Priors’ Course, Rome 2003.

Input by Carlo Cicconetti, O.Carm.

The following notes were taken during the Priors’ Course which took place in Domus Carmelitane from January 29^th to February 14^th, 2003.

Canonical Aspects.

When appointed to a position there is a change of relationships with the people. Expectations are so great that new candidates cannot live up to the them and often throw in the towel. So obedience now offers a new crisis. You cannot get all the right reactions or qualities in one person. Yet the search is true and we continue to look for God’s mark in our lives.

In the Code of Canon Law from the 1930s the idea was that the subjects can become perfect through the role of the superior even when there is error there. So we now can reflect on the change to the idea that it’s not the hierarchical structure that is important but the communitarian. The community is now seen as part of God’s life in human form.

The Prior’s Role.

The Prior’s role must be seen in the context of this new communitarian idea. The starting point in the documents is Perfectae caritatis. It’s essential in the new Code to give full respect to all those that we live with in community and to one day be able to answer to God for the responsibility that we have been entrusted with. It applies of course to the subjects also reacting to the promotions of the Prior as well as how the Prior sets his agenda towards the community. This sense of responsibility of the superior is then brought into the 1983 Code and priors are expected to respond to it.

Authority is seen as a service to the community. Jesus came to serve and not to be served. So the superior is expected to give a loving service to the members of his community in as much as they receive their commission from God. The authority comes from the Church and is pastoral. They receive this power of authority through the ministry of the Church for the order or congregation of which they are members. They are also subject to God’s law and should support the brothers and respect each as every human person is entitled to. Their role is one of listening and discerning to promote all that is positive without compromise.

The superior is there to make Christ the centre of the community. One time we spoke of sociology but on this occasion it’s about a Deo-centric community. Obedience makes sense only in this light. His first role is to be faithful to his own superiors after, of course, the Pope and the Bishops.

Function of the Prior.

Each one of the community has to be judged on his needs. This was there in the 1930 Constitutions. Best to try to get close to the community and be friends with them and to welcome all in Christ’s name. The faculty for making decisions comes from God and not the community. In 1983 a document existed which emphasised that the authority comes from the Holy Spirit and that the superior has the authority to ask for allegiance from the community. So the superior is called by God to fulfil the task assigned.

Pastoral Life.

People nowadays are well versed in the faults and failings of the superior. People like to be shown respect from the superior. The Prior needs to promote the obedience of the friars to the role of superior. The superior has to ensure the freedom of choice for the subjects and solicit the reactions of the community.

The action then is after listening to take the best line of action. We are searching for God’s will and the superior has to harness the community into the project. He has to construct a communication in the community. After the Council this consultation process was taken up by the Order in 1965. Perfectae caritatis tells us that the collegial authority is what the prior seeks to ensure. In 1971 the Constitutions ensured that this applied equally to all provinces through the auspices of the General Council.

Sign of Fraternity.

The Prior is a sign of fraternity and is at the service of the community. He puts into effect along with the brothers the community initiatives. He must help the brothers to serve Christ faithfully. He helps create the atmosphere that pertains to fraternal life. He recognises the qualities of each and he promotes these same qualities. He guides and encourages the talents of each community member. Likewise the community needs to respond to him as a person. Paul VI called it the ‘personalisation of conscience.’ We need to act in a communal manner and take on board the autonomy of the community.

The prior still has to call the community together and the Constitutions promote this. Con 48 tells us that he is in God’s service to the brothers and has to call forth a mature obedience. He promotes the general good of the community with discernment, making his decision when consultation has taken place. Things must not be allowed drift on and the prior has to make the final decision. He should stimulate the charism of the community and he is the symbol of unity in the community. He has to settle conflict. He calls to prayer, Eucharist, hours, word and shows respect and reverence for the brothers. He then is the one to animate the soul of the members so that the Rule becomes a living letter. He helps to promote the spiritual life in the individual members. He has duty always to reach out to the individual member.

