CHAPTER I.
In the Name of Our Lord, Amen,
Here begins the Rule and Form of life of the Order of the Poor sisters, which is this : to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, living in Obedience, without Property, and in Chastity. Clare, unworthy handmaid of Christ, promises Obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Innocent, to his successors canonically elected, and to the Roman Church. And as, in the beginning of her conversion, she with her Sisters promised Obedience to Brother Francis, so does she promise to observe the same inviolably to his successors. And the other Sisters are bound always to obey the successors of Brother Francis, and likewise Sister Clare, and all other Abbesses, who, being canonically elected, shall succeed her.
CHAPTER II
In what Manner Persons are to be Received,
If anyone, moved by Divine inspiration, present herself to the Sisters, desiring to embrace this form of life, let the Abbess be bound to ask the consent of This Rule is almost exactly the same {mutatis mutandis) as the 2nd Rule of the Friars Minor. A few verbal alterations were made in it by St, Clare after the death of the holy Patrarch all the Sisters ; and if the greater part give their consent, she may receive her, with the permission of the Lord Cardinal Protector. If it seem fitting to receive her, let the Abbess examine her carefully, or cause her to be examined, concerning the Catholic Faith and the Sacraments of the Church ; and if she believe all these things, and is resolved faithfully to confess and steadfastly to observe the same to the end ; moreover, if she have no husband, or, having one, if he, with the authority of his Diocesan Bishop, have already entered some religious Order, and have made a vow of chastity ; and, in fine, if she be not too advanced in age, nor subject to any infirmity or weakness of mind which might be an impediment to her observance of this manner of life ; then let the tenour of your Rule be clearly explained to her. If she be found capable, let the words of the holy Gospel be proposed to her, that she go and sell all that she hath, and endeavour to distribute it to the poor ; which if she cannot do, her goodwill shall suffice. Let the Abbess and her Sisters take care not to be solicitous about her temporal goods, in order that she may freely do with them what Our Lord shall inspire her. If, however, she should ask their advice, let them send her to some prudent persons who fear God, by whose counsel her goods may be distributed to the poor.
Then, her hair having been cut off round, and her secular dress laid aside, let them grant her three tunics and a mantle after which time let her not be permitted to go out of the Convent, except for a profitable, manifest and reasonable cause. When the year of probation is expired, let her be received to Obedience, promising to observe perpetually your Form of life and poverty. No one shall receive the veil during her year of probation. ‘The Sisters may also have little mantles for the convenience and propriety of their service and labour; and, in fine, let the Abbess provide them discreetly with suitable garments, according to the quality of the persons, places, seasons and cold climates, as she shall see it to be expedient. Let the young persons who are received into the Convent before they have attained the requisite age have their hair cut off round ; and having laid aside their secular dress, let them be clothed with the same cloth as the religious, according to the discretion of the Abbess ; and when they have attained the proper age, let them take the habit, and make their profession as the others do. Both for these and for the other novices the Abbess shall carefully provide a mistress from among the most discreet of the whole Convent, who shall diligently instruct them in holy conversation and edifying manners, according to the form of your profession. The above-mentioned form shall be observed in the examination and reception of the Sisters who serve outside the Monastery, and these Sisters may wear shoes. No one may reside with the Sisters in the Convent, unless she has been received according to the form of your profession.
I admonish, beseech and exhort my Sisters, for the love of the most Holy and Sweet Child Jesus, Who was wrapped in poor swaddling-clothes and laid in a manger, and for the love of His most holy Mother, that they be always clothed with poor garments.
CHAPTER III.
Of the Divine Office of the Fast, of Confession and Holy Communion,
The Sisters who are acquainted with letters shall recite the Divine Office according to the custom of the Friars-Minor, wherefore they may have Breviaries, and they shall read their Office without singing. Those who at times for a reasonable cause cannot read their Office, may say it in Pater-nosters, like those Sisters who cannot read. They shall say twenty- four Pater-nosters for Matins, five for Lauds, seven for each of the -Hours, Prime, Tierce, Sext and None, twelve for Vespers, and seven for Complin. For the Office of the Dead they shall also say seven Pater- nosters with Requiem aeternam, etc for Vespers, and twelve for Matins. The Sisters who can read are bound to recite the Office of the Dead, and when any religious of your Monastery departs this life, they shall say fifty Pater-nosters. The Sisters shall fast at all times ; but on the Nativity of Our Lord they may take two repasts, on whatever day it falls. The Abbess may, nevertheless, when she judges it expedient, charitably dispense with the young, the weak, and those who serve outside the Monastery ; but in time of manifest necessity the Sisters are not bound to corporal fasting.
