be advised, in which she may open the thoughts of her mind and all her
temptations most freely; and then frequent communion, and the sacred rite
of confession, to which she should be invited with promises of _special_
prayers; and the recitation of the litany and daily examination of
conscience.
VII. It will also aid, not a little, to the fullest knowledge of all her
inclinations, that a general confession, though it may have been made to
another, be repeated.
VIII. Exhortations should be made concerning the advantages of widowhood,
the troubles of matrimony, especially when repeated, and concerning the
dangers which have been once incurred, &c.; and which pertain in the
highest degree to man.
IX. Sometimes, skilfully make the proposal of some suitor, but of one
whom it is well known the widow abhors; the vices and bad habits of those
who are thought to please her are to be depicted so that she may sicken
at all second marriages.
X. When therefore it appears that she is well affected to the state of
widowhood, then let a spiritual life be recommended, not a recluse one,
the inconveniences of which had better be set forth and exaggerated; but
such as was that of Paula, or Eustachia, &c. and let the confessor take
care as soon as possible that by a vow of chastity extended to at least
two or three years, he prevent every step to second marriages, during
which time all conversation with the opposite sex, and even intercourse
with relations and connexions, are to be forbidden, under the pretext of
greater communion with God. As for the Ecclesiastics by whom the widow
shall be visited, or whom she shall visit, if all cannot be excluded, let
such only be admitted as come by our recommendation, or are dependant
upon us.
XI. When it shall have gone thus far, let the widow be persuaded by
little and little to good works, especially to _alms-giving_; but even
this she is by no means to do without the direction of her spiritual
father; since it is of the highest importance that her talent be given
with discretion for her spiritual improvement; and alms ill applied
may be the cause, or occasion, of sins, and so might yield only small
benefits and rewards.
CAP. VII.
_Quomodo conservandæ viduæ, et disponendum de bonis quæ habent._
I. Urgeantur continuo ut pergant in devotione et operibus bonis, sic ut
nulla hebdomada transeat, quin sua sponte aliquid in honorem Christi,
B. Virginis, vel patroni sui præscindant a se de superfluis; quod ipsum
in pauperes erogent, vel ornatui templorum destinent, donec spoliis
plerisque et primitiis Ægypti sint exutæ.
II. Quod si præter communem affectum, suam erga societatem nostram
liberalitatem testentur, idque facere continuent, fiant omnium meritorum
societatis participes, cum indulto speciali Provincialis, aut etiam, si
tantæ personæ fuerint, generalis.
III. Si emiserint votum castitatis, renovent illud more nostro bis in
anno, concessa illis pro illa die recreatione honesta cum nostris.
IV. Visitentur crebro, et jucundis colloquiis, et historiis
spiritualibus, ac facetiis recreentur et foveantur, juxta uniuscujusque
humorem et inclinationem.
V. Non tractentur nimis rigide in confessione, ne morosæ nimis fiant,
nisi forte amissa spe gratiam illarum aliunde occupatam recuperandi; in
qua magna discretione de inconstanti mulierum genio judicandum.
VI. Arceantur ingeniose à visitationibus et festivitatibus aliorum
templorum, maxime religiosorum, et inculcetur illis omnes aliorum ordinum
indulgentias in societatem esse refusas.
VII. Si lugendum ipsis sit, permittatur ornatus lugubris cum honesta
majestate aliquid spirituale simul et mundanum spirans, ut non
apprehendant se à viro spirituali plane gubernari; denique modo non
sit periculum inconstantiæ, et erga societatem fideles et liberales
inveniantur, concedatur illis quidquid ad sensualitatem requirunt,
moderate et excluso scandalo.
VIII. Collocentur apud viduas aliæ puellæ honestæ et parentibus divitibus
ac nobilibus natæ, quæ nostrorum directioni, et modo vivendi paulatim
assuefiant; his præsit aliqua à confessario totius familiæ ad hoc electa
et constituta; subjiciantur syndicationibus aliisque consuetudinibus
societatis, et quæ sese accommodare nolunt, dimittantur ad parentes vel
alios à quibus adductæ erant, describantur tanquam dyscolæ, difficilis
genii, &c.
IX. Nec minor cura sanitatis, et recreationis illarum, quam salutis
habenda erit; quare si de valetudine conquerantur, statim jejunia,
cilicia, disciplinæ, aliæque pœnitentiæ corporales, prohibebuntur;
neque permittantur ad templum etiam exire, sed domi secreto et caute
administrentur. Dissimuletur cum illis ingressus in hortum vel collegium,
modo secrete id fiat, permittantur colloquia et recreationes secretæ cum
iis qui maxime arriserint.
