CHAPTER IV: PRAYER

 

• In keeping with section 12 of the Rule:

 

12a. Prayer is the core of growth in a life with God. Penitents must be committed to a life of prayer as outlined in this Rule. More prayer than what is listed, including daily mental prayer, meditation, and contemplation, is encouraged. 

 

12b. One must adjust one's schedule to make time to pray. Extraneous activities that do not foster prayer life should be dropped. However, prayer must not interfere with daily duties such as caring for family members, keeping house, or earning a living. Penitents may have to pray during the night, while driving, while doing house or yard work, and so on. Playing tapes of spiritual conferences or sacred music and hymns while working or driving may help. A pocket sized New Testament or Psalter may be carried so that the penitent can seize a few moments of prayer and meditation while waiting in line, waiting on hold on the phone, and so on. 

 

12c. While the Liturgy of the Hours is the preferred method of prayer, substitution of the rote prayers (Option Four below) is permissible especially for those times when it is impossible to sit down with a breviary. The penitent should, however, not rely totally on these other prayers as a substitute for the Liturgy of the Hours. 

 

12d. There will arise certain days on which a penitent finds it impossible to say all the required prayers in any form. On such days, the penitent is to raise his or her mind to God at the required prayer times and have the intention to pray even though the opportunity is not available. These days should be rare. If a penitent finds it impossible to pray the hours on most days, he or she must examine his or her life and make proper adjustments so that the prayers can be said. 

 

12e. All should renew the consecration of themselves and the Confraternity to Our Lady. The recommended prayer of consecration of the Confraternity, The Marian Consecration Prayer, is in Appendix B of these Constitutions.

 

12f. All are to pray a daily formal prayer (office) of some kind. The preferred method is to use the Liturgy of the Hours (breviary). 

 

 12g. For those who have no breviary, other offices approved by the Church may be substituted. These include the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin or the Office of the Passion. 

 

12h. For those without breviaries or copies of other offices, certain Psalms may be substituted for each of the hours. These are listed in Appendix C of these Constitutions.

 

12i. If a penitent cannot read or has no Bible, breviary, or Office book, the penitent may pray Our Father's, Hail Mary's, and Glory Be's in place of each office as directed below under Option Four.

 

12j. All penitents are to pray daily Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer, preferably using the Liturgy of the Hours. Morning Prayer (Lauds, called Prime in the Primitive Rule) is to be prayed between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. Evening Prayer (Vespers) is to be prayed between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. Night Prayer (Compline) is to be prayed right before retiring for bed. 

 

12k. In addition, for Morning Prayer, all are to add the Apostles' Creed and Psalms 51 ("Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love," etc.) and 54 ("Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might," etc.) and 119 ("Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord") up to verse 32. If a penitent cannot read, he or she should endeavor to memorize the psalms. If this is not possible, three additional Our Fathers may be said. 

 

12l. For Night Prayer, right before retiring for bed, all are to add Psalm 51 and the Apostles' Creed. If the penitent cannot read Psalm 51, an Our Father may be substituted. 

 

12m. The Glory Be to the Father is to be prayed after each psalm.

 

12n. In addition, penitents should, if possible, spend a minimum of fifteen minutes daily in meditative or contemplative prayer.

​

​12o. If possible when penitents are together, they shall pray the CFP prayers and psalms and the Divine Office together in community at the appropriate times.  

 

12o. To complete the daily prayer schedule, the penitent must then choose, with the guidance of a spiritual director, one of the following five options:

 

OPTION ONE: PRAY THE COMPLETE LITURGY OF THE HOURS AS PRESCRIBED IN THE CURRENT BREVIARY

 

The Office of Readings (formerly called Matins) was once said around midnight but may now be prayed at any time during the day. The little hours of Terce (Midmorning Prayer-about 9 a.m.), Sext (Midday Prayer-about noon), and None (Midafternoon Prayer-about 3 p.m.) are prayed at approximately the hours described. Penitents may combine some of these prayers and say them at alternate hours if their personal schedules require it. For example, the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer may both be said at dawn if need requires. Midmorning, Midday, and Midafternoon Prayer may be combined at noon and Evening Prayer and Night Prayer combined prior to bedtime. Clerics are to recite the Hours after the manner of the clergy. 

 

OPTION TWO: PRAY A FIFTEEN DECADE ROSARY.[1]

 

If possible the fifteen decades should be broken up so that the Rosary is prayed, in part, throughout the day to approximately correspond to the times of the minor hours.

 

 OPTION THREE: PRAY AN HOUR OF MENTAL PRAYER DAILY.