The Congregation for Religious Life has been found useful. In 1994 it proposed that authority within religious life is a ‘spiritual authority.’ It’s spiritual and must carry out the development of the personnel in the community. All religious need to follow this directive and to seek God as a community of brothers and to sustain religious life. What’s involved is our own spiritual growth and that of the community. What needs to be stressed is that we are a community growing in charity for each and with each other. It’s an authority working towards unity. So we need to be careful about finding fault in other people. It’s best to let people do their own job in their own way and not to interfere. Let people be responsible. A Prior needs to cultivate a belief in each person. This has to be true also in community where decisions should be made in a communal way.

Juridical and Practical.

The role of Prior is such that he has to exercise authority. There are also rights and obligations of such a role. To exercise such an role cannot be arbitrary. When you go to organise a job it’s best to consult from the start otherwise the people will say you had your mind made up in the first place. Suggestions could best come at the start. The way that we work should not be to restrict the rights of others in community. Moreover, the Code carries a degree of obligation with it. If you abandon the law in small things then no one will obey the law or see it as having to be obeyed. The Prior must follow the Constitutions. Con 501 gives information on how the Prior should abide by his spiritual authority and not exceed or abuse it. We should have made a promise to obey the Code.

Profession of Faith.

Government in the Order runs from the General to the local Prior. A community needs a Prior and cannot act without one. This power in the Superior is sanctioned by the Church (Canon 833:8). A Superior is expected to make a profession of faith (public). The Constitutions seem to have ignored this. It requires some thought as it is one concrete and public way to ensure authority is understood by all who pass by. It’s a reminder to act towards the truth and to observe the law of the Church. It has to be a formal acceptance before those who appoint you. The canon gives a list of those who should take an oath. In our case the profession could be made to the Provincial and to the community. We need to reassess ways of initiating the office of Superior. This could affect the way the office is carried out.

A Prior needs to grow community and an official acceptance of the office at the start is canonically recommended. His work will extend to associations and parishioners so our parishes need also to show some form of the charism of the Order. A Bishop needs to respect this when he asks for an Order to take a parish or other ministry.

Length of time is office.

We have to remember that the office of Prior is temporary and has the three year by three year time limit. Re-Nomination has to take place each period and there is no secure tenure to any time in the job at all. It can be taken off the holder at any time. At times other positions (e.g. appointed as a councillor) can cause a loss of position. The old idea of rotating the office was a common aspect of the role. In some cases there were financial hand outs. Now it is clear that every office is temporary.

The Prior then is central but at the service of the community. He is meant to guide the community towards the Lord and he does this by dialogue and consultation searching for the will of the Lord. (Con 298). He has to promote community life and find ways where this can be achieved. We can use different ways to make the community buzz. The Prior has to create circumstances to create joyful community life. We need to keep in mind our younger community members and find ways of fleshing out the Constitutions. We can sell ideas to the community, e.g. an away day. Keep in mind that the work can become a burden. In a diocesan parish we are not seculars and we cannot afford to abandon our position as religious.

Constitution 26.

We could for starters promote the new Constitutions. Community has a right to know what has come by post. Some will never come to a meeting of the Province and so communication of what arrives is important. Con 397 says that the Prior is the chairperson of the house chapter. So that necessitates calling meetings. Some occasions would be more official then others, e.g. votation. He is the animator of the community and should not take over life of another person with office. Ensure the house is not run in a despotic way. Obvious occasions will occur when people have to act on their own and encourage this type of responsibility.

Constitution 313.

The role of the Prior also includes the welcoming of visitors and generally promoting hospitality and the Christian life. He needs to keep Eucharist and lectio divina in mind on occasions. Keep people informed regarding sates and times. The work and the mission of the community should all be taken into account. In each community ask what is the project/target/outreach/goal/direction. We need to develop relationships and sharing with each other (lectio divina for example). We now have the building blocks and we need to build the house as the Constitutions are the building material. Take a look at times at the Church documents which will help us grow. While regular observance is important we need to look at things which will enable people to live together. Leadership has to encourage all steps which will be creative for future community life.

To input by Desiderio Martinez, O.Carm.