The Chapter of Faults is held every
Friday, following the Disciplina. Several communities within one house
will have separate chapters (Novices, Professed, Priest members, each
having their own).
The object of this exercise, which is common to all well regulated
Communities, is to make the spirit humble and to mortify the flesh by
acknowledging one's faults anew.
Those things of which one accuses himself are the non observances of
the norms and directives laid out in the
Constitutions or specific rules for
the house. One
never confesses
faults that are purely interior -
or
sins that are meant for the Sacrament of Penance - but only
those faults committed in the presence of his confreres. Those
Religious who by reason of their charge are obliged to violate some
points of the
Constitutions,
such as silence, do not accuse themselves of those faults, as they
could not have done otherwise.
They accuse themselves simply and briefly; sincerely, hiding nothing;
humbly, not excusing themselves; charitably, not accusing others nor
revealing their faults.
The community begins with the
Veni,
Sancti Spiritus, after which they chant the first half of the
Confiteor, stopping after the third
“mea culpa”. At this time, the Religious accusing himself comes
forward, kneels in a determined place, with downcast eyes and hands
joined. Having finished accusing himself, he receives his
penance, rises and returns to
his place.
Once all those who wish to come forward have done so, the Superior may
choose to address some things pertaining to the observance of the
Constitutions and rules of the
house that he sees as being lax in the community. In his words to the
community, he is not to address himself to any one in particular. After
this is done or, if he has nothing to add, after the last Religious has
spoken, all present finish the second half of the
Confiteor, and the Superior gives
the Absolution "Misereatur" and "Indulgentiam".
The Religious will have a higher opinion of and greater esteem for a
confrere who accuses himself with simplicity, even when his faults are
serious; for though the Religious never doubted that he was a sinner,
they know now by his confession that he is humble, that he esteems
humiliation, and that he has made amends for his faults by his humility.
They never speak outside the Chapter of what has occurred therein. This
secrecy is so binding that it resembles somewhat that of Confession
and, therefore, they must not break it.
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