 

This may be broken up into two 30 minute segments or four 15 minute segments. An ideal place to pray would be before the Blessed Sacrament.

 

OPTION FOUR: PRAY OUR FATHER'S

 

Those who do not know how to read, who have no Bible or breviary, or who cannot read on a particular day, may say, for the Office of Readings, twelve Our Father's, twelve Hail Mary's, and twelve Glory Be's; for every other one of the hours, seven Our Father's, seven Hail Mary's, and seven Glory Be's. 

 

OPTION FIVE: OTHER SUBSTITUTIONS

 

Those parenting small children or otherwise suffering continuous distractions or time constraints may, with the permission of their spiritual directors, substitute short pious ejaculations for the minor hours. These may be as simple as mentally lifting one's mind to God. Penitents should, however, endeavor to pray Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer unless dispensed from doing so by their spiritual directors. At the minimum, those who choose Option Five must review their prayer schedule at the first meeting of each year with their spiritual directors so that adjustments may be made.

 

 

• In keeping with section 13 of the Rule:

 

13a. While the sick do not have to say an office, they may do so all or part of the time.

 

• In keeping with section 14 of the Rule:

 

14a. Since attendance at public recitation of Matins (the Office of Readings) is inaccessible to most penitents, the penitent should attend daily Mass unless there is an intervening conflict of obligations. Parenting small children, health concerns, getting children off to school, employment schedules, and so on constitute some of these conflicting obligations. If Mass attendance is impossible or is unwise, the penitent should prayerfully recite one decade of the Rosary at some time during the day. 

 

14b. All are to go to daily Mass in Advent and Lent unless serious inconvenience for persons, business, employment, or duties should threaten. Again, a decade of the Rosary is to be said if Mass is not attended. 

 

14c. At Mass, signs of devotion and reverence before the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist should follow the parish priest's or the bishop's directives. Penitents' behavior and clothing should avoid drawing attention away from Christ's Presence in the Eucharist and from the words and ceremonies attendant to its celebration.

 

CHAPTER V: THE SACRAMENTS, OTHER MATTERS 

 

• In keeping with section 15 of the Rule:

 

15a. Penitents should consider confessing their sins twice monthly unless an undue burden is involved with this frequency or unless advised by the spiritual director to confess at another time interval. At a minimum, penitents are to confess monthly and to receive the Eucharist weekly provided the penitent is in the state of grace.

 

15b. All are to be reconciled in every way possible and to tithe ten percent of their income to their parish, the Catholic Church, or to charitable organizations whose goals are in keeping with the Church hierarchy and Magisterium. The tithe must not be given to any organization that is working in opposition to the Church. If a ten percent tithe seems too high, the penitent should consult the spiritual director or a spiritual assistant of the Confraternity, about the appropriate amount of the tithe and then should follow the advice given. Since the penitent is to financially support their home Chapter or Circle of the Confraternity of Penitents and the work of the international Confraternity, a portion of one's tithe may go to this cause. 

 

• In keeping with section 16 of this Rule:

 

16a. They are not to take up or bear lethal weapons that would be used against other human beings with the exception of participation in a just war with the permission of the penitent's spiritual director, or as part of one's legitimate employment (police officers, for example). If a penitent is living in a dangerous environment in which a weapon may be necessary for self-defense, a spiritual director must approve the penitent's possession of any weapon. 

 

16b. Hunting and fishing to provide meat for one's family is permitted. One is also permitted to kill animal, bird, or insect pests that may be destroying one's food supply or threatening one's life or goods.

 

• In keeping with section 17 of this Rule:

 

17a. All are to refrain from formal oaths except where required by law.

 

• In keeping with section 18 of this Rule:

 

18a. They are not to take oaths in ordinary conversations. 

 

18b. They are to watch their speech and, should they sin by speaking, they are to say, by evening of that same day, three Our Father's. 

 

18c. Let each member teach his or her household to love and serve God. 

 

18d. Let the members lovingly serve others outside their household by participating, as much as obligations, time, finances, and health permit, in the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, following the guidance of God and their spiritual director. Let them serve all with the charity and mercy of Christ. The spiritual and corporal works of mercy are listed in Appendix D of these Constitutions. 

 

CHAPTER VI: SPECIAL MASS AND MEETING EACH MONTH

 

• In keeping with section 19 of this Rule:

 

19a. Penitents living in proximity to each other should stay in touch with one another and ideally form a Chapter or Circle to assist each other in this way of life, subject to the Confraternity's guidelines on forming a Chapter or Circle. 

