The General Chapter

196. The general chapter is the assembly of the representatives of all the confreres. It is the source of law in the Congregation and has supreme power.

197. The general chapter is composed of exofficio and elected members. The exofficio members are: the Superior general, the Assistants general and the provincial Superiors. The elected members, whose total number cannot be inferior to that of the ex-officio members, are the voting confreres, elected by the provincial chapters and by the houses directly dependent on the Superior general, or their substitutes.

198. Religious who enjoy active and passive voice, may be elected to the general chapter.

199. The number of representatives of each province or pro-province and of the houses directly dependent on the Superior general, is established by each general chapter for the following one, according to criteria of representation and proportionality.

200. The substitute members participate with full rights when the elected representatives are unable to take part and their written withdrawal has been accepted by the Superior general with the consent of his council. Once the chapter is in session, the chapter itself decides. 201. The general council can summon to the general chapter other persons capable of making

particular contributions to proceedings. The modalities of their participation shall be determined by the chapter itself.

202. Each member of the general chapter seeks the good of the Congregation without being restricted by the mandate of his constituents.

203. Convocation of the general chapter pertains to the Superior general, with the advice of his council, except for the cases foreseen by the Constitutions 1. The modalities of convocation are established by appropriate regulations.

204. Ordinarily, the general chapter takes place every six years, and extraordinarily, when serious cause makes it advisable.

204.1 - In circumstances when, at the end of a six year period, the convocation of a general chapter is impossible or presents serious difficulties, the general council will decide what action to take after hearing the opinion of the provincial councils.

205. The general chapter is extraordinarily convoked: a) by initiative of the general council;

b) upon request of at least half of the provincial chapters, or of a qualified majority of the provincial councils.

206. The general chapter is preceded by an adequate consultation of the confreres, promoted by the general council.

207. The principal duties of the general chapter are:

a) to study the most important problems of the Congregation and to issue appropriate deliberations;

b) to outline general orientative policies;

c) to elect the Superior genera I, the Assistants, and, extraordinarily, other Superiors and officials;

d) to interpret and update the Constitutions and to approve other norms valid for the whole Congregation;

e) to establish, modify, suppress provinces, pro-provinces, central offices, and to issue final decrees regarding founding or closing houses.

208. Every change to the text of the Constitutions must be approved as such in a general chapter by a qualified majority of votes; this change is then presented to the Holy See for approval, and it becomes constitutional law when approved by the following general chapter.

209. Practical interpretations and temporary abrogations of the Constitutions and of the general chapter's deliberations, are the competence of the general council.

210. The general chapter is conducted according to appropriate regulations proposed by the general council and approved by the chapter itself.

211. To preside over an ordinary general chapter, a President is elected, assisted by four Promoters. They assume the authority and exercise the functions of the Superior general and his Assistants until the election of the Superior general. The management of an extraordinary general chapter is entrusted to a council of five Moderators; however, the ordinary administration is conducted by the Superior general and his council.

212. A qualified majority of the votes in the first three scrutinies and the absolute majority in the following ones is required for election of the President of the general chapter and of the Superior general. Further modalities are determined by the general chapter regulations. 213. In order to ensure an opportune continuity of government, the general chapter shall

normally reelect at least one of the members of the prior general council.

214. The general chapter operates in an attitude of listening and of availability to the voice of the Spirit. In this spiritual climate the chapter brings the Congregation to a clearer awareness of its state and of the needs of the times; it summons the Congregation to its best traditions and to a constant renewal; it urges it to a more generous evangelical service, in a renewed cooperation with the Church.

215. The Superior general, the successor of the Holy Founder, is the supreme moderator of our religious family and the symbol of its unity. He has ordinary jurisdiction over all confreres, the communities and the provinces of the Congregation and over its temporal goods; this power is to be exercised within the limits established by the Constitution and by universal law.

216. Any priest119 _{in solemn vows can be elected Superior general, provided that he is no less} than thirty five years of age and that he has spent at least ten years since solemn profession in the Congregation.

217. The Superior general is elected by the general chapter according to the Constitutions and to chapter regulations. His mandate is for six years and may be renewed120.

217.1 - The election of the Superior general is preceded by a suitable pause for prayer and reflection.

217.2 - The Superior general resides in the general curia, of which he appoints the local Superior upon consultation with his council.

217.3 - At the end of his mandate, the Superior general may choose the community in which he is to live and of which he becomes a full member.

