Opera Omnia

INSTRUCTION IX
SERVICES OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT
A Note on vacations

As regards vacations. Some Superiors have found it a fruitful experience to get each of the Aspirants, on his return, to bring back a new vocation; possibly even more. The result was a twofold success: the Aspirant sanctified his holidays better by looking for vocations; and there was a reasonable number of new candidates.
Sometimes the vacation period can be a cause of many losses; other times fewer. In the individual regions the Superiors are to study this serious problem and, as far as possible, to remedy it.

Publishing academic texts

It can be useful, in countries where civil law does not prohibit it, to start by publishing academic texts.
To help young people is a great apostolate. The content mirrors the program, but it depends a great deal on the writer to instil the spirit, which has to animate everything.

It is an area not without its risks. Today's youth is tomorrow's Christian and citizen. The outcome will depend on how he is trained.

Openings and closings

Are there openings to be made? In the Pious Society of Saint Paul all the good doors are already open; rather, some closures and limitations are needed to keep evil out. Closures with strong doors against worldliness!
Jesus the Teacher bore witness to the Apostles and to himself: Hi de mundo non sunt; sicut et ego de mundo non sum.¹ Sunday is the Lord's day; a day of rest, of works of charity, of relaxation. Worldly people exhaust themselves more in amusements than at work during the week. Thus, on Mondays, they are late for work or fail to turn up. That is to distort the festive and rest day from both a spiritual and a human point of view.
The Religious knows how to sanctify it and to prepare himself refreshed for his duties.

Office-bearers in the General House

All the office-bearers in the General House constitute a sole body; they are members who cooperate with the Superior General. Theirs is wholly a role of charity.
They are a necessary help and bear great responsibility.
They have the graces respectively of the office entrusted to them.
They share in the consolations, the sufferings and the work.

All in common are obliged to observe the secret of their respective office. They are also to be very prudent in what they say and do.
For each one's consolation there is the surety of working on a broader basis for the whole Congregation; thus there is a greater extension of charity, a harvest of greater merits.
The assistance and help they give the Superior General is threefold. It is a contribution of insight, prayer, and prompt action so that what is decided upon or desired may have a successful outcome.

I. The Vicar General

The Vicar General is the first among the Councillors. His task is outlined schematically in articles 348, 349, and 350 of the Constitutions:

Art. 348. When the Superior General is absent, impeded or deceased, the first Councillor General, who by right is the Vicar General in the Society, shall act in his stead.
Art. 349. The Vicar General, either alone or with the Council, as the matter to be dealt with may require, can decide only about those matters which pertain to the ordinary administration, or which cannot be postponed. As far as possible these decisions should be according to the mind of the Superior General.
Art. 350. As soon as the Superior General has resumed his duties, the Vicar General is bound to render him an account of all the affairs transacted, by himself alone or with the Council, while the former was absent

or impeded. There is nothing to prevent the Vicar General from consulting the Superior General by letter, and then whatever has been decided by the Superior General should not be changed by the Vicar General.

Apart from the juridical aspect, the Vicar General's role is to give advice, to be a close helper, and to correct, so as to foresee, suggest and complete those tasks that the Superior is unable to fulfil or which are entrusted to him, and the care of his health.
He will therefore be in daily contact; he will represent the community vis-à-vis the Superior General; the Superior vis-à-vis the community: in view of a greater unity of spirit and action.

II. The Procurator General

There is a need for a priest to maintain relations and oversee business between the Holy See and our Congregation. He is called the Procurator General; he is elected by the General Chapter.
He is to be a person trustworthy from every point of view: love for the Congregation, well versed in Canon Law, have suitable preparation and experience, be sensitive with respect to secrets; prudent and able in transacting matters relating to his office.
The Constitutions state:

Art. 363. The Procurator General conducts all the business of the Society with the Holy See. According to the custom followed in this matter, it is necessary that he habitually resides in Rome.

Art. 364. The Procurator General is elected by the General Chapter in accordance with articles 318 and following; and he cannot be removed from his office before the expiration of his term, without consulting the Holy See.
Art. 366. It is his duty to inform the Superior General of all the acts of the Holy See which might concern the Congregation. Once a year he is also bound to submit to the Superior General a report on all the business transacted with the Holy See.
Art. 367. As often as matters of importance to be transacted with the Holy See are discussed in the General Council, it is expedient that the Procurator General be invited to express his personal views, and his opinions are to be recorded in the book of deliberations of the Council.

Those who have practices to be examined by the Holy See have to apply through him; and the Holy See passes on to him the communications addressed to the Superior General, to the Provinces, and to the members of the Institute.
A spirit of unity in thinking and acting with the Superior General and his Council will contribute a great deal to the good of the Institute.

