Sororibus Servientes de Vita Catholica, SSVC

I. Purpose

The Servite Sisters of Catholic Life, hereafter referred to as the Servite sisters, was founded to quell the sorrows of Our loving Mother as She suffered with Her Son on the Cross. This primarily done by serving the Priests who represent the self-same sacrifice of Christ on the Cross in the Holy sacrifice of the Mass.  

 The main purpose for you having come together is to live harmoniously in your house, intent upon God in oneness of mind and heart.

                                                                                              Rule of St. Augustine.

II. Precepts

Our entire life is defined by the evangelical vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, both exterior and interior. Each member shares in the responsibilities, rights and privileges put forth in these constitutions and the customaries of each house as established by law. The Servite sisters exist to serve Our Lady in a spirit of love and Mercy as She continues to serve The Mystical Body of Christ in the same spirit.

It is our desire to serve Holy Mother Church living under the Rule of St. Augustine of Hippo. It is our conviction that such a life is not only possible in the modem world, but necessary if we are to live a Christian life modeled on the Catholic Faith. Therefore, we commit ourselves to adhere faithfully and authentically to the following:

1). Devotion to dignity, solemnity, decorum, and theological richness, of the Classical Roman liturgy, received according to the mind of the Sacred Council of Trent and as promulgated by His Holiness, Pope St. Pius V in his Papal Bull, Quo Primum. Therefore, the first end of the Servite sister of Our Lady is to live a life of sanctity that flows from a correct understanding of, and traditional practice of our Catholic Faith.  

2). Devotion and loyalty to Our Lady, under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows whose pure Character not only defines the Church but is the ideal of all Catholic religious.

3). The mandate to live as a contemplative community.

4). To promote Catholic Culture.

5). To offer reparation through meditating upon the Seven Sorrows of our Lady.

6). To offer ourselves as a source of support to priests.

7). To serve the living by…, the dying,… and the dead with the Immaculate service imminating of Our Lady’s Heart.   

We acknowledge that our work is a result of our life of prayer and is only fruitful for the Kingdom of God if it is done in a true spirit of love and self- sacrifice. It is our sincere hope that this will witness to our total commitment of doing God's Will as manifested by The Holy Catholic Church in the fullness of Her Tradition.

Before all else, dear brothers, love God and then your neighbor, because these are the chief commandments given to us.

                                                                                              Rule of St Augustine.

Article II: The Apostolate

A prayerful spirit should prevail in the houses of the Community. Grand silence will be observed from the end of compline until after Tierce.

One day a month, as determined by the customary, will be devoted to a more conscious spirit of quiet and recollection called a cell day.

The daily liturgical life of the community will consist of a sung Mass and the praying of the canonical hours of Matins (in private), Lauds, tierce, sext, none, Vespers, and Compline.

Community meals will be accompanied by readings from both Scripture, the Holy rule, and pious books.

The Angelus or Regina Caeli will be recited at their proper time.

That you may see yourselves in this little book, as in a mirror, have it read to you once a week so as to neglect no point through forgetfulness.

                                                                                                                   Rule of St. Augustine

III. Statutes

These Sacred Constitutions contain the basic norms concerning the governance of The Congregation of Sisters for Catholic Life, the discipline of its members, their admission and formation.

The Sisters for Catholic Life enjoy the protection of The Congregatio Institutione Vitae Catholicae and are bound to the canonical structure and observance of its Statutes. This, coupled with the observance of the prescriptions of the Codex Iuris Canonici, of 1917 constitute the legitimate governance of the community.

The customaries of every house and the modifications thereof are legitimately established by the authority of the Prioress appointed over each monastery and takes effect, on a provisory basis, pending final confirmation by the Chapter of Bishops.

The Secretary for Religious Life, elected from the Chapter of Bishops is to legislate on the necessary adaptations to the prescriptions of these Constitutions and Directories until the requirements presupposed by the same prescriptions are minimally attained.

Article I: The Evangelical Councils

 Section I: Poverty

The Gospel council of poverty, in imitation of Christ who became poor for our sakes (Lk, 18:22,23), means that we wish to live a life that is poor in fact and in spirit. This includes as essential elements, a life of work, the simple and careful use of necessary things and a patient confidence in Divine Providence to provide our needs in a spirit of minority.

All goods given to the community through the generosity of benefactors, should serve only the basic needs of the Servites. All goods are to be responsibly used and maintained in keeping with the charity and justice due our benefactors.

The Prioress of each monastery will periodically evaluate all personal and communal goods to assure that only those things that are necessary and in keeping with our way of life be used. This evaluation will take place on the Monday following Laetare and Gaudete Sunday.

Call nothing your own but let everything be yours in common. Food and clothing shall be distributed to each of you by your superior, not equal to all, for all do not enjoy equal health, but rather according to one's need. For so you read in the Acts of the Apostles that they had all things in common and distribution was made to each one according to each one's need (Acts: 4:32,35).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Rule of St. Augustine

The houses of the community should be simple, clean, and austere yet natural, harmonious, and beautiful in design. They should not have the look of luxury nor contain those conveniences commonly sought after by society.

