Statutes of the Friends

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

ARTICLE I. - NATURE

 

ARTICLE II. – END

 

ARTICLE III. – OBLIGATIONS

 

ARTICLE IV. – ADMISSION

 

 

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ARTICLE I. – NATURE

  

 

        1. The Friends of the Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception is an association of lay, religious men and women, and priests who are bound to the C.R.I.C., by a series of relationships. They take part in the common vocation to the Christian life and to that Christian love, which is charity — according to the Rule, the example, and the spiritual teaching of Saint Augustine — and also in the collaboration in pastoral ministry.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II. – END

 

         

        2. To grow in the love of the Church, in communal charity, in Marian piety and to work towards holiness according to each one’s proper state in life, by means of a constant return to the source of Christian life: Christ, given to us in the Gospel, which are to be assiduously read and meditated upon.

 

        3. Specific aspects in participating with the C.R.I.C.

— The love of the Sacred Liturgy, the Divine Praise of God resounding in the Church, which is the supreme work of man.

—  Devotion to the Local Church, expression and presence of the Universal Church, established by an open  and living community of Christians working towards the realization of the Kingdom of God.

—  The joyous celebration of the Divine Praise, which is the public Prayer of the Church reunited in the Spirit.

—  Pastoral activity (parochial and/or missionary), because each one according to his own charism, can reach the fullness of his consecration in a life of faith open to hope and enlivened in charity.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III. – OBLIGATIONS

 

         

        4. The associates, along with the duty of spiritual growth by all who are baptized, will have at heart:

—  living a profound spiritual life in constant dialog with God in personal and communal prayer, and in the reading of the signs of the times;

—  living the Commandment of love towards one’s neighbor with a spirit of humble service and of fraternal friendship and collaboration in the parish community, in the family, in the work place, and in the social environment. Uniting the prayers and suffering of the sick of the association in the apostolate and to commemorate in a particular way the deceased of the association;

—  love of the Blessed Virgin Mary, given to us by Christ, as our model of listening, of availability and of response, with a filial devotion;

—  to know about the Canons Regular: the life of Dom Adrien Gréa and his ideal;

—  to take an active part in the initiatives of the respective parish communities as well as those proposed by the Congregation such as:

a)   times for praying for vocations,

b)   religious professions, priestly ordinations, ordination anniversaries, etc.

c)  community gatherings in honor of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Solemnity of  Saint Augustine and other feasts proper to the Community;

—  to be informed: about the activities of the Congregation or the Association by means of communications, newsletters, magazines, brochures, etc.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV – ADMISSION

 

         

        5. Admission:

—  Admission is granted after a period of time needed to know the spirit and the obligations of the Association.

—  The Superior of the local Community will evaluate and receive the requests for admission.

—  Membership is annual, renewable, possibly in a communal way.

—  The Superior General and his Council will be attentive in knowing, following and supporting the life and development of the Association.

—  An updated list of all the members will be conserved in the Archives for the Casa Generalizia.