The First Part

Of admission to Probation

Chap. I. Of him who has the power of admission,

[1] To whom the power of admitting to probation is to belong, and how far its hmits are to extend, may be left to the judgment of the General; who, in commmiicating it, will consider what is most conducive to the service of God and our Lord.

[2] When a person apparently fit to adopt our Institute shall apply to one who has not this power of admission, he shall send him to the party who has, or write to him, signifjdng what manner of person he is who desires to be admitted, and with what gifts of God he is endowed; and if the other have authority- to direct in his absence, let him do that which is commanded him in the Lord.

[3] Because it greatly concerns God's serv'ice that a fit selection be made of those who are admitted, and that diligence be used to ascertain the particulars respecting their person and caUing: whoso has this power of admission, if he cannot himself make the inquir}', let him employ from among those who are constantly about his person some one whose assistance he may use to become acquainted with the probationers, to live with them, and examine them; some one endowed with prudence, and not unskilled in the manner which should be obsen-ed in dealing with so many various kinds and conditions of persons; so that this business may be managed with greater intelligence, and more satisfaction to either party for the glon,^ of God. It is needful that the person having the power of admission, and the person whose assistance he uses, should each have a knowledge of the interests of the Society, and a zeal for its prosperity; so that he may be turned by no consideration from that which he shall judge most conducive in the Lord to the sen-ice of God in this Society; to promote w'hich, it is meet that he be not too eager to grant admission. And that he be less liable to any iri'egular motive, in cases where temptation may occur (as with kinsmen and with fiiends) let no man discharge the dutj- of examination, in whom any danger of this sort mav be apprehended. But whoever fulfils this office should have every^thing which appertains to it set forth in writing; whereby he may more perfectly and surely do that which is demanded of him in this respect for God's service.

Chap. II. Of such as may be admitted into the society

[1] Speaking generally of those to be admitted; their fitness is in proportion to the extent to which they are endowed with l)oth natural and acquu-ed gifts of God, calculated to jiromote His service accorchng to the purpose of the Society; and also to the certainty of the probation to which they have been subjected.

[2] To speak particularly; let those who are admitted to be Coadjutors, to conduct the temporal and external afiairs, (who should not be more numerous than is necessary, to aid the Society in such things as the others cannot be employed upon without the neglect of more important interests) be men (as touching the soul) of good conscience, sedate, tractable, lovers of virtue and perfection, given to devotion; men, in their domestic and external conduct, of edifjang habits; who, contented with the pait of Martha in the Society, and well affected towards its Institute, desire to sen-e it for the glory of God.

[3] As touching externals; they nuist be gifted with a comely presence, health, youth, and energies to sustain their bodily labours in the Society; and apparently having, or likely to have, some talent for its service.

[4] Considering the end of our Institute, and our plan of conduct, we persuade ourselves in the Lord, that it is by no means conducive to His greater sen-ice and glory to admit men of unmanageable tempers, or miavailable to the Society, however advantageous it might prove to the individuals.

[5] It is needful that those who are admitted to aid the Society in spiritual concerns, considering what a ministry of this nature requires that the so\ils of their fellow- creatures be benefited, be furnished with these following gifts of God.

[6] As regards their intellect; of sound doctrine, or apt to learn it; of discretion in the management of business, or, at least of capacity and judgment to attain to it.

[7] As to memory; of aptitude to perceive, and also to retain their perceptions. ■

[8] As to intention; that thev be studious of all virtue and spiritual perfection; calm, stedfast, strenuous in what they undertake for God's service; burning with zeal for the salvation of souls, and therefore attached to om* Institute; which cUrectly tends to aid and dispose the souls of men to the attainment of that ultimate end, from the hand of God, our Creator and Lord.

[9] In externals; facihty of language, so needful in our intercourse With, our neighbour, is most desirable. \Q A comely presence, for the edification of those with whom we have to deal. 11 Good health, and strength to undergo the labours of our Institute. 1 2 Age to correspond with what has been said; which, in those admitted to probation should exceed the fourteenth year, and in those admitted to profession the twenty-fifth. 13 As the external gifts of nobility, wealth, reputation and the like are not sufficient, if others are wanting; so, if there be a sufficiency of others, these are not essential: so far, however, as they tend to edification, they make those more fit for admission, who, even without them, would be ehgible on account of the quahties before mentioned; ui which, the more he excels who desires to be admitted, so much the more fit wiU he be for this Society, to the glon* of God our Lord; and the less he excels, so much the less seniceable wUl he be. But the sacred unction of the dix-ine Wisdom wiU instruct those who undertake this duty to His service and more abundant praise, what standard should be maintained in aU these things. li

Chap. III. Of the impediments to admission into the society

[1] Although charity and the love of souls, in which this Society exerts itself according to the end of its Institute, comprehend all classes of men, in order to promote their spiritual advantage, and assist them in obtaining salvation in the Lord, yet, as to admission into the body of Society, it ought not to adopt any others than those whom, as aforesaid, it shaU judge available to the special object of the Society.

[2] Of impediments to admission; there are some which altogether exclude those who would enter; for which many and weighty reasons move us in the Lord. These are as follow.

[3] To have separated at any time fi'om the bosom of the holy Church, by denial of the Faith amongst infidels, or by faUing into errors contrary to her, in which he shall have been censured by public sentence; or to have departed from the unity of the Church after the manner of schismatics.

[4] To have committed homicide; or to be infamous for enormous crimes.

