THE FIRST RVLE OF THE GLORIOVS VIRGIN S. CLARE.
AUDOMARI.
Typis Thomae Geubels, 1665.
Permiſſu Superiorum.
THE Rule or forme of life which the Religious woemen of the order of S. Clare promiſe and profeſſe to obſerue, is that, which Bleſſed S. Francis at the earneſt intreatie, and requeſt of S. Clare and her companions, did write and deliuer vnto them, about the yeare of our Lord 1224. and the 12. after her conuerſion vnto God; which ſhe at Aſſiſium,4 with ſome other few Monaſteries did carefully obſerue for about 30. yeares, although it was not as yet confirmed by Bull, vntil the yeare of our Lord 1253. the 11. of Pope Jnnocent the forth, and the laſt of her life. She at leaſt, had that comfort, ſome few days before her departure, to ſee that Rule confirmed by Bull, which her ſelf for diuers yeares, had freely and piouſly obſerued; which her ſucceſſours in their ſacred Profeſſiō, now promiſe by Vow to keep and follow, and which the ſeraphical Father S. Francis, had with much prayer and many5 teares framed and written.
The occaſion, or reaſon of her demanding, or his writing of this Rule, is mentioned by the R: F: Lucas Wadding, in the 1. Tome of his Annals on the yeare of our Lord 1224 and 9. of Honorius the Third.
S. Clare à deuout diſciple and true follower of the ſeraphical ſpirit of ſoe great à Maſter, diſdayning all things of this world, and emulating ſuch, as were more eminent; hauing vnderſtood in the yeare of our Lord 1223. and the 8. of Honorius the third, that that hard Rule of the Friar-Minors was giuen, and6 by him confirmed; ſhe, the yeare following, with her companions of Aſſiſium, made earneſt ſuit to S. Francis, that he would pleaſe to giue in writing vnto her alſo, and her ſiſters of S. Damian, ſome Rule, or forme of life, beſids what he had before deliuered vnto them, by word of mouth, conformable vnto that, which was cōfirmed to the Friar-Minors the yeare before, wherby [after the death of ſoe great à Maſter] as wel they, as thoſe, who were to ſucceed them, might be gouerned.He, after ſerious deliberatiō7 communicating the matter with Cardinal Hugoline, then Protector of the Order of Friar-Minors, and perceiuing the ſiſters feruour aſpired yet higher [as not cōtent with the Jnſtitution giuen them by the ſaid Cardinal Hugoline, ſome few yeares before, which the other Monaſteries not withſtāding [except this of Aſſiſiū] were contēt and ſatisfied withall, wrote for them, à proper Rule; and did accommodate the ſame to that of the Friar-Minors, ſoe far forth, as their weake ſexe would permitt thē; they both ouerſeeing the work, whilſt S. Francis ſtayed8 at ſome word or periode, Hugoline gaue him aſſiſtance and counſel, concerning the circumſpection or mitigation he eſteemed needfull to be vſed in a matter of ſoe high cōcernment; and in writing, they could not forbeare weeping; conſidering the Virgins zeale and feruour did exceed the ordinarie ſtraine, and weakneſſe of their ſexe.
This is commonly called the firſt Rule of S. Clare, not becauſe it was giuen firſt, for it was deliuered rather in the third place, and ſoe receiued by S. Clare; but it is called the firſt, by reaſon of fiue different9 Rules or formes of life, giuen and receiued at differēt times. For, three being almoſt antiquated, it may be called the firſt of the two remaining. for better vnderſtanding wherof, J ſhal in breef only, mention theſe fiue afore-named Rules, togeather with theire beginnings.
Jn the yeare of ourThe 1. Rule. Lord 1212. and 15. of Jnnocent the third, the moſt Holy Virgin S. Clare, began the order of poore Clares, the 18. yeare of her age, in a10 Monaſterie of S. Damian, without the gates of the Cittie of Aſſiſium, in the way towards Rome, whēce they were know'n anciently, by the name of Damiates or Aſſiſiates: wher S. Francis tought them a certain manner of liuing in common, and gaue them an vnpoliſh't Rule, ſuch an one, as was thē fitting for thoſe, that were newly conuerted from the vanities of the world; they liuing vnanimouſly, and deuoutly practiſing the ſaid forme of life for the ſpace of about ſix yeares.
Vntil the vertuousThe 2. Rule Cardinal Hogoline [who ſucceeded in the ſea of11 Rome by the name of Gregorie the 9.] wrote ſome directions with Jnſtructiōs annexed, which he firſt ſent by his owne autoritie vnto S. Clare and her deuout Companie, liuing in the Monaſterie of S. Damian, and being with zeale by them receiued, he reduced them into a better forme, and by authoritie of the ſea Apoſtolique, did adioyne theſe his Conſtitutions to the Rule of S. Benedict, and ſent them, the ſecond time, to the ſaid S. Clare and her ſiſters, which they vnanimouſly receiued, in the 4. yeare of the Popedome of Honorius the third, and of our Lord 1219.
12Jn the yeare of ourThe 3. Rule. Lord 1223. the Glorious Virgin S. Clare, with her Companions of the Monaſterie of Aſſiſium, zealouſly emulating the heigth of perfection, in moſt ſublime Pouertie, did hūbly requeſt that great Maſter of ſpirit S. Francis, that he would pleaſe to frame for them, a yet more ſetled Rule of life, for preſent ād future ages: which he wrote accordingly, and deliuered vnto them, in the yeare of our Lord 1224. they of Aſſiſium punctualy obſeruing it, for aboue 30. yeares, vntil it was confirmed by a Bull of Pope13 Jnnocent the 4. the 11. yeare of his Popedome, and ſome few days before the happie death of the Glorious Mother S. Clare. And this is the Rule which here we declare and treate of and the ſiſters of her Order, doe promiſe ſucceſſiuely in their Holy Profeſſion to obſerue and follow it; which though third in number, yet deſeruedly beareth the name of the firſt Rule of S. Clare, the two former being alreadie in a manner forgotten; hauing only been in vſe and practiſed about 12. yeares, beſids, that as in all beginnings, ſoe were thoſe more rude and vnpoliſh't.
14The 4. Rule, or formeThe 4. Rule. of life, deliuered vnto the Order of S. Clare, is that, which by ſollicitation of ſome Friar-Minors, without the cōſent, or knowledge of S. Clare, was vnderhand dealt for, to be cōfirmed by Jnnocent the 4. the 5. yeare of his Popedome; wherin diuers ſubſtantial points were changed, and new ons inſerted, concerning the auſteritie, Pouertie, ſubiection and ſuch like. J wil only touch in breife what Ludouicus Miranda a graue Author of the ſaid Order of Friar-Minors, doth mention concerning it, in his15 firſt part of the expoſition of the Rule of S. Clare 9. chapt. This Rule, 4. th in order, was procured, ſaith he, by the ſuggeſtion and ſollicitation of ſome Prelats of the Order of Friar-Minors; certaine Abbeſſes ioyning with them, without the priuitie or conſent of S. Clare; who, hauing vnderſtood the matter, and that the Prelats of the Order intended to bind her and her ſiſters of Aſſiſium, as they had inforced other Monaſteries, to the acceptance and obligation of this new Rule, ſhe with her ſiſters of Aſſiſium, highly16 reſenting it, that the ſaid Prelats had ſollicited and procured ſuch a ſubſtantial change of Rule, without her knowledge, and being greatly ſcandalifed at them, ſaith Miranda, and at all thoſe ſiſters that held with them, refuſed vtterly to admitt of it, and with all humilitie and modeſtie, preſenting theſe her grieuances vnto his Holineſſe Pope Jnnocent the 4. with much afflictiō and ſorrow, for that he gaue eare to the ſiniſter relations of the ſaid Prelats and Nunnes, that held with them, ſhe humbly requeſted,17 that he would graciouſly pleaſe to recale the ſaid Rule, and approue and confirme that, which the H. Father S. Francis had written and left them.She at length preuailed ſoe far, and with ſoe happie ſucceſſe, that after 5. or 6. years, that is, the 10. and the 11. yeare of his Popedome, he ſett forth two diſtinct Bulls, by the former expreſly commanding the ſaid Prelats, that in noe caſe they inforce the Nunnes of S. Damian, to accept this new Rule, which he declared to be voide and of noe effect. By which Bull here18 annexed, [beginning Recto aſſumpto tramite, faithfully trāſlated out of an Authentical copie, taken out of the great Conuent in Paris, of the order of Friar-Minors, by the Apoſtolical Nuntius, then reſiding in France 1628. and by him ſent to the Engliſh Monaſterie of poore Clares in Graueling] it appeareth manifeſt, that the ſuperiours and Prelats of the order of Friar-Minors, neither haue, nor ought to haue, or exerciſe any Juriſdiction, or Power, ouer the afore-ſayd Nunnes, ſeeing, as he ſaith, that abſolutely they haue none: And by the latter19 Bull, he approued and confirmed the Rule itſelfe, which S. Francis had made; declaring, that all the Nunnes of Aſſiſiū ought, by all means, to obſerue and keep it; this latter Bull is alſo ſett down at large, being the Rule it ſelf, and Confirmation therof.
The 5. Rule is thatThe 5. Rule. of Vrban the 4. who created Pope, 6. yeares only after Jnnocent the 4. being informed, the firſt yeare of his Popedome, by the Cardinal Protector of the Friar-Minors, that20 the Religious woemen of the Order of S. Clare, made differently their Profeſſion and Vow, in diuers Monaſteries, according to different Rules and formes of life, iudged it expedient to make a new Rule; collecting out of others, ſuch things, as ſeemed moſt conuenient for the condition and ſtate of thoſe Nunnes; endeauoring, as neer as might be, to reduce them to Vniformitie; and himſelf confirmed this ſaid Rule, by Apoſtolical autoritie, as may be ſeen in Marcus de Liſbona, in the 2. part of his Chronicles and 2. book.
21Hence it appeareth that of all theſe 5. Rules here mentioned, and at different times deliuered to the Religious woemen of the Order of S. Clare, two only remaine in obſeruance and vſe, to witt, this latter, drawn in order and deliuered by Vrban the 4. caled vſualy the 2. Rule of S. Clare, or of the Urbaniſts; and that other, which was written by S. Francis, as we haue ſayd and cōfirmed ſome few days before the death of the Glorious Virgin S. Clare, the 11. yeare of Pope Jnnocent the 4. and is know'n vſualy by the name of her firſt22 of her firſt Rule, as wel in reſpect of that of Vrban the 4. which was ordered and brought into a forme of Rule, 6. yeares after her death, as of the 3. others, which, euen at that time, were either antiquated, or annulled.
Here needeth noe further addition by way of Preface, vnto this firſt Rule of the Glorious Mother S. Clare; ſeeing that the following Conſtitutions or Declarations lately approued and confirmed by his Holineſſe Pope Alexander the 7. doe ſufficiently, according to their title, declare and explicate what might23 ſeeme obſcure and hidden in the text of the Rule.
This J only add, by way of note, that, as in all other, ſoe in this Holy Religious Order of S. Clare, ſuch reſpect and reuerence is due vnto the Holy Rule, and Author therof, as each word and letter is euer to remaine without change, and inuiolable in its primitiue and firſt integritie; although the Conſtitutions or Declaratiōs of the ſame, muſt needs admitt ſometimes varietie and change, according to the change and circumſtāces of time, place and perſons, eſpeacialy, when vniformitie24 and reference to the ſacred Canons, and Holy Councill of Trent ſhal ſoe require.
Hence it followeth that a law may be made voide, that is, by it ſelf, or by authoritie of higher power, may ceaſe to oblige; and yet, that ſame law or Rule ſhal remaine as it was firſt written, and without the change of one only letter; although in practice, it is become voide, out of vſe and with out force; as appeareth manifeſt in this very Rule of S. Clare, wherof we treate.
And to giue you ſome few inſtances and examples: we find in the beginning of the 2.25 chapt: that there is mention of not admitting Nouices, without the conſent and licence of the Lord Cardinal Protector; which, ſeeing in practiſe, it can not be complyed withall, by reaſon of diſtance of place, and other inconueniences, the leaue of the ſuperiour, or Biſhop of the Dioceſe doth ſuffice; and yet the words, or text of the Rule remaine intire, as they were firſt written, becauſe once they had their effect and force, though they be voide at preſent. Againe, in the end of the 3. chapt: it is lawfull for the Chaplain to celebrate within the Monaſterie, for communicating26 of the ſick, and yet, for many important reaſons, it hath been iudged needfull to alter it; ordering that Maſſe be celebrated without the Monaſterie, and that afterwards, the ſick within, if needfull, may be cōmunicated. Thirdly in the 8. chapt: it is mentioned, that ſome ſecular Perſons may enter the Monaſterie to viſit the ſick, which now, is expreſly forbidden by the H: Council of Trent in the 25. ſeſſion and 5. chapt: that none enter, but with ſuch reſtrained conditiōs as are there ſpecified. Laſtly, to omitt diuers other ſuch like inſtances and examples, which27 in this Holy Rule occurre frequently, J wil only mention one more, which by miſ-vnderſtāding, might proue a ſtūbling-block, in ſome ons way, if not fore-ſeen in time, and maturely preuented.
Jt is ſpecified, in the 1. chapt of the Rule, that, as S. Clare, in the beginning of her conuerſion, with her ſiſters promiſed obedience to the moſt Holy Father S. Francis, ſoe in like ſort, doth ſhe prcmiſe to obſerue the ſame obedience inuiolably vnto his ſucceſſours, and the other ſiſters are alwais obliged to obey the ſucceſſours of H: S. Francis. Theſe words are wrightly to be vnderſtood,28 not as written by the pen of the ſeraphical Father, [as appeares euident; for, he would neuer haue caled, or giuen him ſelf the title of the H: and moſt H: Father S. Francis] but litterally, of thoſe Monaſteries, or Cōuents only, which, by authoritie and leaue of the ſea Apoſtolique, are immediatly ſubiect to the Juriſdiction of the Friar-Minors; and not of thoſe, which by their owne requeſt, or appointmēt of his Holineſſe the Pope of Rome, or immediatly by them ſelues, are ſubiected to the gouernment and Juriſdiction of the Biſhops of the29 Dioceſſes: for, theſe rendring their dutie, and obedience to their Ordinarie, neither can, nor may, any ways, ſubmitt themſelues, to the Juriſdiction of the ſucceſſours of S. Francis.
And if we make reflection on the eminent high dignitie of a Biſhop in his Dioceſe, and the esteeme wee ought to haue of his ſoe ſingular and choice title of Ordinarie, we ſhal find, it doth import noe leſſe, then a Juriſdiction and power deliuered vnto him, both by the natural and writtē law of God: for God, hath ſoe diſpoſed in nature, that the30 members of a body be ſubiect vnto the head, and particular perſons to the cheef of the Communitie. ſeeing therfore all Chriſtians are members of that particular Church of Chriſt, in whoſe Dioceſe they are, of which Church the Biſhop is head and cheef; it followeth, that as members and parts of the ſame Church, they reuerence and obey him, as placed by God, for their head and guide; according to that ſaying of S. Cyprian It is eſtabliſhed by GodsS. Cyprian l. 4. epiſt:•. law, ſaith he, that Churches ſhould be conſtituted vpon Biſhops, and the parts of31 euery Church ſhould be gouerned by the ſame Prelats; and this authoritie, or power is founded in thoſe words of the 20. of the Acts of the Apoſtles, wher it's ſayd; The H: Ghost hath placed you Biſhops to rule the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his bloud; ſoe that, it is more euident then the light at mid-day, ſaith Dominicus Soto a learned author of that age libro 10. de Jure et Juſtitia quaeſtione prima, art. primo, that Chriſt did inſtitute the dignitie of Biſhops which now is floriſhing in the miliant Church of Christ our Lord God, at whoſe Conſecration ſhe32 vſeth this prayier: lett him be a faithfull and prudent ſeruant, whom thou Lord doſt appoint ouer thy familie, to giue it meatein due ſeaſon, and to make euery man perfect. Wherfore, to deſcēd to particulars, by way of Concluſiō, ſeeing the poore Clares are of them, which Chriſt purchaſed with his owne bloud, ſeeing they are parts of that houſe, which Chriſt built vpon the rock, ſeeing they are children of Chriſts familie wanting meate, and of them, who muſt be made perfect to Chriſt, they muſt therfore be alſo ſubiect onto him, who by God, is placed ouer them as Ordinarie, and33 Biſhop to rule the Church of God, vnleſſe by an extraordinarie and ſpeacial priuiledge of the ſupreme Uicaire of Chriſt, they ſhould chance to be exempted from this his Ordinarie Juriſdiction and power, which the Popes of Rome haue been ſoe farr from grāting, that euen the contrarie hath been at ſeueral times by them declared, in different and expreſſe Bulls, as occaſion required.
Which truth wil appeare more euident, if we reflect how the order of Friar-Minors eſpeacially in time of the Generalate of S. Bonauenture,34 procured of the Popes Holineſſe, an act, wherby he declared them to be exempt and wholy free, frō all charge and care of the ſaid religious woemen. Hence it followed, that the Friar-Minors would by noe means admitt, or acknowledge, that they had any power, or Juriſdiction ouer the ſaid Religious of S. Clare, but abſolutely refuſed to come neer their Monaſteries, or to adminiſter the H: Sacraments vnto them, vnleſſe the ſiſters had firſt aſſured them, by a publique Jnſtrumēt in writing, that their aſſiſting them, was out of Charitie, and not out35 of obligation of dutie.
Hence F: Emmanuel Rodericus, a graue and learned Authour of the ſaid Order, in his 3. tome of Regular queſtions 72. queſt: 1. Artic. 3. Conclus: plainly deliuered his opiniō and iudgment, in point of the Friars hauing charge of Monaſteries of Woemen, in theſe words, as followeth. I wiſh, ſaith he, that all Nunnes, of what Regular Jnſtitute ſoeuer, were ſubiect to the Ordinarie, eſpecially in our Religion of Friar-Minors, in which, we can not take care, of their poſſeſſions and rents, as others36 may.And the ſeraphical Father S. Francis him ſelf, doth in this point abundantly declare his intentiō and meaning, in thoſe his words cited by F: Wadding, in his Chronicles, on the yeare of our Lord 1219. S. Francis, ſaith he, intending his iourney vnto the Sultan in the Eaſt, the Cardinal Protector Hugoline conferred with him, concerning the care and gouernment of the poore Dames of S. Damian and other Monaſteries, which began to be multiplied. The H: Father replyed, that for his part, beſid's that Monaſterie37 only, in which he had encloſed ſiſter Clare, he neither had built, nor procured any to be built, and ſoe, had taken care of none, but of that only of S. Damian, in order vnto Regular diſcipline; prouiding them ſome poore temporal means, by begging for thē. He added further, that nothing did ſoe much diſpleaſe him, as that his Brethren in other parts, earneſtly endeauoured to haue houſes built for Religious Woemē, and to haue them vnder their gouernmēt and charge.S. Francis, it's true, neuer38 omitted to performe this charitable dutie, towards the Monaſterie of S. Damian, wherin S. Clare was incloſed, as F: Wadding wel noteth, and addeth further,that this his example gaue exteriourly occaſion vnto his Brethren, to aſſiſt other Monaſteries, who either by perſuaſion, or entreatie, did ſoe intrude thē ſelues into thoſe buſineſſes, that when the ſecret miſcheef broke forth ād ſhewed it ſelf [as it hapned to their owne great domage, vnder Urban the 4.] they could not withdraw in time, and ſhunne the inconueniences39 that inſued.F: Wadding in the ſame place, hath much more cōcerning this ſubiect, which for diuers reaſons, J purpoſely omitt.
Jt followeth cleerly, by what hath been ſayd, that neither S. Francis, the Authour of this H. Rule, euer intended to ſubiect theſe Religious Woemen, vnder the Obedience of his Order, [but rather the contrarie] nor that the Order euer accepted, but rather oppoſed and ſhaked off this great charge and burden; wheras, notwithſtanding, acceptance on both ſid's is neceſſarie to make a contract40 valid in Law, as all Doctors vnanimouſly doe profeſſe and teach: ſoe that, as Malderus wel noteth, lib. de Jure et Juſtitia: tract: 1. cap: 9. dub: 10. Although it were certaine, ſaith he, and the caſe ſuſppoſed as true, that S. Francis, and S. Clare had made a contract, one with the other, ſhe, in the name of her ſiſters, promiſing Obedience, and he in the name of his Brothers, to haue a perpetual care of the ſiſters, that by this means, they might the better obſerue their ſublime Pouertie; yet, becauſe his ſucceſſours did41 not fulfill and keep this his promiſe, as we haue ſeene in the time of S. Bonauenture, for this reaſon, the promiſe of S. Clare, hath long ſince ceaſed to oblige the ſiſters of theſe ages.
Neither muſt this ſeeme ſtrange vnto any: for the obligation of keeping a Law, doth ceaſe, ſaith Malderus, in the place afore-mentioned, when the occaſion, or cauſe for which the law was made, doth ceaſe: but the occaſion, or reaſon why S. Clare promiſed Obedience vnto S. Frācis and his ſucceſſours, was her earneſt deſire of moſt42 ſublime Pouertie ioyn'd with a ſtrict incloſure, which ſhe knew fullwell, could not be effected nor hoped for, without aſſiſtance and releef, by the begging of S. Francis and his Brethren for them; but the Friar-Minors after the departure of the ſaint, abſolutely refuſing this charge and burden, and procuring moreouer a declaration from his Holineſſe Pope Urban the 4. that they were to be exempt and wholy free from all care of the ſaid Religious Woemen, and by noe obligation bound to vndergoe it;it followeth by way of43 conſequence, that the ſaid ſiſters are in noe ways obliged to what ſoeuer cōtract, or promiſe S. Clare might chance to haue made in their behalf; ſeeing, that both the occaſion, or cauſe, why ſhe might haue made that promiſe, doth ceaſe, and the ſucceſſours of S. Frācis haue refuſed to accept the condition, and vndergoe the burden.
Laſtly, J conclude, that although all that can be obiected, were ſuppoſed and granted, yet, as all Doctors vnanimouſly affirme, a promiſe ceaſeth to oblige, whē an higher ſuperiour by lawfull44 autoritie doth releaſe it; and his Holineſſe the Pope of Rome, can releaſe promiſes made euen to God him ſelf, as is manifeſt: but different Popes, and in particular, Jnnocent the 4. by his Bull here annexed, beginning, Recto aſſumpto tramite, hath not only releaſed the ſaid Friar-Minors from all ſuperioritie, charge and care, which here-to-fore they migth pretend to haue had, ouer the Religious Woemen of the order of S. Clare, but doth alſo in Uertue of H: Obedience, ſtrictly commād and enioyne vnder paine of Excommunication, all and45 euery one of the Order of Friar-Minors, that hēce forth, they exerciſe noe Juriſdictiō whatſoeuer, ouer the aforeſaid Abbeſſes, Nunnes, or Monaſteries of S. Clare, ſeeing that abſolutly they haue none. Hence it followeth, that ſeeing the Friar-Minors haue noe Juriſdiction or power, ouer the Religious Woemen of the Order of S. Clare, that the ſaid ſiſters alſoe haue noe obligation of Obedience, or ſubiection towards the aforeſayd ſuperiours, or Prelats of the Order of Friar-Minors.
And to deſcend more to particulars, in the yeare of46 our Lord 1631. his Holineſſe Pope Urban the 8. was graciouſly pleaſed, to ſend a particular Breue, to the Abbeſſe ād Religious of the order of S. Clare reſyding in the Towne of Graueling, dated the laſt of May, in the 8. yeare of his Popedome; which being faithfully tranſlated, we haue alſo thought fitt here, to ſett down; where he declareth in expreſſe termes, the ſaid Religious Woemen, to be in noe wyes, ſubiect to the ſuperiours of the Order of Friar-Minors, but that they, and their Monaſteries are, by his expreſſe command, reſtoared to the47 Obedience and ſubiection of their Ordinarie the Lord Biſhop of S. Omers; they hauing been ſubiect vnto him from the very beginning of their ſettlement and admiſſion into that Towne; their admiſſiō being limited with this condition, to liue vnder the Obedience and Iuriſdiction of the Lord Biſhop of the Dioceſe: as appears in the letters of grant, giuen by his Highneſſe Arch-Duke Albertus, dated at Bruſſels the 7. of October 1608. as alſo in the letters of reception of the Baron Guernouual, then Gouernour of the Towne of Graueling, and48 Founder in part, of the ſaid Monaſterie; bearing date 26. of Auguſt. 1627. and laſtly in the letters of admiſſion of the ſaid Towne, dated the ſame yeare and day; all three inſerting, in expreſſe termes, this condition, as neceſſarie for their admittance, that they be euer ſubiect to the Ordinarie, the Lord Biſhop of S. Omers.
