Here begins the Rule of the Continent
Brothers and Sisters
IN THE NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
THE MEMORIAL OF WHAT IS PROPOSED for the Brothers and Sisters of Penance living
in their own homes, begun in the year of our Lord 1221, is as follows.
CHAPTER I
DAILY LIFE
1. The men belonging to this brotherhood shall dress in humble, undyed cloth,
the price of which is not to exceed six Ravenna soldi an ell, unless for evident
and necessary cause a temporary dispensation be given. And breadth and thinness
of the cloth are to be considered in said price.
2 They shall wear their outer garments and furred coats without open throat,
sewed shut or uncut but certainly laced up, not Open as secular people wear
them; and they shall wear their sleeves closed.
3. The Sisters in turn shall wear an outer garment and tunic made of cloth of
the same price and humble quality; or at least they are to have with the outer
garment a white or black underwrap or petticoat, or an ample linen gown without
gathers, the price of an ell of which is not to exceed twelve Pisa denars. As to
this price, however, and the fur cloaks they wear a dispensation may be given
according to the estate of the woman and the custom of the place. They are not
to wear silken or dyed veils and ribbons.
4. And both the brothers and the Sisters shall have their fur garments of lamb's
wool only. They are permitted to have leather purses and belts sewed in simple
fashion without silken thread, and no other kind. Also other vain adornments
they shall lay aside at the bidding of the Visitor.
5. They are not to go to unseemly parties or to shows or dances. They shall not
donate to actors, and shall forbid their household to donate.
CHAPTER II
ABSTINENCE
6. All are to abstain from meat save on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, except
on account of illness or weakness, for three days at blood-letting, in
travelling, or on account of a specially high feast intervening, namely, the
Nativity for three days, New Years, Epiphany, the Pasch of the Resurrection for
three days the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, St John the Baptist, the Assumption
of the glorious Virgin Mary, the solemnity of All Saints and of St Martin. On
the other days, when there is no fasting, they may eat cheese and eggs. But when
they are with religious in their convent homes, they have leave to eat what is
served to them. And except for the feeble, the ailing, and those travelling, let
them be content with dinner and supper. Let the healthy be temperate in eating
and drinking.
7. Before their dinner and supper let them say the Lord's prayer once, likewise
after their meal, and let them give thanks to God. Otherwise let them say three
Our Fathers.
CHAPTER III
FASTING
8. From the Pasch of the Resurrection to the feast of All Saints they are to
fast on Fridays. From the feast of All Saints until Easter they are to fast on
Wednesdays and Fridays, but still observing the other fasts enjoined in general
by the Church.
9. They are to fast daily, except on account of infirmity or any other need,
throughout the fast of St Martin from after said day until Christmas, and
throughout the greater fast from Carnival Sunday until Easter.
10. Sisters who are pregnant are free to refrain until their purification from
the corporal observances except those regarding their dress and prayers.
11. Those engaged in fatiguing work shall be allowed to take food three times a
day from the Pasch of the Resurrection until the Dedication feast of St Michael.
And when they work for others it will be allowed them to eat everything served
to them, except on Fridays and on the fasts enjoined in general by the Church.
CHAPTER IV
PRAYER
12. All are daily to say the seven canonical Hours, that is, Matins, Prime,
Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. The clerics are to say them after the
manner of the clergy. Those who know the Psalter are to say the Deus in nominee
too and the Beati immaculati up to the Legem pone for Prime, and the other
psalms of the Hours with the Glory be to the Father; but when they do not attend
church, they are to say for Matins the psalms the Church says or any eighteen
psalms; or at least to say the Our Father as do the unlettered at any of the
Hours The others say twelve Our Fathers for Matins and for every one of the
other Hours seven Our Fathers with the Glory be to the Father after each one.
And those who know the Creed and the Miserere mei Deus should say it at Prime
and Compline. If they do not say that at the Hours indicated, they shall say
three Our Fathers.
13. The sick are not to say the Hours unless they wish.
14. All are to go to Matins in the fast of St Martin and in the great fast,
unless inconvenience for persons or affairs should threaten.
CHAPTER V
THE SACRAMENTS, OTHER MATTERS
15. They are to make a confession of their sins three times a year and to
receive Communion at Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. They are to be reconciled
with their neighbours and to restore what belongs to others. They are to make up
for past tithes and pay future tithes.
16. They are not to take up lethal weapons, or bear them about against anybody.
17. All are to refrain from formal oaths unless where necessity compels, in the
cases excepted by the Sovereign Pontiff in his indult, that is, for peace, for
the Faith, under calumny, and in bearing witness.
18. Also in their ordinary conversations they will do their best to avoid oaths.
And should anyone have sworn thoughtlessly through a slip of the tongue, as
happens where there is much talking, he should the evening of the same day, when
he is obliged to think over what he has done, say three Our Fathers In amends of
such oaths. Let each member fortify his household to serve God.
