Instruction on the Vows of

Stability, Poverty Chastity and Obedience

in the Congregation of the Mission

CHAPTER VII - CANONICAL ASPECTS OF THE VOWS IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION
 
 
 
I. THE NATURE OF THE VOWS
 
            The deepest meaning of the vows of the Congregation comes from their relationship to the mission.  They exist to promote the evangelization of the poor.  The canonical aspects of the vows try to capture that fundamental insight of St. Vincent in legal terms .
 
            The Church’s legislation permits Societies of Apostolic Life to choose the nature of the bond by which they assume the practice of the evangelical counsels(731:2),  the Congregation of the Mission chose vows(C 3:3). The present Constitutions describe our vows as: "perpetual, non-religious, and reserved so that only the pope or the superior general can dispense them."(C 55:1).
 
            The adjective, perpetual, requires no explanation, but the second qualifier, non-religious, does need some interpretation. The Code of Canon law defines a religious institute as "a society in which members, according to proper law, pronounce public vows, ..."(canon 607:2) A public vow is described in canon 1192:1: "A vow is public if it is accepted in the name of the Church by a legitimate superior." In a religious profession, a candidate offers himself to a community approved as a religious institute and makes public vows.  The superior receives the person as a religious and accepts the vows in the name of the Church. All of this means that these vows are made in a religious congregation, approved as such by the Church. The nature and effects of these vows are determined by the common law of the Church.
 
            The vows of the Congregation of the Mision are not public, which means that no one accepts them in the name of the Church. The juridical concern here is to distinguish an apostolic institute from religious institutes.  The non-public nature of the vow is not determined by the number of persons present when a missionary pronounces vows, nor does it mean that the vows are purely a private matter.  The language seeks to separate our vows from religious vows.  In our case, the Church recognizes that the  effects and meaning of the vows are determined by our proper law not the universal(public) law of the Church.
 
            The fact that no one accepts our vows in the name of the Church  does not mean that the Church does not approve the vows nor recognize the Congregation. The Church  has given its official approval to the Congregation in Salvatoris Nostri and to its vows in Ex Commissa Nobis. Rather, it means that the Church does not approve them as religious vows in a religious institute. They are approved as another type of vow as defined in the "Ex Commissa Nobis" and the Constitutions.
 
            Something would be missing if our vows were only defined in negative terms in relation to religious institutes. The Constitutions recommend that the vows be interpreted according to St. Vincent's intention,  approved by Alexander VII in "Ex Commissa Nobis" and "Alias Nos" (C 55:2)  The sources for a positive understanding our vows, then, are the mind of our founder and the two documents mentioned.
            Whenever he spoke about the vows St. Vincent was very careful to indicate that they were not religious vows made in a religious order. Apostolic congregations  had only begun to make their appearence around the Seventeenth Century. Canonical practice and language had not developed to include this new form of apostolic life.  St. Vincent, therefore, emphasized that the vows were made in a "secular" congregation dedicated to the mission.  His concern was to avoid some of the elements essential to religious life which would impede the evangelization of the poor. But he also wished to express in the language of his time the fundamental direction of the Vincentian vocation as a mission  and a call to holiness in and for the world. The term, "secular", used in our tradition from the time of the foundation, does not mean that we are diocesan priests living in community; it means that we are priests and brothers living together in community while remaining in vital contact with the world’s needs, especially those of the poor.
 
            The new canons for Societies of Apostolic Life(CJC 731-746) offer categories which provide a clearer, more positive framework for understanding the nature of the CM and its vows. This new law emphasizes the mission of these societies and gives ample space for developing structures for fulfilling the mission. Vows  made in the Congregation of the Mission, a society of apostolic life(C 3:1), are  vows for mission.
 
 
II. INCORPORATION
 
            By incorporation admitted members adquire all of the rights and obligations expressed in the Constitutions, Statutes and Provincial Norms. (C 59:2) Full membership in the Congregation
establishes a permanent, mutual relationship between the confrere who has been incorporated and the community.  The candidate offers himself to the Congregation in order to participate fully in its life and mission. The Congregation, in turn, incorporates the member pledging its support.
 