Lett it therfore remaine, as concluded and certaine, that thoſe Monaſteries of the order of S. Clare, which can not make appeare, by particular grant and priuiledge of the ſea Apoſtolique, their poſitiue exemption from the Juriſdiction49 of the Biſhop, that they are and ought to remaine ſubiect to the ſaid Biſhop of their Dioceſe, who therfore is know'n vnder the notion and title of Ordinarie: and ſeeing the Poore Clares in the Towne of Graueling, haue not only their admittance limited by the Prince, Towne and Goueruour, and by thē reſtrained to this obligation or condition of being ſubiect to the Ordinarie; but are more ouer, by a particular Breue ſent them by Pope Urban the 8. expreſly cōmanded to liue and remaine [as we haue ſayd] vnder the Obedience of the Lord Biſhop of50 S. Omers; excluding in expreſſe words, all whatſoeuer pretended power, the Friar-Minors haue, ore might ſeeme to haue ouer them; ſeeing, [as Pope Jnnocent the 4. aboue mentioned doth alſo declare] that abſolutely they haue none, it followeth, that they are, and ought to remaine ſubiect, and obedient to the ſaid Lord Biſhop, and that, the Obedience mentioned in the firſt Chapter of their Rule, remaines [as now it is] by ſupreme Authoritie, transferred, or reſtoared to the Perſon of the afore-ſayd Lord Biſhop, or Ordinarie.
THE BVLL OF POPE INNOCENT THE FOVRTH, declaring the Nunnes of the order of S. CLARE, not to be ſubiect to the Friar-Minors by their Rule giuen by S. FRANCIS, and forbidding the ſaid Friars to exerciſe any Iuriſdictiō ouer thē vnder what pretence ſoeuer.
THE trauailer that hath taken the right path, wherby he may conueniently attaine to his intēded ourneys end, ſhould labour53 in vaine, and vnprofitably endeauour to find out other trackes: for the more differēt wayes he tryeth, the more doth he delay his iourney, and whiles he doth haſten, he doth the more hinder himſelf, and the way which perchance is but ſhort, he maketh long by inconſiderate digreſſions; becauſe one, that tryeth diuers paths, may eaſily ſtray from the right, and ſoe wander out of his way; and he that ſoe trauaileth, arriueth ſtill late to his iourny's end; yea, his going on, in this ſort, is rather a going back from the end it ſelf. Hence the varietie and54 noueltie of wayes is to be auoyded, and the ancient and firſt way carefully to beretained; ſeeing the old ways are better know'n then the newer, and one may trauaile more confidently by the tracke of the one, then of the other. Wherfore, they that can walk well in the beaten path, lett them with care auoide the vnuſed.
We haue been euer deſirous that our beloued daughters in Chriſt, the Abbeſſes, and Religious of the order of S. Damian, who flying from the ſlipperie downfalls of the world, haue choſe the ſecure55 retirement of Clauſtral ſolitude, might conſtantly ſerue our Lord in the obſeruance of that Rule, wherby they may more readily obtaine eternal reward.
Hence ſome time ſince, did We, by our letters enioyne our Venerable Brother the Biſhop of Oſtia, and Veletre, that he ſhould not permitt them to be compelled to the vndertaking of a new forme of life, or the ancient [by Vs, being then at Lions changed,] vnleſſe it ſhould ſeeme vnto him more expediēt for their ſaluation; but that he ſhould procure the ancient Rule, which56 the afore-ſayd Abbeſſes and Nunnes had admitted in the firſt inſtitution of their Order, to be by them inuiolably obſerued, if thereby the good and perfectiō of their ſoules might be aduanced; granting him power to compell by Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures, without admitting appeale, whoſoeuer ſhould contradict him.
He [as by his owne Relation We haue vnderſtood] deſirous with all diligence to fulfill our Commands; perceiuing [after ſerious deliberation] it would be more profitable for them, firmly to obſerue the ancient Rule,57 which in the very beginning of their Religion, they had receiued by the carefull endeauour of our Predeceſſour Pope Gregorie of happy memorie; iudged it noe ways expedient to receiue the new one, or to haue the old Rule changed; nor to forſake the former good and holeſome way, for an other newly found out, or decline the accuſtomed, for an vnaccuſtomed courſe of life.
Wherfore, by power of our fore-ſaid letters, he gaue in writing, a moſt ſtrict command, in Vertue of Obedience, to the Abbeſſes and58 Nunnes before named, not to admit in any ways, the aforeſaid new Rule at the command giuen, or to be giuen by any Miniſter, or Friar of your Order what ſoeuer; but to keep the afore-ſaid old Rule for euer, in all ages to come.
And ſeeing it is contained in that new Rule, that you, the General and Prouincial Miniſters of your Order, haue Juriſdictiō ouer the forenamed Abbeſſes and Nunnes [as it appeareth indeed, that, by that Rule, Juriſdictiō is giuen vnto you, and to other Miniſters, who for the time ſhal be] the ſaid Biſhop gaue by Our59 authoritie, in his letters, an expreſſe Cōmand, to you gathered to geather in a General Chapter of your Order at Genoua, that you ſhould not intermeddle here-after with any Juriſdiction ouer the forenamed Abbeſſes and Nunnes, nor their Monaſteries, nor preſume to exerciſe any authoritie ouer the ſame, for the time to come.
And by other letters to the ſame Abbeſſes and Nunnes afore-mētioned, he enioyned, that they ſhould noe more obey, or be ſubiect vnto you, nor to other Miniſters, that for the time ſhould be, but that they ſhould humbly reſpect60 and obey him, and ſuch Viſitours, as he ſhould appoint for their Monaſteries.
But you, not liſtning to the precept of the ſaid Biſhop, as it was your duty, neglected to obſerue the ſame; entring the fore-ſaid Monaſteries by your owne authoritie and good pleaſure, contrarie to the tenour of their Rule; ſometimes alſo deſigning and ſending thither, ſome of your Friars; vſing endeauours, that the fore-ſaid Abbeſſes and Nunnes ſhould not regard the Commands of the Biſhop before mentioned; often-times encountring and ſtopping his61 meſſengers and letters; diſputing moreouer, yea and difinitiuely, affirming, that you were not bound to regard, or obey the ſaid Biſhop, but in ſome caſes only.
Wherfore, to you all and to all the Friars of your Order, in Vertue of Obedience, vnder paine of Excommunication, by theſe Apoſtolical letters, We, by ſtrict precept enioyne, that you obey the afore-mentioned Biſhop, and his commands and letters in all things; and that, ouer the afore-named Abbeſſes and Nunnes, or their Monaſteries, here-after, you exerciſe no Juriſdiction62 whatſoeuer; ſeeing that ouer them, you haue none at all; and that you neither endeauour, by word or deed, ſecretly or openly, by your ſelues or others, that the aforeſaid Abbeſſes and Nunnes ſhould not regard and obſerue the commands of the ſaid Biſhop, and that you neuer oppoſe your ſelues to his meſſengers or letters.
But rather, ſeeing as wel your Order, as theirs, is committed by the Sea Apoſtolique, to the care of the ſaid Biſhop, who with a vigilant eye doth not ceaſe carefully to procure the aduancement63 of both; you are deuoutly to admit, and inuiolably to obſerue his precepts, as wel in the things afore-ſayd, as in all others; eſpeacially, ſeeing that as wel you, as all the Friars of your Order, next to the Pope of Rome, are bound to reſpect and obey your Cardinal, appointed by the ſea Apoſtolique, to haue the charge and cuſtodie of your Order.
Otherwiſe, the ſentence and cenſure, which the aforenamed Biſhop ſhal giue againſt ſuch as diſobey, or rebell, We wil ratifie the ſame, and make it [God willing]64 to be inuiolably obſerued, vntil condigne ſatisfaction be giuen; not admitting of any appeale to the contrarie; notwithſtanding any ſtatutes, priuiledges, or Apoſtolical letters, of what tenour ſoeuer they may be, either granted, or here-after to be granted to you, or to any of yours, or to your Order, in any ways to the cōtrarie. Giuen at Perugia the 17. day of March, the tenth yeare of our Pope-dome.
TO Future Memorie. Jt was lately propoſed vnto Us, in the name of our dearly beloued Daughters66 in Chriſt, the Abbeſſe, and Religious of S. Francis, of the Engliſh Monaſterie in Graueling, caled Clariſſes, of the Dioceſe of S. Omers, that the ſayd Monaſterie, from the firſt beginning of its Foundation, hath been ſubiect to the Gouernment and Juriſdiction of the Biſhop of S. Omers, ſince, by his conniuance, to the Order of S. Francis of Friar-Minors called Obſeruants. Whence, the ſayd ſuppliants, faling into great difficulties with the afore-ſayd Friar-Minors, by Command of our Uenerable Brothers, the Lord Cardinals, deputed ouer the67 cauſes of Regulars, and by an expreſſe Decree of our Beloued ſonne, the then Nuntius of the ſea Apoſtolique reſiding in thoſe parts, bearing date the 23. of Februarie 1628. Wherby the afore-mentioned Monaſterie, was reſtored to the Obedience of the afore-ſaid Biſhop, or Ordinarie, enioying vnder his Juriſdiction much tranquillitie and peace. And it being mētioned in the ſame expoſitiō, that the afore-ſayd ſuppliants, deſyred earneſtly, the reſtoring of the ſayd Monaſterie to the Juriſdiction of the afore-mentioned Ordinarie68 might be ſtrengthned by the Confirmation of our Apoſtolical Decree: We, inclined to the requeſts hūbly preſented vnto Us, in their behalf, doe abſolue the ſaid ſuppliants, for the obtaining only of the effect of theſe, and eſteeme each one of them by force of theſe, truly abſolued from whatſoeuer Excommunication, ſuſpenſion, or Jnterdict, or from whatſoeuer other Eccleſiaſtical ſentenſes, cenſures, or puniſhment inflicted by whatſoeuer occaſion, either by man or law, if in any ways they ſhould chāce to be intangled in the ſame. More ouer69 We, approue and ratifie by theſe preſēt, and by Apoſtolical Authoritie, the afore-confirmed reſtitution of the ſaid Religious and Monaſterie, vnder the Juriſdiction of the afore-named Biſhop, or Ordinarie; adding vnto it, the ſtrength of our Apoſtolical firmneſſe; ſupplying all and euery defect [if any ſhould haue hapned] in law, or fact whatſoeuer: declaring the afore-ſayd Decrees of the Lord Cardinals and Nuntius, as alſo theſe our preſent Letters, to be, and be eſteemed valid, firme, and efficacious, and inuiolably to be obſerued70 by all, whome at preſent, or for the future, it may concerne; and ought thus to be defined and iudged, by whatſoeuer Judges, Ordinaries, or Delegates, euen thoſe of our Apoſtolical Pallace. More ouer, it is declared null, and voide, if any Perſon of what authoritie ſoeuer, either wittingly, or willingly ſhould preſume to attempt the contrarie; any conſtitutions, Apoſtolical ordinations, ſtatuts, cuſtomes priuiledges, grāts, euen ratified by oath, or ſtrengthned by whatſoeuer Apoſtolical confirmation, or letters, granted, confirmed,71 or innouated, to the contrarie in any ways: notwithſtanding; leauing all and euery one of them, as at other times, in their accuſtomed force, We will [at this time only, to the obtaining of the effect of theſe] that they be ſpeacialy, and expreſly annulled, and derogated.
THe Apoſtolical ſea, being accuſtomed to condeſcēd to the pious requeſts, and holy73 deſires of her ſuppliants; and you hauing addreſt your hūble ſuite vnto Us, in order to the approuing and ſtrengthning with our Apoſtolical Cōfirmation the Forme of life, wherby, you ought to liue in common, vnitie of ſpirit, and profeſſion of moſt ſublime pouertie: the ſaid Rule, hauing been giuen, by the Holy S. Francis, by you freely accepted, and by our venerable Brother the Biſhop of Oſtia and Ueletre approued and confirmed, as is more amply cōtained in the letters of the ſaid Biſhop, conformable to Our Apoſtolical authoritie, committed74 vnto him, in this behalf.
We therfore, condeſcending to your deuout requeſts, doe againe ratifie, by Apoſtolical authoritie, and confirme, by theſe preſent, what the ſaid Biſhop did in this behalf; inſerting herein, the tenour of his letters, word by word, as followeth.
Ugoline, by the grace of God, Biſhop of Oſtia and Veletre, to his moſt deare Mother, and Daughters in Chriſt, Clare Abbeſs of S. Damian at Aſſiſium, and her Siſters, as wel preſent, as to come, health and fatherly benediction.
75For as much as you, my dearly beloued Daughters in Chriſt, contemning the pompes, and vanities of the world, and deſyring to tread the footſteps of JESUS Chriſt and his moſt Holy Mother, haue choſen to liue in pouertie, and incloſed, that you may with more libertie and puritie of ſpirit, attend to the ſeruice of his diuine Majeſtie: we, commending in our Lord, your holy reſolutions; doe, out of our fatherly affection, condeſcend graciouſly vnto your petitiōs and pious deſires, and by authoritie of his Holineſſe and76 of Ours, confirme for you, and all thoſe, that ſhal ſucceed you, in your Monaſterie, the forme and rule of life, of holy vnion and moſt ſublime pouertie, which the Bleſſed Father S. Francis, by word and writing, hath deliuered vnto you, to be obſerued; and is, as followeth.
1. THE Rule, and Forme of life, of the Order of the poore Siſters, which Bleſſed S. Francis hath inſtituted,78 is this: to obſerueIn this Chapter, nothing is mētioned, but the 3. Vovvs: for the Ordinances and Profeſſion, ſpeak ſufficiently of the Vovv, vvhich the Siſters make, of incloſure. the holy Ghoſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; liuing in obedience, without proprietie, and in chaſtitie.
2. Clare vnworthy Hand-Maid of Chriſt, and little plant of the moſt Holy Father S. Francis, promiſeth obedience, and reuerence to Pope Jnnocent, and to his ſucceſſours, lawfully and canonically ſucceeding, in the Church of Rome.
3. And, as in the beginning of her conuerſion, ſhe, with79 her ſiſters, promiſed obedience to the moſt Holy Father S. Francis; ſoe, in like ſort, doth ſhe promiſe to obſerue the like obedience inuiolably vnto his ſucceſſours. * AndTheſe vvords are vnderſtood of thoſe Monaſteries only, vvhich are ſubiect to the Order; For, vvhē the Monaſterie is immediatly ſubiect to the Biſhop, then, the Obedience here mentioned, is, by authoritie of the Sea Apoſtolique, trāsferred from the Friar-Minors, and is due to the Perſon of the Lord Biſhop of the Dioceſe, vvherin they liue, and to his Succeſſours. the other ſiſters are always obliged to obey the ſucceſſours of Holy S. Francis, and to obey alſo, ſiſter Clare, ād all other Abbeſſes, who canonically choſen, ſhal ſucceed her.
1. When any one, moued by diuine inſpiratiō, ſhal preſent her ſelf vnto you, to imbrace this courſe of life, the Abbeſs ſhal be bound to aſke the conſent of all the ſiſters; and if the greater part giue their voiceThe Biſhop by him ſelf, or his Vicar, is to examen, and receiue the nouice thus preſented, as is ordained in the Council of Trent Seſſ. 25. cap. 17. [the licence of the Lord Cardinal your Protector, beeing firſt obtained]81 the Abbeſs may receiue her.
2. When ſhe is to be admited, the Abbeſs ſhal diligently examen her, or cauſe her to be examined, concerning the Catholique Faith and the Sacraments of the Church: all which, if ſhe doe firmly beleeue, faithfully profeſſe, and wil ſtidfaſtly obſerue to the end; then [if ſhe haue noe huſband, or if he, [with leaue of the Biſhop of his Dioceſe] be entred into Religion, and hath made a vow of chaſtitie; more-ouer if ſhe be not too far in yeares, nor haue any ſickneſſe, or weakneſſe of82 head, which might hinder her, from the obſeruance of this courſe of life] ſhal be diligently declared vnto her, the contents and tenour of your forme of life.
3. And if ſhe be fitt, and willing, thoſe words of the Holy Ghoſpel ſhal be ſayd vnto her, that ſhe goe, and ſell all ſhe hath, andThis is to be obſerued at the Profeſſion, as the Council of Trent appointeth Seſſ. 25. cap. 16, giue it to the poore. * Which, if ſhe can not effect, her good will ſhal ſuffiſe.
4. The Abbeſs and ſiſters ſhal be very carefull, not to buſie their minds, by medling83 with her temporall goods, to the end, ſhe may freely diſpoſe of them; according as our Lord ſhal inſpire her.
5. Neuertheleſſe, if ſhe herein, doe aſk their counſel, they ſhal ſend her to ſome diſcreet perſon, fearing God; by whoſe direction, her goods may be diſtributed vnto the poore.
6. Then her haire being cutt of round, and her ſecular habit taken away, the Abbeſs ſhal lend her three coates, and one cloake: after which time, it is not lawfull for her, to goe out of the Monaſterie, without manifeſt and profitable cauſe.
847. The yeare of her probation expired, ſheThis is to be vnderſtood, that ſhe be receiued, if the Superiours iudge her fitt, and ther be noe impediment; other vviſe, that ſhe be ſent out of the Monaſterie, as is ordained in the Council of Trēt ſeſſ 25. cap. 16. ſhal be receiued to obedience; promiſing perpetually * to obſerue your māner of pouertie, and forme of life
8. None ſhal receiue the vaile; during the time of Probation.
9. The ſiſters may haue little cloakes for modeſtie, and commoditie of their ſeruiſe, and labour.
10. The Abbeſs ſhall diſcreetly prouide, that the ſiſters haue cloathes, according to85 the qualitie of the perſons, times, places and climats, as ſhe ſhal iudge their neceſſitie to require.
11. They, who are receiued into the Monaſterie, before ſufficient years; hauing their haire cutt of, and their ſecular habit taken away, ſhal be cloathed with ſuch cloath, as the Religious; according to the diſcretion of the Abbeſs; and when they are come to fitt age; taking the habit as others doe, they ſhal make their probation.
12. And the Abbeſs, as wel for them, as for other Nouices, ſhal carefully prouide86 a Miſtreſſe, one of the diſcreeteſt of the Monaſterie, who is diligently to inſtruct them in modeſt manners and holy conuerſation; according to the forme of your Profeſſion.
13. The ſame manner ſhal be obſerued in the admittāce of the ſiſters, who ſerue without the Monaſterie; and thoſe ſiſters may weare ſhoes.
14. None may dwell within the Monaſterie, vnleſſe they be receiued; according to the forme of your Profeſſion.
15. J doe admoniſh, pray and requeſt my ſiſters, that for the loue of the moſt Holy,87 and ſweet child JESUS, who was wrapped in poor cloutes, and layd in a crib, and for the loue of his Holy Mother, that they alwais deſire to be clad in poore cloathes.
1. THe ſiſters, that can read, when they may haue breuiaries, ſhal ſay the diuine office, according to the cuſtome of the Friar-Minors; reading it without ſong: and they, who ſometimes, for ſome reaſonable impediment,88 are hindred frō reading their office, may ſay Pater nosters in lieu therof, as other ſiſters doe, who can not read.
2. Thoſe ſiſters, who can not read, ſhal ſay 24. Pater noſters for Matines, 5. for Laudes, for Prime, Tierce, Sexte, and None, for each of them 7. For euenſong 12. for Compline 7.
3. For the Euenſong of the dead, they ſhal ſay alſo 7. Pater noſters with Requiem aeternam, for the Matines 12. The ſiſters, who can reade, are bound to recite the office of the dead.
4. When any ſiſter of the Monaſterie is departed this89 life, the ſiſters ſhal ſay 50. Pater nosters for her ſoule.
5. The ſiſters ſhal alwais faſt; but on the Natiuitie of our Lord, they may make two refections, vpon what day ſoeuer it hapneth. With the young, weake, and thoſe who ſerue whithout the Monaſterie, the Abbeſs may charitably diſpenſe, when ſhe thinketh good; but in time of manifeſt neceſſitie, the ſiſters are not obliged to corporal faſting.
6. They ſhal confeſſe, with licence of the Abbeſs, at the leaſt 12. times in the yeare, and then, lett them take care,90 that they mingle nor any words, which appertaine not to Confeſſion, or the good of their ſoules.
7. They ſhal receiue the H: Sacrament of the altar ſeauē times in the yeare, as on the Natiuitie of our Lord, on Maunday thurſday, Eaſterday, Whittſonday, the Aſſumptiō of the Bleſſed Virgin Marie, S. Francis his day, and vpon the feaſt of all ſaints.
8. The Chaplaine may celebrate within the Monaſterie, for communicating of the ſick.
1. IN the Election of the Abbeſs, the ſiſters are bound to obſerue the**The Conſtitution of Gregorie the 15. vvill haue the Biſhop, or his Vicar to be preſent at the Election of the Abbeſs: And if the Siſters be vnder the gouernment of the ſayd Biſhop, they are in time, to acquaint him, or his Vicar, to knovv his vvill and leaſure; concerning the future election. Canonical forme.
2. Lett them procure to haue the General Miniſter, or the Prouincial of the Friar-Minors, who, with the word of God, ſhal exhort thē to concord and92 vnion, and to ſeek the common good in the election.
3. None ſhal be choſen, who is not Profeſſed, or if ſuch an one were choſen, or otherwiſe giuen for Abbeſs, they ſhal not obey her, vnleſſe ſhe firſt vow to obſerue the forme of their Pouertie.
4. When the Abbeſs dyeth, the election of an other ſhal be made.
5. Jf at any time, it ſhal ſeeme to the communitie; that the Abbeſs elected, be not ſufficient for the ſeruiſe of the ſiſters, and the cōmon good; the ſayd ſiſters are obliged to choſe an other, as93 ſpeedely as they can; according to the forme afore-ſayd.
6. Lett her, who is elected, weigh and conſider, what a burden ſhe hath taken vpon her, and to whom ſhe muſt render an account of the flock committed vnto her. Lett her ſtriue to be ſuperiour in vertues, and to exceed others in holy manners, rather then in office; to the end, the ſiſters, moued by her example, may obey her, more for loue, then feare.
7. Lett her baniſh all particular affections, leaſt particularitie breed ſcandall to the communitie.
948. Lett her be the comfort and laſt refuge to the afflicted, leaſt the weak, wanting relief by her meanes, may chāce to be ouercome, by the ſadneſs of deſpaire.
9. She ſhal follow the Communitie in all things, eſpecially in the Church, dormitorie, refectorie and infirmarie; as alſo in her attire, the which, her Uicareſs is alſo obliged to obſerue.
10. The Abbeſs ſhal aſſemble the ſiſters to Chapter, at the leaſt, once a weeke; wher, ſhe and the other ſiſters are humbly to acknowledge all their publique offences and negligences.
9511. Lett her ther conferr with all her ſiſters, of thoſe things, which are to be treated of, for the good and decencie of the Monaſterie; for it often happeneth, that God reuealeth vnto the leaſt, what is beſt to be done.
12. Noe great debts ſhal be contracted, or made, without manifeſt neceſſitie and common cōſent of the ſiſters, and that, by meanes of their Procuratour.
13. Lett the Abbeſs, with her ſiſters, take care, that they receiue, nor keep any thing for others, within the Monaſterie; for, oftentimes, by theſe96 meanes, ariſeth trouble and ſcandall.
14. For the better conſeruing of mutual peace and vniō, all the officers of the Monaſterie ſhal be choſen by common conſent of all the ſiſters.
15. They ſhal chuſe, in like manner, at the leaſt, eight ſiſters of the diſcreeter, whoſe counſel the Abbeſs is bound to vſe, in what concernes their forme of life.
16. The ſiſters may, and ought ſometimes to change the officers and diſcreets, and chuſe others in their places, when they ſhal iudge it expedient and profitable.
1. THE ſiſters ſhal keep ſilēce from the howre of Compline, vntil Tierce; thoſe excepted, who ſerue without the Monaſterie.
