Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Legionaries begin first general chapter to revise constitutions

Legionaries begin first general chapter to revise constitutions

Last updated on: January 9, 2014 at 12:46 pm by CNA Daily News

Legionaries begin first general chapter to revise constitutions 2014-01-09T12:46:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Jan 9, 2014 / 05:46 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Earlier this morning the Legionaries of Christ began their first Extraordinary General Chapter meeting to draft and approve their new constitutions, after which they will elect their new leadership.

Opening with a Jan. 8 Mass celebrated by Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the Chapter, which will be held behind closed doors throughout its duration, began its official meetings the morning of Jan. 9, and is slated to last roughly 20 days.

The General Chapter was mandated by Benedict XVI in wake of the revelation of the double-life led by the congregation’s founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel, who is since deceased.

An official investigation into the life and conduct of Fr. Maciel was launched by the Vatican, and in 2006 Benedict XVI stripped him of his duties and role of leadership within the congregation, ordering him to a life of prayer and penance.

In his homily for the Chapter’s opening Mass, Cardinal De Paolis, Papal delegate to the Legion of Christ, stated that after three and a half years of preparation, the Chapter is “an event of faith” which can only be undergone with “the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

“It has been repeatedly stressed,” stated the cardinal, “that the revision of the constitutions cannot simply be considered a technical effort, but should be accompanied by a process of examination of life, of review and of spiritual renewal for the institute.”

Highlighting how the constitutions which will be drafted are not “simply a code of laws” for external discipline, he explained that they “will be an expression of a common vocation, a common ideal, a common mission.”

“The heart of the constitutions,” Cardinal De Paolis continued, “is the charism, or spiritual patrimony, of the Institute,” which “should be examined in depth.”

“The constitutions must contain the vocation and identity of the Institute.”

Shifting to the second task of the Chapter, the cardinal noted the importance of electing a governing body whose superiors will “preserve and promote” the institution’s charism, which “is only guaranteed when authority is exercised as service, in the spirit of the Gospel and in fidelity to the norms of the Church.”

“It is a point which should always be given special attention, especially for you, who have a history of suffering in this regard” he added.

Emphasizing that although “well-made laws are important,” the cardinal stated that they are “not enough” if they do not also have “a new spirit.”

“It is this new spirit that you are called to foster and cultivate inside of you when you are called upon to give yourselves new superiors,” continued the cardinal, explaining that they must also “have a new heart, both on the part of those electing and those elected.”

“To the degree that it depends on you,” he said, “have present only God and the good of the Church and the Legion, and choose those whom you deem most worthy and suitable for the ministry of authority.”

Although there has been suffering, “both internally and externally” in the past few years, Cardinal De Paolis observed that future of the Legion “looks rather calm and hopeful.”

Highlighting how this suffering has purified and matured the members of the congregation, the cardinal stated the time of preparation for the Chapter “is like the memory to which you are called to return, so as to regain confidence, serenity and hope.”

“Hope in the Lord who has preserved your vocation; hope in the Legion, which, thanks to you, presents itself to this chapter with new strength and new horizons; and hope in the Church, which has accompanied you.”

Cardinal De Paolis concluded his homily by offering special thanks to all those who have worked for the “salvation” of the Legionaries, and encouraging the “participation, solidarity, and love that enters into sin and sorrow so as to redeem them from the inside” of all attending the Chapter.

In addition to the 61 priest from varying nations who are participating in the Chapter meetings, representatives of the consecrated men, women and lay members of Regnum Christi have also been invited.

The Legionaries have 950 priest-members, and close to one thousand seminarians at various levels of formation. With the help of their once 30 thousand-strong lay organization, Regnum Christi, the Legion operates schools and other works of social and charitable service in more than 20 countries around the world.

Once the Legionaries approve their new constitutions and elect a new government during this first phase of the Chapter, a second phase will address various issues in regard to the life of the congregation.

Vatican

Previous Post

January 9, 2014

Vatican analyst eager to improve media coverage of Church

Next Post

January 9, 2014 Pope Francis: Christian love is not a 'soap opera'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, who ignored the injured man before the Samaritan helped?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A priest and a Levite A farmer and a shepherd A Roman soldier and a scribe A fisherman and a tax collector