Consecrated Life

What are the evangelical councils whether professed through vows or sacred bonds?

(cc. 573 §2, and 599-601) Poverty, Chastity Obedience.

What constitutes the patrimony of an institute which must be faithfully observed and preserved?

A. Patrimony (Ecclesiastical good for which you are responsible) consists of: 1.The nature, 2. the purpose, 3. the spirit, 4, and the character of an institute 5. which have been sanctioned by competent ecclesiastical authority, 6. and its sound traditions.

A member can be dismissed from a secular institute for a cause mentioned in the constitution that is "proportionately grave, external, imputable, and juridically proven" (c. 729). Explain the meaning of these four terms.

A. Proportionately grave: causes scandal, hurt to the Church and to the parties B. External: has not been a secret in its occurrence C. Imputable: dolus must be proven—malice, willful D. Juridically proven: go through juridic process to the final judgment

How are the supreme moderator and the other superiors in an institute chosen?

c. 625 A. Supreme Moderator: By canonical election according to the norms of their constitution. B. Other superiors: By the norm of the constitution. (If elected, they need the confirmation of the competent major superior; if appointed by a superior, suitable consultation is to precede the appointment.)

What authority does the general chapter exercise in an institute? What kinds of matters does the general chapter treat?

c. 631 §1 A. Holds supreme authority in the institute according to the norms of the constitution. B. Protects patrimony, promotes suitable renewal, elects supreme moderator, treat affairs of great importance, and issue norms for all to obey. C. Top dog—even higher than mother superior.

What law governs the administration of the temporal goods of an institute?

c. 635 A. Book V: The Temporal Goods of the Church, unless other provisions expressly made. B. Plus suitable norms of the institute regarding use and administration of goods.

What is required for the valid alienation of an asset of an institute (c. 638)? Compare and contrast the requirements for the valid alienation of an asset of an institute with the requirements for other public juridic persons (c. 1292).

c. 638: The written permission of the competent superior with the consent of the council is needed. 1. If it concerns an affair that exceeds the amount defined by the Holy See for the region, or things given to the Church by vow, or art/historical, the permission of the Holy See is needed. B. c. 1292: If it falls within the min/max amounts set by the conference of bishops, the competent authority is determined by statutes of a PJP if not subject to the diocesan bishop, otherwise, the competent authority is the diocesan bishop with the consent of the finance council, the college of consultors, and those concerned. 1. The same goes for exceeding the maximum amount—Holy See.

27. What are some of the qualities a candidate for the novitiate should possess?

c. 642 A. Required age B. Health C. Suitable character D. Maturity E. Verification of experts if necessary. F. Catholic!

What qualities must a candidate possess to be validly admitted to the novitiate?

c. 643 A. Have completed 17th year B. Not be bound to another institute C. Not be forced D. Not be married E. Not be hiding incorporation into another institute F. Other things established by proper law

What is the purpose of the novitiate? To what things should a novice devote his or her time of novitiate?

c. 646 A. Purpose: 1. 1. better understand their vocation 2. 2. better understand the institute 3. 3. experience the manner of living in the institute 4. 4. form their mind and heart in the institutes spirit 5. 5. test their intentions and suitability c. 652 B. Devote time to: 1. Cultivating human and Christian virtues through, prayer and self-denial, 2. contemplate the mystery of salvation 3. read and meditate on sacred scripture 4. prepare to cultivate worship of God in the sacred liturgy, 5. learn a manner of leading a consecrated life through the evangelical counsels, 6. be instructed regarding the character and spirit, the purpose and discipline, and the history and life of the institute, 7. be imbued with love for the Church and its sacred pastors.

How long is temporary profession? What is the shortest or longest period of temporary profession permitted by the code?

c. 655 - A period defined in proper law—not less than 3 years nor longer than 6. c. 657 §2 Can get extensions according to proper law but if can never last longer than 9 years total.

