TITLE III

THE PROFESSION OF THE RULE

19- The Rule or form of life for our Fraternity confirmed by Pope Honorius III and interpreted by successive Popes is the fundamental law of the whole Congregation from which the brothers should draw inspiration and to which they should conform their lives.

20- §1. It is the right of the Apostolic See, either on its own initiative or at the request of the General Chapter, to interpret the Rule of St. Francis authentically.

§2. It is the diocesan bishop of the principal friary who approves the Constitutions and confirms any changes lawfully introduced into them, except for those matters which the Apostolic See has taken in hand.

§3. The diocesan bishop can grant a dispensation from the Constitutions in particular cases.

§4. The declarative interpretations of the Constitutions belongs to the General Chapter. However, outside of the General Chapter for an urgent reason, the Minister General with his Council can give an interpretation which is valid until the next chapter. The authentic interpretation is reserved to the Diocesan bishop in whose diocese the principal friary of the Congregation belongs.

§5. The General Chapter can issue laws and decrees regarding the faithful observance of the Rule and Constitutions.

21- §1. To implement general laws, general chapters may enact particular statutes for the entire Fraternity.

§2. In more urgent cases the interpretation or changes in these statutes may be enacted by the Minister General with his Council which are valid until the next chapter.
22- §1. The Rule binds in conscience according to the declarations of the Supreme Pontiffs in accordance with the norms of the Constitutions.

§2. The Constitutions and General Statutes bind under sin, proportionately to the importance of the matter in question, in matters of the vows and divine and ecclesiastical laws.

§3. The brothers should strive to observe the Rule and Constitutions, and general statutes as the obligations contracted at religious profession requires, chiefly out of love for evangelical perfection according to the spirit of our Congregation.

23- The following may grant a temporary dispensation from the disciplinary norms of the Constitutions and statutes for a just and reasonable cause:
a) the Minister General for individual brothers and friaries;
b) the Local Minister (Guardian) for his own and for other brothers residing in the friary.

24- §1. The brothers should see to it that they continuously study and deepen their knowledge of the Rule, the Constitutions, the writings of St. Francis, along with other documents and writings relevant to the life of our Congregation, and to make the spirit of these their own.

§2. The Rule and the Constitutions are to be read in common at a time and in a manner determined by the General Statutes.