X. Pro dispositione redituum quos habet vidua in favorem societatis
facienda, proponatur perfectio status hominum sanctorum, qui relicto
mundo, parentibus, et bonis abdicatis, cum magna resignatione, et animi
hilaritate Deo servierunt. Exponantur in ordine ad hoc quæ habentur in
constitutione et examine societatis, de istiusmodi renunciatione et
obnegatione omnium rerum. Allegentur exempla viduarum, quæ sic brevi
in sanctas evaserunt, cum spe canonizationis, si sic in finem usque
perseveraverint, ostendaturque ipsis non defuturam ad hoc nostrorum apud
pontificem auctoritatem.
XI. Imprimendum ipsis hoc firmiter, si conscientiæ perfecta quiete frui
velint, omnino sine murmuratione, tædio, aut ulla renitentia interiori,
sequendam esse tam in temporalibus quam in spiritualibus confessarii
directionem, tamquam à Deo peculiariter destinati.
XII. Instruendæ etiam per occasionem, gratius esse si personis
ecclesiasticis maxime religiosis spectatæ et exemplaris vitæ eleemosynas
suas dent, non nisi conscio tum et approbante confessario.
XIII. Cavebunt diligentissime confessarii, ne quocumque prætextu
hujusmodi viduæ illorum pœnitentes alios religiosos invisant, aut
familiaritatem cum illis ineant, quod ut impediant, conabuntur suo
tempore deprædicare societatem tamquam ordinem superlativum præ cæteris,
et utilissimum in ecclesia, majoris auctoritatis apud pontificem et
principes omnes, perfectissimum in se, quia dimittit noxios et inidoneos,
adeoque sine spuma et fecibus vivit, quibus scatent monachi, plerumque
indocti, bardi, segnes, salutis suæ incurii, ventricolæ, &c.
XIV. Proponant confessarii et suadeant illis ordinarias pensiones, et
tributa, quibus subleventur annuatim collegiorum et domorum professarum
debita, præcipue domus professæ Romanæ, nec immemores sint ornamentorum
templi, ceræ, vini, &c. ad celebrationem missæ sacrificii necessariorum.
XV. Quod si in vita sua vidua ex pleno bona sua societati non
inscripserit, proponatur illi per occasionem, et præsertim ingruente
gravi morbo aut periculo vitæ, egestas, novitas et multitudo plurimorum
collegiorum nondum fundatorum, inducanturque suaviter et fortiter ad
sumtus faciendos, quibus æternam gloriam sunt fundaturæ.
XVI. Idem faciendum cum principibus, et benefactoribus aliis;
persuadendum, inquam, ea quæ perpetua sunt in hoc mundo et in altero
æternam illis gloriam à Deo paritura; quod si hinc inde aliqui malevoli
allegent exemplum Christi, qui non habeat ubi caput reclinaret, velintque
socios Jesu similiter esse pauperrimos, ostendatur et serio imprimatur
passim omnibus, ecclesiam Dei nunc mutatam et monarchiam factam, quæ
auctoritate et potentia magna tueri se debet, contra potentissimos
inimicos, et esse lapidem illum parvum excisum qui crevit in montem
maximum, prædictum per prophetam.
XVII. Istis quæ addictæ sunt eleemosynis et ornatui templorum, ostendatur
crebro, summam perfectionem in eo consistere, quod terrenarum rerum amore
esse exuentes, ipsum Christum ejusque socios earum possessores faciant.
XVIII. Sed quia minus semper sperandum à viduis quæ liberos suos ad
sæculum dirigunt, videbimus.
CHAP. VII.
_How widows are to be retained; and how to dispose of the goods
which they may leave._
I. Let them be urged constantly to go on in their devotion, and
good works, so that no week may pass in which they do not retrench
spontaneously some of their superfluities, for the honor of Christ, the
blessed Virgin, or their patron saint; which let them give to the poor,
or devote to the decoration of temples, till they are divested of the
most of these treasures, like the first fruits of Egypt.
II. But if besides their common affection, they show a liberality to this
society, and continue stedfast; let them become partakers of all the
merits of the society, by the special indulgence of the provincial, or
even of the general, if they be eminent persons.
III. If they have taken a vow of chastity, let them renew it, according
to our custom, twice a year; innocent recreation being conceded to them,
on that day with our members.
