Letter of Promulgation of the Most Reverend Abbot Primate, on May 4, 1959, Pope John XXIII, of pius memory approved and instituted the Confederation of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, by the Apostolic Letter “Caritas Unitas.” It is clear from this document that the purpose of this new Institute is spiritual aid.

 

      Thus, the statutes of the Confederation are not content in merely taking up in article 17, the Brief of the sovereign Pontiff; they, furthermore explain very rightly the purpose of this Confederation. Indeed, we read in the following article: “To promote canonical life, by adapting it to the needs of the times, should be considered as the chief purpose of the Confederation. In this manner the Canonical Order will the letter attain its spiritual purpose, will be developed and will have a greater influence.” And when these statutes in article 37 treat of the function of the Primatial Council, they declare with still greater precision: “It belongs to the Primatial Council to decide on the means proper to promote the purpose of the Confederation. It is its duty in a special way to forward the development of the Order, to promote its spiritual life, to help its expansion and its growth in numbers.”

 

This is why, strengthened by the directives of these statutes, and with a desire of expressing the common sentiment, the Primatial Council, having in view the spiritual purpose of all the Confederation and of it alone has approved the present Declaration, which is the fruit of work done after mature reflection by many brothers, and on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the erection of the Confederation, it has decreed its publication. This document is destined to become, as it were, the spiritual “magna carta” of all the Congregations in the Federation, and the very expression of their union.

 

 

 Klosterneuburg 4 May 1969

 

                                                              † Gebhard Ferdinand Koberger

                                                                    Provost of Klosterneuburg and

                                                Abbot General of the Austrian Congregation

                                                              Abbot Primate of the Congregation

                                                        of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine