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 PREACHERS

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PREACHERS

Archives of the Order, Cod. Ruten, 130-139). The legislation of the Friars Preachers is the firmest and most complete among the systems of law by which institutions of this sort were ruled in the thirteenth century. Hauck is correct in saying: "We do not deceive ourselves in considering the organization of the Dominican Order as the most perfect of all the monastic organizations produced by the Middle Ages" ("Kirchengeschichte Deutschlands", part IV, Leipzig, 1902, p. 390). It is not then surprising that the majority of the religious orders of the thirteenth century should have followed quite closely the Dominican legislation, which exerted an influence even upon institutions very dissimilar in aim and nature. The Church considered it the typical rule for new foundations. Alexander IV thought of making the legislation of the Order of Preachers into a special rule known as that of St. Dominic, and for that purpose commissioned the Dominican cardinal, Hugh of St. Cher (3 Feb., 125.5), but the project encountered many obstacles, and noth- ing came of it. (Potthast, n. 1.566; Humberti de Romanis, "Opera de vita regulari", ed., Berthier, I, Rome, 18S8, p. 43).

B. Nature of the Order of Preachers. (1) Its Object. — The canonical title of "Order of Preachers", given to the work of St. Dominic by the Church, is in itself significant, but it indicates only the dominant feature. The Constitutions are more explicit: "Our order was instituted principally for preaching and for the salvation of souls." The end or aim of the order then is the salvation of souls, especially by means of preaching. For the attainment of this purpose, the order must labour with the utmost zeal — "Our main efforts should be put forth, earn- estly and ardently, in doing good to the souls of our fellow-men."

(2) Its Organization. — The aim of the order and the conditions of its environment determined the form of its organization. The first organic group is the convent, which may not be founded with less than twelve religious. At first only large convents were allowed and these were located in important cities (Mon. Ger. Hist.: SS. XXXII, 233, 236), hence the saying:

Bernardus valles, montes Benedictus amabat,

Oppida Franciscus, celebres Dominicus urbes.

(Bernard loved the valleys, Benedict the mountains, Francis the towns, Dominic the populous cities).

The foundation and the existence of the convent required a prior as governor, and a doctor as teacher. The Constitution prescribes the dimensions of the church and the convent buildings, and these should be quite plain. But in the course of the thirteenth century the order erected large edifices, real works of art. The convent possesses nothing and lives on alms. Outside of the choral office (the Preachers at first had the title of canonid) their time is wholly employed in study. The doctor gives lectures in theology, at which all the religious, even the prior, must be present, and which are open to secular clerics. The religious vow themselves to preaching, both within and without the convent walls. The "general preachers" have the most extended powers. At the beginning of the order, the convent was called prwdicatio, or saticta prcedicatio. The con- vents divided up the territory in which they were established, and sent out on preaching tours religious who remained for a longer or shorter time in the principal places of their respective di.stricts. The Preachers did not take the vow of stability, but could be sent from one locality to another. Each convent received novices, these, according to the Constitu- tions, must be at least eighteen years of age, but this rule was not strictly observed. The Preachers were the first among religious orders to suppress manual labour, the necessary work of the interior of the house

being relegated to lay brothers called conversi, whose number was limited according to the needs of each convent. The prior was elected by the religious, and the doctor was appointed by the provincial chapter. The chapter, when it saw fit, relieved them from office.

The grouping of a certain number of convents forms the province, which is administered by a provincial prior, elected by the prior and two dele- gates from each convent. He is confirmed by the general chapter, or by the master general, who can also remove him when it Ls found expedient. He enjoys in his province the same authority as the master general in the order; he confirms the election of conventual priors, visits the province, sees to it that the Constitutions and the ordinances are ob- served and presides at the provincial chapters. The provincial chapter, which is held annually, discusses the interests of the province. It is composed of a provincial prior, priors from the convents, a delegate from each convent, and the general preachers. The capitulants (members of the chapter), choose from among themselves, four counsellors or assistants, who, with the provincial, regulate the affairs brought before the chapter. The chapter appoints those who are to visit annually each part of the province. The provinces taken together constitute the order, which has at its head a master general, elected by the provincial priors and by two delegates from each province. For a long time his position was for life; Pius VII (1804), reduced it to six years, and Pius IX (1862) fixed it at twelve years. At first the master general had no permanent residence; since the end of the fourteenth century, he has lived usually at Rome. He visits the order, holds it to the observance of the laws, and corrects abuses. In 1.509, he was granted two associates (socii); in 1752, four; in 1910, five. The general chapter is the supreme au- thority within the order. From 1370, it was held every two years; from 1553, every three years; from 1625, every six years. In the eighteenth and at the beginning of the nineteenth centurj', chapters were rarely held. At present they take place every three years. From 1228, for two years in succession, the general chapter was composed of definitors or delegates from the provinces, each province sending one delegate; the following year it was held by the provincial priors. The chapter promulgates new constitutions, but to become law they must be ac- cepted by three constitutive chapters. The chapter deals with all the general concerns of the order, whether administrative or disciplinary. It corrects the master general, and in certain cases can depose him. From 1220 to 1244, the chapters were held alternately at Bologna and Paris; subsequently, they passed round to all the principal cities of Europe. The generalissimo chapter acknowledged by the Constitution and composed of two definitors from each province, also of provincials, i. e. equivalent to three consecutive general chapters, was held only in 1228 and 1236. The characteristic feature of government is the elective system which pre- vails throughout the order. "Such was the simple mechanism which imparted to the Order of Friars Preachers a powerful and regul.ar movement, and secured them for a long time a real preponderance in Church and in State" (Delisle, "Notes et extraits des mss. de la Bibl. Nat.", Paris, x.x\-ii, 1899, 2nd part, p. 312. See the editions of the Constitutions mentioned above: "Const. Ord. Fr. Pra?d.", Paris, ISSS; "ActaCapit. Gen. Ord. Fr. Pra>d.",ed., Reichert, Rome, 1898, sq. 9 vols.; Lo Cicero, Con.st., "Declar. et Ord. Capit. Gen. O. P.", Rome, 1892; Humberti de Romanis, "Opera de vita regulari", ed. Berthier, Rome, 18SS; Reichert, "Feier und Geschaftsordung der provincialkapitel des Dominikanerordens im 13 Jahrhundert" in "Romische Quart.", 1903, p. 101).