 

19b. No Chapter or Circle may be formed without a spiritual assistant (Visitor). The spiritual assistant must be a priest, deacon, or male or female religious who upholds all the teachings of the Catholic Church and who fully supports the penitents in living this Rule of Life. 

 

19c. Should a Chapter or Circle lose its spiritual assistant, it must obtain permission from the Confraternity Visitor to continue meeting while a search is made for a replacement. In the meantime, the Confraternity shall assign a temporary spiritual assistant to the group. Permission to continue meeting without a permanent spiritual assistant must be renewed annually. 

 

19d. Chapters and Circles that are temporarily without spiritual assistants may wish to use audio or video tapes to provide formation for their members until a new spiritual assistant is acquired. 

 

19e. All members of this Confraternity are to gather for their monthly Chapter or Circle meeting at a time the local ministers see fit. If possible, they should attend Mass as part of this meeting. 

 

19f. If there is no local Chapter or Circle, a member is permitted to attend an internet Chapter of the CFP, be part of a by-mail Chapter of the CFP, or live this Rule on his or her own under a competent spiritual director. All such members should be in regular contact with the Confraternity by letter, email, or phone call and should obey the spiritual assistant (Visitor) of the Confraternity in all matters that concern the Visitor as stated in the Rule.

 

• In keeping with section 20 of this Rule:

 

20a. Every member shall contribute generously to the treasury of their Chapter or Circle or of the Confraternity. 

 

20b. There are fixed expenses affiliated with running the Confraternity that are part of every member's responsibility and apostolate. These include mail and newsletter costs, formation materials, miscellaneous printing, phone expenses, and the cost of maintaining the Web page. Monies will be used to cover these expenses and occasionally to provide alms for needy members, as approved by the minister and the council, who may be consulted to determine a fitting donation as well. 

 

20c. A report of how this money is being utilized may be requested at any time by any member. 

 

20d. If a Chapter or Circle in the Confraternity requests a visit from the Visitor or someone else, they should reimburse the expenses of the visit. 

 

20e. In the United States of America, all monies donated to the Confraternity of Penitents are tax deductible. The CFP is a bona fide nonprofit, tax exempt organization. 

 

• In keeping with section 21 of this Rule:

 

21a. At Mass the penitents should pay particular respectful attention to the Gospel, the homily or sermon, the Consecration of the Eucharist, and its worthy reception. 

 

21b. In their Chapter or Circle meetings they are to listen attentively and to speak charitably. 

 

21c. All members should have the opportunity to faith share about their spiritual experiences and concerns at each meeting. 

 

21d. It is suggested that all penitents make an annual retreat or hermitage experience, unless so exempted by a spiritual director or Chapter minister. 

 

CHAPTER VII: VISITING THE SICK, BURYING THE DEAD

 

• In keeping with section 22 of the Rule:

 

22a. When a Chapter or Circle member falls ill, fellow penitents should visit the person or else send a card or make a phone call to the ailing party, exhorting the ill penitent to penance (personal, ongoing conversion). Weekly contact is encouraged. 

 

22b. If penitents are able to provide help to ill members, they should lovingly do so.

 

• In keeping with section 23 of the Rule:

 

23a. If a Chapter or Circle member should die, those surviving members should gather for the funeral if work and family commitments allow. They are not to leave until Mass is celebrated and the body consigned to burial. 

 

23b. Within eight days of the demise, each member shall say for the soul of the deceased: a Mass, if a priest, fifty Psalms other wise.[2] If a member cannot read the Psalter, he or she may say fifty Our Father's with the words "May the souls of the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace" following each Our Father.

 

23c. Penitents may, if they wish, add the ejaculation, "Lord, have mercy on ________'s soul" after praying each psalm, or the Glory be.

 

 

• In keeping with section 24 of the Rule:

 

24a. In addition, every year, for the welfare of the brothers and sisters living and dead, each priest must say three Masses and the other Chapter or Circle members are to recite the entire Psalter from the Bible. The Psalter may be recited all at once, in sections throughout the year, or by praying one psalm or section of psalm daily. 

 

24b. Those who cannot read shall say one hundred Our Father's with the words "May the souls of the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace" after each Our Father. These may be said all at once or throughout the year.

 

• In keeping with section 25 of the Rule:

 

25a. All are to make their last will and testament within three months of their pledging to live the Rule, lest anyone of them die before creating a valid will.

 

• In keeping with section 26 of the Rule:

 

26a. All are to make peace with members of the Confraternity and all others, seeking, if necessary, the consultation of the Church. 