IV. Let them be frequently visited, entertained and amused with agreeable
conversations and stories, spiritual and facetious, according to each
one’s humor and inclination.
V. Let them not be too rigidly treated in confession, lest they become
too morose; except where the hope be lost of regaining the favor of those
enticed from us, in which case great discretion is to be exercised on
account of the characteristic inconstancy of women.
VI. Let them be carefully kept from the visitations and festivals of
other churches, especially those of the religious orders; and let it be
impressed upon them that all the indulgences of other orders are abundant
in our society.
VII. If any mourning-dress be required by them, let it be of a becoming
elegance, having an air at once religious and fashionable, lest they
think themselves governed entirely by their spiritual guide; and if
there should not be any danger of inconstancy, and they should be found
faithful and liberal towards the society, let what they may require for
sensuality be granted them moderately, scandal being avoided.
VIII. Let other ladies who are young and respectable, and descended from
rich and noble parents, be placed with widows, that they by degrees
become accustomed to our direction and manner of living: over these let
some female preside, elected and appointed for this purpose, by the
confessor of the whole family; let them be subject to the decisions
and other established rules of the society, and let those who will not
accommodate themselves to them, be sent to their parents or others, by
whom they were brought to us; and let them be described as perverse and
of an ungovernable disposition, &c.
IX. Nor should less care be taken of their health and amusements than
of their safety; wherefore if any complain of indisposition, at once
let all fasting, the use of the hair-shirt, and of bodily penances, be
forbidden; nor let them be permitted to go even to church, but secretly
and cautiously let them be administered to at home; let their visits
to gardens and colleges, provided they be secret, pass unnoticed; and
let their intercourse and private amusements, with those whom they most
delight in, be connived at.
X. To obtain such a disposal of the revenues which any widow may have as
will be favorable to the society, let the perfection of the state of holy
men, be exhibited, who having left the world, renounced their parents
and possessions, with great resignation and cheerfulness of mind, have
served God. And for this end let what is contained in the constitution
and rules of the society, about this kind of renunciation and self-denial
of all things, be explained in order. Let other examples be adduced of
widows who thus in a short time have been sanctified, and obtained hope
of canonization, if they should thus persevere to the end; and let it be
shown to them that for this object our influence with the pope shall not
be wanting.
XI. Let this be firmly impressed upon them, that if their consciences
would enjoy perfect tranquility, the direction of the confessor, as well
in temporal as in spiritual things, is to be as implicitly followed,
without murmuring, reluctance or any inward _reservation_, as if
particularly ordained by God himself.
XII. They are also to be properly instructed that even if they should
give alms to ecclesiastics, or what is better, to the professed, and even
those of respectable and exemplary lives, still they are not acceptable
if given without the knowledge and approbation of the confessor.
XIII. Let the confessors most diligently take care that such widows as
are their penitents should, under no pretext, visit persons of other
religious orders, or enter into any familiarity with them; to prevent
which they should endeavor at the proper time to exhibit the society
as an order superior to all others, and most useful in the church; of
greater authority with the pope, and all rulers; most perfect in itself,
because it dismisses the hurtful and unfit, and so lives without the scum
and dregs with which the monastic orders are infected, who mostly are
ignorant, stupid, slothful, careless about their salvation, gormandisers,
&c.
XIV. Let the confessors propose to them, and persuade them to give
pensions and contributions, with which the ordinary yearly expenses of
colleges and houses of the professed, especially that at Rome, may be
discharged; neither should they be forgetful of the ornaments of the
temple, and of wax-tapers, wine, &c., necessary for the celebration of
the sacrifice of mass.
XV. But if any widow in her life should not have given to the society
her whole estate, let a proper occasion be taken, and especially when
she is laboring under severe indisposition and her life is in danger, to
represent to her the indigence, recent foundation, and multitude of our
colleges not yet endowed, and let her be encouraged to undertake those
expenses as the foundation of her own eternal glory.
XVI. The same is to be done with rulers and other benefactors; for they
are to be persuaded to say that these are the acts which are memorable in
this world, and prepare eternal glory from God, for them in another; but
if any malevolent persons should allege the example of Christ, who had
not where he might lay his head, and wish the companions of Jesus to be
also very poor, let it be shown and seriously impressed upon all, every
where, that THE CHURCH OF GOD IS NOW CHANGED, AND MADE A MONARCHY, which
ought to defend itself with great authority and power against the most
powerful enemies, and that it is that little stone hewn out of a _rock_
which increases to a very great mountain, as predicted by the prophets.