Let the Sisters, with the leave of the Abbess, confess at least twelve times in the year, and then let them take care not to mingle any words which do not regard confession and the salvation of their souls. Let them communicate six times in the year, namely, on the Nativity of Our Lord, on Maundy Thursday, on Easter Sunday, on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, and on All Saint’s Day.* The Chaplain may enter the Monastery in order to communicate the sick Sisters.
CHAPTER IV.
Of the Election of the Abbess.
In the election of the Abbess, the Sisters are bound to observe the canonical form. They shall endeavour to have present the Minister-General, or the Provincial of the Friars Minor, who, with the word of God, may exhort them to a perfect concord, and to seek only the common good in the election. No one shall be elected who is not professed ; and if such an one were elected, or otherwise appointed Abbess, let the Sisters not obey her unless she first make profession of the form of your poverty; and when the Abbess dies, they shall elect another in her place. If at any time it shall seem to all the Sisters that the Abbess elected is not qualified for their service and the common good, they are bound to elect another as Abbess and Mother as soon as possible, according to the above- mentioned form.
Let her who is elected consider well the burden she has taken upon her, and Who He is to whom she must render an account of the flock committed to her * It must be remembered that in the time of St. Francis, the custom of frequent Communion did not exist in the Church. The religious of St. Clare now communicate much more frequently care. Let her endeavour to surpass the others in virtue and holy behaviour, rather than in her Office, that the Sisters, animated by her example, may obey her more through love than fear. Let her avoid particular friendships, lest by showing too much affection for some, she should cause scandal among the others. Let her console the afflicted, and be the last refuge of those in tribulation ; lest the weak, if they do not find comfort from her in their troubles, should be overcome by the sadness of despair. Let her conform to the Community in all things, but especially in the church, dormitory, refectory, infirmary, and in her dress ; and let her Vicaress be obliged to do the same.
Let the Abbess be bound to assemble her Sisters in Chapter at least once a week, where she, as well as they, ought humbly to accuse themselves of their public faults and negligences. Then also let the Abbess confer with her Sisters concerning those things that are necessary to be treated of for the welfare and spiritual advantage of the Community, for Our Lord often reveals to the least what is best to be done. Let no important debt be contracted without the consent of all the Sisters, and for a manifest necessity, and that by means of a procurator. Let the Abbess and Sisters take care not to receive any deposit in their Convent, for scandals and troubles often arise from so doing. In order also to preserve the unity of mutual love and peace, all the Officials of the Monastery shall be elected by the common consent of all the Sisters; and in this manner they shall choose eight at least of the most discreet, with whom the Abbess is bound always to take counsel in those things which require it in your Form of life. The Sisters may, and even ought sometimes, if it shall seem to them useful and expedient, to change those in office, and the discreets, and to elect others in their place.
CHAPTER V.
Of Silence, and of the Manner of Speaking at the Grate, and in the Parlour.
LET the Sisters keep silence from the Hour of Compline until Tierce, except those who serve outside the Monastery. Let them also continually keep silence in the church, dormitory, and refectory, during the repast only, but not in the infirmary, where the Sisters may always speak discreetly for the consolation and service of the sick. They may even, at all times and in all places, say what is necessary, briefly, and in a low voice.
It is not lawful for the Sisters to speak in the parlour or at the grate without the permission of the Abbess, or her Vicaress. Those who have leave to speak in the parlour may not do so except in the presence of two Sisters, who must hear what is said ; but with regard to the grate, let none presume to go ‘ there unless there be present at least three Sisters, appointed by the Abbess or her Vicaress, and chosen from among the discreets who have been elected by all the Sisters for the council of the Abbess. The Abbess and Vicaress are bound to observe this manner of speaking as much as possible. They shall speak very rarely at the grate, but at the door it shall never be permitted. At the grate a curtain shall be placed within, which must never be removed, except when the Word of God is being preached, or when a Sister speaks to some one. There must be also a wooden shutter securely fastened with two different locks, and iron bolts and bars, which, in the night principally, shall be locked with two keys, one of which the Abbess shall keep, and the Sacristan the other. This shutter shall be kept always fastened, except during the Divine service, and for the causes mentioned above. No Sister may speak to any person at the grate before sunrise, or after sunset, in any manner whatsoever. In the parlour there shall always be a cloth within, which shall never be removed. No one may speak in the parlour during St. Martin’s Lent, nor during the great Lent, except to the priest for confession, or for some other manifest necessity, which must be left to the discretion of the Abbess or her Vicaress.
