THE RULE OF LIFE
• Introduction • Chapter I • Chapter II • Chapter III • Chapter IV • Chapter V •
• Chapter VI • Chapter VII • Chapter VIII • Chapter IX •
Chapter VI
Schedule
1. "The day evolves by God's arrangement."[22] Therefore the day is to be passed, for God's glory, in good order. Rising a little after the middle of the night, you will move together to the church, when the second signal has been given. There, during the verse Tantum ergo Sacramentum, you will adore the Blessed Sacrament. Then you will say devotedly, distinctly, with attention and clearly the little Office of the Immaculate Conception[23] to the end of None (according to the Roman correction, approved by Pope Innocent XI in the brief sent to the Emperor Leopold I, December 18, 1678) together with the first part of the Rosary, in the vernacular because of the brother-helpers. After the rosary, you will spend an hour in mental prayer, at the end of which you will receive the superior's blessing with holy water.
2. From six to nine o'clock, devote your time to reading, studies, or works according to the superior's wishes. At nine thirty you will recite the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer of the Office of the Dead. At ten you have the conventual Mass; at eleven, examination of conscience, reflecting on the Four Last Things,[24] then the litany of the Name of Jesus, and the meal preceded by the blessing and customary prayers. The meal will be seasoned with the reading of Sacred Scripture -especially the New Testament - or the lives of the Saints, your Rule, and spiritual books for growth of the soul and perfection. All will remain silent trying to keep the reading in their memory and to apply and imitate it.
3. After having given thanks, everyone will sit together and the work of some moral theologian of good standing will be read to them.
On other days will be read the rubrics of Mass or of the Roman Breviary together with the explanation of an approved author, which they will then observe. Following the reading, they will pray another part of the rosary with the usual litanies of the Blessed Virgin. Until three o'clock they will be occupied with spiritual reading, writing or manual works, according to the disposition of the superior.
4. When the bells of three o'clock have been heard, you will pray Evening Prayer of the little Office and the Office of the Dead. You will pend a whole hour in meditation, first saying the psalms of the Name of Mary. After this hour, say the third part of the Rosary.
5. At seven o'clock you will go together to the dining room to eat supper with reading. When supper is finished, sitting together, you will discuss - modestly and not jokingly - either religious perfection, promoting the glory of God, or cases of conscience.[25]
At eight, after examination of conscience, profession of faith and acts of contrition, love and gratitude have been made, and having received the blessing of the superior,[26] prepare yourself for rest, falling asleep in the Saving Wounds of our Redeemer.
6. The decrees of the Supreme Pontiffs should absolutely be read at a prescribed time at meals. The superiors should not think that they have the right to interpret them.[27] Rather, they should try to keep them with utmost effort, and let the penalties contained in them be applied to transgressors.
7. When the canonical Hours are said in common, any of the superiors has the power to change this schedule for the convenience of their house and better order, provided nothing which is prescribed here has been left out.
[22] Latin proverb: "ordinatione dei perseverat dies."
[23] Cf. Lucien Ceyssens, OFM, Le Petit Office de I'lmmaculeé Conceptions: Prétendue Approbation, Condemnation (1578). Tolerance (1679), in Virgo Immaculate XVII, Romae 1957, pp. 41-l24; Positio, p. 474, note 67.
[24] i.e., death, judgement, heaven, hell.
[25] Referring to matters regarding confession and spiritual counselling.
[26] After night prayer.
[27] Evidently, interpret in the sense of relax or ease.