VINCENTIAN STUDIES COURSE

BOQUERON, CHIRIQUI, PANA

JOHN P. PRAGER, C.M. 1995

 
2. THE HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTIONS

GOAL: View the development of the Constitutions in the history of the congregation and its self-understanding

READINGS FOR THE TEACHER:

Baylach, J.O., "Comentando las Nuevas Constituciones," Vincentiana 25 (l981), p. 222-226 & 384-409.

 Betta, L., "Note cerca la Legislazione della C.M.," Vincentiana 21 (l977), p. 28-36.

 Braga, C., "Le Nuove Constituzioni della C.M., Vincentiana 25 (l981), p. 62-83.

 Deegan, H., A Canonical Study of the Congregation of the Mission, (Phila.: n. pub. ms, l933).

 Pérez-Flores, M., "Comentario a las Nuevas Constituciones," Vincentiana 26 (l982), p. 147-187.

 --, "De las Constituciones de l980 a las de l984," Anales 93 (l985), p. 102-158.

 --, "Desde las Constituciones de l954 a las de l980," Vincentiana 28 (l984), p. 751-784.

 --, Nuevo Código-Constituciones," Anales 92 (l984), p. 571 -585.

READINGS FOR THE NOVICES:

Milligan, M., "Charism and Constitution," The Way Supplement, (l979), p.45-57.
 
 
 

Hand out the sheet, Appendix 1.

Point out key moments in the history of our legislation.

Ask the novices to comment on what the Constitutions

say about the congregation's self-understanding.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS:

1. Law always reflects a community's self-understanding in a given historical moment. It also tends to be influenced by socio-cultural trends.

2. The Historical Development of the Constitutions:

a. 1658 The Common Rules

b. Select Decrees (changed many times).

c. 1917 Code of Canon Law: The trend in the Code is to make all communities religious. The C.M. is placed under Title XVII, Communities without vows!!

d. 1954 Constitutions The C.M. takes on many of the trappings of the religious life. There is some confusion aboutthe end of the C.M.(i.e. works of charity/ education).

e. 1962-1965 Vatican II

f. 1969 Provisional Constitutions: Signs of confusion about the end(i.e. footnote 5)

g. 1974 Provisional Constitutions

h. l980 New Constitutions

i. l984 New Constitutions Rome asked for some changes.