            Incorporation occurs when, upon request by a member, a major superior gives  that member permission to make vows  and the vows are  pronounced(C 57:1).   Vows and  incorporation happen simultaneously, but are distinct. Properly speaking, it is the superior's permission to make vows which brings  incorporation.  Nonetheless, the incorporation  takes effect only at the moment that vows are pronounce.
 
            Incorporated members have the right to active voice (that is, voting) in the Congregation (c 60).  To enjoy passive voice (that is, eligibility for various offices and duties), a member must be incorporated for three years and be at least twenty-five years of age (C 61).
 
III. ADMISSION TO VOWS
 
            The right to admit a candidate to vows pertains to:
 
1. "the superior general, with the consent of his council and after consulting the moderators of the candidate, for the entire Congregation";(C 56:1)  
 
2. "the provincial, with the consent of his council and after consulting the candidate's moderators, for his province"( C 56:2)

 
IV. CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION TO VOWS
 
            Canon 735:1 establishes the general principle: "The admission, probation, incorporation and training of members are determined by the proper law of each society."  The universal law
says nothing about the conditions for incorporation or admission to vows for Societies of Apostolic Life like the Congregation of the Mission.  Although some are not explicitly stated, the following conditions have to be taken into account:
 
            -that the petition be made without force, grave fear or fraud(canon 656: 4);
 
            - valid completion of the internal seminary;
 
            -a minimum of two years and a maximum of nine years  as an admitted member, having made good purposes one year after entering the internal seminary(C 54:1);
 
            - permission for vows by the competent superior(C 56);
 
            -the vows must be emitted in the presence of the superior or a member appointed by him(C 58:1);
 
            -one of the formulas in  article 58 of the Constitutions or another formula  approved             according to Statute 24  should be used.
 
            Nothing is mentioned in our proper law about the precise time for the pronouncing of vows.  Traditionally , the vows have been made during the celebration of the Eucharist(XIII, 285).
 
 
V. CERTIFICATION OF THE PRONOUNCING OF VOWS
 
 
            Vows and incorporation into the Congregation are not just personal concerns.  The incorporation, which occurs at the time of vows, involves the whole Congregation and establishes a contract between the confrere and the community. For that reason, article 58:2 of the Constitutions states that the request for  vows should be made in writing and that there should be a written  attestation  afterwards that vows have been  pronounced. The same article requires that the superior general also be notified about the taking of vows.
 
 
VI. DISPENSATION FROM VOWS
 
            The vows of the Congregation of the Mission are reserved, so that only the pope or the Superior General can dispense them. The superior general can grant an indult of departure to an incorporated member for a grave reason and with the consent of his council. Along with the indult of departure, he can give a dispensation from vows(C 71).  If the member seeking the dispensation is a priest or deacon, the Superior General may grant it only in accord with canon 693, upon the cleric’s finding a “benevolent bishop.”
 
            The Constitutions do not mention the grave causes which would justify  departure from the community and  dispensation from vows; nor does canon law contain  a norm applies directly to Societies of Apostolic Life.  However,  canon 691:1 contains a basic orientation: "One who is professed in perpetual vows is not to seek an indult  to leave the institute without very grave reasons weighed before the Lord..."
 
            In cases of expulsion from the community, whether they are automatic dismissals, as mentioned in C 73,  or in  the cases mentioned in C 74,  an explicit dispensation from vows is not neccessary, since the vows cease with the legitimate expulsion. All dismissals require the confirmation of the Holy See(canon 700).  When the decree of dismissal has been confirmed, itl should be communicated immediately to the member and he should be given the oportunity to appeal to the Holy See(C75).
 
            With  lawful departure and dispensation from vows all mutual  legal rights and obligations between the member and the Congregation cease. Although those who are separated from the Congregation have no legal claim for work done while in it, the community should practice equity and evangelical charity toward former members(C 76).