Anglo-Hibernian (St. Joseph's Province) 14th (1896) Provincial Chapter Convocatory Letter

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No. 4 (14) 7/3/15/1 Gregory of St. Joseph, Provincial of the Province of St. Joseph. To the Very Rev. Fathers, Consultors, Rectors, Superiors, Master of Novices, Rev. Fathers, Students and Brothers, Health and Benediction in the Lord. It is our privilege to make known to you that Our Most Rev. Fr. General, Bernard Mary of Jesus, has appointed the 30th June as the date for the opening of the 14th Provincial Chapter of Our Province, to be held in the Retreat of St. Paul of the Cross, Dublin. To every Religious of Our Province this is an event in which we are all intimately concerned, as from this triennial gathering of the Superiors of the Province will result not merely the good government of each house in the Province during the coming three years, but, as a consequence of it, new life and energy will be infused into our daily lives, abuses of any kind which may exist amongst us will be abolished, and all strengthened in their vocations by those amongst us whose lives have been remarkable for prudence, charity, love for discipline and regular observance. This, in a few words, is the meaning and object of our Provincial Chapter. The wise provision of Our Holy Rule in bringing together the Superiors of each Province in the congregation at stated times is in accordance with ancient discipline in Church government. It is what the Church has been doing from the very beginning. At the very outset of her existence the Apostles assembled in Jerusalem under the presidency of St. Peter, who addressing them, spoke thus: "Men, brethren, you know that in former days God made choice amongst us that the Gentiles, by my mouth, should hear the word of the Gospel and believe," Acts xv., 7. At that time memorable meeting the Apostles drew up that formula of belief we call the Apostles Creed. They discussed matters of discipline, each giving his own opinion freely, and when a conclusion was arrived at, all acted in concert. In every succeeding age of the Church's history we find the same method has been adopted. Whenever doctrine was assailed, or strange and novel customs were introduced, the Doctors and Elders of the Church came together, and, having given the matter due consideration, determined what was the faith of the Church and what her primitive discipline. Each Religious Order has wisely adopted the same method and assembled from time to time to renew the spirit of their Founder and see if the work which he was raised up by God to do in the Church was being carried out in its primitive observance by his children. This discipline of Holy Church and observance of Rule is all the more necessary in these days,