Celebrating 800 Years – Part 2

MEMORIALE PROPOSITI

Introduction

The Memoriale Propositi is a generic document, written by the Roman Curia for all penitents of the time. For us Secular Franciscans it is important to understand that the Letter to the faithful in its two versions (1. Concerning Those Who Do Penance and 2. Concerning Those Who Do Not Do Penance) proposes exhortations (encouragements) of evangelical life to all Christians – religious, clerics, lay people, men and women whose salvation is in doing penance. The Letter to the faithful could be considered as a supplementary enrichment with a Franciscan vision to the Memoriale Propositi.

Who Wrote the Memoriale Propositi?

The most accredited hypothesis is that it was written by Cardinal Ugolino dei Conti di Segni, a highly experienced jurist, who as a papal legate for Northern Italy, was well aware of the expansion of the penitential phenomenon.

For its part, the Church, through the Memoriale ‘gave a unitary orientation to the various fraternities, communities, local groups of penitents’ (G. Casagrande), regulating the richness of the phenomenon within orthodoxy against any heretical deviations.

The text

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen. The Memoriale of the life project of the brothers and sisters of penance, living in their own homes, that began in the year of the Lord 1221, is this:

DAILY LIFE

1. The men belonging to this brotherhood shall dress in humble, undyed cloth, the price of which is not to exceed six Ravenna soldi an ell, unless for evident and necessary cause a temporary dispensation be given. And breadth and thinness of the cloth are to be considered in said price.
2. They shall wear their outer garments and furred coats without open throat, sewed shut or uncut but certainly laced up, not Open as secular people wear them; and they shall wear their sleeves closed.
3. The sisters in turn shall wear an outer garment and tunic made of cloth of the same price and humble quality; or at least they are to have with the outer garment a white or black underwrap or petticoat, or an ample linen gown without gathers, the price of an ell of which is not to exceed twelve Pisa denars. As to this price, however, and the fur cloaks they wear a dispensation may be given according to the estate of the woman and the custom of the place. They are not to wear silken or dyed veils and ribbons.
4. And both the brothers and the sisters shall have their fur garments of lamb’s wool only. They are permitted to have leather purses and belts sewed in simple fashion without silken thread, and no other kind. Also other vain adornments they shall lay aside at the bidding of the Visitor.
5. They are not to go to unseemly parties or to shows or dances. They shall not donate to actors, and shall forbid their household to donate.

ABSTINENCE

6. All are to abstain from meat save on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, except on account of illness or weakness, for three days at blood-letting, in traveling, or on account of an especially high feast intervening, namely, the Nativity for three days, New Years, Epiphany, the Pasch of the Resurrection for three days the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, St John the Baptist, the Assumption of the glorious Virgin Mary, the solemnity of All Saints and of St Martin. On the other days, when there is no fasting, they may eat cheese and eggs. But when they are with religious in their convent homes, they have leave to eat what is served to them. And except for the feeble, the ailing, and those traveling, let them be content with dinner and supper. Let the healthy be temperate in eating and drinking.
7. Before their dinner and supper let them say the Lord’s prayer once, likewise after their meal, and let them give thanks to God. Otherwise let them say three Our Fathers.

FASTING

8. From the Pasch of the Resurrection to the feast of All Saints they are to fast on Fridays. From the feast of All Saints until Easter they are to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, but still observing the other fasts enjoined in general by the Church.
9. They are to fast daily, except on account of infirmity or any other need, throughout the fast of St Martin from after said day until Christmas, and throughout the greater fast from Carnival Sunday until Easter.
10. Sisters who are pregnant are free to refrain until their purification from the corporal observances except those regarding their dress and prayers.
11. Those engaged in fatiguing work shall be allowed to take food three times a day from the Pasch of the Resurrection until the Dedication feast of St Michael. And when they work for others, it will be allowed them to eat everything served them, except on Fridays and on the fasts enjoined in general by the Church. General Constitution Article 13.3