 

26b. The penitent must daily pray for all those who refuse to make peace with the penitent and must forgive such people all wrongs done to the penitent. 

 

26c. The brothers and sisters are always to take the first steps toward reconciliation. Under no circumstances are penitents to hold grudges or wish ill to anyone.

 

• In keeping with section 27 of the Rule:

 

27a. If contrary to their rights and privileges, trouble is made for the brothers and sisters by those in civil authority of the places where they live, the ministers of the place shall do what they shall find expedient on the advice of their Chapter or Circle's spiritual assistant, their spiritual director, or their parish priest.

 

• In keeping with section 28 of the Rule:

 

28a. Let each member accept and faithfully exercise the ministry of other offices imposed on him or her, although anyone may retire from office after a year. 

 

28b. The penitent should follow the consensus of the electing group in determining whether or not to accept an office. If nominated for a position it is prudent to consider if the nomination be the will of God. This holds true for the election as well. 

 

28c. All nominations and elections must be conducted in absolute charity and honesty. Secret ballot elections are the proper way to elect someone from among those nominated. The person getting the most votes is the one elected. Terms of office are one year. 

 

28d. If a penitent who is nominated for, or elected to, office feels stress over this service, the penitent should prayerfully examine the causes of this stress and discuss these with a spiritual director, the Chapter or Circle minister, and the Chapter or Circle's spiritual assistant. 

 

28e. In elections, only life pledged members shall be eligible to nominate, vote and hold office. If an insufficient number of capable members are life pledged, officers shall be appointed by the Confraternity or chosen by and from the members in formation and/or pledged for a year.

 

 

• In keeping with section 29 of the Rule:

 

29a. When others wish to enter this Confraternity, the ministers shall carefully inquire into their standing and occupation and should question them thoroughly to ascertain their adherence to the Church's teaching regarding faith, Church authority, and morals. Only those who hold to the views of the Church's Magisterium, or who change their views to adopt those of the Church, shall be considered for admission to the Confraternity.

 

29b. Moreover, the ministers shall explain to all inquirers the obligations of life under the Rule, especially that of restoring what belongs to others. And if those inquiring are content with that, let them begin to follow the rules of formation as set up by this Confraternity. 

 

29c. Those living this life must at once begin to pay up their debts, are to reconcile with their neighbors, and begin to tithe if they have not been doing so.

 

• In keeping with section 30 of the Rule:

 

30a. After these particulars are complied with and the year of postulancy and three years of novice formation have elapsed, if those novices seem suitable to the ministers of their Chapter or Circles, let them be received on this condition--     ` that they pledge that they will observe everything here written, or to be written or changed on the advice of the ruling body of the Confraternity, unless on occasion there be a valid dispensation by the ministers or Visitors or their own personal spiritual directors; and that they will, when called upon by the ministers, render satisfaction as the Visitor shall ordain if they have done anything contrary to this condition. 

 

30b. Penitents may pledge to live the Rule for life or for a year. Yearly pledges are to be renewed annually and may be changed at any time to a lifetime pledge. 

 

30c. All pledges are to be put in writing then and there and signed by the penitent and also by the minister and the spiritual assistant. Nobody is to be received otherwise.

 

• In keeping with section 31 of the Rule:

 

31a. A penitent who has pledged to live this Rule must have the consent of his or her spiritual director in order to be released from the pledge. The penitent must also petition, in writing, the spiritual assistant, minister, and Visitor for release and shall give the reasons for the request. The minister and spiritual assistant should thoroughly explain the seriousness of asking for release from this promise to God. They may also question the penitent to see if the Confraternity has failed the penitent in some way.

 

31b. Those who wish to depart from this Confraternity to enter a religious Order should receive not only permission but also the blessing of the entire Confraternity. It is the norm of the Church that individuals should always move towards a greater commitment to Christ and His Church when they leave any lifestyle for another.

 

• In keeping with section 32 of the Rule:

 

32a. No person who does not adhere totally to all that the Catholic Church teaches through its hierarchy and Magisterium, and no person in bad repute for disputing these teachings, shall be admitted. If such persons are under suspicion of this, they may be admitted if otherwise fit, upon being cleared by the bishop.

 

• In keeping with section 33 of the Rule:

 

33a. Those married are not to be received except with the consent of their spouses, provided they are living with said spouse. If separation, annulment, or divorce has occurred, spousal consent is not required.

 

33b. A divorced penitent should seek to reconcile with their spouse, if possible. One can only apply for an annulment if one believes that their marriage is invalid. There could be circumstances in which, for example, a spouse was unjustly abandoned, had to seek civil divorce for reasons of legitimate protection (financial, physical, etc.), and is not able to reconcile with their spouse.

