To constitute a solemn vow, it must be prescribed and accepted as such by the Holy See. The vows taken by the members of religious congregations, which, with a few exceptions, are not bound by the law of enclosure, and are a later institution in the Church, are called simple vows. Simple vows are either for life, or for a certain number of years, or for one year. Thus, the Irish Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Nuns of the Good Shepherd, take simple vows for life; while the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul take simple vows for one year only, annually renewable. It is scarcely necessary to observe that a simple vow is fully as binding as a solemn vow, in the religious life. 45 CHAPTER VII. RULES AND CONSTITUTIONS OF THE PRESENTATION order. Elles ont leurs règles, et ces règles sont des ailes dont elles se servent pour voler à Dieu, quand elles ont le bonheur de les pratiquer avec fidelité. -SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL. As there is no better exponent of the nature, scope, and spirit of religious institutes than their rules and constitutions, and as, moreover, the rules and constitutions of all congregations and orders of religious women are essentially the same, I now invite my readers to examine, with me, those of the Presentation order-the order of which we are now treating; and from this examination, I doubt not, they will learn more about conventual institutions than they could learn from any other source. These particular rules and constitutions were, in obedience to his Holiness Pope Pius VI., carefully drawn up, under the immediate direction of Doctor Moylan, Bishop of Cork, as closely as possible in conformity with those of the Institute of Saint Ursula, and in accordance with instructions transmitted to him, for the purpose, by the Congregation de Propaganda Fide. As we have seen, they were subsequently submitted 2 1 Brief of September 3, 1791, quoted page 42. - 2 The Rules and Constitutions of the Presentation Order are signed:Francis Moylan, Bishop of Cork. Cork, August 15, 1793. We the undersigned approve of the foregoing Rules and Constitutions. Richard O'Reilly, Archbishop of Armagh, &c. John Thomas Troy, Archbishop of Dublin, &c. James Caulfield, Bishop of Ferns. James Lanigan, Bishop of Ossory. Charles Sugrue, Bishop of Kerry.' 6 completed with corroborated by to Pope Pius VII., who alludes to them as the utmost care' by the Bishop of Cork, and the weighty suffrages' of other Irish bishops; and after having been with mature deliberation examined by the Cardinals of the Sacred Congregation de Propaganda Fide,' they were confirmed by his Holiness.' They commence as follows: 1. The Sisters admitted into this Religious Congregation, besides the principal and general end of all Religious Orders, such as particularly attending to the perfecting of themselves in the way of the Lord, must also have in view what is peculiarly characteristic of this institute, that is, a most serious application to the instruction of poor female children in the principles of Religion and Christian Piety. In undertaking this very arduous, but meritorious task, the Sisters, whom God is graciously pleased to call to this state of perfection, shall encourage themselves, and animate their fervour and zeal, by the example of their Divine Master, who testified on all occasions a tender love for little children, expressed the greatest pleasure on their approaching Him, and declareth that Whosoever receiveth these little ones in His name receiveth Himself. They shall also consider, that in cultivating the tender minds of young children, by impressing on them a horror for vice and the love of virtue, and by instructing them in the duties of religion, they are associated to the functions of those heavenly spirits, whom God has appointed guardian angels, to watch over and direct them in the ways of eternal salvation. 2. It is a duty incumbent on the Sisters, to teach the children daily the Catechism, which they shall explain to them briefly and simply, adapting their language to the age and capacity of the children. 3. They shall teach the children to offer themselves up to God from the first use of reason, and, when they awake in the morning, to raise up their hearts to Him, adore his Sovereign Majesty, return thanks to Him for all his favours, and arm themselves with the sign of the cross. They shall instruct them how to offer all their thoughts, words, and actions to God's glory, implore his grace to know and love Him, and to fulfil his commandments, how they are to examine their consciences every night, and to honour and respect their parents. 1 Apostolic Brief of April 9, 1805. The same care and mature deliberation uniformly characterize the proceedings of the Holy See in all important matters, such as this. 4. They shall teach them how to prepare for Confession, and to confess their sins with all sincerity and contrition. They shall be ever attentive to dispose them for the sacrament of Confirmation, and for their first Communion. 5. As the Poor are the main object and particular end of this pious institute, it is hereby enacted as a statute, inviolably to be observed, that the Sisters of this religious institute shall admit none into their schools but poor children: nor can they receive money or any other temporal emolument for instruction, contenting themselves with the glorious retribution promised to those who instruct many to justice. 6. Should, however, this institute be established in villages, or country towns where there are no proper schools for the education of girls, then it may be allowed, with the express leave and approbation of the Bishop of the diocese, to admit the children of persons in easy circumstances into their schools; but the emoluments received on those occasions are not to be applied to the use of the Sisters, but to the relief of the poor children. If the poor children be so numerous as to require the whole attention of the Sisters, they are not, under any pretext, to charge themselves with the care of others. Pensioners or lodgers, whether young or old, shall not, on any account, be received into their Convents, with an exception in favour of a Foundress, or a very principal benefactress. In reading these extracts, it is necessary that we should bear in mind, that a nun, as a point of duty, scrupulously obeys the rules and constitutions of her order, as if she were obeying the voice of God. Hence we may imagine with what zeal and exactness the Sister of the Presentation carries out in practice the precepts here embodied-how devotedly she labours for the spiritual and secular instruction of the little ones committed to her charge. For this, she has entered religion. For this, she has heroically abandoned the world and its enjoyments, riches, and home, and family ties. For six hours a day, in a crowded school-room, from one end of the year to the other, and year after year, for many long years, she devotes herself to the same monotonous task. As we casually view them from a distance, there appears some degree of romance in such duties; but, in reality, they are a dull, prosaic, and most laborious routine. Some children are wayward; some, idle and inattentive; some, of obtuse intellect; the parents of some are careless, and, in several instances, the children themselves are but too much inclined to be irregular in their attendance. Then fatigue, or weakness, or ill-health, may come upon the teacher. But, upheld by a supernatural motive, she loves her arduous duties; she cheerfully accepts the toil, and fatigue, and contradictions, and disappointments they necessarily entail; she ever remembers the rules and constitutions; she keeps the great end of her vocation steadily in view; and she fervently offers up herself and all her labours to Him who has said, 'Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.'1 The second chapter of the Rules and Constitutions, having immediate reference to the schools,' is of much interest. It runs thus: : OF THE SCHOOLS. 1. The schools for the poor children shall be within the enclosure, and shall be proportioned to the number of religious capable of attending, without too much overcharging or distressing themselves. 2. The Sisters appointed by the Mother Superior to attend the schools shall with all zeal, charity, and humility, purity of intention and confidence in God, undertake the charge, and cheerfully submit to every labour and fatigue annexed thereto, mindful of their vocation, and of the glorious recompense attached to the faithful discharge of their duty. 3. When the mistresses enter the schools they shall lift up their hearts to God, and to the Queen of Heaven, and then salute with all reverence interiorly the Guardian Angels of the children, recommending themselves and the dear little ones to their care and protection. They shall endeavour to inspire the children with a sincere devotion to the passion of Jesus Christ, to his real presence in the most Holy Sacrament, to the immaculate Mother of God, and to their Guardian Angels. 1 Matthew, c. xviii. v. 10. See section 3 of Chapter of 'the Rules and Constitutions,' on the Schools. Infra. |