PRAYER

12. All are daily to say the seven canonical Hours, that is, Matins, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. The clerics are to say them after the manner of the clergy. Those who know the Psalter are to say the Deus in nominee and the Beati immaculati up to the Legem pone for Prime, and the other psalms of the Hours’ with the Glory be to the Father; but when they do not attend church, they are to say for Matins the psalms the Church says or any eighteen psalms; or at least to say the Our Father as do the unlettered at any of the Hours The others say twelve Our Fathers for Matins and for every one of the other Hours seven Our Fathers with the Glory be to the Father after each one. And those who know the Creed and the Miserere mei Deus should say it at Prime and Compline. If they do not say that at the Hours indicated, they shall say three Our Fathers.

Rule 8 and General Constitution Article 12.3

13. The sick are not to say the Hours unless they wish.

14. All are to go to Matins in the fast of St Martin and in the great fast, unless inconvenience for persons or affairs should threaten.

THE SACRAMENTS, OTHER MATTERS

15. They are to make a confession of their sins three times a year and to receive Communion at Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. They are to be reconciled with their neighbours and to restore what belongs to others. They are to make up for past tithes and pay future tithes. Rule 8 and Rule 5 and General Constitution Article 14.2

16. They are not to take up lethal weapons, or bear them about against anybody. General Constitution Article 23.2

17. All are to refrain from formal oaths unless where necessity compels, in the cases excepted by the Sovereign Pontiff in his indult, that is, for peace, for the Faith, under calumny, and in bearing witness.

18. Also in their ordinary conversations they will do their best to avoid oaths. And should anyone have sworn thoughtlessly through a slip of the tongue, as happens where there is much talking, he should the evening of the same day, when he is obliged to think over what he has done, say three Our Fathers in amends of such oaths. Let each member fortify his household to serve God. Rule 7

SPECIAL MASS AND MEETING EACH MONTH

19. All the brothers and sisters of every city and place are to gather every month at the time the ministers see fit, in a church which the ministers will make known, and there assist at Divine services. Rule 24 and General Constitution Article 53 1-4

20. And every member is to give the treasurer one ordinary denar. The treasurer is to collect this money and distribute it on the advice of the ministers among the poor brothers and sisters, especially the sick and those who may have nothing for their funeral services, and thereupon among other poor; and they are to offer something of the money to the aforesaid church. Rule 25 and General Constitution Article 30.3

21. And, if it be convenient at the time, they are to have some religious who is informed in the words of God to exhort them and strengthen them to persevere in their penance and in performing the works of mercy. And except for the officers, they are to remain quiet during the Mass and sermon, intent on the Office, on prayer, and on the sermon. Rule 26 and General Constitution Article 90.1-2

VISITING THE SICK, BURYING THE DEAD

22. Whenever any brother or sister happens to fall ill, the ministers, if the patient let them know of it, shall in person or through others visit the patient once a week, and remind him of penance; and if they find it expedient, they are to supply him from the common fund with what he may need for the body.

23.And if the ailing person depart from this life, it is to be published to the brothers and sisters who may be present in the city or place, so that they may gather for the funeral; and they are not to leave until the Mass has been celebrated and the body consigned to burial. Thereupon each member within eight days of the demise shall say for the soul of the deceased: a Mass, if he is a priest; fifty psalms, if he understands the Psalter, or if not, then fifty Our Fathers with the Requiem eternal at the end of each.

24. In addition, every year, for the welfare of the brothers and sisters living and dead, each priest is to say three Masses, each member knowing the Psalter is to recite it, and the rest shall say one hundred Our Fathers with the Requiem eternal at the end of each.

25. All who have the right are to make their last will and make disposition of their goods within three months after their profession, lest anyone of them die intestate. Rule 19 and General Constitution Article 23.3

PEACEMAKING

26. As regards making peace among the brothers and sisters or non-members at odds, let what the ministers find proper be done; even, if it be expedient, upon consultation with the Lord Bishop. Rule 24 and General Constitution Article 32.1

27.If contrary to their right and privileges trouble is made for the brothers and sisters by the mayors and governors of the places where they live, the ministers of the place shall do what they shall find expedient on the advice of the Lord Bishop.