 

• In keeping with section 34 of the Rule:

 

34a. Brothers and sisters ejected from a Chapter or Circle as incorrigible are not to be received in it again except it please the majority of the Chapter or Circle members. 

 

CHAPTER VIII: CORRECTION, DISPENSATION, OFFICERS

 

• In keeping with section 35 of the Rule:

 

35a. The ministers shall report public faults (manifest grave sins) of any members to the Visitor for disciplinary action. And if anyone proves incorrigible, after consultation with the council, they should be denounced to the Visitor, to be expelled by the Visitor from the Confraternity, and thereupon it should be published in the meeting. 

 

35b. If the manifest grave sin also violates civil law, it ought to be also reported to civil authorities.

 

• In keeping with section 36 of the Rule:

 

36a. If anyone learns that scandal is occurring relative to brothers and sisters in any matter, that person shall report it to the Visitor.

 

• In keeping with section 37 of the Rule:

 

37a. The Visitor has the power to dispense all brothers and sisters in any of these points if the Visitor finds it advisable.

 

• In keeping with section 38 of the Rule:

 

38a. When the year has passed, the ministers, with the counsel of the Chapter or Circle, are to elect a minister, associate minister, and a faithful treasurer who is to provide for the needs of the Chapter or Circle and of the brothers and sisters and other poor; and a secretary who, at the command of the ministers, is to publish what is said and done at meetings.

 

• In keeping with section 39 of the Rule:

 

39a. In all the above mentioned points, no one is to be obligated under guilt, but under penalty; yet so if after being admonished twice by the ministers he or she should fail to discharge the penalty imposed or to be imposed on him by the Visitor, he shall be obligated under guilt as contumacious and so expelled from the Chapter or Circle.

 

ADDENDUM

 

Every penitent should have a spiritual director for help in discerning how to grow in the penitential lifestyle and understand the motion of the Holy Spirit. Penitents shall pray for this grace.

 

Spiritually mature priests, deacons, or other male or female religious can serve as spiritual directors, provided they are supportive of all the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and are also supportive of the intentions of the penitent to live the Rule. In their absence, other penitents, who are experienced in the "things of God" can serve as spiritual directors if approved by a spiritual assistant of this Association. 

 

It is expected that most penitents will have a spiritual director by the middle of the first year of novice formation and that they will be meeting with their spiritual directors at least monthly. Without a spiritual director, no penitent is permitted to make a permanent commitment to living this Rule. 

 

Spiritual direction is best done face to face, but spiritual direction via computer, phone, and postal mail is permitted. Spiritual directors serve as advisors not military commanders. A good relationship enables penitent and director to discuss points of disagreement. Generally, once discussion is ended, it is safer for penitents to follow the director's advice, wary of pride in one's own opinions and judgment. However, before the tribunal of Christ, each person will have to take full responsibility for every decision. The virtue of prudence requires that penitents not deviate from a director's advice without prayerful consideration of the entire situation. 

 

 APPENDIX A

 

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER II AND CHAPTER III 

 

CURRENT CHURCH REGULATIONS ON FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

 

Penitents observe all Church prescribed days of fast and abstinence as well as additional days required by the Rule itself. Current Church regulations on fasting and abstinence are these:

 

Fast: The law of fast prescribes that only one full meal a day be taken; but it does not forbid taking some nourishment at two other times during the day. The two smaller meals should be sufficient to maintain strength according to each one's needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including ordinary, homogenized milk and fruit juices, are allowed. Malted milks, milk shakes, and the like are not included in the term "milk." All those from eighteen years of age to the beginning of their sixtieth year are bound by the law of fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

 

Abstinence: The law of abstinence forbids the eating of meat, but not eggs, milk products, nor condiments of any kind, even though made from animal fat. Forbidden are the flesh meat of warm blooded animals and all parts of such animals. This does not include meat juices, broths, soups, lards, gravies, sauces, animal fats, and liquid foods made from meat. Also allowed are fish and all such coldblooded animals such as frogs, shellfish, clams, turtles, oysters, crabs, and lobsters. All those who have completed their fourteenth year are bound to the law of abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday and on all the Friday's of Lent.

 

The substantial observance of the laws of fast and abstinence is a serious obligation. When a proportionately serious reason exists, there is surely no sin in departing from these norms. Thus, one may very well be excused by sickness or any infirmity which requires that one eat meat even on Friday during Lent, by the need to take one's meals in common, by travel when it is not possible to obtain readily permissible foods, by great poverty, etc.

