his ordinary confessor, who can dispense him from these austerities, appointing alms or prayers instead. This commutation will procure the same advantages to such as are dispensed for a legitimate cause.

CHAPTER XIX.

ON THE DECLARATION OF NOTABLE FAULTS.

Superiors will be careful to declare to the director the notable faults of the brothers and sisters, that he may endeavour to bring them to a sincere conversion; but if any one becomes incorrigible, after having been warned three several times, the superior, having taken the advice of the council, shall cut him off from the order, and declare his exclusion at the first assembly.

NOTE. See what is said on this subject in the sixteenth chapter; also the note to the first chapter.

CHAPTER XX.

THIS RULE DOES NOT BIND UNDER PAIN OF SIN.

In fine, we will not that the brothers and sisters be bound, under pain of mortal sin, to observe the things contained in this rule, if they are not already bound by the commandments of God and His Church; but they must accept with a ready humility the penances enjoined for such things as they may not have observed.

NOTE. The rule of the Third Order does not bind under sin. This chapter clearly states that it does not oblige under mortal sin; and the declaration of Leo X. expressly states that it does not bind

under venial sin. The bull confirming the Third Order says: "Omnia et singula in præsenti regula contenta sunt consilia ad salvandas animas viatorum; et nulla sunt obligatoria ad peccatum mortale vel veniale, nisi humano vel divino jure aliquis alias esset obligatus."

We must, however, remark, that the transgression of any point of the rule may be a sin, either as opposed to a divine, an ecclesiastical, or even a private precept, for example, a personal vow; or from acting from a bad motive, for instance, from contempt of the rule; or, again, on account of the scandal that may result from such transgression.

Thus, to return to this point-lest we should not have been sufficiently clear-we will repeat, that it is not a sin to violate the rule, unless the point violated be preceded, accompanied, or followed by something which renders it sinful.

If, then, the brothers or sisters shall have failed to observe the rule in any particular, they need not fear lest they should have offended God; but they must form the generous resolution to accept and accomplish all that the director or ordinary confessor shall appoint, in order to recover by another good action the merit lost by the omission.

CONCLUSION OF THE BULL.

It is not permitted for any one to contradict the tenure of our declaration, nor to oppose it rashly. If any one have the temerity to do so, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God, and His blessed Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul.

Given at Reate, the sixteenth of the calender of September, and the second year of our Pontificate.

73

CONSTITUTIONS OR PARTICULAR RULES

FOR

Congregations of the Third Order.

RULES FOR ELECTIONS.

1. ELECTIONS for superiors and other officers must take place every year, that the short duration of the charge may animate those who are chosen to fulfil their various duties with a zealous exactitude. These functions, however, may be continued for three years by a yearly re-election. Upon the expiration of this time, they will not be eligible to the same post until they have been out of office at least a year, unless some pressing circumstance require it.

2. No charge shall be given to any brother or sister whose character betokens ambition; who complains of not being appointed, or of not having served so long as the others. This must be an insurmountable objection to re-election to any office. This rule should be considered as the foundation of the tranquillity of the congregation, and should therefore be strictly observed, without regard to persons.

3. The day of the elections-which should be the third Sunday after Pentecost-Mass must be offered

H

up to invoke the aid of the Holy Ghost, and all the brothers and sisters receive the holy Communion with this intention. After dinner they assemble, and proceed to the elections in the following manner:

4. The director, in surplice and stole, kneeling on the steps of the altar, is to intone the Veni Creator, which the brothers or sisters are to continue; afterwards adding the prayers appointed for their assemblies. When these are finished, the director is to give a short address, exhorting the brothers or sisters to consider neither flesh, nor blood, nor parentage, nor friends, in the choice they are about to make, but solely the glory of God, and the spiritual advantage of the congregation.

5. The election of the superior is to be made in this manner the superior and other officers who are about to quit their charge being assembled, write on slips of paper the names of the two brothers or sisters they consider before God as the most worthy to fill the place of superior. The director then opens these papers in the presence of the officers, and the secretary declares the result.

6. After this preparatory deliberation, the director is to choose two scrutators from the elder brothers or sisters, who must be accepted by the assembly. These, after having promised to observe secrecy, under pain of public and severe correction, must place themselves near the director, at a respectful distance, to count with him the votes, and to witness his fidelity in recording them.

7. The director, thus placed, must propose to the assembled congregation the two brothers or sisters who have received the greatest number of votes, and which the officers going out shall agree upon; but

that all may be done properly, the following order must be observed: Each professed brother or sister must receive a ball (the novices have neither an active nor a passive voice); then each brother or sister, according to his or her rank, without communicating any thing to the others, must put his or her vote into one of the two boxes, which are to be placed on the altar, with the names of the two brothers or sisters proposed for the office in question. The one who receives the plurality of voices will be the superior, and the other the assistant.

In case the votes should be equal, the director decides the election by his own vote. He must then declare, in an intelligible voice, the number of votes each one has received.

The elections being finished, the newly-chosen officers must kneel before the director, who will confirm them in their charge, and give the superior the keys of the chapel, as a mark of his or her dignity.

8. In the same manner must be elected a first and second master or mistress, two zealators, a treasurer, a secretary, ten discreets or counsellors, when the congregation is numerous; but when it is not, the director can regulate the number as his prudence may suggest. The council of the congregation is to comprise the whole of the officers. The elections are to be inscribed in the book of the congregation, and be signed by the two scrutators and the director.

9. The superior and council are to name the sacristans, infirmarians, readers, cantors or choristers, when the office is said in common, or when it is chanted in the chapel. They will also name the porters.

10. If it happens that the elections made accord