Validity of Temporary Profession

c. 656

Validity of Perpetual Profession

c. 658

A member of an institute makes an act of cession prior to first profession. What rights does the member then have to acquire, possess, and administer temporal goods?

c. 668 A. They would need the permission of the superior competent according to proper law. B. Everything else goes to the institute unless proper law says otherwise. C. Those in solemn vows are out of luck.

What is required for a religious to transfer to another institute?

c. 684 A. A grave cause B. A grant of the supreme moderator of each institute C. Consent of their respective councils

40. What is exclaustration and how long can a member be exclaustrated?

c. 686 A. Exclaustration is: Departure for a grave cause from the institute—not for more than 3 years B. Anything longer than that is reserved to the Holy See. C. The member is considered free from the obligations which he/she can not reconcile with the new condition of life, but remains dependent upon the superiors and the local ordinary. D. The member can wear the habit (unless indult says otherwise) but lacks active and passive voice.

41. How does a perpetually professed member depart a religious institute?

c. 691 A. Request an indult of departure B. To the supreme moderator who sends it with a personal opinion and the opinion of the council to the competent authority: Apostolic See for institutes of pontifical right or Diocesan bishop for diocesan institutes C. If it's a cleric, the indult is not granted until he finds a bishop who incardinates him or receives him experimentally. If received experimentally, he is incardinated after 5 years unless the bishop has refused him.

Give an example of an act for which a member is dismissed ipso facto, an act for which a member must be dismissed, and an act for which a member may be dismissed?

c. 694 A. Ipso facto: by the performance of the act itself 1. notoriously defected from the Catholic faith 2. attempted or civilly contracted marriage c. 695 B. Mandatory: dismissed because of delicts in the code 1. Homicide 2. Kidnapping 3. Gravely wounding a person by force or fraud 4. Procures an abortion 5. Sex with someone under 18 c. 696 C. Facultative: other causes that are grave, external, imputable, and juridically proven 1. habitual neglect of obligations of consecrated life 2. repeated violations of the sacred bonds 3. stubborn disobedience to the legitimate prescripts of superiors in grave matters 4. grave scandal arising from culpable behavior of the member 5. stubborn upholding or diffusion of doctrines condemned by the magisterium 6. public adherence to ideologies infected by materialism or atheism 7. illegitimate absence lasting 6 months 8. other causes of which proper law may determine

What term does the code use for secular institutes in place of "novitiate"?

c. 721 Initial Probation

How can a member of secular institute transfer into a religious institute of consecrated life or a society of apostolic life?

c. 730 A. Permission of the Apostolic See

What rights to members of a society of apostolic life have to acquire, possess, administrate, and dispose of temporal goods?

c. 741 §2A. They have a broader manner of which to acquire personal goods than do religious. Their proper law must clarify what will be personal versus societal patrimony.

Which of the evangelical councils does admit of degrees? That is, for which of the evangelical councils does the proper law of an institute determine how the evangelical council is observed?

cc. 600 and 601 Poverty Obedience

What rights flow automatically from the erection of a religious house?

cc. 608 and 611 A. Right to have an oratory B. Right to lead a life according to the character and proper purposes of the institute C. Right to exercise works proper to the institute D. (For clerical institutes, the right to have a church & to perform sacred ministries)

Where must a novice live and how long must the novice remain there for a valid novitiate?

cc. 647-649 A. Must live in a house designated for the purpose of the novitiate. (can make an exception) B. Must include 12 months and can also include established periods of apostolic exercises outside the house. Novitiate—no more than 2 years. C. An absence of longer than 3 months renders the novitiate invalid. An absence of more than 15 days needs to be made up.

Different institutes of consecrated life have different gifts according to the grace that is given to them. What are some of different gifts that characterize the mission of different institutes (c. 577)?

More closely follow Christ who prays, or announces the kingdom of God, or does good to people, or lives with people in the world, yet who always does the will of God.

Can the superior break a tie vote?

No Authentic Interpretation of c. 127 §1, May 1985

What other document also contains norms that govern an institute and by whose authority are these norms changed (c. 587 §4)?