 

(Source: The Pastoral Companion: A Canon Law Handbook for Catholic Ministry, Franciscan Herald Press: Chicago, Illinois, 1995, pp. 292-96).

 

 APPENDIX B

 

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER IV, 12

 

Marian Consecration Prayer 

 

To you do we turn, O Holy Mary, glorious and Ever-Virgin Mother of God, Queen of Angels and of Saints, the "Virgin made Church." To you do we cry, O Handmaid of the Lord, Mother of the Suffering Servant, who made the Lord of Majesty our brother. For through you the most exalted Son of God emptied Himself for love of our love, taking the form of a slave in your womb and dying in destitution on a cross as He gave you to us, O Refuge of Sinners. To you do we fly as we beg you to obtain for us the true spirit of the Gospel.

 

Holy Immaculate Conception, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, taking you into our home, we consecrate and entrust ourselves and our Confraternity totally and forever to your Immaculate Heart. Make us your true sons and daughters and use our Confraternity as an instrument of Christ Our King to convert sinners, to sanctify souls, and to strengthen and renew the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, that God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--may be glorified, praised, and adored by all mankind. Amen.

 

 APPENDIX C

 

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER IV, 12

 

Those who do not have a breviary may use the following substitutions of Psalms for recitation of the Daily Office (Psalms are numbered according to the New American Bible, Catholic edition, and taken from My Daily Psalm Book, arranged by Rev. Joseph Frey, c. 1947 by the Confraternity of the Most Precious Blood. The entire Psalter is recited in a week's time). Since the hour of Prime has been suppressed, those Psalms listed for Prime may be used as focal points for the period of meditation and mental prayer:

 

 Sunday: Office of Readings1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11; Morning Prayer 93, 100, 63, Daniel 3: 57-88, 148; Prime 118, 119 v. 1-32; Midmorning Prayer 119 v. 33-80; Midday Prayer 119 v. 81-128; Midafternoon Prayer 119 v.129-176; Evening Prayer 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115; Night Prayer 4, 91, 134

 

Monday: Office of Readings 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 30; Morning Prayer 47, 5, 29, Canticle of David ("Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. Thine, O Lord, are grandeur and power and splendor and glory and majesty. For all that is in heaven and on earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art the ruler who is exalted above all. Wealth and honor are from thee, and by thy power thou rulest all things. And in thy hand are strength and power, and to thy hand it belongs to make everything great and strong. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee and we praise thy glorious name."), 117; Prime 24, 19; Midmorning Prayer 27, 28; Midday Prayer 31; Midafternoon Prayer 32, 33; Evening Prayer 116, 120, 121, 122; Night Prayer 6, 7

 

Tuesday: Office of Readings 35, 37, 38, 39; Morning Prayer 96, 43, 67, Tobit 13 v. 1-10, 135; Prime 25; Midmorning Prayer 40; Midday Prayer 41, 42; Midafternoon Prayer 44; Evening Prayer 123, 124, 125, 126, 127; Night Prayer 12, 13, 16 

 

Wednesday: Office of Readings 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51; Morning Prayer 97, 65, 101, Judith 16 v. 13-17, 146; Prime 26, 52, 53; Midmorning Prayer 54, 55; Midday Prayer 56, 57, 58; Midafternoon Prayer 59, 60; Evening Prayer 128, 129, 130, 131, 132; Night Prayer 34, 61 

 

Thursday: Office of Readings 62, 66, 68, 69; Morning Prayer 98, 90, 36, Jeremiah 31, v. 10-14, 147; Prime 23, 72; Midmorning Prayer 73; Midday Prayer 74; Midafternoon Prayer 75, 76; Evening Prayer 133, 136, 137, 138; Night Prayer 70, 71 

 

Friday: Office of Readings 78, 79, 81, 83; Morning Prayer 99, 143, 85; Prime: Canticle of Isaiah: Isaiah 45: 15-26, Psalm 147 v. 12-20, 22; Midmorning Prayer 80, 82; Midday Prayer 84, 87; Midafternoon Prayer 89; Evening Prayer 139, 140, 141, 142; Night Prayer 77, 86 

 

Saturday Office of Readings 105, 106, 107; Morning Prayer 149, 92, 64, Ecclesiasticus 36 v. 1-16; 150; Prime 94, 108; Midmorning Prayer 102; Midday Prayer 104; Midafternoon Prayer 109; Evening Prayer 144, 145; Night Prayer 88, 103, 95, Canticle of Mary: Luke 1 v. 46-55, Canticle of Zachary: Luke 1 v. 68-79, Canticle of Simeon: Luke 2, 29-32

 

APPENDIX D

 

 APPENDIX TO CHAPTER V, 18d 

 

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are:

 

• Instruct the ignorant

• Advise the doubtful

• Correct sinners

• Be patient with those in error or who do wrong

• Forgive offenses

• Comfort the afflicted

• Contemplate creation

• Pray for the living and the dead.