XVII. To those who are inclined to alms-giving, and to the adorning of
churches, let it be shown that therein consists the greatest perfection;
because extricating themselves from the love of worldly things they may
make Christ himself and his companions possessors of them.
XVIII. But because we always expect less from widows who educate their
children for the world, we will see.
CAP. VIII.
_Quomodo faciendum, ut filii et filiæ viduarum religiosum aut
devotarium statum amplectantur._
I. Sicut matribus fortiter, sic nostris suaviter in hac materia est
agendum: matres, nimirum, instruendæ ut proli suæ reprehensionibus,
castigationibus, &c. molestæ sint à teneris dum provectiores præsertim
filiæ fuerint, muliebrem ornatum et clenodias illis negent; optando sæpe
et Deum rogando ut ad statum ecclesiasticum adspirent, et pollicendo
insignem dotem si moniales esse voluerint; exponant sæpe difficultates
quæ in matrimonio sunt omnibus communes, et si quas ipsæmet in
particulari expertæ sint, dolendo quod cælibatum suo tempore matrimonio
non prætulerint; denique sic agant continuo, ut filiæ præsertim, tædio
vitæ apud matrem tali modo transigendæ, de statu religioso cogitent.
II. Cum filiis conversentur nostri familiariter, si quidem ad societatem
nostram apti visi fuerint, introducantur opportune in collegium, et
ostendantur, explicenturque illis ea, quæ quoquo modo grata futura, et
ad societatem amplectendam invitatura credentur, ut sunt horti, vineæ,
domus rurales, et prædia, ubi nostri sese recreant; narretur illis
itineratio ad diversa regna, communicatio cum principibus mundi, et
quæcumque juvenilem ætatem oblectant, in refectorio et cubiculis exterior
mundities, blanda conversatio inter nostros, regulæ nostræ facilitas,
cui tamen compromissa est gloria Dei, ordinis denique nostri super alios
præ-eminentia, et colloquia simul faceta cum piis commisceantur.
III. Moneantur quasi ex revelatione interdum ad religionem in genere;
deinde caute insinuetur perfectio et commoditas nostræ præ cæteris,
exponanturque tum in publicis exhortationibus, tum in privatis
colloquiis, quam sit grave contra vocationem divinam calcitrare:
tandemque inducantur ad facienda exercitia spiritualia, ut de statu vitæ
deligendo concludant.
IV. Procurent nostri ut hujusmodi adolescentes instructores habeant
societati addictos, qui continuo invigilent et hortentur; si autem
reluctentur, subtrahantur hinc inde aliqua, ut tædio vitæ afficiantur.
Exponat mater difficultates familiæ. Tandem, si non ita commode fieri
possit, ut sua sponte animum ad societatem adjiciant, mittantur titulo
studiorum ad remota societatis gymnasia, et ex parte matris pauca
submittantur solatia, ex parte vero societatis adhibeantur lenocinia, ut
affectum in nostros transferant.
CHAP. VIII.
_What must be done that the sons and daughters of widows may
embrace a religious or devoted life._
I. As the mothers are to act firmly, so we must act mildly in this
matter: let the mothers be certainly instructed that by reproofs,
chastisements, &c., they may be severe to their children from infancy,
and when the daughters especially become more advanced, let them deny
them female ornaments and dress; and by often desiring and praying God
to incline them to the ecclesiastical state, and by promising some
remarkable gift if they would become _nuns_: let them often explain the
difficulties which are common to all in matrimony, and those which they
themselves have particularly experienced, by lamenting that they had not
preferred a single life to marriage; and finally let them continually so
act that their daughters especially, disgusted with the tedium of a life
passed in such a manner with their mothers, might think of a religious
state.
II. Let our members converse familiarly with their sons, or if any should
appear adapted for our society, let them be introduced occasionally into
the college, and let those things be shown and explained to them which
may be in any manner pleasant; and that the invitations to join our
society may be accepted, let such things as gardens, vineyards, country
seats, and estates, where we amuse ourselves, be shown them; let our
travels to different kingdoms, our intercourse with the rulers of the
world, and whatsoever may delight young persons be told them; let them
see the external neatness of our refectories and bed-rooms; the cheerful
intercourse among ourselves, the ease of our government to which is yet
promised the glory of God; and finally the pre-eminence of our order
above all others, and let our conversations mix what is pleasant with
what is grave.