2. They ſhal euer keep ſilence in the Church and dormitorie; but in the refectorie, in time of refection only. And it is always lawfull for the ſiſters, to ſpeake diſcreetly in the infirmarie, for the attendance and recreation of the ſicke.
983. The ſiſters may neuertheleſſe, at all times and places, ſpeake breifly, and with a low voice, of things requiſite and neceſſarie.
4. Jt is not lawfull for the ſiſters to ſpeake at the grate, or ſpeak-houſe, without licēce of the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs; and they, who with leaue, ſhal ſpeake at the ſpeake-houſe, ſhal not doe it, but in preſence and hearing of two ſiſters.
5. None ſhal preſume to come to the grate, vnleſs three, at leaſt, appointed by the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs be preſent, of the number of thoſe Diſcreet, who are choſen by99 all the ſiſters, for the Counſell of the Abbeſs.
6. The Abbeſs and Vicareſs, as neer as they can, are bound to obſerue this manner of ſpeaking; which, at the grate, ſhal be very ſeldome; but at the gate, ſhal neuer be permitted.
7. They ſhal hang a cloath within the grate, which ſhal not be drawn but in time of a ſermon, or whilſt they ſpeak vnto others.
8. Ther ſhal be, within the grate, a dore of wood, ſtrēgthned with two locks and bolts of iron, which ſhal be locked principally, in the night time,100 with two keys; one of which the Abbeſs ſhal keep, and the ſacriſtan the other.
9. The ſayd dore is alwais to remaine ſhutt; except in time of reading the diuine office, or for the cauſes aboue mentioned.
10. None may ſpeake, at the grate, in what ſort ſoeuer, before the reſing, or after the ſetting of the ſunne.
11. At the ſpeak-houſe, ther ſhal alwais be a cloath within, which ſhal neuer be taken of.
12. Noe ſiſters may ſpeak, at the ſpeak-houſe, within S. Martin's Lent, nor within the great Lent, but only to the101 Prieſt, for cauſe of Confeſſiō, or for other manifeſt neceſſitie, which ſhal be reſerued to the diſcretion of the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs.
1. AFter that the heauenly Father had vouchſafed, through his diuine grace, to illuminate my heart in ſuch ſort,**VVhat follovveth, hath been added, ſince the death of S. Francis. that by the example and doctrine of our Holy Father S. Francis,102 J began to doe pennance, a little after his conuerſion; J, with my ſiſters, did willingly promiſe obedience vnto him.
2. The Holy Father perceiuing, that we feared noe pouertie, labour, tribulation, vilitie, or contempt of this world, but that we eſteemed theſe, as great delights, he, moued with pietie, wrote vnto vs a forme of life, in this manner.
3. Conſidering,**An extract of a letter vvhich S. Francis vvrote to S. Clare, and her compagnions. that through the inſpiratiō of God, you haue made your ſelues Daughters, and Hand-maids to the moſt high,103 and ſouereigne King the heauenly Father, and haue eſpouſed your ſelues to the Holy Ghoſpel, J wil and promiſe by my ſelf, and my Brothers, to haue alwais a ſpecial and diligent care ouer you, as ouer them.
4. The which, whilſt he liued, he diligently performed, and willed, it ſhould be allways obſerued by his Brothers.
5. And, to the end, that we ſhould in noe time, decline from the moſt holy pouertie, which we had embraced, nor thoſe who ſhould ſucceed vs, he wrote vnto vs his laſt will, a little before his death; ſaying.
1046. J, Brother Francis, being poore,**This is an extract of an other letter, vvhich S. Frācis vvrote, a little before his death. wil follow the life and pouertie of our moſt ſouereigne Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and of his moſt holy Mother, and wil perſeauer in the ſame, vnto the end. And J beſeech and counſel you all, my deare ſiſters, that you liue perpetually, in this moſt holy life and pouertie: and be carefull, that you neuer depart from the ſame pouertie, through the teaching, or counſel of any.
7. And, as J haue always been ſolicitous, togeather105 with my ſiſters, to obſerue theS. Clare expreſſeth her ardent zeale and deſire of moſt ſublime and rigorous ouertie. holy pouertie, which we haue promiſed to God, and Holy S. Frācis; in like manner, all the Abbeſſes, that ſhal ſucceed me in the office, and all the ſiſters, are bound inuiolably to obſerue it vnto the end. To witt, not to receiue poſſeſſions, or haue proprietie, either by thēſelues, or any perſon interpoſed, nor any thing, that may wrightly be called proprietie; except a little ground, which neceſſitie doth require for decencie, and repairing of the106 Monaſterie; and this ground may not be cultiuated otherwiſe, then as a garden for the vſe of the ſiſters.
1. THE ſiſters, on whom God hath beſtowed the guift of working, ſhal employ them ſelues faithfully and deuoutly, after Tierce, in all ſuch work's, as appertaine to the decencie and common good of the Monaſterie. Jn ſuch ſort, that both107 idleneſs, the enemie to the ſoule, be expelled, and the ſpirit of holy prayer and deuotion, whervnto all temporal things are referred, be not extinguiſhed.
2. The ſiſters ſhal be bound in preſence of all, to declare in Chapter, to the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs, that which they haue wrought with their hands.
3. The like ſhal be obſerued, if any ſend almes for the neceſſitie of the ſiſters; to the end, that in common, they may recōmend them to God. And they ſhal be all diſtributed by the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs, with the counſel of the108 Diſcreet, for the good of the Communitie.
1. THE ſiſters ſhal not appropriate any thing to them ſelues, neither houſe, place, or other thing; but, as pilgrims and ſtrangers in this world, ſerue our Lord in pouertie and humilitie.
2. Lett them ſend for almes with cōfidence: neither ought they to be aſhamed therof; ſeeing our Lord made himſelf109 poore, in this world, for loue of vs.
3. This is the height of moſt ſublime pouertie, which hath placed you [my moſt dearly beloued ſiſters] heires, and queen's of the Kingdome of heauen; making you poore in temporal commodities, and exalting you high in vertue. Lett this be your portion, which doth lead you into the land of the liuing; vnto which [dearly beloued ſiſters] wholy adhering, for the name of our Lord JESUS Chriſt, doe you neuer, at any time, poſſeſs other thing vnder heauen.
4. Jt ſhal not be lawfull for110 any ſiſters to ſend letters, or to receiue, or giue any thing, out of the Monaſterie, without licence of the Abbeſs; nor to haue any thing, which is not giuen, or permitted her, by the Abbeſs.
5. And if any thing be ſent to any ſiſter from her Parents, or from any other perſon, the Abbeſs may grant it her, and [if need] ſhe may make vſe of it; if not, the Abbeſs in charitie, may diſpoſe of it, to relieue the wantes of an other that needs. Jf mony be ſent vnto any one, lett the Abbeſs, with counſel of the Diſcreet, prouide her of neceſſaries ▪
1116. The Abbeſs is ſtrictly bound, to inquire carefully by her ſelf, or others, the neceſſitie of the ſick ſiſters, and to prouide, as wel, what their infirmitie requireth in diet, as other things requiſite; and, according to the poſſibilitie of the place, charitably and mercifully to relieue them; becauſe all are obliged to ſerue and aſſiſt their infirme ſiſters, euen as they would be ſerued, if them ſelues were detained with any like infirmitie.
7. Lett them declare freely, one to the other, their neceſſitie: for if a true mother112 doth loue and nouriſh the child of her wombe, with how much greater diligence and care, ought a ſiſter to loue and cheriſh her ſpiritual ſiſter.
8. The ſick ſhal lye vpon beds of chaff, and haue vnder their heads pillowes of feathers. Thoſe who haue need, may vſe ſocks and quilts.
9. The ſaid ſick, when they are viſited**To enter the Cloiſter to viſit the ſick, is forbidden by the Council of Trent; excepting the ghoſtly Fathers and Phiſitians. by thoſe, who enter the Monaſterie, may anſwer briefly vnto thē; ſpeaking good and edificatiue words. But the other ſiſters,113 who with leaue are preſent, ſhal not ſpeak vnto thoſe, that enter the Monaſterie, except in preſence and hearing of two Diſcreets, appointed by the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs; who are bound themſelues to obſerue the ſame manner of ſpeaking.
1. IF any ſiſter, by inſtigation of the Enemie, doth ſinne mortally, againſt the114 forme of your Profeſſion, and being twice or thrice admoniſhed therof, by the Abbeſs, or other ſiſters, doth not amend; as many days, as ſhe hath continued obſtinate and contumacious, ſoe many ſhal ſhe; ſitting vpon the ground in the refectorie, in preſence of all the ſiſters, haue only bread and water, and vndergoe greater pennance, if it ſhal ſeeme good to the Abbeſs. During her obſtinacie and cōtumacie, lett prayer be made to God, that it may pleaſe him, to illuminate her heart to pennance.
2. The Abbeſs and ſiſters115 ſhal be carefull not to be angry, or troubled at the offences of any: for, anger and pertubation hindreth charitie, in themſelues and others.
3. Jf it happen [which God forbid] that ther ariſe in word, or ſigne, any contention, or ſcandal, between the ſiſters, lett her, who gaue the occaſion, before ſhe offer vnto God the ſacrifice of prayer, proſtrate herſelf immediatly before the others feet, not only aſking pardon, but alſo, humbly intreating her, that ſhe would interceed vnto our Lord, that it would pleaſe him to forgiue her.
1164. Lett the other then, mindfull of the words of our ſauiour, who ſaith [vnleſs you forgiue with your whole heart, neither wil your heauenly Father forgiue you] freely forgiue her ſiſter the iniurie committed againſt her.
5. Lett the ſiſters, who ſerue without the Monaſterie, remaine noe longer abroad, thē manifeſt neceſſitie doth require.
6. Lett their gate be modeſt, their ſpeech little, to the end, that thoſe who ſee them, may be alwais edified. They ſhal take great care, that they keep noe ſuſpected, or familiar117 compagnie with any one; and for the auoyding all occaſion of perturbation and ſcandall, which may ariſe, they ſhal not be God-Mothers vnto any ones child.
7. They ſhal not preſume to relate, in the Monaſterie, any news heard from abroad, nor declare abroad any thing done, or ſayd in the Monaſterie, through which, any ſcandall might ariſe. And if any, in either of theſe offend indiſcreetly, lett it be left vnto the Abbeſſes prudence, and charitie to correct her; but if ſhe tranſgreſs out of vitious cuſtome, the Abbeſs,118 with counſel of her Diſcreet, ſhal enioyne her a pennance, according to the qualitie of the fault.
1. LEtt the Abbeſs viſit and admoniſh her ſiſters, and humbly and charitably correct them; not commanding any thing contrarie to their ſoules good, and againſt the forme of your profeſſion.
2. Lett the ſiſters, who are ſubiect, be mindfull, that for119 the loue of God, they haue renounced their owne will; whence they are firmly bound to obey their Abbeſs, in all things, that they haue promiſed to obſerue, and are not contrarie vnto your Profeſſiō.
3. The Abbeſs ſhal be ſoe familiar and cādid with them, that they may ſpeak and deale with her, as the Miſtreſſes with their Maids: for, the Abbeſs ought to be ſeruant vnto all the ſiſters.
4. J exhort and admoniſh my ſiſters in Chriſt JESUS our Lord, that they auoyde all pride, vaine glorie, enuie and couetouſneſs; that they120 fly care and ſolicitude of the world, detraction, murmuration, and diſſenſion.
5. Lett them alwais be ſollicitous to conſerue the vnion of charitie, which is the bond of perfection. They, that can not read, lett them not be ſolicitous to learne, but conſider, that aboue all things, they ought to endeauour, to obtaine the ſpirit of our Lord, and the holy operatiō therof; and alwais to pray vnto our Lord, with a pure heart, to haue humilitie and patience in tribulation and ſickneſſe, to loue thoſe, who reprehend and perſecute them. For, our121 Lord ſaith, Bleſſed are they, who ſuffer perſecution for Iuſtice; for theirs is the Kingdome of heauen; but they, who perſeuer vnto the end, ſhal be ſaued.
1, THe Portreſs ſhal be of conuenient age, diſcreet and of mature manners; ſhe ſhal keep her reſidēſe in the day time, in an open Cell, without a doore; hauing a fitt companion aſſigned her; who, as need requireth, may in all things, ſupply her office. 2. The gate opening in the122 middle, ſhal be wel guarded with two ſtrong locks, and diuers iron barrs and bolts. Jt ſhal be locked, principally, at night, with two keyes; the one wherof, ſhal be kept by the Portreſs, and the other by the Abbeſs. Jn the day, it ſhal not be left open, but always remain locked with one keye, and they ſhal take diligent care and procure, that it neuer ſtand open, ſoe neer as may be. They ſhal not**Permiſſions ſometimes giuen, by the Popes, haue ſince, been recalled, by many Apoſtolical Conſtitutions; ſoe that, it is noe more permitted to any perſon of vvhatſoeuer ſtate, or condition, to enter into the houſe, by vertue of the ſay'd permiſſions. See the Council of Trent, ſeſſ. 25. cap. 5. open the gate vnto thoſe,123 thoſe, who would enter, vnleſſe licence be granted by the Popes Holineſſe, or the lord Cardinal Protector.
3. The ſiſters ſhal not permit any to enter the Monaſterie, before the ryſing of the ſunne, neither ſhal they permit any to remaine with-in the Monaſterie, after ſunne ſett; vnleſſe manifeſt, reaſonable and ineuitable cauſe require it.
Jf any Biſhop haue leaue to celebrat Maſſe within the Monaſterie, either for the124 * benedictiō of theIf any ōne ſhould enter the Monaſterie, vvith permiſſion, as aforeſayd, he is punctually to obſerue, vvhat the Council of Tiēt appointeth, in the ſeſſ. and chapt, aboue cited. Abbeſs, or to conſecrate any Religious, or for any other very importāt affaire, he ſhal, at that time, be cōtent with a very few followers and ſeruants, and thoſe, who are of the grauer ſort.
5. And when need requires, that any enter into the Monaſterie, for to doe any work, the Abbeſſe ſhal carefully appoint one at the gate, who ſhal lett only thoſe enter, who are appointed. And lett the125 ſiſters take care, that they be not then ſeen by thoſe, who enter the Monaſterie.
1. Lett your Uiſitor be alwais of the Order of Friar-Minors according to the will and commandment of your Cardinal;* The chapter ſpeaketh of the Siſters, vvho be ſubiect vnto Regulars: vvho, notvvithſtanding, muſt be viſited by the Biſhop in matters concerning Incioſure ▪ They that be ſubiect to the Biſhop, muſt be viſited by him, or his Vicar, as vvel in vvhat concerneth Incloſure, as in vvhat belongeth to diſcipline and obſeruance. and lett him be126 ſuch an one, whoſe modeſtie and behauiour is experienced: whoſe office is to reforme, as wel in the head, as in the members, the exceſſes committed againſt the forme of your Profeſſion.
2. Who, being in an open place, to the end, that he may be ſeen by others, may ſpeak both vnto all, and vnto each in particular, of thoſe things, which appertaine to the office of Uifitor, and according as it ſhal ſeeme expediēt vnto him.
3. We require theTheſe vvords are added, by vvay of intreatie and deuotion. fauour of the ſame Order, through the charitie of our127 Lord, and Bleſſed S. Francis, to haue a Chaplain, who is a Prieſt, with a companion of good fame and diſcreet, as alſo two lay Brothers, of holy conuerſation, and louers of modeſtie, to aſſiſt vs, in our pouertie, as we mercifully haue had hitherto, of the Friar-Minors,
4. The Chaplain may not enter into the Conuent without his companion; and entring, they ſhal be in an open place, that they may be ſeen by each other, as alſo by the ſiſters.
5. They may enter to hear the confeſſions of the ſick,128 that can not goe vnto the grate, to giue them the Bleſſed Sacrament and extreme Unction, and to read the recommendation of the ſoule. **Since the Council of Trent, noe one may enter the Monaſterie, but vvith expreſſe leaue of the Lord Biſhop, as aforeſaid, and in neceſſarie occaſiōs. See, the Council of Trent. ſeſſ. 25. chapt 5.But to celebrate the ſacrifice of Maſſe, to read the office of the dead, ād to digg open, or prepare the graue, may enter alſo other ſufficient fitt perſons; according to the diſcretion of the Abbeſs.
6. Further more, the ſiſters are bound to haue for their129 Protector, Gouernour and Reformer, one of the Cardinals of the holy Roman Church, the ſame that ſhal be ordained by our H: Father the Pope, for the Friars-Minors; that being alwais ſubiect vnder the feet of the ſame holy Roman Church, ſtedfaſt in the Catholique Faith, we may euer obſerue the holy pouertie, and humilitie of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, and his Holy Mother, and the Holy Ghoſpel, which we haue vow'd. Amen. Dated at Perugia, the ſixt of ſeptember, the tenth yeare of the Popedome of our H: Father Jnnocent130 the fourth.
THerfore, lett not any perſon violate, or diſannull this our letter, or Bull of Confirmation, or by raſh and temerarious boldneſſe, contradict it. The which if any one preſume to doe, lett him know, that he doth incurr the indignation of131 Almightie God, and of his holy Apoſtles S. Peter, and S. Paul.
Dated at Aſſiſium,the ninth day of Auguſt, the eleuenth yeare of our Popedome.Laus Deo, Beatae Mariae ſemper Virgini, Beato Franciſco, atque Beatae Clarae. Amen.
MY Deerly beloued ſiſters, our Lord giue you his holy Benediction, and behould you with the eye of his mercie, and giue you his133 Peace: as alſo vnto all thoſe, who ſhal enter and perſeuer in this our Cloyſter and Monaſterie; and vnto all other of the Order, who ſhal perſeuer vnto the end, in this holy Pouertie. J Clare, ſeruāt of JESUS Chriſt, and little plant of our holy Father S. Francis, your Mother, and ſiſter, although vnworthy, doe beſeech our Lord JESUS Chriſt, that through the interceſſion of his moſt holy Mother, of the holy Arch-Angel S. Michael, and of all the holy Angels, of our holy Father S. Francis, and of all the holy Saints, it wil pleaſe134 him, to giue and confirme in you this Benediction, in heauen and in earth. Jn earth, by multiplying in you, graces and vertues, in his militant Church, amongſt his ſeruants: Jn heauen, in his Church triumphant, eleuating you among his Saints. J giue you my Benediction in my life, and after my death, in all that J am able, and more then J am able, with all the Bleſſings, wherwith the Father of mercies hath, or ſhal bleſſe his ſpiritual children, both in heauen and earth; or wherwith the ſpiritual Mother, doth, or ſhal be able to bleſſe her ſpiritual135 Childrē. Amen. Be alwais louers of God, of your ſoules and of your ſiſters: be carefull to keep that, which you haue vowed. And our Lord be alwais with you, and you with him. Amen.
AS it hath a cheef place in our Paſtoral ſolicitude, to direct and aduance thoſe happie ſoules, who deſpyſing the vanities of the world, endeauour to attend to themſelues and God, in137 the Euangelical perfection of a Religious ſtate: ſoe is it our ſpecial dutie, to open our Fatherly boſome of charitie towards you [my Deareſt Daughters in Chriſt] whom, the right hand of God, leading out of Aegypt, and the houſe of bondage, hath conducted ouer the red ſea into the land of Promiſe exod. 20. Deutor. 8. and ſafe hauen of Religion: which doth not only giue vs iuſt occaſion, to bleſſe our Lord of Heauen, for hauing ſhow'red his Mercies on you, Tobiae 12. but doth increaſe our ioy, and add new glorie, to ſee you, though poore and humble,138 yet to liue vnanimous in the houſe of God, feruent in ſpirit; hauing nothing and poſſeſsing all things Act. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 2. ad Corint: 6. This Zeale of ſublime Pouertie, and higheſt Perfection was the motiue, why you humbly requeſted of the ſea Apoſtolique, to haue your Conſtitutions, [which your ſelues had gathered out of thoſe of Bleſſed ſaint Collett] reuewed and confirmed, without any conſiderable change, ſaue only, in ſome few points, therby to make them more conformable to the ſacred Canons, and the Holy Council of Trent;139 and which your ſelues by long vſe, had laudably practiſed; yet, in leſs perfection, [as you imagined] till they were authoriſ'd and warranted by the Oracle of truth Chriſt's Vicar vpon earth. Whervpon, his Holineſſe Pope Alexander the 7. inclining vnto your requeſts, hath been graciouſly pleaſed, out of his Fatherly loue towards you, to cōfirme, approue and command them hence forth, inuiolably to be obſerued by you, as appear's in his Breue ſent vnto you, bearing date, the 10. of March 1663. in the 8. yeare of his Popedome.
140The which ſayd Conſtitutions, Wee all ſoe, hauing diligently ponder'd, and maturely examin'd them, haue ſigned with our hand and ſeale; ordaining them to be printed, and hence forth, to be inuiolably obſerued by you and your ſucceſſours; promiſing with the Apoſtle, in the name of Almightie God, to whoſoeuer ſhal follow this Rule, peace to their ſoules and Mercie from God. ad Galatas 6.
Jt wil be needleſs for Us, to add further incitement to your alreadie inkindled zeale, in order to a more punctual obſeruāce of theſe holy Rules141 and Conſtitutions, framed, according to the ſeraphical ſpirit of your Holy Father S. Francis, affectuouſly deſired by your Holy Mother S. Clare, brought into a more practical method by the Holy Uirgin S. Collett, facilitated by your owne experience and practiſe, laſtly approued and cōmanded by authoritie of his Holineſſe the Pope of Rome, and Ours. There wil need J ſay, noe other incitement, then only to repeate thoſe words vſed by S. Bernard in like occaſion, to the Brethren of his Order, in his 321. epiſtle, wher he ſaith. Oro & obteſtor142 vos fratres, ſic facite & ſtate in Domino Cariſsimi, ſemper ſoliciti cuſtodire Regulas Ordinis vestri, vt & Ordo vos cuſtodiat. I beg of you againe and againe [my Brethren] that you wil ſoe doe and behaue your ſelues in our Lord [my Dearest] as to be euer ſolicitous, to keep the Rules of your Order, to the end, that the Order may keep and defend you; giuing vs hereby to vnderſtand, that ther is a ſtrickt kind of league and contract, betwixt the Religion, and the Religious Perſon, to help and defend each other; noe other wiſe, then in a ſtrong Cittie, whoſe wales defend143 the out-worke, and whoſe outwork's protect the wales; conſpiring mutually to help one an other.
Religiō is that ſtrong Cittie, wherof the Prophet Jſay ſpeaketh in his 26. chapt. Vrbsfortitudinis nostrae ſion, Saluator ponetur in ea murus & antemurale. Sion the Cittie of strength, a Sauiour therin ſhall be putt a wale and bul-worke. The wales, which make vp and adorne this ſtrong cittie of Religion, what are they elſe, but your ſacred Vow's, made at your Profeſſion? and what are the out-work's which fence this wale of your144 foure Religious Vow's, but the Conſtitutiōs and Rules, wherof now we treate? If the out-wale of your Rule be obſerued and defended, the citie of Religion wil floriſh, and our Sauiour in it, wil ſleep and reſt in Peace; but if this bul-work of your Rule, ſuffer any detriment, or be broken down, through your careleſſneſſ or want of reſiſtance, a gapp is opened, the enemie [who is euer watch-ful] creeps in, and if he be not ſpeedily preuented, and the breach repared, by humble acknowledgment and pennance, he wil make immediatly,145 at the maine wale of your religious Uow's, wil giue an all-arme, and cauſe diſquiet and trouble to the inhabitants of that happie Citie of Peace.
Think it therfore noe ſmal matter [my Deareſt Daughters in Chriſt] the neglect of the leaſt Rule or Conſtitutiō, [though it may ſeeme little in your deceiued eye] wherby your enemie gains ground, and hath opē acceſſe to batter, aſſault, vndermine, and doe miſchief in that maine point, your Uow's J meane, which mak's you inhabitants of this happie Citie.
Who would euer haue belieued,146 that the caſting down of an handfull of earth, or a tranſgreſſing of a little Rule or Conſtitution, could euer haue occaſioned ſoe much euel? ād yet we ſee, that the ſtrongeſt Sampſon, who was a Nazareā, that is a type, or figure of our Religious, in the law of Grace, became a laughingſtoch, and ſlaue to his enemies the Philiſtyns, by reaſon only of his careleſſe looſing of the haire of his head.