​

The Corporal Works of Mercy are:

 

• Feed the hungry

• Give drink to the thirsty

• Clothe the naked

• Shelter the homeless

• Visit the sick and imprisoned

• Ransom the captive

• Care for creation

• Bury the dead.

 

In keeping with the conclusion of the Rule:

 

Here end the Constitutions of the Continent Confraternity of Penitents, that is those who give up things in fulfillment of the Gospels of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

APPENDIX E

 

Expanded Historical Overview

 

1994, July: Our human "founder" Madeline Pecora Nugent, inspired by the Holy Spirit, begins, with the approval of her spiritual director Dom Julian Stead, OSB, to "live the Rule of 1221."

 

1995: Upon the advice of Father Pio Mandato, FPO, the living of the Rule is made known to a Rhode Island, USA, Secular Franciscan fraternity. Six members express interest in living the Rule of 1221 in addition to their Third Order Franciscan Rule. They name the group "The Brothers and Sisters of Penance" (BSP)

 

1996, March: The Visitor Brother Francis Kelly, FPO, asks that the group disband for a year to discern God's direction.

 

1997, March: The group reorganizes with Dom Julian Stead, OSB, as Visitor. That December, Rev. Robert Mulvee, the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, is presented a copy of the Rule and Statutes (now called Constitutions).

 

1998 January 30: Date of the initial letter of permission to live the Rule and Statutes, signed by Rev. Msgr. William I. Varsanyi, Vicar General of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island. The letter contains these words, "Bishop Mulvee concurred with my opinion that this Rule does not contain anything contrary to our faith; therefore it may be safely practiced privately by you or by anyone inclined to do so." In autumn of 1998, under the name of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance and with the permission of Bishop Mulvee, the Confraternity goes on the world-wide web, using space on a friend’s website. A formation program with six postulants begins. Formation lessons begin to be written.

 

1999, Lent: A group from Minnesota, organized as the Franciscan Brothers and Sisters of Penance, finds the Rhode Island group and a merger is effected. Members of that group now enjoy the same legal and tax exempt status as the BSP. After 1999, the resources, including a new website owned by the BSP, membership, and documents of the BSP, expand, but still using the same Statutes as were reviewed by the Diocese of Providence in 1998.  Slight additional adaptations to the Constitutions are accepted by the Diocese of Providence in 1999.  In April 1999, the BSP is legally incorporated in the State of Rhode Island. In the summer of 1999, the first overnight retreat is held in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Middletown Rhode Island with six attendees. In November of 1999, federal non-profit tax exempt status is granted to the incorporated BSP.  

 

2002 April 7 (Divine Mercy Sunday): Stephanie Natalie Carlson Sullivan and Madeline Pecora Nugent, the first two penitents to complete the four year formation program, pledge to live the Rule for life. They make their pledges at Jesus Savior Church Prayer Chapel, Middletown, Rhode Island, before Father Valerius Messerich, OFM, BSP Visitor. (Dom Julian Stead also continues as Visitor).

 

2002-2003: After about three and one half years, disagreements among the leaders arise over governance, formation, pledging, and communication procedures. Ten months of communications and discussions can not resolve the disagreements. When the Council of the Association learns of and becomes divided over these issues,  the founder, in August 2003, asks advice of the Diocese of Providence. She is advised to sever the merger and refound the Association. The Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Robert Mulvee, concurs with this advice. Several other leaders of the BSP agree. Legally they must resign from the BSP and start a new Association which legally must receive a new name. The name chosen is the Confraternity of Penitents (CFP). After consulting a lawyer, these leaders turn over the BSP treasury, assets, and material resources of the BSP to the remaining leaders. In addition, the BSP website and passwords, which had been managed from Rhode Island since 1998, are transferred to the remaining leaders. Some of the membership of the BSP also voluntarily leave the BSP and join the Confraternity of Penitents while others stay with the former foundation which also must now incorporate as its own entity. On August 19, 2003, the Confraternity of Penitents is legally incorporated in the state of Rhode Island. On August 22 (the Queenship of Mary), the CFP is refounded in the Church with the formation lessons, pledging procedures, requirements for leadership and voting, and how the Rule is lived (the original Statutes) continuing unchanged, thus effecting a true "refounding" rather than the creation of a different group. In October, the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, incorporated in the State of Rhode Island in 1999, is legally dissolved since no Rhode Island members remain.

