THE RULE, INDULGENCES & PRIVILEDGES
THE CONSTITUTION
SCAPULAR & CORD

THE MERCIFUL SON OF GOD, who, having placed a sweet yoke and light burden upon men, has looked to the interests of the life and salvation of all, (and) has left the Church founded by Himself as the heir not only of His power but also of His mercy, to propagate the good deeds brought forth through Him to all the ages of generations with always the same tenor of charity. On that account just as among these, which Jesus Christ did or precepted throughout His life, that gentle wisdom and greatness of unconquered kindness shown forth, so equally among each institute of Christendom [rei christianae] a certain wonderful indulgence and leniency stands out, so that plainly even in this very matter the Church may seem to bear the likeness of God, who is Charity (1 John 4:16). Moreover that is the gift most proper to Her maternal piety, to wisely accommodate laws, as much as this can be done, to the times, to morals, yet always using the highest equity in precepting and adapting these. And yet this is accomplished at once with Her custom of charity and wisdom, so that the Church may conjoing the absolute immutability and sempiternity of doctrine with a variety of prudent discipline.Conforming Our soul and mind with this reasoning in the exercise of the Pontificate, We have reckoned by that judgement of Our office, to the extent that it is fair, to estimate the nature of the times, and to circumspect all things, lest any difficulty deter from the exercise of useful virtues. And now it has pleased Us to carefully weigh according to this norm the Franciscan sodality of the Third Order, which is called secular, and to diligently establish whether or not it be proper for its laws to be tempered in a limited manner because of the changed times.

That remarkable institution of Our Father Francis We have vehemently recommended to the piety of Christians by means of Our Encyclical Letter Auspicato, which We issued on September 17th last year.  Moreover We issued it with this will and this unique purpose, that as many as possible be called back to the praise of Christian sanctity by Our timely invitation.  Certainly the greatest origin both of the evils which press Us and of the dangers, which are feared, is the neglect of virtue by Christians:  but men cannot for any reason attend to some of these, and yet disparage others, than by a quickened return privately and publicly to Jesus Christ, who can forever salve those approaching God through Him. (Heb. 7:25)  All of the Franciscan institutes have already been set up to care for] the precepts of Jesus Christ:  for neither did (their) most holy author intend any other end, than that the Christian life be more diligently exercised in them, as in a certain gymnasium.  Truly did the first two Franciscan Orders, formed with the disciplines of great virtues, follow after him more perfectly and divinely:  but these belonged to a few, namely to those to whom it was conceded by a gift of God to contend with a certain singular alacrity for the sanctity of the evangelical counsels. However, the Third Order was born fitted to a multitude:  and (thus) it proclaims the monuments and reality of the just, integral, and religious morals of a superior age, as much as this is possible.

But We ought to prefer what has been accepted by God, the Author and Helper of good counsels, because the ears of the Christian people were not closed to those Our encouragements. Nay rather, from very many places there was brought forth a lively piety towards Francis of Assisi, and, far and wide, an increased number of those seeking to enter the sodality of the Third Order. On account of which, as an incitement to those running to drink (from its spirit), We have decided to undertake a plan, lest that salutary concourse of souls seem to be able to be impeded or retarded in any degree. And indeed, at first, We have ascertained that he Rule of the Third Order which Our predecessor, Nicholas IV, approved and confirmed by His Apostolic Constitution Supra Montem on August 18 [sic], 1289, does not entirely correspond those times and morals which now prevail. Hence since the duties undertaken cannot be completed without very great trouble and work, it was necessary to commute the very many chapters of its laws on the prayers of the members to this extent:  that indeed, it is easily understood, they could not be accomplished without detriment to common discipline.

Then, also, there were other reasons in the same sodality, which claimed Our own attention. Most of all, the Roman Pontiffs, Our Precedessors, already having embraced the Third Order from the time of its birth with the highest benevolence, conceding to the members to be admitted several and sufficiently ample indulgences for the expiation (of their sins). The count of which has proved to be more confused in the course of years: and this is often disputed, whether or not in certain cases it depends upon the Pontifical indulgence, and in what season, or by what kind, it is lawful that it be used. Certainly the desired prudence did not belong to the Apostolic See in this matter: and namely Pope Benedict XIV, in His Constitution Ad Romanum Pontificem on March 15, 1751, cared to remove prior doubts; nevertheless as soon as a (new) day began, not a few (more) were added.

Wherefore induced by the thought of disadvantages of this kind, We have appointed several Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church from the pre-existing Council for the Care of Indulgences and Sacred Relics, to review the earlier laws of the Tertiaries with care; likewise to examine all the indulgences and privileges related in the Registry [commentarium]: and having employed intelligent judgement, to refer to Us concerning this matter, what they judged to be retained and what to be renewed in accord with present conditions. Having accomplished this business, as commanded, they indeed were the ones to recommended [auctores fuerunt] to Us, that it was proper that (such) old laws be bent and accommodated to current [has recentes] customs of living, with not a few things unchanged [immutatione nonnulla] in certain chapters.  But concerning the indulgences (which have been granted), so that no place be left for hesitation, and no cause for danger be protected, they have judged-lest anything come to pass unlawfully-that We decree, according to the example of Benedict XIV-on the condition that all their indulgences, which have heretofore been in force, be revoked and abrogated- that certain others be granted [facturos] for the benefit of [ex] the entire membership of the same.

Therefore that it be good and fruitful [felix], amplify the glory of God, and greatly ignite the studies of piety and of the rest of the virtues, We renew and sanction in this Letter by Our apostolic authority the Law of the Franciscan Third Order, which is called secular, to the extent that it is described below.  Nevertheless, having done this, let nothing be thought to have been subtracted from the nature itself of the Order; rather We wish entirely that it continue to remain unchanged and whole. Besides We wish and command that the same members can employ the remissions of punishments, or indulgences, and the privileges, which are recounted in that index below, having preserved each and every [sublatis penitus universis] indulgence and privilege, which this Apostolic See at whatever time, and/or in whatever name, and/or form had conceded to the membership of the same in the past [ante hanc diem].

Pope Leo XIII – Constitution on the Law of the Franciscan Third Order Secular (May 30, 1888)