Here J giue a ſtop, and dare not proceed further in this ſimilitude, for feare J diſharten you, wheras J intended your comfort, J know,147 that the very Iuſt falls ſeauen tims a day, Prou. 24. and as long, as you are charged with theſe veſſels of earth, your weakneſſe and frailtie, wil make you ſtumble, and euen faulter ſometimes, againſt your wil; yet all is not loſt, noe nor perfection diminiſhed, but it yeeldeth double occaſion to your merit and crowne, if you immediatly riſe againe, and repaire the fall, occording to vertue and rule.
Neither muſt you be ſoe abuſed, as to conceiue [ſaith S. Bonauenture in his treatiſe of the 6. wings.] That in ill gouerned communities only,148 faults are committed; for we all faulter in many things, ſaith the holy Writt, Jacob. 3. and Communities the moſt holy and perfect haue their faults and imperfections, as you know: but herein conſists the difference, ſaith this ſaint, that in Religions which are ſlack and decaying, when rules and ſtatut's are tranſgreſſed, ther is noe care taken for the correcting, or amending of them; wher-as in a Communitie, that is in it's vigour of obſeruance, noe ſooner can the leaſt rule, or Conſtitution be tranſgreſſed, but by a ſpeedie correction, ther is a mature remedie applied vnto it.
149Hence, ſuperiours Conſciences are ſeuerely charged, to be euer watchfull, with a rigorous, yet charitable eye, leaſt the life and vigour of Religion ſhould ſlacken, by connyuing remisſly, to lett paſſ little tranſgreſſions of the rule, vnpuniſhed: or rather the tranſgreſſor her ſelf, as ſhe tenders the honour of her Order, and the perfection of her owne ſoule, ought to preuent her ſuperiours vigilācie, and her ſelf to repaire the breach, by a voluntarie humbling of her ſelf, and a penal ſatisfying for her fault; ſoe that, this her free and humble150 pēnance, may breed more edification and profitt, then her former trāſgreſſing, gaue occaſion of grief and ſcandal vnto her ſiſters.
Jt is not our intention, [Dearly beloued in our Lord JESUS] further to oblige you, to the obſeruance of theſe your Conſtitutions, vnder paine of any ſin, but only ſoe far forth, as God, your Rule and the Church doth alreadie oblige and bynd you: which, Pope Eugenius the 4. in his Bull, beginning ordinis tui, hath declared vnto you, and cleerly ſett down in theſe words. In the Rule, ſaith he,151 there is noe other precept obliging vnder mortal ſin, then the Vowes of Obedience, Pouertie, Chaſtitie, Incloſure, Election and Depoſition of the Abbeſſe. Neuertheleſſe, We exhort you all, in our Lord JESUS, to take great heed, leaſt deceiued by corrupt nature, vnder pretext of not cōmitting ſin, you make leſſe account of the tranſgreſſing of rules, [the cōtempt wherof, though in the leaſt, were noe ſmal ſin.] Lett the tranſgreſſors be therfore, ſpeedily corrected; and if the ſuperiours, [which God forbid] ſhoul be found negligent in correcting them,152 or themſelues careleſſe in their obſeruance, or in cauſing them to be obſerued, they ſhal by the Uiſitor, be ſeuerely reprehended, and inioyned pennance, according to the greatneſſe of their fault.
Jf you thus become vnanimouſly ſolicitous, and carefull to repaire the breaches of regular obſeruance, your familie wil be truly called Nazareth [that is florid] Jt wil flouriſh and bring forth ſuch varietie of choiſeſt flowers, in the garden of your ſoules, as he, with iuſt reaſon may require, who, though ſuppoſed only a Gardiner,153 by a Magdalen, yet ſhal be called Nazarean [that is florid] him-ſelf beeing the faireſt flower of this garden encloſed, the firſt teacher and example of ſanctitie, retiredneſſe, puritie and of all Euangelical and religious perfection.
You are called and permitted to liue in this ſchoole of vertue, and houſe of Nazareth, in compagnie of JESUS, MARIA, JOSEPH; this grace of your ſoe high a calling, is the greateſt of all graces; be euer gratefull for it.
Lett your eares and eyes be euer open to the voice of your teacher, pointing the154 way, and calling after you, by the mouth of your ſuperiours and guides. Lett your hāds and hearts be euer readie to performe punctually, what he requires of you, in your Conſtitutions and Rule; and if you feele a courage to vndergoe great matters, euen the greateſt for his loue, neglect not little on's, becauſe they are little: for, although they were in themſelues little, yet being now done for loue of him, they are become great. And ſeing you perceiue your ſelues to be ſpurred on, with an earneſt deſire to vndergoe whatſoeuer might ſeeme hard155 and difficult for loue of him, giue me leaue [my Deareſt Daughters in Chriſt] to declare my mind in few words; and if J ſeeme to require more at your hands, then J dare preſume to hope of others, that ſaying of S. Gregorie giues me the aſſurance, that when guift's or graces are increaſed, the ground, or motiue to add more, increaſeth alſo. S. Greg. Papae Homil. 9. in Euang. Which our Lord God hath ſoe heaped and multiplied in your ſoules, that all your endeauours whatſoeuer, wil fall farr ſhort of a cōdigne gratitude: for, he hath mercifully156 lead you out of the houſe of bondage into the land of promiſe, and inheritance of his Children; he hath drawn you out of ignorance and darkneſſe, into the light of truth; he hath called you out of the confuſion of Babilon and ſin, and placed you in the ſtrong Caſtle of wel ordered charitie, this happie houſe of Religion J meane, wher remote from ſinners, you may not only attend, with great retiredneſſe, to God and your ſelues, but procure alſo for others, the like bleſſings from heauen, and namely for your poore Countrie, and the157 inhabitans thereof.
The which to obtaine more aſſuredly, nothing is to be omitted by you, the neglect wherof, might hinder the deſired effect of your praiers. The habit you weare, ſheweth the auſteritie and rigour of your Order, the Profeſſion of your Religion and Rule now embraced, ſuppoſeth perfection in vertue alreadie acquired, and obligeth you to ſtriue to the attaining of more. For although you ſhould ſeem to haue profited neuer ſoe much in vertue, yet you muſt dayly endeauour to increaſe the ſame; leaſt, by not procuring158 ſeriouſly to aduance, you ſtray vnperceiuedly from the beaten path of perfectiō and ſanctitie; which aſſuredly wil happen, when little obſeruances, which lead you, by the more ſtrait and compendious way, to your end, are leſſ eſteemed, or neglected. He, whoſe mind is bent to horde vp riches, mak's his profitt, and increaſes his ſtock by many a little: ſoe he that wil make progreſſs in vertue, muſt indeauour carefully to omitt nothing, that may giue him furtherance in the courſe vndertaken. For according to that ſaying of holy Writt, he159 who neglecteth little things, ſhal fall by litle and litle. Eccleſiaſt. 19.
Which being ſoe, walke on [my Deareſt Daughters in Chriſt] as you haue begun, and ſtudiouſly apply your ſelues, to a total obſeruance of your Holy Conſtitutiōs, vntil at length, you arriue to the height of all perfection, true vnion with God. The which, that you may faithfully performe, and happyly attaine vnto, ſhal be our wiſh and prayer to God, and that he wil pleaſe to haſten on that day, wherin you may be replanted in that Land, once160 bearing title of the Dowrei of the Uirgin-Mother, heretofore holy and fruitfull in this kind, but now Alas! ouerrun with Hereſie and ſin; vntil at length, when he ſhal pleaſe to pick you out, for a yet more choice and Virgin ſoile, this Nazareth may be againe remoued, and transferred, by the help of Angels, into that heauenly Countrie, wher, in the companie of other Virgins, you may, for an eternitie, intone that ſong, which none can ſing but Uirgins only, and following the Lamb, whereuer he goeth, enioy for euer161 the chaſt embracements of your Lord and Spouſe. Which from the bottome of my heart J truly wiſh you, and earneſtly intreate to be made partaker of your merits, and to be remembred in your beſt deuotions.
THE Uicar's General of the Epiſcopal Sea vacant of S. Omers, hauing read and maturely examined the fore-ſaid Conſtitutions, drawn out, according to the Reformation of S. Collett, and the forme of life deliuered by S. Francis, iudge them to be very pious and laudable, proper and profitable; as framed, according to the end propoſed by holy men, and repleniſhed with the163 ſpirit of God. Wee eſteem alſoe thoſe few things which are added or changed, moſt proper, both to make the ſaid Conſtitutions more conformable to the ſacred Canons and Decrees of the holy Council of Trent, as alſo that Religious obſeruance, loue and Uniō with God, may take increaſe. Jn teſtimonie wherof, We haue ſigned thē with our hand and ſeale of our Vicarial office. S. Omers 13. April 1661.
HAuing ſeen the fore-ſaid Conſtitutions, and Ordinations, with their Approbation and Cōfirmation made by the Reuerend Lords, the Vicar's General of the Epiſcopal Sea of S. Omers, then Vacāt; and hauing moreouer peruſed the like Approbation and Cōfirmation granted by a ſpecial Apoſtolical Breue, of our moſt Holy Father and Lord Pope Alexander165 the 7. bearing date the 7. of March 1663. all being maturely conſidered, and examin'd by Vs; We, LADISLAVS JONNART, by the Grace of God, and Apoſtolical Sea, Biſhop of S. Omers, doe commend, approue and confirme the afore-ſaid Conſtitutiōs and Ordinations, and command them hence forth, to be kept and obſerued. Jn teſtimonie wher-of, We haue ſigned, and confirmed them with our hand and ſeale.
TO perpetual memorie. This ſacred Apoſtolical office, which We beare, as deriued from God, requireth We take a fatherly care of thoſe ſacred Uirgins, and deuout woemen, who forgetting their people, and the houſe of their father, haue167 dedicated themſelues to God's diuine ſeruice, vnder the ſweet yoak to Religion. And, to the end, thoſe Conſtitutions, which are prouidently ordained for their happie direction and gouernment, may more firmly ſubſiſt, and be more exactly obſerued, it behooueth, that We ſtrengthen them with the protection of Apoſtolical defenſe. Seing therfore, that as our beloued Daughters in Chriſt, the Abbeſs and Religious of the Engliſh Monaſterie of poore Clares, inſtituted by S. Frācis, liuing in the Towne of Graueling, and the Dioceſe168 of S. Omers, haue lately propoſed vnto Vs, that ther are ſome ſtatut's, Conſtitutions, and Ordinations, made and approued, by their Ordinarie, for their, and their Monaſteries happie and proſperous gouernment, and that the ſaid ſuppliants, intreat and deſire, that they may be ſtrēgthned with the patronage of Our Apoſtolical Confirmation; We, deſirous to honour the ſaid ſuppliants with ſpecial graces and fauours; being alſo inclined ther-vnto, by the ſupplications, which in their name, were humbly preſented vnto Vs, doe by169 theſe abſolue, and eſteeme as abſolued [for the obtaining only of the effect of theſe] each one of their perſons, from all other Eccleſiaſtical ſentences, puniſhments and Cenſures contracted, by what way, or cauſe ſoeuer, either by man, or law, if paraduenture, by any ways, they might be intangled therin. We, by theſe preſent, doe confirme and approue, by Apoſtolical Authoritie, the afore-ſayd ſtatuts, Conſtitutions, and Ordinations, and We add vnto them, the inuiolable ſtrength of Apoſtolical firmneſſe, and doe ſupply all and particular170 defects, either in fact, or law, if any, any ways ſhould chance to haue hapned [ſuppoſing they be in vſe, and good, permitted and approued by the Ordinarie, nor reuoked, or compriſed vnder any reuocation, nor contrarie to the ſacred Canons, Apoſtolical Cōſtitutions and Regular Jnſtitute, or againſt the Decrees of the Council of Trent.] We decree that theſe ſtatuts, Conſtitutions and Ordinations, as alſo theſe our preſent letters, are, and alwais ſhal remaine firme, valid and efficatious, and obtaine and bring forth their full and cōpleat171 effects, and ſhal, with all fullneſſe, help thoſe, whom at preſent, or in time to come, they may any ways concerne, and reſpectiuely are by them inuiolably to be obſerued; and are thus to be iudged and defined in the premiſſes, by whatſoeuer Ordinarie, or Delegated Judges, euen of thoſe we call of cauſes, of our Apoſtolical Pallace. And if by any perſon, in what autoritie ſoeuer, either wittingly, or willingly, any thing to the contrarie ſhal chance to be attempted, We declare it to be null and void, notwithſtanding any thing,172 in any ways to the contrarie.
CONSTITVTIONS AND DECLARATIONS made vpon the Rule of the poore Religious Woemen of our H: Mother S. CLARE.
Typis Thomae Geubels, 1665.
Permiſſu Superiorum.
THESE Conſtitutions and Declarations, are in all, conformable to thoſe of the glorious Uirgin S. Collett; hauing been tranſlated out of an ancient copie, ſent from her Monaſterie at Gant, where ſhe dyed, and conferred with many other of her Reformation: only there are certaine few alterations and additions, to make them more conformable to the H: Council of Trent and the ſacred Canōs: particularly in the election of the Abbeſs; partly alſo, the better to ſubmitt to the Obedience and Juriſdiction175 of the Biſhop of the Dioceſe, and partly to encreaſe Religious Obſeruance, loue and vnion with God, in mental prayer, yearly renouation of Vowes and the vſe of diſcipline; wherof, noe mentiō is made, in the afore-ſaid Declarations of S. Collett.
1. WHeras, in the very beginning and other places of the Rule, it is often mentioned, that the Rule, or176 forme of life, of the Order of the poore Siſters, which the Glorious Father S. Francis hath inſtituted, doth conſiſt in the obſeruing and keeping of the holy Ghoſpel of our Lord JESUS CHRIST; they may demand, how farr forth, they bind themſelues to the obſeruāce of the holy Ghoſpel, by force of their Vow, made at their Profeſſion; wherin they promiſe to obſerue the forme of life, which is their Rule it ſelf. To this doubt we anſwere them, conformably to what hath been declared, by ſundry Popes, namely by Nicolas the third177 and Clement the firſt, when their reſolutiōs were required by the Friar-Minors, in the like doubts, aryſing out of their Rule: to witt, that the Siſters by force of Vow, made in their Profeſſion, obliging themſelues to the obſeruance of the forme of life, doe noe otherwiſe bind themſelues to the keeping of the Ghoſpel, then other Chriſtians; that is, precepts are to bee obſerued as precepts, counſels as counſels; thoſe counſels excepted, which in their forme of life, are expreſſed, or doe import the name of precepts. To other counſels, they are178 only obliged after the ordinarie manner of other Chriſtiās; ſauing only, they endeuour to goe beyond the perfection of the ordinarie ſtraine of Chriſtians; hauing freely deuoted themſelues to Chriſt, by their Profeſſion, which may iuſtly require a more ſtrict following of his footſteps.
2. A like doubt may ariſe, how the Obligation of the Rule vnder mortal ſinne, is to bee vnderſtood. Wher-vnto we anſwere briefly, with Pope Eugenius the 4. to witt, that the Rule containes noe other precepts, then the Uow's of179 Obedience, Pouertie, Chaſtitie, Encloſure, Depoſition and Election of the Abbeſs.
3. For as much as concernes Obedience due to their immediate, or higheſt ſuperiours; it is to bee noted, that although in the firſt chapter of S. Clare's Rule, mention is made of Obedience, which the Siſters are to yeald to the ſuperiours of the Order, in theſe words. And as in the beginning of her conuerſion, ſhe with her Siſters, promiſed Obedience to S. Francis: ſoe, in like manner, doth ſhe promiſe to obſerue the like Obedience inuiolably to all his ſucceſſours; and the180 other Siſters are alwayes bound to obey the ſucceſſours of S. Frācis. Yet theſe words are ſoe to be vnderſtood, that they expreſſe her Obedience, in thoſe her beginnings, to S. Francis and his ſucceſſours, by way only, of reſpect and deuotion towards him, from whom ſhe receiued her H: Rule. But in proceſſe of time, different Monaſteries of S. Clare, haue, for iuſt reaſons, humbly requeſted, of the Sea Apoſtolique, an exemption from the Order: the which, the ſaid Sea, was graciouſly pleaſed to grant them; ſubiecting them by Bull, to the181 Obedience of the Ordinarie, or Biſhop of the Dioceſe wher they reſide; as appeareth namely, in the Bull of Pope Jnnocent the fourth, beginning Recto aſſumpto tramite: the which original is yet extant in the Conuent of the Friar-Minors at Paris. And the Monaſterie of poore Clares at Graueling, hath by eſpecial grant of Pope Urban the 8. of happie memorie, obtained an exemption from the Order, and a ſubiection to the Ordinarie the Lord Biſhop of S. Omers; as appeareth by their copies aboue annexed.
1. ALthough it be mentioned in the beginning of the ſecond Chapter of the forme of life, that the Abbeſſe may admitt any one for Religious; conſent of the greater part of the Siſters, and of the Lord Cardinal Protector of the Order, being firſt obtained: We neuertheleſſe; conſidering the great difficulties, and extraordinarie expences, not agreeing with your ſtrickt Pouertie,183 which muſt neceſſarily follow, by hauing frequent recourſe to the ſaid Lord Cardinal, in regard of the diſtāce of place, which, in the beginning of the Order, could not ariſe; being then fewer in number, and neerer to the Court of Rome; and reflecting alſo, that by grant of the Sea Apoſtolique, you are now immediatly ſubiect to the Ordinarie, the Biſhop of the Dioceſe: We J ſay declare, that leaue firſt obtained of the ſaid Ordinarie, and the Conditions ſpecified in your forme of life, obſerued, you may admitt vnto your holy habit, all ſuch,184 who deſpiſing the vanities of the world, ſhal by you, bee iudged deſeruing.
2. We therfore declare, obſeruing the ordināce of Pope Jnnocent the fourth, that whē any perſon ſhal preſent her ſelf to the embracing of your holy Order: before ſhe chāgeth her ſecular habit into that of Religion, the moſt hard and difficult points to be obſerued in Religion, ſhal be firſt declared vnto her; ſoe that, after her reception, ſhe may haue noe occaſion to excuſe her ſelf by ignorance, or miſunderſtanding. And none moreouer, are to be admitted,185 who, for age, corporal infirmitie, or natural ſimplicitie, ſhal be leſs able to vndertake this courſe of life; it oftentimes happening, that the ſtate and vigour of Religion, is by ſuch like perſons, much ſlack'ned and deſtroyed.
3. Moreouer, We will, and ordaine, that in the receptiō of any one vnto your Order, this enſuing methode be obſerued. That ſhe, who is to be receiued, be firſt ſent vnto ſome diſcreet perſon, fearing God, and a louer of Pouertie; by whoſe aduiſe and counſel, her meanes and eſtate may186 be diſtributed vnto the poore. And ſpecial regard is to be had, and care taken, by the Abbeſs and Siſters, that neither by themſelues, or others, their Conuent be enriched, by the goods of the perſon ſoe to be receiued, vnleſs the thing were ſoe vncōſiderable, that none may take occaſion therby, to iudge ſiniſterly of you; or vnleſs ſhe, who entreth, would of her owne free will, beſtow ſomething on you, as on poore people, to relieue, by way of almes, your preſent, or neer-hand neceſſities; the Rule requiring, that thoſe, who enter, be free to diſpoſe187 of their goods, as God ſhal inſpire them.
4. The Abbeſſe and other Siſters ſhal take care, leaſt for the receiuing of any, vnto Religion, they make, or permitt any contract or bargaine to be made, for themſelues, or others, by any perſon whatſoeuer, wherin might be feared any appearāce of ſimonie: neither ſhal they permitt ſuch, as are to be receiued, to retaine any thing for thēſelues, of their temporal riches: to the end, that being wholy deſpoiled of all things created, they may more entirely reſigne themſelues, into the188 hands of their Crucified Lord. And if it ſhould ſoe happen, that ſome one, deſirous to cōtinue with you, could not be able to ridd her ſelf ſoe ſoone, of all her temporal riches, lett her then deliuer her ſaid riches ouer, into the hands of ſome perſons fearing God, to be diſtributed by thē, vnto the poore.
5. And to the end, they proceed more regularly for time to come, We ordaine, that none be receiued vnto your forme of life, vnleſſe you perceiue, they come vnto it, not moued by perſwaſion, or Feare of any perſon, nor by189 ſlight motions, or conſtraint, but induced by ſtrong motiues of the greater loue of God, ād ſauing of their ſoules; their free will being chiefly moued therevnto, by a true call and inſpiration of the holy Ghoſt.
6. We ordaine moreouer, that, according to the ſacred Council of Trent, the Nouice be examined by the Lord Biſhop of the Dioceſe, or ſome other deputed by him, before ſhe be admitted vnto her Profeſſion. And to the end, this be euer duly obſerued, lett the Abbeſs remember to aduertiſe the ſaid Lord Biſhop, at190 the leaſt, a month before the yeare be expired. The like is to be obſerued, cōformable to the Rule in the ſecond chapter, before ſhe beginneth her Nouitiate.
7. They ſhal alſo take an eſpecial care, that none be receiued into the Order, except ſhe be of a readie free will, a faithfull Catholique, ſound in body and mind, diſcharged and free'd of all her temporal mean's, not ſuſpected of Hereſie, or noted of publique infamie, not tyed with ſentence of Excommunication, or Jnterdict; and if ſhe ſhould chance to be intangled in the191 afore-ſaid like ſentence, lett her firſt be lawfully abſoluted; according to the priuiledges granted to the Order: yet ſoe, that if ſhe returne to the world, it be ſignified vnto her, that her abſolutiō wil reſume it's firſt force and vigour.
8. Lett her not be of a ſeruile, but of a free condition. Jf ſhe be engaged to any one, ſhe ſhal not enter, without their licence be firſt obtained, to whom ſhe is engaged. Although the Council of Trent alloweth the age of ſixteen, yet the auſteritie and rigour of your habit and Rule conſidered, none ſhal be admitted192 vnto Profeſſion, before the age of ſeauenteene compleated.
9. None ſhal ordinarily be admitted for a Quire Siſter, vnleſſe ſhe be able, by her ſelf, or with others, to recite the diuine office. Neither ſhal ſhe exceed the age of 25. vnleſſe ſhe were iudged capable, without any great difficultie to her ſelf or others, to learne and ſay the diuine office. Lett none be receiued vnto Profeſſion, of whom it is not manifeſt, that ſhe hath liued vertuouſly, from the age of 13. vntil the time of her reception. None ſhal be193 receiued after the age of 40. vnleſſe ſuch were her nobilitie ioyn'd with equall pietie, that her admittance might be a ſingular example of vertue vnto the people and Clergie, and ſhe, ſtrong and able enough to ſerue God and the Order laudably; according to your ſtate, and forme of life.
10. Moreouer, that none Profeſſed of any other Order, be receiued vnto your forme of life, without licence firſt obtained of her Abbeſs, or priuiledge from the Sea Apoſtolique.
11. Jn like manner, if it be apprehended, that the Profeſſion194 of the Nouice might be doubtfull, the Abbeſs, before the year be expired, ſhal, in preſence of the Siſters, declare vnto her, that, notwithſtanding her probation ended, ſhe hath noe right vnto Religion, vntil by mature deliberation, it be reſolued, what ought to be done in order to her Profeſſion, or returne vnto the world.
12. The time of their Profeſſiō approaching, their haire ſhal be cutt of round, and aboue the eares; and from that time forward, they are not permitted to lett it grow; which often in the yeare, by195 appointment of the Abbeſs, all the Siſters are likewyſe to obſerue, vnleſs, for health's ſake, it were thought conuenient to permitt the contrarie.
13. When they receiue any to Profeſſion, the partie kneeling before the Abbeſs, ſhal pronounce, with a high and cleere voice, leaſurely and with the greateſt deuotiō ſhe is able, the Profeſſion, as followeth.
I, Siſter N. doe vow vnto Almighty God, the Glorious Virgin Mary, our Holy Father S. Francis, our Holy Mother S. Clare, vnto all the Holy Saints and you Reuerend Mother Abbeſs, and all your ſucceſſours, ſucceding in your place, to obſerue, all the day's of my life, the Rule and forme of life of the poore Siſters of S. Clare,197 which hath been giuen by S Francis vnto the ſaid ſaint Clare, and hath been confirmed by our Holy Father Pope Innocent the fourth; liuing in OBEDIENCE, without PROPRIETIE, and in CHASTITIE, alſo obſeruing INCLOSVRE, according to the ordinance of the ſayd Rule.