[5] To have assumed the habit of any Order; or to have become a hermit at any period in the monkish habit.

[6] To be bound by the bond of matrimony, or legal ser-itude.

[7] To be afflicted with any complaint of the head, which may obscure or weaken the judgment; or if he have any obsen'able disposition towards it, as is discoursed more largely in the Exam en.

[8] Other impediments, though taken singly they do not altogether exclude from the Society, yet render him less eligible who desires admission; and the defect may be of so great moment, that it would not conduce to the service of God, that any should be received with it.

[9] The secondary impediments, of which we are now treating, are such as these. As relates to internals; passions or affections which do not appear to be governable; or a habit of sinning, of which no great hope of amendment may be entertained.

[10] A motive less direct than is right for entering a Rehgious Order; as blended with some merelv human object. 1 1 Unsteadiness, or notable fickleness of mind, by which the candidate for admission may be thought unfit to fulfil the duties of the Society. 1 2 Indiscreet devotions; which are often a cause why men faU into illusions of the de\nl, and errors of no small moment. 13 Want of learning, or defect of genius, or memory to acquire it, or of utterance, in those who express the intention or desire of advancing further than temporal Coadjutors usuallv do. 14 Defect of judgment, and remarkable pertinacity of opinion; which is often the occasion of much trouble to societies of men. 15 In the external man; defect of body, disease, debUity, or notable defonnity. Age too tender, or too much advanced. Debt, or ci'il obligations. 16 The more liable any person is to these defects, so much the less fit is he to serse God our Lord in this Society, to the succour of souls: and let him who has the power of admission take care that no private regard outweigh the general interest, which, as it tends more to the glor}- and honour of Christ our Lord, ought always to have the preference.

Chap. IV. Of the manner of admission

[1] Because we persuade ourselves in the Lord, that the divine and supreme Majesty will deign to use the ministiy of this humble Society; it greatly imports, that they who are admitted into it should not only undergo a long trial before they are adopted into its body, but that they be also thoroughly known before they are admitted to that probation which takes place in common intercourse with our inmates: it is expedient that some house be appointed in conjunction with our communit', where he who is admitted to probation may abide as a guest for twelve days, or even for twent}-, or more, at the discretion of the Superior; that, in that period such candidates may be informed of the ways of the Society; and that the Society may obtain a more ample knowledge in the Lord of them.

[2] Into this, which is called the House of First Probation, those who wish it may be more easily admitted, if they clearly appear to be available in this Society to the ser'ice of God and our Lord Jesus Christ; and contrariwise, those who are clearly perceived not to be so may be dismissed forthwith, aided with good 10 THE tON'STITUTION'S OF counsel (and whatever else charity may suggest) that they study to sene God and our Lord elsewhere.

[3] But if the matter be not so clear to the Society as it ought, when he who desires to be admitted has expressed his wish, and has been interrogated with dehcacy on the chief impediments, and has comprehended the object of our Institute, together ynth the probations and difficulties inherent therein; although he may seem earnestly to desire to be admitted into the Society, to Uve in it for ever, (without which desire no one ought to be admitted to probation) still, the reply, and the final determination may be put off for awhile; that, in the interval the matter may be better considered, and commended to God; and proper dihgence be used; that he may be more thoroughly scrutinized, and his stedfastness be put to the test. How long this may be postponed, and what dihgence be used, is to be left to the prudent consideration of the person having the power of admission, who will ever regard that which shall be most pleasing to God.

[4] "^lien it shall be detennined in the Lord, that it is fit that any one be admitted to probation, he may enter, dressed in his usual attire, or each according to his respective devotion (except the Superior determine othenaise) and shall be settled as a guest in the aforesaid house of probation, or in some place appointed for the purpose; and on the following day it shall be declared to him, how he should conduct himself in that place; and expresslv, that he hold no intercourse, unless for some cause of no slight moment it seems otherwise to the Superior, either by word or writing, with those within or those without, except with such as are for that purpose designated by the Superior; which is done, that he may more freely Aveigh ^vith himself and with God his calling, and resolution of sening the divine and supreme Majesty in this Society.

[5] Two or three days after his entrance into the house of probation, a more accurate examination may be commenced, as is set forth in the duty of the Examiner; and a written examination may be left with him, that he may more maturely consider it alone; then, the Apostolic Diplomas may be shown to him; and the Constitutions; and the Rules to be observed in the Society, and in the house which he enters; and those who have paid attention to literutuie, mav read cUstinct lessons in the severixl faculties in which they are versed; and that before persons appointed by the Superior to ascertciin the talent of each in learning, and in the manner of showing it. During the period of this first probation, the novice shall open liis conscience to the Superior, or to one appointed by him, (except this business v^-ith the Superior's consent be postponed to another time) and he shall make a general confession, (if he has not done so already) and that, too, to the Confessor who shall be designated by the Superior to receive it. And when all that he brought to the house, and his promise to obsers-e all things proposed to him, shall have been entered into a book kept for that purpose, and subscribed with his own hand; at last, after absolution having received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist, he shall enter the house of the general community, where the novices ai'e hving with the rest, and are further exercised in their second probation. What is here said of those who are first admitted to the Society, shall for the most part be obsersed with those who come from their stucUes, or other houses of the Societ}', where they have not been dihgently examined; whilst those who have not been admitted into the body of the Society to be Professed, or Coadjutors, let such remain, each in his owm caUing; that the proceeding may be more clear, and the Society may better discern whether it conduce to the greater honour and glory of God, and our Lord, to retain him within it.