Other norms established by competent authority of an institute collected in other codes.

Obligations of the competent authority

c. 576 1. Interpret the evangelical counsels 2. Direct their practice by laws 3. Establish the stable forms 4. Pastoral care

By whose authority is an institute of consecrated life erected?

c. 579: Diocesan bishops in his own territory after consultation with the See c. 589: Apostolic See can erect an institute of pontifical right.

By whose authority is an institute of consecrated life suppressed?

c. 584 - The Apostolic See

What authority does a diocesan bishop exercise over an institute?

c. 586 §1,2: The authority to preserve and safeguard the autonomy of the institute. c. 591: None, if the Supreme Pontiff exempts them from governance of local ordinaries. c. 594: Special care of institutes of diocesan right. c. 678: Things regarding care of soul, public exercise f divine worship, and other works of the apostolate.

Generally speaking, what is contained in the constitution of an institute?

c. 587 §1 A. The patrimony (nature, purpose, spirit, character, traditions), B. fundamental norms regarding governance, C. the discipline of the members, D. incorporation and formation of members, E. the proper object of the sacred bonds.

Who can be admitted to the Institute?

c. 597 §1 - Any Catholic endowed with a right intention who has the qualities required by universal and proper law and who is not prevented by any impediment can be admitted into an institute of consecrated life. §2 - No one can be admitted without suitable preparation.

Which of the evangelical councils does not admit of degrees? That is, which of the evangelical councils requires perfect observance which is not qualified by the proper law of an institute?

c. 599 - Chastity.

What other two expressions of consecrated life are recognized in the code

c. 603: Eremitic or anchoritic life/ hermits c. 604: Consecrated virgins

What authority approves new forms of consecrated life?

c. 605 - Apostolic See Diocesan bishops are to try to discern new gifts of consecrated life granted by the Holy Spirit

What is a Religious Institute?

c. 607 (4 aspects) 1. Vows 2. Common Life 3. Common Apostolate 3. Separation from the world (fuga mundi)

Who erects a religious house and whose consent must be obtained for this erection?

c. 609 - Erected by the authority competent according to the constitutions, with previous written consent of the diocesan bishop. (For a monastery of nuns—permission of the Apostolic See is required)

Who is a superior?

c. 618 - Those who exercise authority on behalf of the institute as given by their constitution.

What is a province?

c. 621 A. A grouping of several houses which constitutes an immediate part of the same institute, under the same superior. B. Has canonical erection by legitimate authority.

What is a supreme moderator?

c. 622 A. One who holds power over all the provinces, house, and members of an institute. B. Have power exercised according to proper law.

What are the fundamental differences between a Religious Institute, a secular institute, and a society of apostolic life?

A. Religious Institute: 1. 607 §2 A society in which members, according to proper law, pronounce public vows, either perpetual or temporary, which are renewed when the period of time has lapsed, and lead a life of brothers or sisters in common. 2. §3. The public witness to be rendered by religious to Christ and the Church entails a separation from the world proper to the character and purpose of each institute. 3. Must live in a legitimately established house under the authority of a superior. 4. Erected by the authority competent according to the constitutions with previous permission of the diocesan bishop. B. Clerics and Laity Secular Institute: 1. Assumption of the evangelical counsels by some sacred bond and secular life. 2. Clerics or laity—status does not change with consecration. Live according to the norm of the constitutions whether alone, in their families, or in a group living as brothers or sisters. C. Society of Apostolic Life: 1. Apostolic purpose and common life 2. Members must live in a house or legitimately established community 3. Clerics and Laity

Compare a superior of a religious house and a rector of a seminary with respect to the sacrament of confession (cc. 630, 240 and 985).

A. Superior of a Religious House: needs to make sure suitable confessors are available to the members. Superiors are NOT to hear confessions of their members UNLESS the member requests it of his own initiative. B. Rector of a Seminary: needs to have ordinary confessors and other confessors who come regularly. He is NOT to hear confessions of the students UNLESS the student freely requests.

