and rich in the Cenacle traditions. This is means that even after your death you will be continuing your apostleship through others whom your virtue has attracted to the service of God. Such will be my constant prayer for you; do make it your constant effort.