The clothing of a professed Sister is a black tunic with a black coppa, lined with dark blue silk, black leather belt, black scapular, and bandeau, coif, black veil with white, shoulder length caput and white gimp. A ring at final vows.

There should be nothing about your clothing to attract attention. Besides, you should not seek to please by your apparel, but by a good life.                                                                                                                                                                      Rule of St Augustine

 Before first profession, each novice shall cede the administration of her goods to whomever he chooses in accordance with Canon Law. She shall also freely dispose of the use of her material goods, as well as any revenues coming from them.

Before perpetual profession, each sister will draw up a will by which she makes a total renunciation of all material goods. This is to be witnessed by the Bishop and the Prioress of the house in which the sister resides, and it takes effect on the day of perpetual profession.

Thereafter, whatever each sister acquires through personal work, or receives as a donation in any way, is not the property of the individual sister but will be ceded to the apostolic endeavors of The Sisters for Catholic Life. This includes any pension, subsidy, insurance, or inheritance.

Section II: Chastity

The sisters are to respond to the grace of God through a life of continuous conversion and self-emptying order to live a chaste life. We can do this chiefly by fostering:

1). A fervent life of personal and communal prayer,

3). A confident love in The Mother of God and a passionate desire to sooth Her sorrow by serving the Mystical Body of Christ.

4). The custom of praying and promoting the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary,

5). The sacrificial love we show to our sisters in the spirit of Caritas.

6). A healthy discipline applied to a balanced way of life made up of prayer, manual labor, study, and non-secular recreation.

Whenever you go out, walk together, and when you reach your destination, stay together. In your walk, deportment, and in all actions, let nothing occur to give offense to anyone who sees you, but only what becomes your holy state of life. When you are together in church and anywhere else where women are present, exercise a mutual care over purity of life. Thus, by mutual vigilance over one another will God, who dwells in you, grant you, his protection.                                                                                                     Rule of St. Augustine

Section III: Obedience

The primary goal of the life of every Christian must be to do the Will of God. Following the example of Our Lady, especially in Her Maternal heart, the sisters are to strive always to unite their wills to God in communion with His Church. For this reason, the sisters shall vow themselves to observe the evangelical council of obedience in a spirit of faith and love. We acknowledge that this obedience requires submission of our will to our superior, both the bishop, who is our benevolent ordinary and to the Prioress who is the appointed representative of the monastery in which we reside.

The one who governs the community is the Vicaress who simply implements what has been handed down. she will be assisted by two senior councilors to help him to discern the Will of God for the community. As Scripture says, "where two or three gather together in my name there I am also." It is to the Vicaress to make the final decision which is to be obeyed by all the sisters as the Will of God if it in no way contradicts the Rule, the Testament or The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as set forth by these constitutions.

The Vicaress is elected by the perpetually professed members of the sisters and confirmed by the Secretary for Religious to guide them in living their chosen way of life. She is to do this primarily by her good example, her council, admonition, and exhortation to the members of the Community. Whens he needs to give correction, this must be done privately and with the utmost charity, appealing to the members free decision to bind herself to these constitutions.

A Prioress is appointed by the Vicaress to facilitate order within the individual communities. The Prioress, in turn appoints sisters to serve as porter and cook, as well as to assign house jobs and teaching schedules within a particular house.

 It shall pertain chiefly to the superior to see that these precepts are all observed and, if any point has been neglected, to take care that the transgression is not carelessly overlooked but is punished and corrected.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Rule of St. Augustine

Article III: Fraternal Life

 We serve the needs of others and strive to outdo one another in charity. The sisters are to support one another through prayer, mutual encouragement, honest communication, and sacrificial service, especially when assistance is needed.

In this way, no one shall perform any task for his own benefit, but all your work shall be done for the common good, with greater zeal and more dispatch than in if each one of you were to work for yourself alone. For charity, as it is written, is not self-seeking (1Cor 13:5) meaning that it places the common good before its own, not its own before the common good. So, whenever you show greater concern for the common good then for your own, you may know that you are growing in charity. Thus, let the abiding virtue of charity prevail in all things that minister to the fleeting necessities of life.                                                                                                    Rule of St Augustine

It is inconsistent with our idea of life to have televisions, computers, individual cell phone and other unnecessary distraction.

The cloister of the sisters’ residence is to be maintained so that a spirit of prayer always prevails.

The cloister includes: the dormitory, the kitchen, the choir, the sacristy, and the other sections of the monastery reserved for the siters alone. Religious sisters from other orders are allowed in the cloister. The bishop may grant permission for other necessary needs.

Article IV: Government of the Community

The Servite Sisters of Our Lady exists under the benefice and protection of the Congregation for Catholic Life and as such are governed by its Constitutions.

The seat of authority is placed in the Chapter which is comprised of the bishops.  A Secretary for Religious Life will be elected from the Chapter of Bishops. He will be assisted by a Vicaress, who is elected by the Community. In addition, a Secretary and a Treasurer will be elected from among professed members of the community. This body will comprise the Chapter. Each member of The Chapter will enjoy a vote and a voice in all decisions that compose the Statues of this Community. 

