The sixth day of the Chapter began, as usual, with Lauds and the celebration of the Eucharist, in the Church of St. Catherine. The homily, given by Fr. Giovanni Battistelli, was focused on biblical events that occurred in the book of Tobias, which were compared to the life of the Custody’s fraternity. The fundamental values of our consecrated life must be characterized always more by a style of family life, marked by harmony and benevolence. It is important that we know how to understand, pardon, and sustain both ourselves and one another, in order to walk with a greater perfection on the road to God.
The work of the Chapter members was particularly heavy, as the Friars dedicated themselves to examine and update the Statutes of the Custody. A special commission, formed by Fr. Dobromir Jasztal, Fr. David Jaeger, and Fr. Jesus Sebastian, with great juridical expertise, in advance wrote the texts to be examined, and they also conducted the debate in the assembly hall. In the beginning Fr. Dobromir Jasztal, speaking on behalf of the commission, stated the contents of the work accomplished and the methods utilized for the revision. Then he read the texts in their old and new formulations. The scope of the work was not to offer a new writing or reformulation of all the Statutes. Only “emendations” or “adaptations” of certain particular articles were treated and discussed. Some of the emendations were necessary as a result of changes of a geo-political nature that have occurred. Therefore, the norms only took into account, and put into juridical effect, the new situation. Initially, the Chapter examined the Particular Statutes.
Among other statutes, the article that regulates the composition of the linguistic groups was emended as a result political changes, for example, the disappearance of Yugoslavia. The emendation of article 16 was worked on, which describes the electoral Colleges that regard the celebration of the Chapter, in order to put into effect in a concrete manner the internationality of the Custody and the principle of representation. Other emendations were introduced in the list of the Offices and Tasks of the Custody regarding the relative norm of Cultural Goods. Instead, other articles were “adapted,” with the scope of bringing into line the proper law of the Custody to the new dispositions stated by the General Statutes of the Order. One adaptation inserted in our Particular Statutes, for example, is that which concerns the establishment of the Plenary Council of the Custody. Every article, before receiving the vote of approval of the assembly, was the object of discussion before the assembly. Then the Juridic Commission recorded the observations put forward, in order to offer, according to the norms, the formulation most correct and precise from a juridical point of view.
In the afternoon the work of the Chapter concentrated on the Special Statutes, using the same method as that of the morning session. The articles emended or adapted were those concerning the proper care of the Shrines, the preparation of guides, the service of the Commissariats, initial and permanent Formation, and vocational animation.
This type of work could appear to be dry or bureaucratic. But in reality it also constitutes a precious service to the Custody, as it aims at ordering fraternal charity. At the end of the day the President’s Commission permitted a non-binding vote for the new discreets. The definitive election will be held tomorrow. We want to prepare for this election with an intense and humble prayer to the Holy Spirit, so that the Chapter members may be able to choose “inspired leaders capable of responding to the exigencies of the Church and of the world.”
The work of the Chapter members was particularly heavy, as the Friars dedicated themselves to examine and update the Statutes of the Custody. A special commission, formed by Fr. Dobromir Jasztal, Fr. David Jaeger, and Fr. Jesus Sebastian, with great juridical expertise, in advance wrote the texts to be examined, and they also conducted the debate in the assembly hall. In the beginning Fr. Dobromir Jasztal, speaking on behalf of the commission, stated the contents of the work accomplished and the methods utilized for the revision. Then he read the texts in their old and new formulations. The scope of the work was not to offer a new writing or reformulation of all the Statutes. Only “emendations” or “adaptations” of certain particular articles were treated and discussed. Some of the emendations were necessary as a result of changes of a geo-political nature that have occurred. Therefore, the norms only took into account, and put into juridical effect, the new situation. Initially, the Chapter examined the Particular Statutes.
Among other statutes, the article that regulates the composition of the linguistic groups was emended as a result political changes, for example, the disappearance of Yugoslavia. The emendation of article 16 was worked on, which describes the electoral Colleges that regard the celebration of the Chapter, in order to put into effect in a concrete manner the internationality of the Custody and the principle of representation. Other emendations were introduced in the list of the Offices and Tasks of the Custody regarding the relative norm of Cultural Goods. Instead, other articles were “adapted,” with the scope of bringing into line the proper law of the Custody to the new dispositions stated by the General Statutes of the Order. One adaptation inserted in our Particular Statutes, for example, is that which concerns the establishment of the Plenary Council of the Custody. Every article, before receiving the vote of approval of the assembly, was the object of discussion before the assembly. Then the Juridic Commission recorded the observations put forward, in order to offer, according to the norms, the formulation most correct and precise from a juridical point of view.
In the afternoon the work of the Chapter concentrated on the Special Statutes, using the same method as that of the morning session. The articles emended or adapted were those concerning the proper care of the Shrines, the preparation of guides, the service of the Commissariats, initial and permanent Formation, and vocational animation.
This type of work could appear to be dry or bureaucratic. But in reality it also constitutes a precious service to the Custody, as it aims at ordering fraternal charity. At the end of the day the President’s Commission permitted a non-binding vote for the new discreets. The definitive election will be held tomorrow. We want to prepare for this election with an intense and humble prayer to the Holy Spirit, so that the Chapter members may be able to choose “inspired leaders capable of responding to the exigencies of the Church and of the world.”