CHAPTER VI
That the Sisters may not Receive any Property or Possessions,
Let the Abbess and all the Sisters be careful to observe the holy poverty which they have promised to the Lord our God, and let all future Abbesses and Sisters be likewise bound to observe the same inviolably to the end; that is, in not receiving or having any possession, or property, either by themselves or through the medium of any person, nor anything that can reasonably be called property, except so much ground as necessity may require for the convenience and renovation of the Convent, and this ground may not be cultivated except as a garden to supply the wants of the Sisters themselves.
CHAPTER VII.
Of the Manner of Working.
Let the Sisters to whom God has given the grace of working employ themselves faithfully and devoutly after the Hour of Tierce in those occupations which belong to the welfare and common good of the Convent, in such a manner that, banishing idleness, which is an enemy to the soul, they do not extinguish the spirit of devotion and holy prayer, to which all temporal things ought to be subservient The Sisters are bound to present the works of their hands to the Abbess or her Vicaress in Chapter before all the Community. Let the same be done with regard to the alms that are sent by any persons for the necessities of the Sisters, in order that in common they may recommend these benefactors to God ; and let all these things be then distributed for the good of the Community by the Abbess or Vicaress, with the counsel of the discreets.
CHAPTER VIII.
That the Sisters shall Appropriate nothing to themselves, and of the Sick Sisters,.
LET the Sisters appropriate nothing to themselves, neither house, nor lands, nor anything ; but, serving God as pilgrims and strangers here below in all poverty and humility, let them send for alms with confidence. Neither ought they to be ashamed of so doing, since Our Lord made Himself poor in this world for us. This is the perfection of that most sublime poverty, which has made you, my very dear Sisters, heiresses and queens of the kingdom of heaven ; rendering you poor in temporal things, in order to enrich you with virtues. Let this, then, be your portion, which will lead you into the land of the living, to which, beloved Sisters, strictly adhering, never desire to possess anything else under heaven, for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not lawful for any Sister to send letters, nor to receive nor give anything out of the Convent, without the permission of the Abbess ; nor to have anything which the Abbess has not given or permitted her to have. If anything be sent to a Sister by her relations or other persons, let the Abbess give it to her, and let her use it if she stand in need of it ; if not, let her give it in charity to any other Sister who may require it ; and if money be sent to anyone, let the Abbess, with the counsel of the discreets, provide the Sister with what is necessary for her.
With regard to the sick Sisters, let the Abbess be strictly bound, either by herself or by others, to inquire carefully into their necessities, as well in respect of food, as of other things which their state of sickness may require, and to provide for them charitably and tenderly, according to the possibility of the place, for all are obliged to serve and attend their sick Sisters, as they would wish to be served if they were sick themselves. Let them make known their wants to one another with confidence ; for if a true mother loves and cherishes her daughter according to the flesh, with how much more care ought a religious to love and cherish her spiritual Sister. The sick may lie on sacks of straw, and have feather pillows under their heads, and those who have need of woollen socks and mattresses may use them. The said sick, when they are visited by those who enter the Convent, may each answer briefly with edifying words those who speak to them. But the other Sisters who have permission to speak to those who enter, may not presume to do so except in the presence and hearing of two discreets, appointed by the Abbess or her Vicaress. The Abbess herself, and the Vicaress, are bound to observe this manner of speaking.
CHAPTER IX.
Of Penance to be Imposed on the Sisters.
If any Sister, by the instigation of the enemy, sin mortally against the form of our profession, and being admonished two or three times by the Abbess or the other Sisters, will not amend, for as many days as she continues obstinate, she shall take bread and water on the ground in the refectory before all the Sisters, and even undergo greater penance if the Abbess judge it necessary. During all the time that her obstinacy lasts, let them pray that it may please God to enlighten her mind to do penance, but the Abbess and other Sisters must take care not to be angry at the fault of any one ; for anger and trouble injure charity in themselves and others. If it should happen (which God forbid) that any occasion of scandal or trouble should arise between the Sisters, let her who was the cause of it immediately, before she offers to God the sacrifice of her. prayer, not only humbly prostrate herself at the feet of the other Sister, asking pardon, but let her also earnestly beseech her to intercede for her with Our Lord, that He may forgive her. But let the other, remembering the words of our Saviour : ‘ If you do not forgive from your heart, your Heavenly Father will not forgive you ;’ freely pardon her Sister every wrong she may have done her. The Sisters who serve outside the Convent, shall not remain outside longer than manifest necessity requires. They should behave modestly and speak little, so as always to give edification to those who see them, and they must carefully avoid all suspected company and familiarity with any one. They may not be godmothers to any person, male or female, lest thereby might arise any occasion of scandal or trouble. Let them not presume to relate in the Convent the news of the world ; and let them be strictly bound not to repeat outside, anything that is said or done within, which might be a cause of scandal. If anyone through simplicity offended in either of these two points, let it be left to the discretion of the Abbess to enjoin her penance with due regard to mercy ; but if she do so through an evil habit, let the Abbess, with the counsel of the discreets, enjoin her a penance proportioned to the gravity of her fault.