III. Let them be exhorted sometimes, as if by inspiration, to religion in
general; and then let the perfection and excellence of our society be
cautiously insinuated; let them also know, both in public exhortations
and private conversations, how great a sin it is to spurn the divine
call; and finally let them be persuaded to perform such spiritual
exercises as will strengthen their preference for such a life.
IV. We should take care to have instructors attached to our society,
who may constantly watch and exhort such youth; but if they should be
reluctant abridge their privileges somewhat now and then, that they by
such monotony of life may be made submissive. Let the mother explain
the difficulties of the family. At last if it cannot thus be properly
affected, that of their own choice they would move their minds to the
society, let them be sent under the pretext of their studies to remote
institutions of the society; and while on the part of the mother few
comforts are allowed to be administered, on the part of the society let
strong allurements be shown that their affections may be transferred to
us.
CAP. IX.
_De reditibus collegiorum augendis._
I. Nemo quantum fieri poterit ad ultimam professionem admittatur,
quamdiu successiones aliquas expectet, nisi fratrem se juniorem habeat
in societate, vel ob alias graves causas; in omnibus tamen et ante omnia
consulendum est amplificationi societatis, secundum fines superioribus
notos; qui in hoc saltem conspirent, ut ecclesia ad majorem gloriam
Dei pristino nitori restituatur, et totius cleri non nisi unus sit
spiritus; quocirca frequenter monendum est et passim promulgandum,
societatem partim constare ex professis adeo mendicis, ut præter
largitiones quotidianos fidelium, careant omnibus, partim etiam aliis
patribus pauperibus quidem, sed qui possident bona stabilia, ne sint
in gravamen populi pro studiis ac functionibus suis, ut sunt cæteri
mendicantes; ideoque serio inculcent confessarii principum, magnatum,
viduarum, et aliorum (à quibus societas multum sperare potest) ea quæ
hanc materiam concernunt, ut dum spiritualia illis conferunt et divina,
ad minimum terrena et temporalia ab illis recipiant, neque vix unquam
omittant occasiones recipiendi cum offertur, si autem promissum fuerit et
differatur, prudenter in memoriam revocetur, quantum tamen fieri potest
omnem affectum erga divitias dissimulando; quod si quis ex confessariis
sive magnatum sive aliorum, ad hæc in praxin redigenda minus industrius
videatur, tempori et caute amoveatur; alio in locum ejus suffecto: et
si necessarium sit ad majorem pœnitentium satisfactionem, ad remotiora
collegia relegetur dicendo societatem plurimum illius persona ac talentis
ibidem indigere; nuper enim audivimus juvenes viduas immatura morte
præventas, negligentia nostrorum suppellectilem valde pretiosam, templis
societatis dicatam non legasse, eo quod tempestive acceptata non esset;
neque est ad similia acceptanda tempus, sed bona pœnitentium voluntas
spectanda est.
II. Prælati, canonici, pastores, aliique opulenti ecclesiastici
industriis variis ad exercitia spiritualia sunt alliciendi, et paulatim
sic mediante affectu erga res spirituales societati conciliandi, deinde
eorum liberalitas paulatim prognosticando.
III. Non negligant confessarii interrogare pænitentes suos (opportune
tamen) de nomine, familia, affinibus, parentibus, amicis, bonis, dein
spectare successiones illorum, statum, intentionem ac resolutionem, quam
si nondum sumpserint societati favorabilem, oportebit persuadere; quod
si spes alicujus utilitatis prima fronte affulgeat, quia non expedit de
omnibus simul interrogare, jubeantur sive titulo majoris elucidationis
conscientiæ, sive pænitentiæ medicinalis, hebdomadatim confiteri, et
honeste ab eodem confessario invitentur, ut quod unavice inquirere
non potuit, pluribus inquirat; quod si successerit ex voto, si fæmina
fuerit, ad persistendum, in frequenti confessione et visitatione, si vir
ad sodalitatem frequentandam, et familiaritatem nostrorum, quoquo modo
inducatur.
IV. Quæ de viduis dicta sunt, eadem agenda circa mercatores, cives
opulentos, et conjugatos prole carentes, intelligantur; à quibus non raro
societas ex asse hæreditatem acquiret, si prudenter hæ praxes executioni
mandentur. Potissimum autem hæc observanda erunt, circa opulentas
devotarias nostros frequentantes, quæ si non sint parentibus valde
nobilibus natæ, tantum ad summum poterit vulgus obmurmurare.