Section I. Secretary for Religious Life

The Secretary for Religious Life is elected from the Chapter of Bishops by a 3/4th majority vote. He assumes the central role of leadership for the Congregation. His responsibilities include, but are not limited to, chairing meetings, directing studies, oversight of the various religious communities, publicly representing the interests of The Congregation, etc. His duties are to be conducted in a spirit of fraternal service and not by authoritative tyranny.

Section II: The Prioress

The Congregation of Sisters for Catholic Life will be governed according to the regulations put forth in these Constitutions.

The members of that monastery in perpetual vows will elect two councilors

Each Monastery will also have a house chapter made up of those members in perpetual vows, who enjoy a passive and active voice.

While the daily implementation of these constitutions pertains to the Prioress, the final word rests with the Secretary for Religious Life.

The Vicaress and her council institute the general governing of the community.

The Prioress (s), function as superior as defined by the universal law and are to exercise their office in a spirit of service. 

Section III: Major Superiors

In fulfilling their office, the Superiors are to be docile to the will of God, promoting voluntary obedience. They are to listen willingly to their subjects and foster their cooperation for the good of the community and of the Church, without prejudice, however, to their authority to decide and to command what is to be done.

Together with the members entrusted to them, they are to strive to build in Christ a community, in which God is sought and loved above all. They are, therefore, frequently to nourish their members with the food of God's word and lead them to the celebration of the liturgy. They are to be an example to the members in cultivating virtue and in observing the laws of these sacred Constitutions and the traditions treasured in the Customaries

Article V: Membership

The Superiors are to exercise a vigilant care to admit only those who, besides being Catholics are over seventeen years of age (cf. CIC 643:1), are healthy physically, psychologically, and emotionally, and who exhibit a suitable disposition for life within the community.

Those individuals who have a debt must reconcile it before they can be admitted to the community.

The Lord grant that you may observe all these precepts in a spirit of charity as lovers of spiritual beauty, giving forth the good odor of Christ in the holiness of your lives: not as slaves living under the law but as men living in freedom and under grace.                   
                                                                                                                                                                                     Rule of St. Augustine.

Section I: Visitation

Each candidate will be required to visit the monastery for no less than five days prior to making application.

Section II: The Postulancy

The postulancy is a period of discernment before the novitiate proper begins. The object of this period is:

1.   to make an initial test of the seriousness of the candidate's desire to serve the Church and souls under the proper charisma of the community

2.    to make a preliminary assessment of the candidate's suitability of disposition in relation to the community that he desires to join.

Because of the family nature of the community, he should be, as it were, born for the community.

The General Chapter is the competent authority to decide on the admission of postulants. Simple majority is required to begin the first probation. The vote is secret.

The period of postulancy for each candidate is usually six months, however the General Chapter can decide to extend the probation up to one year.

Section III: The Novitiate

When the postulant is ready, she can be admitted to the Novitiate by the decision of the General Chapter. A two-thirds majority vote is required. This vote must be secret.

The purpose of the Novitiate, by which life in our community formally begins, is to give the novices a greater understanding of their divine vocation to serve the Church with the charisma proper to the community. The mark of the novitiate is the reception of the tunic habit, scapular, with a white veil.

During their novitiate, the novices are to experience the manner of life of the community and form their minds and hearts in its spirit. At the same time, the firmness of their resolution and their suitability are to be tested.

The Novitiate is to comprise of twelve months spent under the rule of the Mistress of Novices as dictated by Canon Law.

The Novitiate is not to be extended beyond two years.

The Chapter is to determine the sufficiency of anyone's Novitiate.

The governance of the novices is reserved to the Mistress of Novices.

It is the responsibility of the Mistress of Novices and his assistants to discern and test the vocation of the novices, and gradually to form them to lead the life of perfection that is proper to the community

By the example of their lives and by prayer, the members of the monastery are to ensure that they do their part in assisting the work of formation of the novices

A novice may freely leave the community at any time.

Before postulants are admitted as novices, they must produce proof of baptism and confirmation, and of their free status.

Section IV: Temporary Vows

The Novitiate is formally completed with the profession of first vows and the reception of the short black veil with the white chapuche.

Incorporation into the community is realized, after a period of postulancy and novitiate determined by the Chapter of the House, by a public expression of the commitment to remain faithful to these constitutional laws and the norms and customs for each house.

The General Chapter is the competent authority to decide on the admission of members wishing to engage themselves in the community as a member in temporary vows. Before a novice can be accepted to temporary vows, all the members of the House will discuss the question of his admission and then the members of the Chapter, by secret ballot, must approve his candidacy, by a 3/4 vote.

Section V: Perpetual Profession.

Having completed three consecutive years in temporary vows, the sister (s) may petition the chapter to make perpetual vows. A vote of 3/4 of the members of the chapter is required for acceptance. Once a member is accepted, he will share in all the obligations and privileges granted by these constitutions.

As a sign of his profession, the Sister will be a gold ring.

when you find that you are doing all that has been written, give thanks to the Lord, the giver of every good. But when one of you finds that he has failed in any point, let him be sorry for the past, beyond his guard for the future, praying that he will be forgiven his fault and not be led into temptation.                                                                                                                                            Rule of St Augustine