III. The Secretary General

To keep papers, documents, records, various reports and so on in order there is a need for a Secretary General. He is elected by the General Chapter. The Constitutions state:

Art. 368. The Secretary General is especially entrusted with the care

of the various authentic documents or acts to be drawn up and kept in the Society; he also discharges the office of Archivist of the General House.
Art. 370. It pertains particularly to the Secretary General to record in the book of deliberations the matters discussed and decided upon in the General Council. These records must be signed by the Superior General and the Secretary General, the other Councillors having given their consent.
Art. 371. As Archivist of the Society he must take care that all the documents belonging to the Society be accurately and faithfully placed and kept in the archives, classified in perfect order, so as to facilitate their use. He is to bear in mind that he cannot draw them out or lease them except in accordance with the norms approved by the Superior General.

He is also to see that the more important events and happenings of the Institute are recorded and kept.
He is to be sensitive regarding secrets; he is to be prompt in responding to the requests of the Superior General.
The Secretary is to record the minutes of the General Council meetings; he communicates to those concerned ordinary decisions, except those which, of their nature or by disposition of the Superior General, are reserved to the latter; he sees to the printing and mailing of circulars, and of the San Paolo bulletin reserved to the members of the Institute.

IV. The Bursar General

The role of the Bursar, both in the General House and in the Provincial and local Houses of the Pious Society

of Saint Paul, carries with it a responsibility and a tactfulness greater than that required in other Congregations.
What is required of him therefore are: maturity, prudence, ability, a broad outlook, docility towards his respective superiors.
It is a question of the nature of our Institute. As regards production, it has the role of an industry (press, cinema, radio, television, and so on); and at the same time it has to propagate its work, bring in revenue, and carry out what an ordinary publisher does.
Therefore a) to produce; b) to diffuse; c) to preserve; d) to provide; e) to oversee beneficience, and so on, all constitute a single and complex web of activities.

Art. 374. The Administrator General has the care, entrusted to him, over the temporal goods of both the general house and the Society as a whole, under the dependence, however, of the Superior General and his Council according to the norm of the Constitutions, with due regard also to the office of the other administrators.
Art. 376. In order to have a convenient administration of the goods of the Society, the Administrator General must take care:
1. that an inventory be made of all the Society's goods, both movable and immovable;
2. that this inventory be renewed every year, that is to say, faithfully and accurately kept up to date according to the various changes;
3. that the bank notes, titles, bonds, promissory notes, and all valuable objects be diligently kept in the safe of the General House;

4. that a list be kept wherein all the obligations assumed by the Society are distinctly and exactly recorded;
5. that the Provincial and Regional Superiors faithfully render an account of the economic state, expenses, and incomes at the appointed times; and also that the individual Provinces and Regions diligently contribute their share of contributions for the common needs of the Society.
Art. 379. The Administrator General must also exercise vigilance over all the goods of the Society lest anything go to ruin or be damaged; and see to it that anyone who has charge of these things uses them conscientiously and religiously.
Art. 387. Once every six months and at the expiration of his office, the Administrator General must render an account of his entire administration to the Superior General and his Council, handing over also the books compiled. The Superior General and his Councillors are to examine the books carefully, and, having checked the cash on hand, if they find the books to be accurate, they are to approve them by signing them. All these things, in their particular details, are to be recorded by the Secretary General in the register of deliberations.
Art. 388. As often as in the General Council temporal matters and sums of a certain importance are discussed, it is expedient to call in the Administrator General so that he may express his personal opinions which shall also be recorded in the minutes of the Council. The final decision, however, rests on the Superior General and his Council.

In every country it is necessary to know what civil law establishes concerning administration. As far as is possible, safeguard the goods and rights of the Institute; make use of favorable facilities and arrangements.

An exemplary servant

Resolutions of Father [Timothy] Giaccardo:
I will try to have a poverty that provides, poverty understood as providing for all and for everything with a spirit of generosity and liberality, a supernatural outlook.
I will try not to make anyone suffer in order to save, but that all have the basics, and live well.
Never send a poor person away without giving him something; to all at least a small offering, some bread or soup, as well as a word of encouragement, a smile.
He was economical in everything: he used nibs, pieces of pencil, paper… He wrote his articles on the back of used envelopes, on offcuts of paper. He noted for himself: I will take care to collect broken tools, strewn bits of wood, type characters, buttons. Abolish all inordinate expense; examine every necessary expense with trust… Travel still in third class and with ordinary means.
Now I need also to acquire that spirit of greater poverty which means having to ask those who have the means and can help us. It is a sacrifice to say that we are without and in need, for there is a greater satisfaction in giving than in receiving, but it is a great service of poverty.

I shall try to refine my zest for poverty; in other words, to love privations, to thank the Lord when he sends them, to accept them in a spirit of reparation for myself and for others. Accept them all! without admiring myself, without being pleased with myself, without letting on; in uprightness and in secret.