Then the Abbeſs, who doth receiue her, promiſeth vnto her, (if ſhe doth obſerue, what ſhe hath vowed) eternal life.
1. WHeras it is contained in the Rule, or forme of life, that the Siſters be cloath'd with poore and mean cloath's, we declare firſt, that this pouertie or meaneſſe is to be vnderſtood, of the price and colour of the cloath's. For, albeit the Rule doth mention, that taking away the ſecular cloath's from her, who is to enter into this Religiō, the Abbeſs ſhal lend her three199 coates, and one cloake: neuertheleſſe, if the condition of the perſon, place, time, neceſſitie, or infirmitie require otherwiſe, we declare, conformable alſo vnto your Rule, that the Abbeſs, with counſel of her Diſcreet, may duely prouide, and charitably relieue her, with ſuch neceſſarie cloathing, as ſhal be iudged conuenient.
2. It is to be noted, that the three coates mentioned in the forme of life, ought not, of neceſſitie, to be all of the ſame forme, colour and faſhion; the two vndermoſt being only granted for warmneſs, and decencie.
2003. Moreouer We ordaine, that the vppermoſt garmēt, be eſteemed the habit of the Order: without which, it ſhal not be lawfull for any of the Siſters to appeare in publique, or to ſleep; vnleſſe, by reasō of ſome great ſickneſſe, weakneſſe, or other manifeſt neceſſitie, the Abbeſs, or her Uicareſs, with counſel of her Diſcreet, ſhould iudge it otherwiſe expedient.
4. The habit ſhal not be ſoe long, that in wearing, it traleth vpon the grownd: and in breadth, it ſhal not exceed the compaſs of 16. palmes. The length of the ſleeues ſhal not reach beyond the wriſt. The201 vnder-garments ſhal be made of poore and coars cloath, or ſearge, not lined with furrs, but with ſome other meaner kind of things, and that, according to each ones neceſſitie. Their Cloake alſo, ſhal be of meane and coars cloath, and ſhal not be curiouſly pleated about the neck, nor ſoe long, that it trale vpon the grownd: but in all their garments, as wel in the Abbeſs and Officers, as in all the other Siſters, equalitie, auſteritie and pouertie, both in forme, price and colour, ought alwais to appeare. The girdle, with which the ſiſters are girded,202 ſhal be of cōmon haire, or hemp-cord, without any curioſitie, or ſhew of vanitie.
5. Furthermore We appoint, that both Abbeſs and Siſters, without diſtinction, doe humbly, decently and religiouſly vaile their heads. And to the end, this may the better be obſerued, We ordaine likewiſe, that the Siſters, putt on their kerchers in ſuch a way, that the greateſt part of their forehead, cheeks and chin be couered; ſoe that, none may euer behold their full face. Their kercher and vaile, ſhall be of ſuch a breadth, and ſoe put on, that for the moſt part, their head,203 breſt and ſhoulders be equally couered.
6. We wil alſo, that their vailes and kerchers, be of ordinarie and plaine linning; ſoe that alwais holy pouertie, and the rigour of their profeſſion, may appear in them; allowing that the Siſters, with conſent of the Abbeſs, may haue black vailes and white kerchers for change, as requiſite to conſerue cleanlineſſe and decencie. Lett them alſo diligently take care, that their kerchers be neuer pleated, or curiouſly foulded; nor ſhall they haue vailes of ſilke, or other coſtly matter: for all204 kind of ſuperfluitie is carefully to be auoyded, leaſt holy pouertie therby, ſhould be endomaged.
7. All black vailes are prohibited to Nouices, during their Nouitiate; vnleſs they haue formerly been of an other Order: but they ſhal be decently vailed with a white kercher, according to the appointment of the Abbeſs, and cuſtome hitherto obſerued.
8. To the end, they may the better reſemble him, who ſayd, the foxes haue holes, and the birds their neaſts, but the ſonne of man, hath not wher to reſt his head; as alſo, that they205 may be more vigilant and prompt in ryſing vnto Matins, and more conformable vnto their holy Mother S. Clare, who often layd vpon the bare ground, or rather the better to imitate the Holy of Holyes JESUS CHRIST our Lord, who had noe other bed; liuing in the deſert, then the ground, and dying on mount Caluarie, then the Croſſe, We ordaine, that noe Siſters ſhal ſleep otherwiſe, then vpō a ſack, and pillows filled with ſtraw; one of flox being added, for their head, and couerlids, as neceſſitie ſhal require. But with ſuch, as are weak and ſickly,206 the Abbeſs muſt, with charitie, diſpence: as is contained in the Rule, or forme of life.
9. Furthermore, We ordaine, that in imitation of our Sauiour JESUS CHRIST, and of your Holy Mother S. Clare, you goe barefoot, in ſigne of humilitie, pouertie and mortification; contenting your ſelues with woodden ſandals vnder your feet, faſt'ned on, with a liſt.
1. FOr as much as concerneth the diuine office,207 which, day and night they ſhal pay, as a debt due vnto God, lett it be obſerued, that immediatly, after the firſt peale giuen to the Canonical howres, all the Siſters [vnleſſe, with leaue and appointment of the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs, they ſhould be lawfully hindred] are to repaire vnto the Quier; ther to remaine, vnanimouſly, preparing their hearts for God, in recollection, ſilence, religious grauitie, and due reuerence, as the preſence of ſoe great a Majeſtie, whom the Angels aſſiſt, doth require.
2. None ſhal preſume to108 depart the Quire, during the time of the diuine office, without licence firſt obtained of the Abbeſs, or her ſubſtitute.
4. We exhort all the Siſters in our Lord JESUS Chriſt, that they alwais recite the diuine office entirely and diſtinctly with due attention and deuotion: the which, all ſhal equally begin; obſeruing their pauſes, and continuing the ſame note vnto the end: ſoe that, the great office ſhal be read, with a higher and more leaſurely voice, then that of the Bleſſed Virgin, or of the Dead. And by how much greater the feaſt is, ſoe209 much the more ſolēnly ought the Office to be performed. For if honour and reuerence be to be giuen to terrene Princes, how much more without compariſon, ought it to be exhibited to the King of Kings?
4. For as much, as cōcernes the ringing to Maſſe, and the Canonical houres, togeather with the poſtures in ſitting, kneeling, bowing and ſtanding, the Siſters ſhal obſerue the cuſtomes of the Friar-Minors; ſuch ceremonies excepted, which are leſs agreeing with your ſexe.
5. Moreouer, noe ſiſter, of210 what qualitie or condition ſoeuer; being able to read, ſhal be excuſed either day, or night, from the Quire, but all are bound to be preſent at Maſſe and Canonical houres; the Jnfirme excepted, with their attendance, togeather with ſuch, who, with licence of the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs, are otherwiſe hindered in ſome neceſſarie emploiment of the Conuent. Forwhich reaſon, all who are in office, ſhal as neer as may be, ſoe diſpoſe of their times and offices, that as much as lyeth in them, they endeauour to be preſent in the Quire, and performe this211 dutie with the reſt.
6. Furthermore, We ordaine that the two day's between the feaſt of S. Clare, and the Aſſumption of the Bleſſed Virgin, the office be of S. Clare, with nine leſſons. The day's following within her octaue, a Commemoration of S. Clare at Benedictus, and Magnificat. And ſince her octaue day falleth vpon the feaſt of S. Lewis Confeſſor, which is duplex mains, a commemoration ſhal be made of Saint Clare, both in Euenſong and Laud's, as on her feaſt.
8. We wil alſo, that in time of a General Jnterdict, the Siſters212 conforme thēſelues vnto the principal Church of the Citie, or place wher they reſide: as ſoone as the ſaid Jnterdict ſhal be lawfully intimated vnto them by thoſe, whom it concerneth, or by other certain Meſſangers, or letters. The dores of the Church being ſhutt, and the excommunicated excluded, the Siſters ſhal recite the diuine office, after the ſame manner, as according to cuſtome, they vſe to ſay the office of the Bleſſed Uirgin on ſimple feaſts. But if it ſoe fall out, that any of the Siſters, or of the deputed to the213 ſeruice of the Conuent, ſhould in time of the ſaid Jnterdict, be ſick, or depart this life; the forbidden or excommunicated, as afore-ſaid, being excluded, they may burie, or communicate them: but with a low voice; ſoe that nothing be omitted, appertaining to the office, funeralls, or communion.
8. Wheras it is contained in the forme of life, that the Siſters, who can read, muſt ſay the office of the Dead, without mentioning day, hour, manner, or with what obligation they are to diſcharge it, ſuch is the obſcuritie of the214 Rule, and varietie of opinions, and writings concerning it, that nothing hath as yet been determined. We therfore, to take away all further ſcruple and doubt, which might ariſe, and the better to relieue the faithfull departed, wil and ordaine, that hence forward, the Siſters ſay euery day, the office of the Dead, with one Nocturne and Laud's, as heretofore they haue been accuſtomed, and the Abbeſs ſhal iudge conuenient; thurſday, fryday and ſaturday in the holy week excepted, as alſo Eaſter day, with the two days following, Corpus215 Chriſti and Chriſtmaſſe day. The time to be appointed for this one Nocturne, and the power to diſpence with the ſaid Dierge, is left to the diſcretion of the Abbeſs, as ſhe, with the aduiſe of the Diſcreet, ſhal iudge moſt conuenient for the Communitie. The Siſters, who cannot read, ſhal ſay likewiſe euery day, the office of the Dead, with ſome Pater noſters; as is contained in the forme of life.
9. Seing Prayer is ſoe very neceſſarie for thoſe, who make progreſſe in the way of vertue, and vnion with God; We ordaine, that two houres216 be euery day appointed for prayer; the on in the morning after Tierce, before the Conuentual Maſſe, the other after Euenſong. Which two houres, are to be obſerued, vnleſs, for iuſt cauſes, the ſecond, ſhould by the iudgment of the Abbeſs, be thought fitt to be omitted: but if the cauſes of omiſſiō ſhould happen more frequent: then ſhe ſhal require the aduiſe of her Diſcreet. Thoſe, who by emploiments of Obedience are hindred frō this ſecond hower of prayer, ſhall only be oblig'd vnto the firſt. The quarter after Compline is appointed217 for their dayly examen of conſcience.
10. Moreouer, We require of all thoſe, who can conueniently attend vnto it, that in imitation of the retirement of the Apoſtles, after the Aſcenſion of our Lord, and the better to diſpoſe themſelues for the receiuing of the Holy Ghoſt, and renewing of their Uowes, [which We deſire may always be on the feaſt of Pentecoſt] they employ, at the leaſt, ſome of thoſe ten days in recollection and prayer. The place of renewing their ſacred Vowes, ſhal be the Quire, in preſence of the moſt218 Bleſſed Sacrament, according to the forme preſcribed.
11. To the end, the body may become ſubiect vnto the ſpirit, and in memorie of the ſacred Paſſion of our ſweet Lord and Sauiour, eſpecially of his moſt cruel flagellation, We ordaine, that the Siſters take a diſcipline twice a week, in time of Lent and Aduent, that is, on mondays and frydays; but for the reſt of the yeare, once a week only, to witt, vpon frydays; during the ſpace of the Pſalmes Miſerere: and De profundis: the Antiphones Ne reminiſcaris: Chriſtus factus eſt: and the prayers219 Reſpice quaeſumus: Deus cui pr•prium: and Fidelium Deus.
IT being contained in the forme of life, that the Siſters are always to faſt, We declare hence, that abſtinence from ſleſh, is euery wher, and at all times to be obſerued: and although leaue be giuen in the ſame Rule, that on Chriſtmaſſe day, on what day ſoeuer it happeneth, two meales may be taken: neuertheleſs, it is to be vnderſtood, that vpon that day, they are220 to abſtaine from fleſh, as vpon all the ſondays in the yeare, on the which it is lawfull to make two refections, ſuch as all Chriſtiās vſe to make, on all ſondays in Lent; according to the cuſtome and ordinatiō of the holy Church.
2. Although it be contained in the ſaid forme of life, that the Abbeſs may charitably diſpenſe with the young and weak, as ſhe ſhal think it expedient: neuertheleſſe, the neceſſitie of this diſpenſation can not ordinarily be aſſigned; it often happening, that ſome, at the age of thirteene, are of more ſtrength, then others at221 ſixteene, and ſome more weakened with a ſhort ād light infirmitie, then others with a long and violent ſickneſſe: for which reaſon, We exhort all in our Lord, that in all occaſions, they ſoe prudently behaue themſelues, that in imitation of JESUS Chriſt, their zeale may rather appeare in charitie, then in ouergreat and indiſcreet auſteritie; yet ſoe, that the Abbeſs ſhal not eaſily diſpenſe, vnleſſe true neceſſitie require it: becauſe, by ſuch like diſpenſation the firſt ſpirit of many Orders hath decayed and failed.
3. Neuertheleſſe, the Abbeſs,222 or Uicareſs, with counſel of the Diſcreet, may diſpenſe with the young, weake and infirme, that often in the day, they take refection, when it ſhal be iudged needfull; ſeing that Superiours are as much obliged to relieue and comfort them in point of diett, as in other neceſſaries.
4. Moreouer, We appoint, that diligent care be taken by the Abbeſs, for the equall diſtributing of Almes vnto the Cōmunitie; according to the qualitie therof: leaſt the want of ſufficiēt maintenāce, might giue occaſion to the Siſters, of interrupting their223 vertuous courſes and pious exerciſes.
1. TO the end, that puritie of body and mind, may increaſe and flouriſh in the Siſters of this Order, by loue and deuotion towards the moſt holy Sacrament of the altar; We ordaine, that ouer and aboue the number of twelue times in the yeare, expreſſed in the forme of life, wherin the Siſters, with leaue of the Abbeſs, are to confeſſe,224 and the ſeauen times ſpecified in the ſaid forme, wherin they are to communicate, they may beſids [vnleſs they be lawfully hindered] confeſſe twice euery week, and receiue as often, the moſt pretious body of our Lord, at the Conuentual Maſſe, with the greateſt deuotion and humilitie they are able.
2. We grant alſo, that the Abbeſs with counſel of her Diſcreet, may permitt them more frequent vſe of holy Communion, when it ſhal ſeeme conducing to their progreſſe in vertue, and increaſe in deuotion; yet fearing, leaſt225 ſoe great a work be performed carleſsly, and through cuſtome, We ſeriouſly exhort them, in our Lord, to prepare themſelues, and to approach vnto it, with the greateſt deuotion and reuerence imaginable.
3. We ordaine alſo, that noe Siſter, vnder what colour, or pretenſe ſoeuer, preſume to confeſſe to any Confeſſor, whither ſecular, or regular, of what condition, or qualitie he may happen to be, then to the Confeſſor of the Conuent: in whom is required maturitie, vertue and prudence. Jn this notwithſtanding, the226 Abbeſs may diſpenſe, and giue leaue vnto any Siſter [when the cauſe ſhal ſeeme iuſt and reaſonable] to haue the freedome of an other Confeſſor; not doubting, but God wil mercifully incline the hearts of ſuperiours, to the affording of ſuch charitie, compaſſion and true freedome of conſcience, as ſhal be expedient for them.
4. Moreouer, We ordaine with our holy Mother the Catholique Church, for the greater comfort and freedome of ſuch ſoules, as are weake and puſillanimous, conformable alſo vnto the decrees of the ſacred227 Council of Trent, commanding all Biſhops and ſuperiours of Monaſteries, to preſent them twice, or oftener in the yeare, with an extraordinarie Confeſſor, who is to receiue the Confeſſions of the Religious, Wee ordaine J ſay, that the Siſters preſent themſelues vnto him; demanding at the leaſt, his Benediction, [to auoyde the note of ſingularitie] if their difficultie in confeſſing vnto him can not be ouercome; which by all, is punctually to be obſerued. And great diligence is to be taken by the Abbeſs, that noe extraordinarie be admited,228 vnleſs whom the Lord Biſhop and ſhe ſhal groundedly eſteeme, wil giue ſatisfaction vnto all, or the greateſt part of the Communitie.
5. Furthermore, We ordaine, that none ſhal confeſſe after Compline, or Tierce begun, vnleſſe the number of Confeſſions, or ſome other iuſt cauſe, approued by the Abbeſs, ſhould require otherwiſe.
6. And although in the forme of life, it be eſteemed lawfull, for the Chaplain to celebrate Maſſe, and communicate the ſick, within the Monaſterie: We neuertheleſſe, for the auoyding many inconueniences,229 and dangers, which from thence may ariſe, command the Abbeſs, Portreſſes and all others, whom it may cōcerne, that at noe time, they permitt any Prieſt, whither ſecular, or regular, to ſay Maſſe, or giue the holy Communion to any Siſters within the Monaſterie; ſuch only excepted, who by reaſon of ſickneſſe, or ſome contagious diſeaſe, cannot be preſent with the reſt in the Church, without detriment to themſelues, or others. For in this caſe, We grant, that ſeauen times in the yeare, as is contained in the forme of life, or oft'ner alſo, if the Abbeſs230 with her Diſcreet, ſhal iudge it conuenient for the comfort of the ſick, the Confeſſor with his Compagnion [if the pouertie of the Monaſterie can allowe him one] may enter, to performe his holy functiō.
1. WE declare with Pope Jnnocent the 4. that thoſe, who bind themſelues by Vow, vnto this forme of life, ought, and are oblig'd to obſerue perpetual Jncloſure; ſoe that, for the whole terme of their life, they ſhal not231 exceed the limitts of the Monaſterie. Neither can any leaue, or power, to the contrarie, be granted vnto them, vnleſs it be, for the founding, reforming, gouerning of ſome other Monaſterie, or for the auoyding of ſome ineuitable danger, and that, with expreſſe leaue of the Ordinarie [if it may be] conformable to the ſacred Council of Trent. And if any one, or more, for the afore-ſaid cauſes, ſhould depart their Monaſterie, We ordaine, that they goe vnto the Conuent, or place aſſigned, with what ſpeed they may, in companie of vertuous perſons,232 alwais recollected, vigilant in their words, mortified in their ſight, and modeſt in their countenance, and whole compoſure; as beſeemeth the hand-maids of JESUS Chriſt, and daughters of S. Clare.
2. Wheras it is mentioned in the forme of life, that the Lay-Siſters, not being tyed by Uow of Jncloſure, had libertie, for the ſeruice of the Monaſterie, to goe abroad, and returne, as occaſiō ſhould ſerue: We not withſtanding, foreſeeing the euident dangers, which by this occaſion, may happen to the Siſters and Conuent, ordaine, conformably233 to the inſtitute and appointment of Pope Benedict the 12. that from hence-forth, noe profeſſed Siſters, vnleſſe for the afore-ſaid cauſes, preſume to depart the Jncloſure; Commanding all the Siſters preſent and future, of what ſtate, or Condition ſoeuer, alwais to obſerue inuiolably the afore-ſaid ordination; ſoe that none hereafter, ſhal preſume, vnder title of Lay-Siſters, ſeruants, or what cauſe ſoeuer, [the aforeſaid excepted] to exceed the limitts of perpetual Jncloſure.
3. Neuertheleſſe, if it ſhal happen hereafter, that ſeruāts234 are eſteemed needfull, for the occaſions of the Monaſterie, We permitt them to make vſe of ſome pious and aged woemen; yet ſoe, as they are neuer permitted to weare the habit of Religion, or to enter into the Monaſterie.
4. More-ouer, We ordaine, that in euery Conuent, ther be erected in ſome conſpicuous place, one only Wheele or Turne, of a conuenient height, and wideneſſe, and ſoe rounded, that none, on either ſide, diſcerne, in the leaſt, through any chink's, or creuiſes: by which Turne, the Siſters may receiue, or ſend135 forth, all neceſſaries for the Monaſterie; but if the thinges be ſoe conſiderable, that they can not be conueyed by the ſaid Turne, they may then be ſent forth, or receiued, by the Monaſterie, or back Gate.
5. Jn like manner, We ordaine, for the greater ſecuritie and puritie of the Religious and Conuent, that for the future, noe other Grate, or Turne be permitted; excepting thoſe which are before expreſſed.
6. Furthermore, We wil, that neer the Turne, ther be erected a ſpeaking place, wel fenced with iron pikes, wher the Religious may ſpeak, when need236 ſhal be; according to the manner expreſſed in the forme of life, and theſe preſent ordinations.
7. Moreouer, We ordaine, that within the Jncloſure of the Monaſterie, oppoſitt vnto the principal gate, an other gate be made; ſoe that the Siſters be wholy debarred, from any acceſſe vnto the outward, or principal gate: in ſuch ſort, that their perſons or voices, may in noe ways, be diſcerned, by ſeculars without. Wee Ordaine likewiſe, that the gardin, and dormitorie dores, be euery night ſecurely locked
8. For greater ſecuritie, and237 the auoyding of future inconueniences, Wee alſoe ordaine, that noe Siſter, of what condition ſoeuer, ſhal ſend, or cauſe to be ſent any letter, or writings, opened, or ſealed, either by themſelues, or others, to any perſon, by any meanes, or ways whatſoeuer, vntill the afore-ſaid letters, or writings, be firſt peruſed, ſealed, or cauſed to be ſealed, by the Abbeſs, or her ſubſtitute; nor ſhal any preſume to receiue, or open any letters, vnleſs firſt deliuered vnto the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs; vnto whoſe prudēce is reſerued the giueing, or not giuing them, vnto238 whom they are directed: and the Siſter that ſhal attempt any thing to the contrarie, ſhal be lyable to exemplar puniſhment.
1. TO the end, the Siſters may proceede with greater ſecuritie in this election, We wil and ordaine, that when the Abbeſs of any Conuent ſhal depart this life, or be detained, by ſome long infirmitie, from exerciſing her office, or ſhall be found239 guiltie of any enormous crime, and grieuous offence againſt her Rule, or holy obſeruance, or when ſhe, for ſome cōſiderable cauſe, would renounce her charge, three day's after her death, or after her depoſition, or renuntiation of her office, the Profeſſed Siſters ſhall prouide thēſelues of an other Abbeſs; obſeruing in the Election the Canonical forme preſcribed in the Council of Trent, that the Perſon elected, hath accompliſhed, at the leaſt, the age of 30. years, and liued laudably in Religion, the ſpace of ſeauen, or eight yeares, after240 her Profeſſion.
2. Jn the Election of the Abbeſs, this forme muſt be obſerued. The third day after her departure, as aforeſaid, the Vicareſs ſhal by letter, or otherwiſe, acquaint the Biſhop of the death, or depoſition of the Abbeſs, and ſhal requeſt him to preſide at the election of an other, by either himſelfe, or his ſubſtitute. Thē they ſhal elect beforehād, two witneſſes, or Aſſiſtents, prudent and pious men, and Prieſts, if they can conueniently be had, who may aſſiſt the Biſhop, or his ſubſtitute; that ſoe the Election may be241 more ſecurely performed, without partialitie, or iniuſtice, according to the preſcripts of the holy Canons.
3. Until the arriual of the Biſhop, or his Deputie, the Siſters ſhal offer continual and feruent prayer to Almightie God; humbly beſeeching him, to diſpoſe all things to the honour and glorie of his Diuine Maieſtie. And We command, in vertue of Holy Obediēce, that the Siſters doe not ſpeak vnto one an other, concerning the Election, either by way of counſel, or otherwiſe; ſaying, this or that perſon ſeems to me fitt, or242 what think you of ſuch an one: but lett each one referr the Election to the inſtinct of the Holy Ghoſt. Lett ſpecial regard be had in all Elections, that they proceed ſincerely, piouſly and Canonically, without diſſention; that being vnited in peace and charitie, they may make choice of her, whom they ſhal eſteeme moſt fitt for the good of the Religious, and aduancement of the Monaſterie.