If a religious priest is to become the pastor of a parish, who presents or appoints the candidate to the office (c. 682 §1)? Who has the power to remove him from office (c. 682 §2)?

A. The competent superior makes the presentation or at least assents to the appointment of the diocesan bishop. B. Can be removed by the diocesan bishop after informing the superior OR by the superior after informing the bishop.

Who can suppress a legitimately erected religious house (c. 616)?

A. The supreme moderator after consultation with the diocesan bishop. B. If it's the ONLY house of the institute, the Apostolic See. C. An autonomous house—the general chapter. D. Autonomous monastery of nuns—the Apostolic See.

What are some examples of reasons for which a religious might live outside of his or her own religious house for more than a year (c. 665 §1)?

A. To care of an ailing family member B. For their own ill health C. For studies D. For exercising an apostolate in the name of the institute.

By whose authority is the constitution changed?

A. c. 587 §2: Can only be changed with the consent of the competent authority of the Church. B. c. 595 §1: The bishop of the principal seat. (Unless the Apostolic See has taken it)

Who are major superiors in the code?

A. c. 620: Those who govern an entire institute, a province of an institute, or part equivalent to a province, or an autonomous house, as well as their ordained vicars. B. c. 613 §2: The moderator of an autonomous house.

At what times can a major superior freely dismiss a member?

A. c. 653 §1-2: During or at the end of the novitiate B. c. 657 §1: Before renewal of temporary vows C. c. 689: Same as 657.

At what times can a person freely leave an institute?

A. c. 653 §1: A novice—at any time B. c. 657 §1: after request is denied. C. c. 688 §1: after temporary profession is over.

In what respects are religious subject to the power of a local bishop (c. 678 §1, 682 §2)? What is subject to the visitation of the diocesan bishop (cc. 628 §2 and 683 §1)?

A. c. 678 §1: In the matters of public exercise of divine worship, other works of the apostolate, things regarding the care of souls. B. c. 682 §2: Can be removed by from a diocesan office by the bishop after having informed the religious superior. C. c. 628 §2: Visitation D. c. 683 §1: He can visit the churches, oratories, other works of religion or charity entrusted to the religious but not schools which are open exclusively to the institute's own students.

43. What rights does a member of an institute have in a process of dismissal?

A. c. 697: The right to be warned and time for reform B. c. 698: The right to defense C. c. 699 §1: The right to know the reasons D. c. 700: The right to recourse E. c. 702 §2: The right to equity and charity of the gospel

What does the term "secular" indicate about a secular institute as distinguished from an institute of consecrated life?

A. c. 710: Live "in the world" as opposed to a religious house B. c. 712: Live out the counsels in a way appropriate to their secular lives C. c. 713: Members express and exercise their own consecration in apostolic activity and bring the Gospel to their work, activities, politics, etc. D. c. 714: No obligation to common life

What term does the code use for secular institutes in place of "perpetual vows"?

A. c. 720: assumption of bonds—temporary, perpetual, or definitive B. c. 723 §3: perpetual incorporation or definitive incorporation (with temporary bonds that always need to be renewed)

Do members of societies of apostolic life have vows? Do societies of apostolic life assume the evangelical councils?

A. c. 731 §1: No vows B. cc. 731 §2, 732: Some societies do in a means defined by their constitutions.

Where are clerics incardinated who are members of a clerical society of apostolic life?

A. c. 736 §1: Unless otherwise stated, into their clerical societies. B. c. 738 §3: Constitutions define relations of member incardinated in the diocese with his own bishop.

What must a superior do to act validly when the consent of his or her council is required? What must a superior do if the counsel of his or her council is required (cc. 627, 127 §1, and 166)?

A. cc. 627 & 127 §1: Must have their own council according to norms of constitutions and must follow c. 127. 1. For consent—must not go against the opinion of the council. Absolute majority required. 2. For consult—must hear the council (and not go against without good reason.) B. c. 166: Regards election and not overlooking electors.