218. As guide and animator of the Congregation, attentive to discern what the Lord requires in different circumstances, the Superior general:

safeguards the identity and the spirit of the Congregation;

fosters fraternal charity, observance of the rules, and the apostolic commitment of the confreres;

accepts, for postulancy, novitiate, and first profession, those candidates who enter the Congregation other than by the ordinary way of the provinces;

coordinates and verifies the application of the directives for religious formation;

evaluates the legitimate aspirations of the religious and safeguards the rights of individuals and communities;

preserves the unity of the fundamental course of the Congregation by coordinating the work of the Assistants and of the provincial Superiors;

maintains relations with the central authorities of the Church, of other religious families, and with international organizations;

organizes meetings of confreres, Superiors and other officials, and appoints eventual observers to the provincial chapters.

218.1 - It pertains to the Superior general, upon consultation with his council, to: a) convene the general chapter121_;

b) appoint officials for the central offices, giving them appropriate directives122;                                                                                                                          

119 _{Cf. n. 187.}

120 _{Cf. Const. 1579, IV, 12; Bullarium Barnabiticum, pp.17-20.} 121 _{Cf. n.203.}

c) appoint Superiors of houses directly dependent on him123_;

d) admit to sacred orders124_;

e) coordinate the activities of the provincial offices125.

218.2 - The directives of the Superior general remain effective until the end of his mandate.

219. The Superior general is directly accountable for his government to the general chapter. 220. During his term of office, the Superior general must make a canonical visit to all the

communities of the Congregation. For special reasons the task of visitation may be delegated to a Visitor126.

221. The Superior general may, for grave reasons and with the consent of his council, suspend or remove from office provincial and local Superiors or limit their powers. Eventually, he may also proceed to replace them.

222. If the Superior general is unable to fulfill his functions, they are (to be discharged by the Vicar general127.

223. In case of inability, or of permanent impediment, or of resignation - accepted by the Holy See - or of the death of the Superior general, the Vicar general assumes his functions and, with the consent of the other Assistants and of the provincial Superiors with their councils, decides on the modalities for the convocation of the general chapter.

3. The Assistants General

224. The Assistants are the ordinary counsellors of the Superior general; they assist him in the exercise of his functions and share in the responsibility of government.

225. One of the Assistants, directly chosen by the Superior general and replaceable at his discretion, holds the office of Vicar general.

226. The Superior general may assign to individual Assistants responsibility for particular sections of the Congregation or for specific sectors of activity.

227. The Assistants are four in number, and are elected by the general chapter, by absolute majority, according to the modalities of the chapter regulations. Normally they remain in office for six years, or, in any case, until the following general chapter, and they may be reelected for only one other six-year term.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        122 _{Cf. n. 232.} 123 _{Cf. n. 305.} 124 _{Cf. n. 170.} 125 _{Cf. n. 279.2.} 126 _{Cf. n. 238.} 127 _{Cf. n. 225.}

227.1 - The election of the Assistants is preceded by a suitable interval for reflection and takes place the day after the election of the Superior general.

227.2 - Election of an Assistant outside the general chapter may also be done by mail, with a deliberative vote and an absolute majority, by the Superior general, the other Assistants, and the provincial Superiors. This supplementary election does not bear on eligibility for reelection.

227.3 - For grave cause, an Assistant general may be suspended or re- moved from office by the Superior general with the consent of the other Assistants.

4. The General Council

228. The general council is formed by the Superior general and his Assistants; its purpose is to promote, guide, monitor, and coordinate the life of the Congregation.

229. The general council in particular:

a) executes the deliberations and the programs established by the general chapter; b) defines, in last instance, questions regarding individual confreres, local

communities and provinces, and appeals presented to them;

c) decides on interprovincial assignments, upon consultation with the provincial Superiors concerned;

d) attends to the organization of provinces, pro-provinces, delegations, and central offices for specific activities;

e) discusses and controls at scheduled times its own financial reports, providing the Central Finance Office the directives necessary for budgeting;

f) determines the amount of provincial assessments for the Congregation; g) periodically examines the financial accounts of the provinces;

h) decides on the transfer of goods within the Congregation, upon consultation with the provinces and communities concerned.

229.1 - The general council, if requested, must explain, in writing, its decisions to the persons concerned.