4. For the better vniting and conforming the Siſters to the diuine will, a Maſſe ſhal be celebrated of the Holy Ghoſt: at the which, all ſhal243 receiue the Bleſſed Sacramēt, that ſoe they may proceed more ſecurely in the Electiō of the Abbeſs; wherin this methode is to be obſerued by the Vicareſs. She muſt write, or cauſe to be written in the ſame hand, twice or thrice, as many biglietts, as ther are Profeſſed Siſters; and in each bigliett theſe words ſhal be written. J chooſe for our R. Mother Abbeſs Siſter N. and the Vicareſs ſhal deliuer to each of the Profes't Religious a bigliett, wherin the Siſter ſhal write the name of her, whom ſhe thinks in cōſcience, and in the ſight of God, to244 be moſt fitt for that office. The Biſhop, or his Deputie being arriued, ſhal, in order to the future Election, make an exhortatiō to all the Siſters aſſembled at the Grate, in the Quire: and the exhortation ended, the Religious retyring, ſhal returne in order, vnto the Biſhop, or Deputie, and caſt their bigliets [in which they haue written her name, whō they elect for Abbeſs] into a cup, or veſſel prepared for that purpoſe; and the Biſhop, or ſuperiour, ſhewing them vnto the Witneſſes, or Aſſiſtents, ſhal in order, declare how many votes, or ſuffrages245 each one hath, that ſtandeth in Election; beginning from her, that hath feweſt, and ſoe proceeding vnto the reſt. She, ſhal be thought truly choſen, whoſe ſuffrages ſhal exceed the half part of the Communitie. And if it happeneth, that none be choſen the firſt ſcrutinie, they ſhal in like manner, proceed vnto a ſecond, or third, and ſoe forwards, vntil their be an Abbeſs elected.
5. Which ended, and the ſuffrages publiſhed, the Biſhop, or his Deputie ſhal confirme the Electiō in the name of the Father, and of the ſon, and of the Holy Ghoſt. Amen. 246Te Deum laudamus beeing ſayd by the Siſters, the Biſhop ſhal conclude it with Deus qui cordae fidelium, Concede nos, and the two verſicles and collects of S. Francis, and S. Clare, Confirma hoc Deus, and Actiones. Then the Religious embracing their new Mother, ſhal acknowledge her for their true and lawfull Abbeſs and ſuperiour. The ſame order ſhal be obſerued, in the Election of the Uicareſs, Diſcreet, and other Officers, which they ſhal chooſe by word of mouth only, and without writing. And for theſe Elections, the greater part of247 the voices ſhal ſuffiſe. The Vicareſs, togeather with the other officers, ſhal be presēted euery three yeares, vnto the ſuffrages of the Communitie: in whoſe power it ſhal be, to confirme, or depoſe thē; according as they ſhal iudge expedient. None ſhal be elected vnto any office, not hauing liued laudably foure yeares in Religion, and accompliſh't the age of 25. yeares; vnleſs the cōtrarie ſhould be iudged neceſſarie. Three yeares of Profeſſion are required vnto thoſe, who haue ſuffrages in the Election of officers, but in the choice of the Abbeſs,248 all the Profeſſed ſhal haue an actiue voice.
6. To the end, peace, loue and puritie of conſcience, may the more flouriſh, and be preſerued amongſt the Siſters, We exhort them in our Lord JESUS CHRIST, that in all Elections, or changing of Officers and Diſcreet, they auoyd all ambition, diſcord and partialitie, in promoting perſons leſſe worthy, and ſuppreſſing others more fitt; for in ſuch proceedings, their conſciences would be much blemiſhed and ſtained.
7. The Siſters ſhal not, in the Election of the officers,249 take counſel of one an other, by directly, or indirectly approuing, or diſaprouing of any. But lett them commend the buſineſſe vnto Almightie God, with feruent prayer, and ſincere deſire of his glorie, and of the common peace, and good of the Monaſterie. The Election ended, they ſhal not diſpute, or deliuer their opinions, concerning what paſſed in order to the Election, or remoual of any Siſter; or by way of diſcourſe, mention, vnto whom they gaue, or denyed their ſuffrage: but lett them reſt ſatisfied in the choice and Election, as cōformable vnto250 the holy will of God.
8. Moreouer, We admoniſh thē, that none, being lawfully elected to any office, doe decline the burden, or labour impoſed vpon them; but that humbly accepting it, as from the hand of God, they endeauour conformably to performe their duetie, according to the grace beſtowed on thē; not deſirous to be exempted, without iuſt cauſe, approued with mature aduiſe; but rather embracing their charge, with true obedience and loue of God. And if it ſhould ſoe happen, that they were remoued from their office, they251 muſt with indifferēcie, reſigne themſelues; conformably to that ſaying of holy S. Francis: lett the takeing from ſuperioritie noe more diſquiet you, then the remouall from the employment of waſhing the Siſters feet.
1. IT being contained in the forme of life, that the Abbeſs is enioyned to aſſemble the Siſters, at the leaſt, once a week in Chapter: We appoint accordingly, that ſhe, or her Uicareſs take care, in aſſigning an houre ther-vnto,252 in which all the Siſters not hindered by infirmitie, muſt be preſent. A ſecond, or third Chapter may be alſo adioyn'd in the week, according to the number of the Siſters, and varietie of occaſions; regard being alwais had to the dinine office and domeſtical diſcipline.
2. As often, as it ſhal pleaſe the Abbeſs to aſſemble the Siſters vnto Chapter, the ſigne of Obediēce ſhal be giuen, by a ſoft toling of the bell; whervnto all the Siſters, that are not hindred, either with infirmitie, obedience, or care of the ſick, ſhal repaire with253 ſpeed and diligence; and the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs making the ſigne of the Croſſe, ſhal recōmend the liuing and the dead; naming, in particular, thoſe benefactours, frō whom they haue receiued any almes. Which ended, they ſhal all riſe, and beginne the Pſalmes Ad te leuaui oculos, De profundis, and other ſuffrages, aſſigned in their proper place: and the Abbeſs ſhal conclude, ſaying Deus det nobis ſuam pacem; the Siſters anſwering Amen. After which, the Abbeſs and Religious being ſeated, the Nouices [if ther be any] ſhal in the firſt place, tell their254 faults; and a pennance being enioyned them by the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs, they ſhal depart, to pray for the reſt.
3. After their departure, all the Profeſſed Siſters, proſtrate on the grownd, ſhal in general, hūbly confeſſe their faults, and receiue a pennance, according to the diſcretion of the Abbeſs: which done, each one likewiſe in particular, beginning from the youngeſt, ſhal diſtinctly and humbly acknowledge thoſe faults, of which they ſhal iudge themſelues moſt guiltie; to whome the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs ſhal impoſe a pennance, occording255 to the qualitie of the fault, and if neceſſarie, frendly admoniſh and correct them, without the leaſt ſigne of partialitie.
4. The Siſters ſhal humbly admitt, and piouſly performe their enioyned pennance; not preſuming to bring excuſes, or ſpeak in Chapter without leaue of the Abbeſs, much leſſe to contradict either here, or in any place whatſoeuer.
5. They ſhal not exprobrate, to one an other, the faults reprehēded in Chapter, or committed, either in the world, or in Religion: and if any ſhal happen to be guiltie of this256 crime, ſhe ſhal be lyable to ſuch chaſtiſement, as the Abbeſs ſhall thinke fitt.
6. If any thing of buſineſſe ſhal further occurre to be diſcuſſed, it may be now treated; according to the forme of life, with due grauitie and modeſtie; inordinate and ſuperfluous words being auoyded. The Abbeſs at the end, making the ſigne of the Croſſe, and ſaying Adiutorium noſtrū in nomine Domini, and the Siſters anſwering qui fecit coelum & terram, they ſhal all depart in peace.
1. PEace being a work of Juſtice, and ſilence a bulwork and defenſe of peace, leaſt the feruour of deuotiō ſhould grow cold by frequēt and inordinate diſcourſe, We ordaine, that conformably to the forme of life, from the end of Compline vnto the end of Tierce the next day, ſilēce be exactly obſerued.
2. Jn the Quire and Dormitorie, they ſhal obſerue258 perpetual ſilence, and in the Refectorie, in time of refection: but not in the Jnfirmarie; as is preſcribed in the forme of life. And although noe mention be made of ſilence in the Cloiſter, for that in the time of S. Clar's receiuing the forme of life frō S. Francis, in the Monaſterie of S. Damian, wher ſhe then reſided, by reaſon of their great pouertie, and ſcarcitie of place, noe Cloiſter was erected; We, notwithſtanding, diligently pondering, that in all wel ordered Communities, the Cloiſter is euer ioyned vnto the Church, in259 which, ſilence is accuſtomed to be obſerued, preſcribe and ordaine, that for the future, ſilence be as wel obſerued in the Cloiſter, as in other places mentioned in the forme of life.
3. Moreouer, We cōmand, that noe Siſters of what conditiō ſoeuer, goe to the ſpeak-houſe, without licence of the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs; or leaue being obtained, ſpeak with any; vnleſs in the preſence of two Diſcreet, who may cleerly heare and perceiue, what is diſcourſed. For if at the Grate in the Church, three Diſcreet are aſſigned, wher thy are in260 the preſence of God, and his Angels: with how much more reaſon, ought two at leaſt, be preſent, with ſuch as haue leaue to diſcourſe in the Speakhouſe.
4. We ordaine likewiſe, that according to the forme of life, noe Siſter euer preſume to ſpeak vnto any extern at the Gate of the Monaſterie, either in preſence, or abſence of her companions. We wil moreouer, when neceſſitie, or iuſt occaſion ſhal vrge any Siſter to ſpeake at the Grate, in the Church, that before they begin to ſpeak, the Siſter appointed for that purpoſe, rayſing261 a little, the curtine that hangeth within the Grate, ſhal lett it fall immediatly into its former place. None ſhal ſpeak here, vnleſs it be with perſons eſteemed for their dignitie, or vertue, or with Parents, kindred, or ſpiritual friends; and that all ſoe, for reuerence to the H: Sacrament, muſt be ſeldome permitted, and for a ſhort tyme.
5. We ordaine alſo, that noe Siſter in the Lent of S. Martin, [beginning the day enſuing after all Saints, and laſting vntil Chriſtmaſſe] as alſo in the ſecond Lent, [beginning the Munday immediatly after262 Quinquageſima ſonday] ſhal ſpeak with any perſon, in the Speakhouſe, or at the Grate, vnleſs for cauſes expreſſed in the forme of life; except only the Abbeſs, Uicareſs and Portreſs, concerning the affaires of the Monaſterie, according to cuſtome. At which times, writing of letters vnto their kindred, or friends, is prohibited; vnleſs it be for great and vrgent cauſes, which ſhal be left to the iudgment of the Abbeſs.
6. We alſo exhort them in our Lord JESUS CHRIST, that when any Siſter ſpeaketh at the Grate, in the Church,163 or in the Speakhouſe, [for at the Turne it ſhal not be permitted, but for ſome neceſſarie and ineuitable occaſiō] all prolixe, and vnprofitable diſcourſes with ſeculars be auoyded, and that their ſpeeches ſauour of vertue and pietie, as becometh the handmaids of our Lord JESUS, and the obſeruers of the holy Ghoſpel.
7. The better to auoide familiaritie, ād vnneceſſarie diſcourſes with ſeculars, We ordaine, that noe Siſter, by her ſelf, or others, be Godmother to the Children of any perſon whatſoeuer. We alſo appoint, that noe Siſter, although264 ſhe haue licence, ſhal ſpeak with any perſon entring the Monaſterie, for iuſt occaſion, or to viſit the ſick; vnleſs two Diſcreet, aſſigned by the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs be preſent, and hear their diſcourſe; at which time, they ſhal ſpeak with their face modeſtly couered, and body inclined, in few words, and with a low voice; as beſeemeth Religious grauitie.
1. SEing that, according to the forme of life, the265 Abbeſs and all the Siſters are to obſerue the holy pouertie, promiſed vnto God, and S. Francis, wherby they diſpoſſeſſe themſelues, of all right, or intereſt to any thing whatſoeuer. To the end this pouertie may be more entirely obſerued, We prohibit the Siſters from hyring any houſe, field, garden, meddow, vineyard, or other thing whatſoeuer, to be huſbanded, or poſſeſſed for their owne priuate vſes.
2. Beſids, they ſhal not haue any inheritances, or rents, any annuall prouiſions, or perpetual almes, either by themſelues, or the mediation of266 any other: neither ſhal they haue any granaryes, or ſtorehouſes filled with neceſſaries, bought, begg'd, or otherwiſe obtained, for aboue a yeares prouiſion, which they might ſell to ſuſtaine themſelues, without begging; it being wholy repugnant vnto pouertie. Nor ſhal they haue, or poſſeſſe any heards of ſheep, oxen, horſes, cupps of gould, ſiluer, or other pretious mettall: but lett all curious and ſuperfluous things, as wel in their houſe-hold-ſtuff, as in the ornaments of the Church, be carefully auoyded, that holy pouertie may euer ſhine267 amongſt you, according to the perfection, and intention of your holy Rule.
3. We alſo will and ordaine, that the legacyes left vnto you, be diſpoſed of, according to the decree of Nicolas the third, in his declaration vpon the Rule of S. Francis. And ſeeing, mention is made in the forme of life, that the Religious ought not to poſſeſſe houſe, place, or other thing whatſoeuer, as their owne, and that the ſaid Pope Nicolas, vpon the expoſition of the ſaid Rule, togeather with Clement the 5. and many other Popes, haue declared, that268 the abdication, and renuntiation of all things expreſt therin, ought to be vnderſtood and obſerued, as wel in particular, as in general: We herevpō, adhering to the afore-ſaid declarations, doe ordaine and command, that the ſaid abdication, and renuntiation of all proprietie [which they, for the loue of God, doe vow as meritorious, profitable, and worthy of an eternal reward] be, by all preſent and future, as wel in particular, as in general, entirely obſerued. Notwithſtanding they may, with a ſafe conſcience, haue the ſimple vſe of thoſe things [yet269 without proprietie] which are granted them, according to the forme of life, and of ſuch alſo, which by the ſame Rule, are not prohibited; as for example, neceſſaires requiſite for the decent adminiſtration of the diuine office, for their habitation, maintenance, and performance of their emploiments, according to the ſaid forme of life, and holy Religiō. They may likewiſe, make vſe of thoſe things, which they ſhal haue gained, by their labour and induſtrie, as alſo what others, for the loue of God, ſhal giue, or procure to be beſtowed on them. For the270 things giuen, begg'd, or earn'd, doe not repugne with the ſtate of pouertie and Religion, which they profeſſe.
4. We ordaine likewiſe, that the almes beſtowed on the Siſters, as wel in particular, as in general, be diſtributed to the needy, according to the iudgment of the Abbeſs. And We prohibite any Siſter from preſuming to giue, or beſtow any thing ſent by her parents, or friends of the Conuent, whither to her ſelf or others, without leaue of the Abbeſs.
5. We wil alſo, that the manner of contracting debts be alwais, and euery-wher271 obſerued by the Siſters, in ſuch ſort, as it is contained in the forme of life, and that eſpecial regard be had, that noe ſumptuous, or magnificēt building be erected; but that they remaine contented with poore and humble houſes, in imitation of the ſacred pouertie of our Lord JESUS CHRIST.
6. This point of ſublime pouertie, hath by enforcing neceſſitie, been diſpēced whithal, by the Lords Biſhops their ſuperiours, in ſome Conuents of the Engliſh nation, in order to the enioying of lands, and rents, and receiuing portions,272 during the time of their baniſhment out of their natiue ſoyle, vntil it ſhal pleaſe God, to reſtore Catholique Religion, and rayſe vp Conuents in their now afflicted Countrie; not hauing other ſubſiſtance at preſent, and being only admitted, and permitted to liue in town's of the Low-Countries, vpon cōdition and promiſe, of not begging, or being chargeable vnto them.
1. WE ordaine that the infirme and weak Siſters273 be carefully prouided for, by the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs. The Siſters deputed to the care of the ſick, ſhal haue regard, not to be found remiſſe in their office, but ſhal ſerue them, with all humilitie, pietie, and feruent charitie, as themſelues would deſire in the ſame condition.
2. Jn like manner, the Abbeſs, vnleſs lawfully hindred, ſhall of charitie viſit, at the leaſt once a day, the infirme, who for ſome time haue been confined vnto their beds: and in her abſence, the Uicareſs ſhal performe the ſame dutie; leaſt through their negligēce,274 the infirme Siſters be depriued of neceſſaries conuenient for their comfort.
3. The Abbeſs, or Vicareſs, ſhal not conſult any Phiſitian, or Surgeon vpon the recouerie of any infirme Siſter, that is not pious and Catholique. Such, as for iuſt occaſion are call'd into the Monaſterie, during their aboad ther, ſhall be accompanied by the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs, or by two, or three of the Diſcreet. And when ther ſhal be preſent dāger of death, lett the ſoule firſt, by the Holy Sacraments of the Church, and then the body be diligently prouided for.
2754. Moreouer, if it ſhould happen to any of the Siſters, to be viſited with ſome grieuous, or contagious diſeaſe, as leaproſie, weakneſſe of the head, frenſie, or ſuch like infirmitie, ſoe as they can not cōmodiouſly remaine amōgſt the reſt of the Siſters, a conuenient place muſt be aſſigned them with-in the Monaſterie, ſeparate from the reſt, and due attendance be giuen thē; as the neceſſitie of the diſeaſe requireth, without being forced at any time, to depart the Monaſterie.
5. We exhort all the Siſters preſent and to come, that for276 the loue of God, and the bitter death and paſſion of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST, they doe not eſteeme it hard and tedious, to ſerue thoſe, whom God ſhal viſit with infirmitie, but that humbly and piouſly they extend their charitie vnto all, according to their neceſſitie. And if any, deputed to the ſeruice of the ſick, are found defectiue, and that ſuperiours doe not prouide for them, according to their condition, qualitie and place, with aduiſe, diet, and other neceſſaries, lett them be accuſed to the Uiſitor in time of the viſit, and by him277 ſeuerely puniſhed, as inhumane; if J ſay they haue been found notably defectiue, in this their dutie to the ſick.
6. The infirme Siſters ſhal repoſe vpon beds of chafe; hauing a feather bolſter vnder their head, as is preſcribed in the forme of life. But if any be detained by a tedious and long diſeaſe, or if ſome other iuſt and legitimate cauſe doe occurre, the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs, with aduiſe of the Diſcreet, ought to prouide them of feather-beds, linnen, and other neceſſaries, for their better repoſe; as they inſpired by God, in their conſcience278 ſhal iudge expedient, and the infirmitie of the ſick require.
7. Lett eſpecial care be had by thoſe whom it may concerne, that at the departure of any Siſter out of this life, ſhe haue on, the habit of the Order, Corde and Vaile, and be buried, according to the accuſtomed manner.
8. Wheras by way of diſpenſation it is permitted in the forme of life, that the vſe of ſocks may be granted vnto thoſe, who need them, We ordaine, that noe Siſters of what office, or condition ſoeuer, in time of health, vſe ſocks, vnleſs preſēt neceſſitie ſhould279 require it. Which neceſſitie, ſhal not be determined by the opinion of each Siſter, but by the Abbeſs only, when ſhe ſhal obſerue them to ſtand in need, or they deſire a diſpenſation; which ſhe, with aduiſe of the Diſcreet, may grant thē, as long as their neceſſitie ſhal continue.
1. IT being ſpecified in the forme of life, that the Siſters vnto whom God hath giuen grace and ſtrength to work, ought to begin after280 Tierce; that this may the better be obſerued by all, We will, that for the loue of God, none decline work's of labour, charitie and humilitie; and when the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs ſhal impoſe any work to be done, either for the common, or particular profit of the Cōuent, that it be willingly accepted, without murmuratiō and contradiction, and faithfully and piouſly performed.
2. Noe one, enioying perfect heath, ſhal giue way to ſloth, or negligence vpon pretence, grounded in pride, of not hauing the tallent of performing this, or that work; but they281 muſt with all obedience and humilitie, comply with the wil of their ſuperiour, according vnto their Vow. Lett care be had by the Abbeſs and Vicareſs, that nothing be enioyned the Religious, which can not well be performed.
3. Although the time mentioned in the forme of life, for the Siſters to begin their work, be after Tierce; We, neuertheleſs, conſidering the ſtrickt pouertie, and want, to which the ſaid Siſters may be reduced, doe grant vnto the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs free power to diſpenſe, with the ſaid Siſters, as they ſhal iudge fitt,282 to begin, or finiſh any work before the ſaid houre.
4. We command likewiſe, that noe Siſter for any cauſe whatſoeuer, preſume to begin, or finiſh any work mixed with curioſitie and vanitie: but when any thing in this nature ſhal be requiſite to be vndertaken, the Siſters ſhal conſult the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs, whither or noe, they iudge it expedient to be done; nothing being to be vndertaken, without their approbation and cōſent. The Siſters tranſgreſſing, ſhal be puniſhed, as the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs ſhal think expedient.
2835. Maſſe being finiſhed, the ſigne ſhal be giuen to work, at a conuenient houre; at which, all the Siſters not lawfully hindred, ſhal betake themſelues to their works impoſed vpon them. We ordaine alſo, that the Siſters, as wel preſent as to come, alwais, and in all places, abſtaine from ſecular and vaine recreations, worldly and fruitleſs playes, of what kind ſoeuer, and howſoeuer performed.
6. When two, or three with licence, are mett togeather, to talke and recreate, [for otherwiſe ſilence is to be obſerued] their diſcourſe is to be of God,284 liues of Saints, or ſome other decent, indifferent and profitable ſubiect, cōducing to the progreſſe in vertue, and good of their ſoules; hauing eſpecial regard, to auoyde all idle, dangerous, and detractiue words, as beſeemeth the handmaids of Chriſt, obſeruers of the holy Ghoſpel, and profeſſors of ſacred Religion.
7. We prohibit the ſiſters to write, cauſe to be written, or poſſeſſe any booke, or book's ſauouring of vanitie, or ſecular hiſtorie: the vſe notwithſtanding, of pious book's is permitted them, for the good and comfort of their ſoules: which285 they may read, either in particular, or common, at table, or in other places; according to the wil and order of the Abbeſs.
1. WE ordaine, that in euery Conuent the Abbeſs, or in her abſence, the Vicareſs, humbly and with charitie, admoniſh and correct the Siſters offending; leaſt for want of admonition, they fall headlong into faults and trāſgreſſions. Yet ſuperiours, [as286 is aboue ſayd] muſt in their reprehenſions, be mindfull of humilitie, and due ordered charitie.
2. Lett care be taken, leaſt vnder pretext of humilitie and ſweetneſs, they giue occaſion to the Siſters of libertie and relaxation, and vnder the cloake of charitie, they cheriſh ſenſualitie, which in time, would proue the ruine of ſoules. Wherfore, without diſtinction of perſons, they ought to correct all, according to the qualitie of the offence.
3. Yet, if it ſhould happen, [which God forbid] that any Siſter ſhould cōmitt ſoe great287 a crime, as to endanger therby, her eternal ſaluation, and blaſt the order with infamie and cōfuſion, or if any ſhould remaine ſoe refractorie, incorrigible, and obſtinate in her malice, that ſhe would, in noe wiſe, amēd herſelf; ther muſt be for ſuch as theſe, in euery Conuent, a ſtrong, yet humane place of correctiō, wherin the guiltie ſhall be confin'd to bread and water, for a week, month, yeare, and euen for euer, if the offence require it, and the Abbeſs, with her Diſcreet, ſhal iudge it neceſſarie.
4. Jf it happen alſo, that any288 Siſter rebells againſt the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs, or caſts forth vndecent and iniurious words againſt them, ſhe ſhal in the preſenſe of the Siſters, ſitting on the ground, in time of table, faſt with bread ād water.
1. ALthough it be contained in the forme of life, that the Portreſs ſhould in the day time, reſide in an open cell, yet We, for ſeueral and iuſt cauſes, doe wholy abrogate and diſannulle it. For289 that which in S. Clar's time was lawfull and decent, would now proue obnoxious to many inconueniences and dangers.
2. We therfore, deſiring to prouide for future ſecuritie, and decencie, ordaine the following methode to be hēce forth euer obſerued. That a Siſter fearing God, diſcreet, and vertuous, be aſſigned vnto the cuſtodie of the gate of the Monaſterie and Speakhouſe; who, as Wee may confide, wil by word and example edifie thoſe, that ſhal conuerſe and deale with her. She is to haue, by common conſent, as in other elections, a fitt companiō290 aſſigned her, who in caſe the chief Portreſs be hindred by infirmitie, may laudably ſupply the office.