 

2004: With the permission of the Diocese of Providence, her spiritual director, and the CFP Visitor, on March 27, 2004, Elizabeth Hill becomes the first penitent to make a private vow to live the CFP Rule and Constitutions for life. Elizabeth takes the privately vowed name of sr. Bridget Clare of the Eucharist. On May 10, the Confraternity is granted tax exempt status by the federal government. Also in 2004, Bishop Mulvee concurs with the advice of CFP Spiritual Advisor Father John of the Trinity, Erem TOCarm, and with the agreement of CFP Visitor Father Jay Finelli, to grant permission for CFP Members to celebrate the Queenship of Mary yearly as a Solemnity, by following the guidelines in sections 6 and 9 of the CFP Rule and Constitutions.

 

2005: On May 27, the first death of a pledged member occurs with the death of Stephanie Sullivan. In September , the Council of the Confraternity of Penitents meets with CFP Spiritual Advisor Father Martin Mary Fonte, FI, and Sister Jacqueline Dickey, Vicar for Religious of the Diocese of Providence. The governing structure of the Confraternity is revised to allow the Minister General greater freedom in governance and a set of ordinances is adopted.

 

2006 July: In order to conform more closely to Church terminology, what had been previously termed "statutes" are renamed "Constitutions" and "ordinances" are renamed the "Directory."

 

2007 March: The first Life Pledged Chapter of the Confraternity of Penitents, for life pledged members and those planning to pledge for life, is held in Dallas, Texas, with seven members attending, one of whom makes her life pledge at this gathering.

 

2009 February 11: Bishop Thomas Tobin of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, confirms the canonical status of the Confraternity of Penitents as a “private association of the faithful” and extends to it his “special blessing.”

 

2010:  Father Michael Anthony Sisco becomes Visitor of the Confraternity of Penitents. The first community house for the Confraternity of Penitents is established at the main headquarters of the Confraternity in Middletown, Rhode Island with Patrick Hamor being the first resident.

 

2011: With the permission of Father Benedict Groeschel, founder of the Oratory of Divine Love ministry and web site, Father Sisco’s homilies are adapted by Confraternity members to provide weekly reflections for an online web site for the Oratory of Divine Love. The Confraternity of Penitents sponsors the web site. Patrick Hamor enters the Franciscan Brothers Minor and will be given the name Brother Fidelis Maria upon entering the Novitiate. In the fall, the second community house, St. Theresa's Residence, is opened in Tiverton, Rhode Island, for two women in the Confraternity of Penitents.

 

2012 December: With the departure of all its residents, St.  Theresa’s Residence closes.  

 

2013: On September 26, 2013, at the invitation of Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend Indiana USA, the Confraternity of Penitents relocates its international headquarters to Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, to a house, outbuildings and property owned by the Diocese. Madeline Pecora Nugent, Jim Nugent, and Kay-Marie Nugent move to Fort Wayne to manage the CFP office and gift shop and to oversee use of the property. Bishop Rhoades blesses the house and property on November 4, 2013. While retaining a location in Rhode Island, the Confraternity receives from the state of Indiana a Certificate of Authority as Non-Profit Foreign (out of state) Corporation on November 12, 2013.

 

2014. Bishop Rhoades confirms the canonical status of the Confraternity of Penitents as a private association of the faithful in a letter dated January 3, 2014 and grants the CFP his blessing. He names Father Jacob Meyer as Confraternity of Penitents’ Visitor.

 

2015. Renovations completed at CFP international headquarters to create bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and private living space for on site volunteers. Mary’s Glen development begun at rear of CFP headquarters, to create a wooded prayer area.

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2016. Bishop Rhoades reconfirms the canonical status of the Confraternity of Penitents as a private association of the faithful in a letter dated September 28, 2016 and grants the CFP his blessing. He names Father Francis Chukwuma as Confraternity of Penitents’ Visitor to replace Fr. Jacob Meyer.

 

 

 

[1] Any fifteen decades may be chosen.

 

[2] Any fifty psalms may be said. However, penitents with severe time constraints may wish to know that there are exactly 50 psalms in the Psalter which are 9 lines or less. These are 1, 3, 4. 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 23, 28, 43, 47, 52, 53, 54, 61, 67, 70, 82, 87, 93, 98, 99, 100, 101, 110, 113, 114, 117, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 137, 138, 142, 149, 150