CHAPTER X.
Of the Visitation of t lie Sisters by the Abbess.
Let the Abbess admonish and visit her Sisters, and correct them with humility and charity ; not commanding them anything which may be contrary to the good of their souls and the form of their profession. But let the Sisters who are subject remember that they have renounced their own will for the love of God, and that consequently they are strictly bound to obey their Abbess in all that they have promised to observe, and that is not contrary to their salvation and profession. Let the Abbess, on her part, be so familiar with them that they may freely act and speak with her as mistresses with their servants ; for thus it ought to be, the Abbess ought to be the servant of all the Sisters, l also admonish all the Sisters, and exhort them in Our Lord Jesus Christ, carefully to avoid all pride, vainglory, envy and covetousness ; all care and solicitude about the things of the world ; all detractions, murmuring, dissensions and divisions. But let them be always attentive to preserve among themselves the union of mutual charity, which is the bond of perfection. Let those who have little instruction not be solicitous to learn; but let them consider that they ought to desire above all things to have the Spirit of God and His holy operation, to pray always to Him with pure hearts, to have humility and patience in tribulations and infirmities, and to love those who correct and reprehend them ; for Our Lord has said: ‘Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ;’ and ‘ He that shall persevere to the end shall be saved.’
CHAPTER XI.
Of the Duties of the Portress,
Let the Portress be of mature character, discreet, and of a suitable age. Let her remain during the day-time in an open cell without a door. Let a fit companion also be assigned her, who may be capable of supplying her office in all things when it is necessary. Let the door be very strongly fastened with two locks, and divers iron bars and bolts, and in the night especially let it be locked with two keys, of which the Portress shall keep one, and the Abbess the other. During the day it shall never be left without guard, but be always firmly locked with one key. Let them take the greatest care that the door may never stand open when it can conveniently be avoided, and let it by no means be opened to anyone wishing to enter without the permission of the Sovereign Pontiff, or of the Lord Cardinal Protector. The Sisters shall not allow any one to enter the Convent before sunrise, nor to remain within after sunset, except for manifest, reasonable, and unavoidable causes. If any Bishop have permission to celebrate Mass within the Convent, either for the benediction of the Abbess, or to consecrate any religious, or for any other reason, let him deign to content himself with as few attendants as possible, and these the most virtuous. Whenever it is necessary for any persons to enter the Convent to do some work, let the Abbess take care to appoint a suitable person at the door, who shall open it to those destined to do the work and to no others ; and let all the Sisters carefully avoid being seen by those who enter.
CHAPTER XII.
Of the Visitor,
Let the Visitor of the Sisters be always of the Order of Friars Minor, according to the will and commandment of the Lord Cardinal ; and let him be such that his virtues and integrity be well known. His office shall be to correct in the head as well as in the members the faults committed against the form of your profession. Being in an open place, so that he can be seen by the other Sisters, he may speak with several, or with each one in particular, of those things which appertain to his office of Visitation as he shall judge most expedient. As they have hitherto had from the charity of the Friars Minor a chaplain with a companion-clerk of good reputation and great discretion, and two lay-brothers of holy conversation and lovers of virtue to assist them in their poverty, let them ask this favour of the said Order. The chaplain may not enter the Convent without his companion, and when they do so they shall be in a public place, where they can be seen by each other, and by the Sisters. They may enter to hear the confession of the sick who cannot go to the parlour, to give them Holy Communion and Extreme Unction, and for the recommendation of a departing soul. The Abbess may also, according to her discretion, allow a suitable number of persons to enter for the funeral, to celebrate Mass for the dead, and to open and prepare the grave. Finally, the Sisters are bound to have always for governor, protector, and reformer, the same Cardinal of the holy Roman Church who shall be appointed by the Sovereign Pontiff for the Friars Minor, that being always subject and submissive at the feet of the same holy Roman Church, we may remain stead-fast in the Catholic Faith, and observe perpetually the poverty and humility of our Lord Jesus Christ and of His most holy Mother.