3. Unto theſe two Portreſſes, an other Siſter ſhal be aſſign'd out of the number of the eight Diſcreet, who ſhal be preſent and heare thoſe, that ſpeake vnto the Siſters, and may weekly be changed, or continued, according to the good lyking of the Abbeſs; ſoe that, none ſhal ſpeak vnto any externe, but in preſēce and hearing of two of the Diſcreet, as hath been ſayd. Theſe Siſters, at the call of their bell, ſhal immediatly, and with ſpeed,291 repaire all three togeather, vnto the Speakhouſe, ſoe that ſhe that ſpeaketh, muſt haue her two companions euer preſent, vnleſs one of thē ſhould chance to goe to deliuer ſome meſſage, or for ſome neceſſarie occaſion, with intention to return ſpeedily: for if her abſence ſhould be conſiderable, long and frequent, ſhe ſhal aduertiſe the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs to appoint an other in her place.
4. The chief Portreſs ſhal anſwer and ſpeak; her two companions are only to be preſent and hear. Jf any extern would ſpeak with either292 of her companions, ſhe and her other aſſiſtent [leaue beeing obtained before hand of the Abbeſs, or Vicareſs] ſhal be preſent and hear what is ſayd; ſoe that, noe diſcourſe with externs muſt be euer permitted at the Grate, or Speakhouſe, without the attendance of two of the Diſcreet; and the chief Portreſs ſhal be always one of them, vnleſs ſhe be hindred by ſome neceſſarie occaſion.
5. We ordaine alſo, that ther be a wodden dore made to the ſaid Speakhouſe, with a lock and two keyes, and that, day and night it be carefully293 kept lock't, vnleſs the Portreſſes be actually ther; which neither of them ſhal preſume to enter, without all three be ioyntly mett. The one key ſhal be alwais kept by the chief Portreſs, and the other by the Abbeſs in the night time; and in the day time, by the third Siſter, who is weekly deputed to aſſiſt.
6. We declare, that noe man, of what condition, or ſtate ſoeuer he might happen to be, whither Secular or Regular, be euer permitted to enter the Monaſterie. Moreouer, We ſtricktly command both Abbeſs and Siſters, neuer to294 giue way vnto it, without leaue firſt obtained by ſuch as can giue it. From this law are excepted Phiſitians, and Surgeons permitted to enter for the relief and attendance of the ſick; thoſe alſo, whoſe entrance ſhal be neceſſarie for fire, ruines, reparations, and ſuch work's, as can not otherwiſe be done without the Monaſterie.
7. Jf any Cardinal ſhould pleaſe to enter the Conuent, he muſt be receiued with due reſpect and deuotion, but with humble intreatie, that he be pleaſed to ſelect, ād admitt with him, only two, or three,295 or very few of his train. Noe Siſter ſhal conuerſe, or ſpeak with them otherwiſe, then according as is ſpecified in the forme of life. Lett great care be taken, that thoſe, who with leaue, ſhal enter the Monaſterie, be ſuch perſons only, whoſe exemplar life, words, and behauiour, may breed edification to all.
8. When any prouiſions of corn, wood, or other neceſſaries, are brought to the Monaſterie, of ſoe conſiderable a bigneſs, that they can not cōmodiouſly paſs the Turne, We wil, that the Abbeſs, or Portreſs, or her Aſſiſtents take296 care, leaſt the gate be left open longer then neceſſitie requireth: neither ſhal they permitt the Porters, or ſuch like work-men, to enter more in number, to paſs further into the Monaſterie, or make longer ſtay, then ſhal be preciſely neceſſarie for the preſent occaſions. Thoſe Siſters only, who are deputed by the Abbeſs, or Uicareſs, may ſpeak vnto them, with their faces decētly couer'd: and lett their words be brief, and of things only neceſſarie.
9. And to the end, none of the other Siſters may be ſeen by thoſe, who for carriages,297 or other work's, are to enter into the Monaſterie, lett this following practice be obſerued. The Portreſs hauing opēed the inward gate, ſhal vnbarr, and vnlock with two keys [but not vnlatch] the outward, or chief gate, which is called the gate of the Monaſterie; then, withdrawing her ſelf, and hauing ſhutt the inward gate, with the two keys, the Work-men, drawing the latch of the other, may enter, and lay down their burdens between theſe two gates, and depart. Then the Portreſſes returning, ſhal barr, and double-lock the outward, or principal298 gate, and diſpoſe of things brought in, according to order.
10. Jt being alſo contained in the forme of life, that the Abbeſs is to appoint two Siſters at the gate, to lett in thoſe, who for neceſſarie occaſions, are to enter into the Monaſterie, We declare, that the ſaid Portreſs [ſuppoſed in the forme of life to be modeſt and prudent] ſhal, with one of her companions, ſuffice to open the gate, [leaue being obtained of the Abbeſs] and to lett in, thoſe perſons aforementioned, and conduct thē, with modeſtie, grauitie, and299 ſilence, to the place, or work intended.
11. Noe Siſter, of what condition ſoeuer, ſhal out of curioſitie goe to ſee the workmen at work; but if any be deputed by the Abbeſs, for iuſt reaſons, to ouerſee, or be with them, ſhe ſhal alwais haue a companiō aſſigned her, and they ſhal both remaine in a publique and open place, till the work be ended; after which, they ſhall retire themſelues.
12. Lett the Abbeſs and Siſters take care, that noe thing be done with-in, by externs, which might, without inconuenience,300 be performed by thēſelues; nor permitt workmen, or any other perſon whatſoeuer, to eate within the Monaſterie, without iuſt and neceſſarie cauſe.
13. We ordaine moreouer, that the Confeſſor, entring the Monaſterie with his companion, [if he haue one] be veſted with the ſacred garments, of an Albe, or Surplice and Stole.
14. Moreouer, We exhort all the Siſters in IESVS CHRIST, that they be not importune, and ouer ſolicitous for the Benediction of the Abbeſs, and Cōſecration of the Religious;301 but that they remaine ſatisfied in the holy ſimplicitie, and innocencie of their Profeſſiō; for the which, [if duly complied with all] they may expect from the hād of the high Prieſt, our Lord and Sauiour JESUS CHRIST, a plentifull reward and benediction.
15. By reaſon of the differēce of tymes and circumſtances ſince your forme of life was firſt written, Wee ordaine, that hēce forth, the Sacrifice of the Maſſe, be noe more celebrated within the Monaſterie, neither for the liuing, or burying of the deceaſed Siſters.
16. None ſhal be permitted302 to enter the Monaſterie for the opening, or ſhutting of the graues, but one, or two modeſt labouring men, as need ſhal require; and it ſhal not be lawfull for more to enter, vpon occaſion of burial of the Siſters, then the Confeſſor, his companion and a modeſt Clarck to aſſiſt them; who, are all to depart immediatly, when the ceremonies are ended.
1. YOur holy Rule doth mention in the 12. 303Chapter that the Viſitor ſhal be one of the Order of Friar-Minors, according to the command and will of the Lord Cardinal Protector: which is to be vnderſtood, hauing regard to the difference of time, place and particular Decrees of Popes, according to the different ſubiection and dependence of Conuents. For when in the beginning, Bleſſed S. Francis wrote the Rule of S. Clare, the Monaſteries, and Siſters, were in noe ways ſubiect to the Juriſdiction and power of the Friar-Minors, but it was only permitted and granted them, in proceſſe and length304 of time; wherfore according to the ſenſe and words of the Rule, the Viſitor is ſuppoſed only to be of the Order of Friar-Minors, if by grant of his Holineſs, the Monaſterie be ſubiect vnto them; otherwiſe, if by the ſame grant a Monaſterie be ſubiect immediatly vnto the Biſhop of the Dioceſe, or vnto any other Order, it is to be viſited by that ſuperiour; and this appeares to haue been the wil ād meaning of the Lord Cardinal, who, according to good liking, deputed different and ſeueral Viſitors, as is expreſſed in the Rule, and is allſoe305 conformable to the declarations and grants of Jnnocent the fourth, and diuerſe other Popes.
2. The Prelate therfore, or ſuperiour, vnto whom the Monaſterie is immediatly ſubiect, ought to viſit it in perſon, euery third yeare, or oft'ner, if the Abbeſs and Diſcreet ſhould ſoe require; which if he cannot performe, he is to ſubſtitute ſome one in his place, eminent for prudence and vertue, whom and none elſe, the Siſters are to reſpect and acknowledge. The iuridical viſit is to be performed at the Grate, wher he may306 treate with the Siſters, either in particular, or in general, according as his prudence ſhal iudge moſt expedient. For he is not to enter into the Monaſterie, without apparent neceſſitie.
3. Being in his Uiſit, within the Conuent, he ought ſoe to behaue him ſelf, that by his words, and exāple, the Siſters may take increaſe, in the loue of God, and in Charitie amōgſt themſelues. His companion is to accompanie him, and to remaine in a place ſoe conſpicuous and neere, that they may commodiouſly diſcerne each other. He ought ſoe to307 diſpoſe his time, that he remaine noe longer within the Monaſterie, then ſhal be requiſite for the cōplying with the Viſit, which ended, he ſhal immediatly retire him ſelf.
4. Lett him endeauour to diſpatch the Uiſit of each Cōuent, within the ſpace of two, or three day's. Jt were conuenient, [if he be prepared thervnto] that he firſt make an exhortation to the Siſters of this ſubiect; hauing beforehand, read their Rule, and this preſent Ordinatiō, wherin the manner of viſit is declared.
5. Moreouer, he ſhal charge and command all, and euery308 one of the Siſters, that they anſwer him ſincerely and cleerly, in thoſe points, which he ſhal propoſe vnto them, if they know any thing to be amended: and they are all to obey him readily, in all things belonging to the Uiſit.
6. The Uiſitor, if heple aſe and iudge it expedient, may obſerue this following method. He may ſpeak vnto the Siſters, either all togeather, or ſome of them aſſembled, or in priuate, vnto one alone; two others being preſent, but not ſoe neere, as to vnderſtand, or ouerheare what is ſayd, to the end, integritie and309 ſecreſie may the better be obſerued.
7. Jf Jnformations are to be receiued, the Siſters ſhal haue acceſſe vnto him in their turn's; and if one ſhould be accuſed of any crime, he ſhall write downe the ſayd crime togeather with her name and the names of her accuſers.
8. The Uiſit ended, the Siſters ſhal be all called to Chapter, wher the faults of the accuſed being layd open, if ſhe be iuridically and truly conuicted, by the teſtimonie of two Siſters worthy of belief, a pennance ſhal be inioyned her, proportionable to the fault. 310She may notwithſtanding, haue leaue to reply, and cleere her ſelf of the crime obiected, if ſhe can; yet ſoe, that ſhe pretend not to inquire the names of her accuſers. Nor muſt they in any ways, be diſcloſed vnto her, vnleſs the accuſed perſon ſhould iuridically demand them, to cleer herſelf of the obiected crime.
9. Jf it ſhould ſoe happen and be known, by lawfull means, that ſome one were falſly, or wrongfully accuſed, the accuſer ſhal be lyable to all thoſe penalties, which the accuſed ſhould haue vndergone, if conuicted of that311 crime. This notwithſtanding, if any one Siſter haue certaine knowledge of ſome grieuous ſin of an other, or that ſhe is yet guiltie of the ſame crime, the Siſter that hath this knowledge, ought, and is obliged to manifeſt ſecretly, both the crime and the partie vnto the Viſitor: and in this caſe, in noe ways may he, euer declare the name of the accuſer, to the accuſed Siſters.
10. Jf it ſhould ſoe fall out, that himſelf could not correct, or remedie a fault, lett him referr it to the arbitriment of his higher Superiour; by whoſe autoritie and command, it312 may be condignely puniſhed.
11. Lett the Abbeſs be carefull that neither by her ſelf or others, the ſtate of the Monaſterie concerning mutual charitie and the obſeruance of the Rules be conſealed frō him: for the contrarie, would be a grieuous ſin, deſeruing ſeuere puniſhment. We wil therfore, and declare, that they manifeſt vnto the Uiſitor, either publicquely, or priuatly, and in the beſt manner they can, what is to be amended, or corrected; according to the forme of life. And if any one, either Abbeſs or inferior, ſhal be found to313 haue trāſgreſſed in this point, lett her be ſeuerely puniſhed by the Uiſitor, according to the gieuouſneſs of the fault.
12. The Viſitor, being in his viſit either publique, or priuate, amongſt other demands, ſhal inquire of the Siſters concerning points more eſſential, belonging vnto the Rule; as of Obedience, Pouertie, Chaſtitie, and perpetual Jncloſure: how the diuine office is performed by day and night: of the manner of ſpeaking at the Grate and Speakhouſe: of collection of mony's, corn &c. of the attendance of the aged and314 ſick: of the number, price, and curioſitie of their garmēts and habit: of ſuperiours negligences, and of the obſeruance of abſtinences and faſts: of the Diſcreet and Portreſſes: of Obedience, and rebelliō of ſubiects: of the obſeruance of Rules, and theſe preſent Ordinations: of maintaining of Union and Peace in the bond of Charitie: of frequenting the Holy Sacraments of Euchariſt and pennance: of preſeruing and cōtinuing the exerciſe of holy prayer, and deuotion in the Conuent.
12. Jf one, or more ſhal be315 to haue been defectiue in the premiſſes, or in any other more grieuous neglect, lett her be duly corrected and puniſhed, according to diſcretion, the qualitie of the offence, zeale of Charitie, and feruour of Juſtice.
THE Holy Father S. Frācis, encouraging his Religious to the obſeruance of the Rule, ſayd; it was the booke of life, the fruit of wiſdome, the marrow of the Ghoſpell, the hope of health, the path of ſaluatiō, the ladder, by which one aſcendeth to heauen, the key of Paradiſe, and the pledge of eternal peace.
POpe Gregorie thc 9. ſayd, he had vnderſtood of the H: Father S. Francis, that323 God had fauoured him with three priuiledges. The firſt, that the more the religious of his Order did increaſe, the more he would prouide for them. The ſecond, that none ſhould euer dye vnhappily in the habit. The third, that whoſoeuer ſhould perſecute his Order, ſhould be grieuouſly puniſhed by Almighty God.
THe firſt, that his Order ſhould laſt to the day of324 Judgment. The ſecond, that whoſoeuer ſhould liue wickedly in the Order, ſhould not continue long. The third, that whoſoeuer did loue his Order, although a great ſinner, ſhould obtaine mercy of Almighty God.
THe firſt, that if their intention be good, they ſhal euer be gouerned by the325 H: Ghoſt. The ſecond, that in all their temptations, during the courſe of this mortal life, they ſhal ſtill be particularly defended frō mortal ſinne. The third, that the fire of Purgatorie, ſhal not detaine them after their death, from the immediate enioying of euerlaſting glorie. The fourth, that themſelues ſhal be rewarded with that promiſe of our Sauiour, made vnto his Apoſtles, of ſitting on the 12. ſeates, to iudge the 12. Tribes of Jſrael. The fifth, that towards ſuch, as loue the Order, Almightie God will increaſe his graces and bleſſings in this326 world, and in the next. The ſixth, that thoſe who are enemies to it ād doe perſecute the ſame without repenting, ſhall either haue their life ſhort'ned, or be repleniſhed with miſerie here, and after their death, eternally periſh. The ſeauēth, that ther ſhal euer be in this Order, religious perſons of good and holy life, louers of the honour of God, and their Religion.
1. TO be feruēt in praier, and ſtudious in ſpiritual327 lecture, the which are both ohtained by frequenting of the Church, and keeping of your celle; ſoe that a Religious perſon neuer ought to be ſeen wandering out of one of theſe two places, vnleſs it be to comply with obedience, in ſome work commanded: but he ought to frequēt theſe two places, ther to attend vnto heauenly things, and bewayle his ſins, and thoſe of his neighbour.
2. To attend carefully to the puritie of body and mind; for the obtayning wherof, he muſt auoyde all particular frendships.
3283. To refraine the tongue, neither prayſing, or diſprayſing others, or anſwering thē, vnleſs it be firſt demanded.
4. To be carefull not to relate eaſely things heard, vnleſs they be of edification.
5. Often to call to mind the thought of heauen, the benefitts of God, your owne ſins, the paines of hell, and the deplorable condition of poore worldlings.
6. To iudge none but your ſelf, either in thought, or word. And whoſoeuer ſhal obſerue theſe points ſhal be ſaued.
1. POuertie, wherby a Religious perſon is eſtranged frō all terrene things.
2. Obediēce, without which, noe vertue is perfect.
3. Chaſtitie, which beutifyeth and adorneth all other vertues.
4. Charitie towards our enemies, wherby all infection of ſin is expelled.
5. Manſuetude, which [as S. Ambroſe ſaith] is the medecin of the heart, wherby the ſoule is illuminated by God, to know his ſecrets.
3306. Mercie, which extendeth it ſelf to the help of euery one, without limit, entreth ſweetly into the heart with pittie, and eleuateth it from all ſin.
7. The ſimple word, all waies fructifying in God, in puritie of intention, in charitie. &c.
8. Shunning occaſiō of ſin; conducting the ſoule with prudence, and ſecuritie to the purchaſe of vertue.
9. Right intention, which maketh all work's to proceed from humilitie, to the edification of our neighbour.
10. Conformitie of the work vnto the word, wherby all ſpecial inſtruction is ſeriouſly,331 and with profit accepted.
11. Auoyding of vnprofitable ſolicitude, therby to attēd the better, vnto ſpiritual illuminations, which are obſcured by earthly cares.
12. Fraternal correction, which is a light, that illuminateth the vnderſtanding, according vnto that of the Apoſtle ſaying: that which is corrected, is made apparent by the light that followeth.
1. THey doe ſoe darken and obſcure the eyes332 of our vnderſtanding, that they can not behould God.
2. They kill the feruour of loue, and diuine charitie.
3. They hinder our petitiōs and prayers from being heard by God. 4. They defile and ſpott the ſoule.
5. They contriſtate the H: Ghoſt, ād reioyce the enemie.
6. They depriue vs of the ſweet and amiable familiaritie of our bleſſed Sauiour. 7. They are a great cauſe and meanes of our fall into grieuous ſinns.
8. They occaſion the fall of a ſoule into great ſlouth and tepiditie, in all goodneſs.
9. They weaken exceedingly333 the forces of the ſoule, from reſiſting her bad inclinations.
10. they incline our affectiōs and deſires vnto things, that are temporal.
11. They prolong and augment the paines in Purgatorie. 12. They hinder vs exceedingly, from ſeeing, and enioying the preſence of God.
1. WHat are his euill inclinations and bad cuſtomes, whence they proceed, and what reſiſtance and exerciſe he vſeth againgſt thē.
3342. What paſſions doe moſt reigne in him, and by what meanes he hath hitherto indeauoured to mortify them.
3. What are his moſt frequent, moſt troubleſome and chief temptations, and how he hath hitherto, behaued himſelf in them.
4. Jf he be indifferent, and willing to accept any employment of H. Religion, which ſhal be appointed him,
5. Whether God be the only intention of all his actions, or if he ſeek ſelfe-commoditie, or praiſe, in his employments.
6. Whether he doe not prefer exteriour things: as good335 qualities, natural gifts and graces, before the ſtudy of vertue and perfection.
7. Jf he deſire, and be contented, his ſuperiours ſhould haue knowledge of all his faults.
8. Jf he be confident and open hearted to his ſuperiours and willingly confer with thē; touching the good of his ſoule.
9. Whether he be truly vnited by affection, vnto his ſuperiours, or if he haue any auerſion, from them and from whence it proceeds.
10. Whether he be not too familiar with ſome, and if that familiaritie be not hurtfull336 to him-ſelf and the other party, and if by that occaſiō, he looſeth not time, and diſedifyes others.
11. Jf he loue and embrace interiour and exteriour mortifications, and chooſe rather thoſe things, that be humble and abiect, then of eſteeme and credit.
12. Jf he obſerue all the rules and conſtitutions; and of which he maketh leſs eſteeme, and for what reaſon.
13. Jf he deſire truly to be penitent for all his faults; humbly confeſſing them with ſtrong purpoſe of amendmēt.
14. Jf he makes dayly a particular337 examen vpon ſome one imperfection, and with what preparation he receiueth the H. Sacrament, and how he frequenteth the holy exerciſe of prayer.
15. Jf his words ād diſcourſes in recreation, or otherwiſe, as alſo with ſeculars, be of edificatiō; and how he obſerueth ſilence, and ſpendeth his time.
1. THe Religious both men and woemē ſhal338 gaine a plenarie indulgence from paine and fault, on the days of their cloathing, profeſſion, and houre of death. Alſo the fathers and mothers of the ſaid Religious, may haue the ſame giuen them by any lawfull confeſſor, at the houre of death.
2. All the Religious that ſhal receiue the moſt H. Sacrament vpon all ſondays, throughout the yeare, all the feaſts of our bleſſed Sauiour, and of our bleſſed Lady, and of the Saints of the Order, ſhal gaine a plenarie indulgence. And if it ſhould ſoe happen, that any one could339 not confeſs and cōmunicate on theſe days, [their hind rāce being lawfull] they may afterwards gaine the ſame, although the day of the feaſt be paſt; if [being freed of that impedimēt] they doe confeſs and communicate for that intention.
3. The Religious, who ſhal recite the Roſarie of our Lord, that is 33. Paters and Aues, in honour of the 33. yeares he liued in this world, or the Roſarie of the Glorious Uirgin Marie, contayning 72. Aue's with 7. Pater noster's, and one Pater and Aue for his Holineſs, ſhal gaine a plenarie Jndulgence. 340The ſame is alſo granted, as often as they ſay the 7. penitential Pſalm's, and Litanies, the Gradual Pſalm's, the office of the dead; or aſſiſt at the Litanies of euery ſecōd ſonday in the month.
4. As often as the Religious, either by day, or night, in what place ſoe-euer they be, ſhal recite 6. Paters and Aue's and 6. Gloria Patri, fiue for the neceſſities of the Church, and the ſixt for the Pope, ſhal gaine the Jndulgences of the ſtations of Jeruſalē, of Rome, of S. James, and of Portiuncula.
5. Jtem, reciting the Pſalme341 Exaudiat te Deus in die tribulationis &c. and 3. Paters and Aue's for the Popes intention, they ſhal gaine all the Jndulgences granted by the ſouereigne Biſhops to the Confraternitie of the Roſarie, to the Churches of our B: Lady of Loreto, of Mont-ſerat, and of S. James de Compoſtella.
6. Euery time they ſay the Angelus Domini at the accuſtomed time, when it ringeth, a plenarie Jndulgence; the like alſo, euery time they communicate; as often alſo as they heare the Maſſe of the Conception of our B. Lady, praying for his Holineſs, and the342 vniuerſal Church, is granted a plenarie Jndulgence. Saying the diuine office, or the office of our B. Lady, beſides all other Jndulgences, they gaine 100. years of pardon.
7. Saying once euery day, one Pater noſter, and one Aue Maria, calling deuoutly three tims vpon the H: name of JESUS, they gaine 300 years of pardon.
8. Jt is granted vnto the Siſters, that 4. times in the yeare, they may haue a generall abſolution in full remiſſion of all their ſinns whatſoeuer, and be reſtored to the ſtate of innocencie, as fully as they343 could receiue it from his Holineſs: and the like is granted them, on euery feaſt of our B. Sauiour, and of our B. Lady, on the feaſts of S. Peter and S. Paul, S. Francis, and S. Clare, S. Catharine Queene and Martyr, on the feaſt of all Saints, and euery day of the H. week. Notwithſtanding, theſe graces wil profit nothing thoſe, who ſhould vpon preſumption to gaine them, offend more freely.