CHAPTER VI
SPECIAL MASS AND MEETING EACH MONTH
19. All the brothers and Sisters of every city and place are to gather every
month at the time the ministers see fit, in a church which the ministers will
make known, and there assist at Divine services.
20. And every member is to give the treasurer one ordinary denar. The treasurer
is to collect this money and distribute it on the advice of the ministers among
the poor brothers and Sisters, especially the sick and those who may have
nothing for their funeral services, and thereupon among other poor; and they are
to offer something of the money to the aforesaid church.
21. And, if it be convenient at the time, they are to have some religious who is
informed in the words of God to exhort them and strengthen them to persevere in
their penance and in performing the works of mercy. And except for the officers,
they are to remain quiet during the Mass and sermon, intent on the Office, on
prayer, and on the sermon.
CHAPTER VII
VISITING THE SICK, BURYING THE DEAD
22. Whenever any brother or sister happens to fall ill, the ministers, if the
patient let them know of it, shall in person or through others visit the patient
once a week, and remind him of penance; and if they find it expedient, they are
to supply him from the common fund with what he may need for the body.
23. And if the ailing person depart from this life, it is to be published to the
brothers and Sisters who may be present in the city or place, so that they may
gather for the funeral; and they are not to leave until the Mass has been
celebrated and the body consigned to burial. Thereupon each member within eight
days of the demise shall say for the soul of the deceased: a Mass, if he is a
priest; fifty psalms, if he understands the Psalter, or if not, then fifty Our
Fathers with the Requiem aeternam at the end of each.
24. In addition, every year, for the welfare of the brothers and Sisters living
and dead, each priest is to say three Masses, each member knowing the Psalter is
to recite it, and the rest shall say one hundred Our Fathers with the Requiem
aeternam at the end of each.
25. All who have the right are to make their last will and make disposition of
their goods within three months after their profession, lest anyone of them die
intestate.
26. As regards making peace among the brothers and Sisters or nonmembers at
odds, let what the ministers find proper be done; even, if it be expedient, upon
consultation with the Lord Bishop.
27. If contrary to their right and privileges trouble is made for the brothers
and Sisters by the mayors and governors of the places where they live, the
ministers of the place shall do what they shall find expedient on the advice of
the Lord Bishop.
28. Let each member accept and faithfully exercise the ministry of other offices
imposed on him, although anyone may retire from office after a year.
29. When anybody wishes to enter this brotherhood, the ministers shall carefully
inquire into his standing and occupation, and they shall explain to him the
obligations of the brotherhood, especially that of restoring what belongs to
others. And if he is content with it, let him be vested according to the
prescribed way, and he must make satisfaction for his debts, paying money
according to what pledged provision is given. They are to reconcile themselves
with their neighbours and to pay up their tithes.
30. After these particulars are complied with, when the year is up and he seems
suitable to them, let him on the advice of some discreet brothers be received on
this condition: that he promise he will all the time of his life observe
everything here written, or to be written or abated on the advice of the
brothers, unless on Occasion there be a valid dispensation by the ministers; and
that he will, when called upon by the ministers, render satisfaction as the
Visitor shall ordain if he have done anything contrary to this condition. And
this promise is to be put in writing then and there by a public notary. Even so
nobody is to be received otherwise unless in consideration of the estate and
rank of the person it shall seem advisable to the ministers.
31. No one is to depart from this brotherhood and from what is contained herein,
except to enter a religious Order.
32. No heretic or person in bad repute for heresy is to be received. If he is
under suspicion of it, he may be admitted if, otherwise fit, upon being cleared
before the bishop.
33. Married women are not to be received except with the consent and leave of
their husbands.
34. Brothers and Sisters ejected from the brotherhood as incorrigible are not to
be received in it again except it please the saner portion of the brothers.
CHAPTER VIII
CORRECTION, DISPENSATION, OFFICERS
35. The ministers of any city or place shall report public faults of the
brothers and Sisters to the Visitor for punishment. And if anyone proves
incorrigible, after consultation with some of the discreet brothers he should be
denounced to the Visitor, to be expelled by him from the brotherhood, and
thereupon it should be published in the meeting. Moreover, if it is a brother,
he should be denounced to the mayor or the governor.
36. If anyone learns that scandal is occurring relative to brothers and Sisters,
he shall report it to the ministers and shall have opportunity to report it to
the Visitor. He need not be held to report it in the case of husband against
wife.
37. The Visitor has the power to dispense all the brothers and Sisters in any of
these points if he finds it advisable.
38. When the year has passed, the ministers with the counsel of the brothers are
to elect two other ministers; and a faithful treasurer, who is to provide for
the need of the brothers and Sisters and other poor; and messengers who at the
command of the ministers are to publish what is said and done by the fraternity.
39. In all the above mentioned points no one is to be obligated under guilt, but
under penalty; yet so that if after being admonished twice by the ministers he
should fail to discharge the penalty imposed or to be imposed on him by the
Visitor, he shall be obligated under guilt as contumacious.