230. The general council acts as the collegial organ of government when the Constitutions expressly require its consent.

230.1 - The consent of the general council is required in the following cases:

a) designation of the number of representatives to the general chapter of the houses directly dependent on the Superior general, and of the pro-provinces erected during the six-year term, and the decision regarding renunciation by representatives elected to the general chapter128_;

b) dispensation from holding or postponing ordinary provincial chapters, and convocation of extraordinary provincial chapters; authorization of provincial chapters with the participation of all voting members129;

                                                                                                                          128 _{Cf. nn. 305.c; 249; 200.}

c) ratification of chapter resolutions and of provincial statutes, and relative interpretations and derogations130_;

d) appointment of provincial Superiors, Masters of interprovincial novitiates and scholasticates and Visitors131;

e) ratification of the appointment of local Superiors, Masters of provincial novitiates and scholasticates132_;

f) suspension or removal of Assistants general, provincial and local Superiors, or restriction of their powers133;

g) decision regarding a written order in virtue of the vow of obedience and regarding eventual measures suggested by the Visitor134;

h) admission to solemn profession and dismissal of a temporarily professed; permission for temporary stay outside the Congregation, and relative juridical status; readmission to the Congregation135;

i) interpretation and provisional derogations of the Constitutions and general chapter deliberations136;

j) erection of novitiate and inter- provincial houses; foundation or suppression of religious houses; modification of provinces or erection, modification and suppression of pro- provinces outside the general chapter137;

k) temporary reservation of religious houses to the immediate jurisdiction of the Superior general138_;

l) introduction of causes of beatification and canonization139_;

m) authorization to adapt norms regarding poverty to the civil law of a given country, and to perform acts of extraordinary administration140_;

n) ruling on the financial competencies of provincial councils and on provincial assessments for the Congregation141_;

o) control of the general and provincial administrations financial reports142.

5. The Central Offices

231. The central offices collaborate directly with the Superior general and his Assistants. Those responsible for these offices are:

a) the Procurator general b) the Postulator general c) the Treasurer general d) the Chancellor general e) the Archivist general

f) others entrusted with specific activities.

                                                                                                                          130 _{Cf. nn. 245;264;264.1.} 131 _{Cf. nn. 67; 146; 161; 238.} 132 _{Cf. nn. 291; 145; 160.} 133 _{Cf. nn. 273; 221.} 134 _{Cf. nn. 86; 241.} 135 _{Cf. nn. 164; 156; 56; 57.} 136 _{Cf. n. 209.} 137 _{Cf. nn. 142; 307; 305; 229.d; 248.} 138 _{Cf. nn. 306; 306.1.} 139 _{Cf. n. 234.} 140 _{Cf. nn. 75.1; 310.} 141 _{Cf. nn. 310; 229.f.} 142 _{Cf. n. 229.g.}

These duties are not mutually incompatible, nor are they incompatible with the office of Assistant.

232. Those entrusted with the central offices are appointed by the Superior general, upon consultation with his council, and they remain in office at his discretion; they fulfill their duties following his directives.

233. The Procurator general officially represents the Congregation with the Holy See for all that pertains to their mutual relations.

234. The Postulator general promotes causes of beatification and canonization introduced by the general council; in addition, he reports to the general chapter regarding the progress of each individual cause.

235. The Treasurer general attends to the ordinary administration of the goods for which the Superior general is directly responsible, according to the directives of the general council and within the limits of the competencies indicated by the Constitutions. He coordinates and controls the financial administration of the provinces and of the houses directly dependent on the Superior general, and presides over the Central Finance Office; he reports to the general chapter the economic situation of the Congregation and of the Superior general’s administration. Other duties of the Treasurer general are indicated by the Constitutions143.

235.1 - The Treasurer general, if he is also Assistant general, has no right to vote in matters concerning the appraisal of his administration.

236. The Chancellor general performs the functions of secretary of the general council, at whose meetings he participates for the writing of the minutes. He has the duty to transmit to those concerned the acts and the decisions of the Superior general and of the general council. 237. The Archivist general attends the general archives and controls the provincial archives.

6. The Visitors

238. The Visitors are confreres appointed, in special cases, by the Superior general, with the consent of his council, to pro- note and control various sectors of the life of the Congregation; the Superior general may delegate to them the duty of canonical visitation144.

239. The Visitor’s assignment is temporary his appointment may be made upon request from a provincial Superior, a provincial council, or a local chapter.

240. The faculties of the Visitor and the duration of his mandate are defined by universal law and by the act of appointment.

                                                                                                                          143 _{Cf. nn. 311-312.}

240.1 - It is the duty of the Visitor:

a) to gather direct information from the confreres and from other persons whom he may deem useful to question;

b) to get to know personally the activities, the places, the documents and whatever may be useful to the fulfillment of his mandate.

241. At the end of his assignment, the Visitor gives a written report of his actions to the Superior general. The decision on eventual measures suggested by the Visitor are the concern of the Superior general with the consent of his council, unless a different faculty has been given to the Visitor himself.

CHAPTER IV