Of the ordinances made by the vicar-general for the foundation of
the new province
[The vicar-general, with the advice of the eldest, most learned,
and most devout of the religious, made ordinances for the foundation
of the new province. He followed the customs of the provinces of
Mexico and Guatemala. The name given to the province was that of
"the Most Holy Rosary of Mary the Mother of God, ever virgin." In the
preamble, the father vicar-general declares that they who were to guide
others in the way of perfection should first travel it themselves,
doing virtuous works that they might teach others. He fortified his
assertion by quoting Scripture and several fathers.
In the first place, the rules of the order are to be followed not
only in essential but in accidental matters, the relaxation of rigor
in the latter having caused some to say that the true religious life
[30] was at an end. Hence the members of the province were to follow
the constitutions with literal exactness--fasting, dressing in woolen
garments, eating fish, being humbly clad, maintaining silence, and
going on foot. This general statement includes everything, but some
things are specially insisted upon.
Uniformity is to be maintained in everything--in dress, religious
ceremonies, and the celebration of mass; in churches, opinions,
and doctrines. The hours are to be kept, however small the number of
religious may be, prayers being said at midnight and at every other
time enjoined. For every deceased religious all the priests shall
say each six masses, applied in olidum; and those who are not priests
shall say the psalms and double rosaries.
In our conversation we shall avoid secular matters as much as
possible, and speak of the things of God. We shall read the fathers,
ecclesiastical histories, and comments on the Scripture, the superior
putting questions and a religious answering. In entering a diocese
we shall call upon the bishop, receive his blessing, and follow his
counsel as to our preaching. Our obedience is to be perfect. Secular
visits are not to be made except for charity, and those under
direction of the superior. If any go to ask alms, it must be by
appointment of the superiors. Poverty is to be maintained. Temporal
responsibilities are to rest solely on the superiors. Convents are
to be modest. Books and other things acquired by the friars are to
belong to the congregation. Individual religious houses are to have
no separate property; but all things in them or possessed by them are
to be subject to the disposition of the provincial, except in so far
as license to hold separate property is obtained from the general of
the order. In such case a religious house shall have no share in the
property of the province as a whole. No religious shall have anything
laid up or shall receive anything, except in the name of the community;
nor shall any be granted an exclusive right to use books.
Two hours a day are appointed for mental prayer and divine
contemplation, which must never be omitted, either in convent or on
journeys; and every day except Sundays, feast-days, or solemn octaves,
every religious shall take a discipline (i.e., scourge himself) with
his own hands. Though mattresses are allowed by the constitutions this
privilege is renounced, and we are to content ourselves with a board
or a poor platform and a bed of skins, except in case of sickness
or for guests. On every day when there is no office of our Lady,
the psalms and antiphons corresponding to the letters of her most
holy name are to be recited. [31]
These ordinances are dated from the convent of Sancto Domingo at
Mexico, December 17, 1586. Twenty religious vowed to keep them,
and to go on to the newly-founded province.]