9. They may apply all priuiledges and indulgences granted to themſelues, vnto the faithfull departed. For the gayning of theſe, or any other344 indulgences, it is requiſite to apply your intention for the ſame.
| KYrie eleïſon. | Chriſte eleïſon ▪ |
| Kyrie eleïſon. | Chriſte audi nos ▪ |
| Chriſte exaudi nos. | |
| Pater de coelis Deus, | Miſerere nobis. |
| Fili Redemptor mundi Deus, | Miſerere nobis. |
| Spiritus ſancte Deus. | Miſerere nobis. |
| Sancta Trinitas vnus Deus | Miſer. nob. |
| Sancte FRANCISCE | ora. |
| Pater amabilis. | ora, |
| Pater admirabilis. | ora. |
| Pater benigne. | ora. |
| Pater venerabilis. | ora. |
| Vexillifer IESV CHRISTI. | ora. |
| Eques Crucifixi. | ora. |
| Imitator filij Dei. | ora. |
| Seraphim ardens. | ora. |
| Fornax charitatis. | ora. |
| Arca ſanctitatis. | ora. |
| Cultor Pacis. | ora. |
| Vas Puritatis. | ora. |
| Norma Iuſtitiae. | ora. |
| Speculum pudicitiae. | ora. |
| Regula Poenitentiae. | ora. |
| Magiſter Obedientiae. | ora. |
| Exemplar Virtutum | ora. |
| Patriarcha pauperum | ora: |
| Profligator Criminum. | ora. |
| Lumen tuae Patriae. | ora. |
| Decus morum. | ora. |
| Viuificator mortuorum. | ora. |
| Saluator famelicorum. | ora. |
| Obſequium leproſorum. | ora. |
| Praeco magni Regis. | ora. |
| Forma Humilitatis. | ora. |
| Conſors ſublimitatis. | ora. |
| Victor vitiorum. | ora. |
| Dux Minorum. | ora. |
| Praedicator ſilueſtrium. | ora. |
| Portans dona gloriae, | ora. |
| Auriga militiae noſtrae. | ora. |
| Nouis vtens prodigijs. | ora. |
| Coelum caecis apperiens. | ora. |
| Gratum gerens obſequium. | ora. |
| Templum Chriſto conſecrans. | ora. |
| Hoſtes malignos proterens. | ora. |
| Tenens vitae brauium. | ora. |
| Spargens virtutum munera. | ora. |
| Amplians iter ad gloriam. | ora. |
| Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, Parce nobis Domine | |
| Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, Exaudi nos Domine | |
| Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi. Miſerere nobis. |
Verſ. Ora pro nobis beate P. Franciſce.
Reſp. Vt digni efficiamur promiſſionibus CHRISTI.
DEus qui Eccleſiam tuā B. Franciſci meritis, faetu nouae prolis amplificas, tribue nobis, ex eius imitatione, terrena deſpicere, & coeleſtium donorum ſemper participatione gaudere. Per Dominum noſtrum &c. Amen.
| KYrie eleïſon. | Chriſte eleïſon. |
| Kyrie eleïſon. | Chriſte audi nos. |
| Chriſte exaudi nos. | |
| Pater de coelis Deus, | Miſerere nobis. |
| Fili Redemdptor mundi Deus. | Miſerere nobis. |
| Spiritus Sancte Deus | Miſerere nobis. |
| Sancta Trinitas vnus Deus. | Miſerere nobis. |
| Sancta MARIA. | Ora pro nobis |
| Sancta Dei Genitrix, | ora. |
| Sancta Virgo virginum, | ora. |
| Sancta Clara Virgo, Mater noſtra. | ora. |
| Virgo CHRISTI Spouſa, | ora. |
| Virgo Franciſci plantula. | ora. |
| Virgo electa prae millibus. | ora. |
| Virgo Seraphica. | ora. |
| Virgo Matris IESV diſcipula. | ora. |
| Virgo primogenita pauperum. | ora. |
| Virgo gemma Virginum. | ora. |
| Virgo norma perfectionis. | ora. |
| Virgo humiliſima, | ora. |
| Virgo mundo abſcondita. | ora. |
| Virgo ſpeculum Paupertatis. | ora. |
| Virgo lilium Caſtitatis. | ora. |
| Virgo roſa poenitentiae. | ora. |
| Virgo Crucifixi amore ſaucia. | ora. |
| Virgo Crucis ardentiſſima amatrix. | ora. |
| Virgo ſtella clariſſima. | ora. |
| Virgo ſequens agnū quocunque, ierit. | ora. |
| Mater noſtra honorificata. | ora. |
| Mater admirabilis. | ora. |
| Mater amabilis. | ora. |
| Mater ſicut balſamū aromatizans. | ora. |
| Mater paranympha Chriſti. | ora. |
| Mater pulchrae dilectionis. | ora. |
| Mater puritatis nutrix | ora. |
| Mater Obedientiae magiſtra. | ora. |
| Mater ſcala paradiſi. | ora. |
| Mater gloria filiarum. | ora. |
| Mater ſocia Angelorum. | ora. |
| Mater clipeus in te ſpe rantium. | ora. |
| Mater protectrix pauperum. | ora. |
| Mater conſolatrix flentium. | ora. |
| Mater terror Infidelium. | ora. |
| Mater triumphatrix Doemonum. | ora. |
| Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi. Parce nobis Domine. |
349Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi. Exaudi nos Domine.
Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi. Miſerere nobis.
Verſ. Ora pro nobis beata Mater Clara.
Reſp. Vt digni efficiamur promiſſionibus CHRISTI.
FAmulos tuos quaeſumus Domine, Beatae Virginis tuae Clarae, votiuam commemorationem recenſentes, caeleſtium gaudiorum ſua facias interuentione participes, & tui Vnigeniti cohaeredes. Per Dominum. &c. Amen.
AMong all other benefits, which we haue receiued from our bountifull benefactour, the King of mercies, and dayly receiue of him, and for which we are moſt bound to prayſe him, one is our Vocation: the which, by how351 much it is more perfect and great, by ſoe much are we more obliged vnto him.
The Apoſtle ſayth, acknowledge your Vocation. God hath him ſelf made a way, the which he ſhewed by word and example, and our Holy Father S. Francis, a moſt perfect louer and follower of the ſame way, hath taught it vs. Wherfore my beloued Siſters, we ought to mark the ineſtimable benefit which God hath beſtowed on vs, among others, and hath vouchſafed to work in vs, through his ſeruant our Holy Father S. Francis; not only ſince our conuerſion, but alſo352 before, when yet we were in captiuitie and vanitie of the world. For after his cōuerſion [not hauing as yet, any brothers] being to repaire to S. Damians Church, where he was viſited with diuine conſolations, and conſtrained wholy to abandon the world; filled with ioy and illumination of the Holy Ghoſt, he propheſy'd of vs, that which our Lord hath afterwards fulfilled.
For ſtanding on the walls of the ſayd Church, he called with a lowd voice in the Frēſh tongue, on ſome poore folks, who liued ther about, ſaying:353 Come help me in this Church of S. Damian, for ther ſhal come Woemen, by whoſe good life, and holy conuerſation, our heauenly Father ſhal be honoured in his whole Church. Wherin we may mark the great bounty of God towards vs, who out of his abundant mercy and charity, did vouchſafe to propheſy theſe things by his ſeruant, of our Uocation and Election. And not only of vs did our Holy Father foretell theſe things, but alſo of thoſe, who hereafter ſhal be partakers of the Uocation which our Lord hath called vs vnto. With what care of ſoule and354 body, are we then bound, to keep the Commandments of God, and of our holy Father S. Francis; to the end, that with the grace of God, we may repay him his talent multiplied and increaſed: neither hath our Lord only placed vs as an example and paterne for the ſecular, but particularly for all our Siſters, whom he ſhal call vnto our courſe of life, that they alſo may be a mirrour and example vnto thoſe, who are in the world.
Seeing then our Lord God hath honoured vs with ſoe high a Vocation, as to ſerue for paterne vnto thoſe, who355 ought to be an example vnto others, how much are we bound to bleſs, and priſe our Lord God, and in well doing to remaine the more comforted in him. Wherfore, if we liue piouſly, according to the forme aboue mentioned, we ſhal leaue good example vnto thoſe, who ſhal follow vs, and after ſhort labours, receiue the reward of euerlaſting life. When our heauenly Father had vouchſafed, through his great mercie and grace, to illuminate my heart, in ſuch ſort, that through the example and teaching of our holy Father S. Francis, J began to doe pennance,356 a little after his conuerſion; J, with a few Siſters whom our Lord ioyned vnto me, a little after my conuerſion, willingly promiſed vnto him Obedience, as our Lord, through the light of his grace, inſpired vs, by meanes of his maruelous life, and holy doctrine.
S. Francis then, marking, though we were according to the body weak and tēder, that we were not diſmay'dwith any neceſſitie, pouertie, labour, tribulatiō, or contempt of the world, but that we eſteemed all thoſe things as great pleaſures, as he had proued by the357 example of his Brothers, he reioyced in our Lord; and moued with great charitie towards vs, obliged him ſelf, and his Brothers to haue alwais ouer vs a ſpecial and diligent care. We went alſo by the will of God, and of our Holy Father S. Francis towards the Church of S. Damian, to dwell ther. Soone after which time, our Lord, through his great mercy and grace, multiplyed vs in number, ſoe that then was fulfilled that, which our Lord had ſayd by his ſeruant; for we dwelt before in an other place.
A little after, he wrote vnto358 vs, this forme of life, and principally, that we ſhould perſeuer in this moſt holy pouertie. Neither was it ſufficient vnto him, that he admoniſhed vs ther vnto in his life, by many ſermons and exhortations to moue vs to the loue and obſeruance of the ſame holy pouertie: but alſo he gaue vs many writings, that after his death we might not fall frō the ſame holy Pouertie, but loue it, according to the example of the Sonne of God, who liuing in this world, did neuer leaue the ſayd pouertie: which alſo our holy Father S. Francis, with his Brothers, did honour,359 and obſerue, during his life.
Wherfore, J Clare, ſeruāt and hand-mayd of Chriſt, and of the poore Siſters of S. Damian, although vnworthy, the little plant of our holy Father S. Francis, conſidering this, with my other Siſters, and togeather the highneſs of our Profeſſion, made vnto ſuch a Father; fearing our owne frailtie, and that of others, after the death of our holy Father, who next vnto God, was our pillar and comfort, againe and againe bind my ſelf vnto the ſayd holy pouertie, to the end, that the Siſters, who now are, or ſhal come after my death,360 may by noe means, decline from it.
This pouertie, J have alwais been carefull [with the grace of God] to obſerue, and to cauſe it to be obſerued, and for more ſecuritie, J haue made Profeſſion ther-of vnto our Holy Father Pope Jnnocent the fourth, in whoſe time we began, and haue renewed it to his ſucceſſours, that by no meanes, and in no time, we ſhould decline from this holy Pouertie, which we haue vowed vnto God, and to S. Francis.
Wherfore, J bowing the knees both of my body and361 ſoule in all humilitie cōmend vnto the Church of Rome, vnto our Holy Father the Pope, and eſpecialy vnto the Cardinal, vnto whoſe Protection, togeather with the Friar-Minors, we are committed, that for the loue of God, who was borne in great pouertie, layd in the Crib, and liued poorly in this world, and dyed poorly on the Croſſe, they wil preſerue this litle flock, which God the Father hath gayned to his Church, by the words and examples of our holy Father S. Francis; cauſing them to follow the Humilitie and pouertie of his362 dearly beloued ſonne, and of his holy Mother, and making the holy Pouertie to be obſerued, which we haue promiſed vnto God, and vnto S. Francis, and ſtrēgthning them to obſerue it.
And as God gaue vnto vs, our holy Father S. Francis, for our founder and helper in the ſeruiſe of God, and in thoſe things, which we vowed vnto God, and vnto him to obſerue; and as he was carefull whiles he liued, to water vs his litle plants, by word and example: ſoe J commend and leaue my Siſters, as wel thoſe who are alreadie, as thoſe363 who hereafter ſhal be, vnto the ſucceſſour of S. Francis, and to the whole Religion: that they wil alwais help vs to proceed from better to better, to ſerue God, and accompliſh and obſerue our holy Pouertie. Jf it ſhal happen at any time, that the ſaid Siſters ſhould leaue their Contry or Cittie, to goe to an other, they are firmly bound after my death, in what place ſoeuer they are, to obſerue the holy Pouertie which they haue vowed vnto God, and vnto S. Francis.
Thoſe who ſhal be in office, as alſo the other Siſters, ſhal be carefull, that they receiue364 no more ground, thē extreme neceſſitie doth require; as a garden for help vnto their relief: and if for the defence, or decencie of the Cloyſter, it were needfull to haue more ground, they ſhal take but only what is neceſſarie: in which they may not plough, or ſow. J admoniſh you all, my Siſters, who are, and ſhal be, that you labour to follow the way of ſimplicitie, humilitie, and pouertie; and alſo the modeſtie of holy Cōuerſation; as we in the beginning of our conuerſion, were tought of Chriſt, and of our holy Father S. Francis. 365Soe that, not through our merits, but through the mercie of the liberal giuer, the Father of mercies may ſpread abroad the odour of our good naem, as wel amongſt thoſe, who are far of, as amongſt thoſe, who are neer.
And for the Charitie of our Lord JESUS, keep vnion of loue. The Charitie which you haue inwardly, ſhew it outwardly by work's, to the end, that through your example, the Siſters, which are called vnto your Profeſſion, may increaſe in the loue of God, and mutual Charitie.
Alſo J pray all thoſe, who366 ſhal be choſe to beare offices among the Siſters, that they wil ſtudie to excell the others, rather in vertue, and modeſt conuerſation, then in authoritie and office that ſo, by their example, the Siſters which were called vnto Religion before them, may be moued to obey them, not only in reſpect of their office but for loue.
The Abbeſs muſt be carefull, and diſcreet towards her Siſters, as a good Mother is towards her childrē. She muſt carefully prouide for euery one, according to their neceſſitie, of the almes, which367 it ſhal pleaſe God to ſend her. She muſt alſo be ſo ſweet and familiar vnto all, that the Siſters may without feare, or doubt, declare vnto her their neceſſities, and haue confidently recourſe vnto her.
When the Abbeſs and the Siſters ſhal think anything neceſſarie, lett the Siſters, which are ſubiect, remember, that for the loue of God, they haue renounced their owne wills: wherefore, J wil, that they obey their Mother, as they haue of their owne accord vowed vnto God to doe; to the end that their Mother, ſeeing the humilitie, charitie,368 and vnion, which they haue vnto each other, may eaſily beare the charge, which ſhe hath by her office. Which becauſe it is heauy and bitter; they muſt, through their holy cōuerſation, ſeek to turn into ſweetneſs. And ſeeing the way is narrow, and the gate ſtrait, which leadeth vnto life, and few their are which walk in it and few that perſeuer therin, bleſſed are thoſe, which haue receiued the grace to walk in it, and to perſeuer therin vnto the end.
Wherfore, lett vs be carefull, ſeing we be entred in to the way of our Lord, that by369 our fault and negligence, we doe not fall from the ſame, commit, or doe iniurie vnto our Lord, vnto his Bleſſed Mother the Glorious Uirgin Marie, vnto our holy Father S. Francis, vnto the triumphant, and militant Church: for it is written, curſed are thoſe, who decline from thy commandment.
To obtaine this grace, J bow my knees vnto the heauenly Father, through the merits of our Lord JESUS, and of his B. Mother, of our H. Father S. Francis, and of all the Saints, that it wil pleaſe his diuine Maieſtie, who hath370 giuen a good beginning, to grant grace alſo, that it may augment, and without end perſeuer euen vntil death. Dearly beloued Siſters preſēt, and to come, that you may the better perſeuer in our vocation, J leaue vnto you this writing, in token of our Lords Benediction, and of the Benediction of our H. Father S. Francis, and of me your Mother and ſeruant.
WHoſoeuer ſhal ſay deuoutly this enſuing prayer, in honour of the moſt ſacred Paſſion of our Lord and Sauiour JESUS Chriſt, and in honour of his moſt B. Mother the Uirgin Marie, and continue the ſayd deuotion for the ſpace of 30. days, ſhal mercifully obtaine his lawfull requeſt, as hath been often experienced.
EUer glorious and bleſſed Uirgin Marie, Queene of virgins, Mother of mercie, hope and comfort of all deſolate and deſperate ſoules: through that ſword of grief which perc'd your heart, whilſt your only ſon Chriſt JESUS our Lord, ſuffered death and ignominie on the croſſe; through his filial tenderneſs of pureſt loue in your behalf, grieuing in your grief, whils't from his Croſs, he bequeath'd373 you to the protectiō and care of his Vicar S. Iohn; take pittie J beſeech you on my pouerties and wants, haue compaſſion on my anxietie and cares, help and comfort me in all my infirmities and miſeries whatſoeuer. You are the Mother of mercies, the ſweet comfort of the afflicted and deſolate, the only refuge of all needy and Orphans. Caſt then an eye of pittie on the teares of a miſerable, forlorn wretch, and heare my prayers; and ſeing] for iuſt puniſhment of my ſins] J am ſurrounded with many euills and much anguiſh, vnto whom374 ſhal J haue recourſe, or where can J be more ſecurely ſheltred, then vnder the mantle or your Motherly protection o Virgin Marie, my ſweeteſt Lady, Mother of my Lord and Sauiour JESUS CHRIST, comfort and redreſs of our loſt nature. Lend therfore, J beſeech you, an eare of compaſſion and pittie, to my hūble requeſts and prayers; J beg it, by thoſe bowells of mercie of your deareſt ſon; by that ſweetneſs wherwith he embraced our human nature, when deliberating with the two other Diuine Perſōs, and with ſecreet power of the375 H. Ghoſt [your conſent firſt being by the Angel demāded and obtained] GOD BECAME MAN, and 9. months expired, vouchſafing mercifully to viſit the world with his gracious preſence, came forth from the chaſt incloſure of your virginal wombe; J beg it, by that anguiſh of mind, which your afore-ſayd deare ſon our Lord JESUS Chriſt indured at mount Oliuet, beſeeching his heauenly Father to take away [if poſſible] that bitter chalice of his future paſſion; by his three tims repeated prayer in the garden, and your mournfull ſtepps,376 when with teares you accompaned him to that dolefull ſpectacle of his death and ſufferings; by his whipps, ſcoffs, cords, ignominies, fals accuſatiōs and vniuſt condemnation; by that garment gayn'd at a caſt at dyce; by his teares ād dropps of bloudy ſweat; by his ſilence and patience; by his feare, ſadneſs, and grief of heart; by his confuſion and baſhfullneſs hanging naked on a Croſs, in your preſence, and in ſight of the whole world; by his royal head perc'd with thorn's, and ſtruck with a reed; by his thirſt, and pain-full potion of vineger377 and gall; by that lance that perc'd his ſacred ſide, and by that bloud and water, which flowing thence, did ſhowre on vs, plentie of mercie and grace; by thoſe nailes ſtuch into his hands and feet; by that pretious ſoule, and ſweet ſpirit, which he [crying with a loud voice my God, my God why haſt thou forſaken me recommended to his heauenly father, and with an inclyned head, gaue vp the Ghoſt; ſaying, all is conſummated; by the rending of rocks, and tearing of the vaile of the temple; by the earthquake and darck'ning of the ſun and378 moone, by his mercie ſhew'd to the good theef; by his adorable Croſs and bitter Paſſiō; by his deſcent to Hell, and all thoſe ſoules which he comforted with his glorious ſight; by the ioy, glorie, and victorie of his H. Reſurrection, appearing vnto you, his elect Uirgin Mother, and to the reſt of his diſciples for 40. days; by his admirable Aſcenſion, when you all behoulding him, he was eleuated into heauen; by the grace of the H. Paraclet, which he in fyerie tongues infuſed into the hearts of his Diſciples, and by their zeale, inflamed379 the reſt of the vniuerſe; by that laſt and dreadfull day, when he ſhal come to iudge the liuing, and dead, and the world in fire; by all the compaſſion he bore you, in this life; by the rauiſhing ſweetneſs of his eyes; and by the ineffable ioy you felt, being in his ſight aſſumed into Heauen; wher, world without end, you liue and reioyce in him: comfort my heart, and heare this my prayer, for which J am your humble ſuppliant. [ASKE HERE DEVOVTLY WHAT-SOEVER YOU PLEASE] And as J am confident he can refuſe nothing380 vnto you, and doth honour you, ſoe lett me ſpeedily, fully, and efficaciouſly experience your help and comfort, according to the ſweetneſs of your Motherly, and his Filial louing heart, who granteth mercifully the requeſt of all that loue him, and doth the will that feare him. Wherfore ſweet Lady [according to my preſent need in this and in all other things whatſoeuer, for the which J humbly inuoque your ſacred name and aſſiſtāce] obtaine for me of your deareſt Son our Lord God, firme hope in the Catholique faith, perfect Charitie, true381 contrition of heart, a fountaine af teares, ſincere confeſſion and refrayning from ſin, condigne ſatisfaction, loue of God and my neighbour, contempt of the world, and true patience, to ſuffer affronts, ignominies and [if need be] an opprobrious death, for loue of your Son our Redeemour JESUS CHRIST. Obtaine for me perſeuerance in good works, execution of my good purpoſes and Vow's, mortification of ſelf-will, conuerſation pleaſing vnto you, and in the laſt houre of my life, a ſtrong and true repentance, and preſence382 to my ſelf in word and mind, and a happy death, Laſtly for the ſoules of my parents, brothers, Siſters, benefactours aliue and dead, obtaine for vs all, J beſeech you, life euerlaſting. Amen.
HAile bleſſed Virgin Marie, Mother of God, Queene of heauen, gate of paradiſe, and Lady of the world. Thou art a ſingular pure Uirgin. Thou wert conceiued without ſin, conceiuedſt alſo and brought forth without blemiſh, your Son383 JESUS, the Creator and Redeemour of the world. All this doe J beleeue vndoubtedly. Pray for me to JESUS your beloued Son, and free me from all euill.
AMEN.
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The Perfectiō of the Rule conſiſts in ſix Seraphical winges: to witt, in Obedience, Pouertie, Chaſtitie, Humilitie, Simplicitie, and Charitie.
1. OBedience is a vertue, contayning three degrees: the firſt is Obedience by profeſſion, complying with the commandment of God, or the ſuperiour; touching the exteriour performance of the action, or work enioyned. The ſecond is obedience by conformitie, when the cōmandment is performed, not in the318 exteriour only, but without contradiction alſo of the interiour; conforming the intētion and will, vnto that of the Superiour, who commandeth. The third is, Obedience by vnion, wherby the true obedient man, hath no other reſpect, then the pleaſure and will of God.
2. Euangelical Pouertie hath three degrees. The firſt is Pouertie by Profeſſion; that is, to haue no proprietie, or right to any thing whatſoeuer. The ſecond, to retaine the ſimple vſe only of things neceſſarie, and reſt content with the moſt vile. The third, not to haue any319 affectiō, euen in things neceſſarie; but by way of cōſtraint, to take the bare vſe of them.
3. Chaſtitie, is a vertue, that hath three degrees. The firſt is Chaſtitie of body, by which all the exteriour members are reſtrained from any impure, or ſuſpicious act. The ſecond, Chaſtitie of heart, by which the heart is preſerued frō any diſhoneſt, or vncleane thought. The third, chaſtitie of ſpirit, by which, we not only refraine frō any diſhoneſt loue, but alſo from all exceſſiue delectation in ſpiritual cōforts.
4. Humilitie is a vertue, that hath three degrees alſo: the318〈1 page duplicate〉319〈1 page duplicate〉320firſt is humilitie of knowledge by the which man acknowledgeth him ſelf to be vile and abiect. The ſecond is humilitie of exhibition, when the interiour humilitie of the will, is expreſſed in the exteriour; as in meane attire, abiect works, and humble words. The third is, humilitie of affection, wherwith a ſoule doth not only humble her ſelf in the ſight of God, but of men alſo; deſyring to be by them eſteemed poore and abiect.
5. Simplicitie cōtaineth three degrees. The firſt is, ſimplicitie of thoughts, eſteeming ones ſelf the moſt vnworthy321 of all creatures to ſerue God, ād nouriſhing a belief of ones vnfittneſs to honours and worldly dignities. The ſecond is ſimplicitie of words, auoyding all affected curioſitie and ſuperfluitie in ſpeach, which proceed from an ill roote of vanitie. The third is ſimplicitie of work's, employing our ſelues in thoſe only, which are ſimple and profitable, yet ſoe, as prudence muſt euer accompanie this ſimplicitie: for God loueth thoſe, that walk in prudence, with a pure, right, and ſimple intention.
6. Charitie is a vertue of three decrees. The firſt is, to322 loue God not only for his benefits, but alſo, for that he is moſt worthy of our loue. The ſecond is, to loue our neighbour, not only for loue of him, but ſimply for the loue of God. The third is, to loue our ſelues in labouring for vertue, glory, and eternal happineſs, not for our owne reſpect, but to pleaſe God, and for loue of his diuine Maieſtie.