LIFE IN FRATERNITY

28. Let each member accept and faithfully exercise the ministry of other offices imposed on him, although anyone may retire from office after a year. Rule 21 and General Constitution Article 49.1-2

29. When anybody wishes to enter this brotherhood, the ministers shall carefully inquire into his standing and occupation, and they shall explain to him the obligations of the brotherhood, especially that of restoring what belongs to others. And if he is content with it, let him be vested according to the prescribed way, and he must make satisfaction for his debts, paying money according to what pledged provision is given. They are to reconcile themselves with their neighbours and to pay up their tithes. Rule 23 and General Constitution Article 39.1-4

30. After these particulars are complied with, when the year is up and he seems suitable to them, let him on the advice of some discreet brothers be received on this condition: that he promise he will all the time of his life observe everything here written, or to be written or abated on the advice of the brothers, unless on occasion there be a valid dispensation by the ministers; and that he will, when called upon by the ministers, render satisfaction as the Visitor shall ordain if he have done anything contrary to this condition. And this promise is to be put in writing then and there by a public notary. Even so nobody is to be received otherwise’ unless in consideration of the estate and rank of the person it shall seem advisable to the ministers. Rule 23 and General Constitution Article 41.1 and 41.2

31. No one is to depart from this brotherhood and from what is contained herein, except to enter a religious Order. Rule 23 and General Constitution Article 42.1 and 42.2

32. No heretic or person in bad repute for heresy is to be received. If he is under suspicion of it, he may be admitted if, otherwise fit, upon being cleared before the bishop. Rule 23 and General Constitution Article 39.1-4

33. Married women are not to be received except with the consent and leave of their husbands.

34. Brothers and sisters ejected from the brotherhood as incorrigible are not to be received in it again except it please the saner portion of the brothers. Rule 23 and General Constitution Article 57.1 and 57.2

CORRECTION, DISPENSATION, OFFICES

35. The ministers of any city or place shall report public faults of the brothers and sisters to the Visitor for punishment. And if anyone proves incorrigible, after consultation with some of the discreet brothers he should be denounced to the Visitor, to be expelled by him from the brotherhood, and thereupon it should be published in the meeting. Moreover, if it is a brother, he should be denounced to the mayor or the governor.

36. If anyone learns that scandal is occurring relative to brothers and sisters, he shall report it to the ministers and shall have opportunity to report it to the Visitor. He need not be held to report it in the case of husband against wife. General Constitution Article 58.2 and 58.3

37. The Visitor has the power to dispense (dismiss) all the brothers and sisters in any of these points if he finds it advisable.

38. When the year has passed, the ministers with the counsel of the brothers are to elect two other ministers; and a faithful treasurer, who is to provide for the need of the brothers and sisters and other poor; and messengers who at the command of the ministers are to publish what is said and done by the fraternity. Rule 21 and General Constitution Article 32.2

39. In all the above-mentioned points no one is to be obligated under guilt, but under penalty; yet so that if after being admonished twice by the ministers he should fail to discharge the penalty imposed or to be imposed on him by the Visitor, he shall be obligated under guilt as contumacious (stubborn refusal to change).

Here ends the Rule

Questions for Discussion

1. Why is continuity between the First Rule and our current Rule important?
2. What are some themes that are included in our current Rule that were not mentioned in the First Rule? Why were they added at a later time?
3. There are a number of Rules in Memoriale Prepositi which are not our current Rule.  However, they have ‘survived’ as practices and/or customs in our fraternities and Order.

What practices and/or customs do you have in your fraternity that could be considered a continuation of the Memoriale Propositi, e.g., caring for the sick, Masses for the dead, Franciscan devotions and prayers, wearing the Tau cross?

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