CHAPTER VII
CANONICAL ASPECTS OF THE VOWS IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION

1. THE NATURE OF THE VOWS
The deepest meaning of the vows of the Congregation comes from their relationship to the mission. They exist to promote the evangelization of the poor. The canonical aspects of the vows try to capture that fundamental insight of St. Vincent in legal terms.
The Church's legislation permits Societies of Apostolic Life to choose the nature of the bond by which they assume the practice of the evangelical counsels (Canon 731, § 2); the Congregation of the Mission chose vows (C 3, § 3). The present Constitutions describe our vows as: "perpetual, non-religious, and reserved, so that only the pope or the superior general can dispense them" (C 55, § 1).
The adjective perpetual requires no explanation, but the second qualifier, non-religious, does need some interpretation. The Code of Canon Law defines a religious institute as "a society in which members, according to proper law, pronounce public vows ..." (Canon 607, § 2). A public vow is described in Canon 1192, § 1: "A vow is public if it is accepted in the name of the Church by a legitimate superior." In religious profession, a candidate offers himself to a community approved as a religious institute and makes public vows. The superior receives the person as a religious and accepts the vows in the name of the Church. All of this means that these vows are made in a religious congregation, approved as such by the Church. The nature and effects of these vows are determined by the common law of the Church.
The vows of the Congregation of the Mission are not public, which means that no one accepts them in the name of the Church. The juridical concern here is to distinguish an apostolic institute from religious institutes. The non-public nature of the vow is not determined by the number of persons present when a missionary pronounces vows, nor does it mean that the vows are purely a private matter. The language seeks to separate our vows from religious vows. In our case, the Church recognizes that the effects and meaning of the vows are determined by our proper law, not the universal (public) law of the Church.
The fact that no one accepts our vows in the name of the Church does not mean that the Church does not approve the vows nor recognize the Congregation. The Church has given its official approval to the Congregation in Salvatoris nostri and to its vows in Ex commissa nobis. Rather, it means that the Church does not approve them as religious vows in a religious institute. They are approved as another type of vow as defined in Ex commissa nobis and the Constitutions.
Something would be missing if our vows were only defined in negative terms in relation to religious institutes. The Constitutions recommend that the vows be interpreted according to St. Vincent's intention, approved by Alexander VII in Ex commissa nobis and Alias nos (C 55, § 2). The sources for a positive understanding of our vows, then, are the mind of our founder and the two documents mentioned.
Whenever he spoke about the vows, St. Vincent was very careful to indicate that they were not religious vows made in a religious order. Apostolic congregations had only begun to make their appearance around the seventeenth century. Canonical practice and language had not developed to include this new form of apostolic life. St. Vincent, therefore, emphasized that the vows were made in a "secular" congregation dedicated to the mission. His concern was to avoid some of the elements essential to religious life which would impede the evangelization of the poor. But he also wished to express in the language of his time the fundamental direction of the Vincentian vocation as a mission and a call to holiness in and for the world. The term, "secular," used in our tradition from the time of our foundation, does not mean that we are diocesan priests living in community; it means that we are priests and brothers living together in community while remaining in vital contact with the world's needs, especially those of the poor.
The new canons for Societies of Apostolic Life (CJC 731-746) offer categories that provide a clearer, more positive framework for understanding the nature of the Congregation of the Mission and its vows. The new law emphasizes the mission of these societies and gives ample space for developing structures for fulfilling the mission. Vows made in the Congregation of the Mission, a society of apostolic life (C 3, § 1), are vows for mission.

2. INCORPORATION
By incorporation admitted members acquire all of the rights and obligations expressed in the Constitutions, Statutes, and Provincial Norms (C 59, § 2). Full membership in the Congregation establishes a permanent mutual relationship between the confrere who has been incorporated and the community. The candidate offers himself to the Congregation in order to participate fully in its life and mission. The Congregation, in turn, incorporates the member, pledging its support.
Incorporation occurs when, upon request by a member, a major superior gives that member permission to make vows and the vows are pronounced (C 57, § 1). Vows and incorporation happen simultaneously, but are distinct. Properly speaking, it is the superior's permission to make vows which brings incorporation. Nonetheless, incorporation takes effect only at the moment when vows are pronounced.
Incorporated members have the right to active voice (that is, voting) in the Congregation (C 60). To enjoy passive voice (that is, eligibility for various offices and duties), a member must be incorporated for three years and be at least twenty-five years of aged (C 61).

3. ADMISSION TO VOWS
The right to admit a candidate to vows pertains to:
1. "the superior general, with the consent of his council and after consulting the candidate's moderators, for the entire Congregation" (C 56, § 1);
2. "the provincial, with the consent of his council and after consulting the candidate's moderators, for his province" (C 56, § 2).

4. CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION TO VOWS
Canon 735, § 1 establishes the general principle: "The admission, probation, incorporation and training of members are determined by the proper law of each society." The universal law says nothing about the conditions for incorporation or admission to vows for Societies of Apostolic Life like the Congregation of the Mission. Although some are not explicitly stated, the following conditions have to be taken into account:
- that the petition be made without force, grave fear or fraud (Canon 656, 4E);
- valid completion of the internal seminary;
- a minimum of two years and a maximum of nine years as an admitted member, having made good purposes one year after entering the internal seminary (C 54, § 1, § 2);
- permission for vows by the competent superior (C 56);
- pronouncing of vows in the presence of the superior or a member appointed by him (C 58, § 1);
- use of one of the formulas in article 58 of the Constitutions or another formula approved according to Statute 24.
Nothing is mentioned in our proper law about the precise moment for the pronouncing of vows. Traditionally, vows have been made during the celebration of the Eucharist (SV XIII, 285).

5. CERTIFICATION OF THE PRONOUNCING OF VOWS
Vows and incorporation into the Congregation are not just personal concerns. Incorporation, which occurs at the time of vows, involves the whole Congregation and establishes a contract between the confrere and the community. For that reason, Article 58, § 2 of the Constitutions states that the request for vows should be made in writing and that there should be a written attestation afterwards that vows have been pronounced. The same article requires that the superior general be notified about the taking of vows.

6. DISPENSATION FROM VOWS
The vows of the Congregation of the Mission are reserved, so that only the pope or the Superior General can dispense them. The superior general can grant an indult of departure to an incorporated member for a grave reason and with the consent of his council. Along with the indult of departure, he can give a dispensation from vows (C 71). If the member seeking the dispensation is a priest or deacon, the Superior General may grant it only in accord with Canon 693, upon the cleric's finding a "benevolent bishop."
The Constitutions do not mention the grave causes which would justify departure from the community and dispensation from vows; nor does canon law contain a norm that applies directly to Societies of Apostolic Life. However, Canon 691, § 1 offers a basic orientation: "One who is professed in perpetual vows is not to seek an indult to leave the institute without very grave reasons weighed before the Lord ...."
In cases of expulsion from the community, whether they are automatic dismissals, as mentioned in C 73, or in the cases mentioned in C 74, an explicit dispensation from vows is not necessary, since the vows cease with legitimate expulsion. Every decree of expulsion requires confirmation from the Holy See according to Article 75 of the Constitutions, except the cases indicated in Article 73 of the Constitutions. When the decree of dismissal has been confirmed, it should be communicated immediately to the member and he should be given the opportunity to appeal to the Holy See (C 75).
With lawful departure and dispensation from vows, all mutual legal rights and obligations between the member and the Congregation cease. Although those who are separated from the Congregation have no legal claim for work done while in it, the community should practice equity and evangelical charity toward former members (C 76).

FORMULAS FOR THE VOWS
1. Direct formula:
Lord, my God, I, NN., in the presence of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, vow that I will faithfully dedicate myself, in the Congregation of the Mission, for the whole time of my life, to the evangelization of the poor, after the example of Christ evangelizing. Therefore, with the help of your grace, I vow chastity, poverty, and obedience, according to the Constitutions and Statutes of our Institute.

2. Declarative formula:
I, NN., in the presence of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, vow to God that I will faithfully dedicate myself, in the Congregation of the Mission, for the whole time of my life, to the evangelization of the poor, after the example of Christ evangelizing. Therefore, with the help of God's grace, I vow to God chastity, poverty, and obedience, according to the Constitutions and Statutes of our Institute.

3. Traditional formula:
I, NN., unworthy (priest, cleric, brother) of the Congregation of the Mission, in the presence of the Most Blessed Virgin and of the whole heavenly court, vow to God poverty, chastity, and obedience to our superior and his successors, according to the Rules or Constitutions of our Institute; I vow also that I will dedicate myself, in the aforesaid Congregation, for the whole time of my life, to the salvation of the poor country people. For this purpose, I humbly call upon Almighty God to help me with his grace.

4. "In special circumstances, a provincial assembly may propose for the approval of the superior general, with the consent of his council, its own formula for making good purposes or taking vows, preserving the essential elements of the established formulas." (Statute 24)

FORMULA for the ATTESTATION OF THE TAKING OF VOWS

I, _________________________ unworthy ___________ of the Congregation of the Mission, [first, middle, last name] [priest, deacon, brother, etc.] born in ______________________________ in the Diocese of _________________________ [place] [name] on the _______________________ , son of __________________ and ________________, [day, month, year] [father's name] [mother's name] received into the internal seminary at ____________________________________________ [name of institution] in _____________________________________ on the ____________________________ , [name of place] [day, month, year] took the vows of the Congregation according to its Constitutions, which I understand well, at _____________________________________ in __________________________________ [name of institution] [name of place] on the ________________, in the presence of Father ______________________________ , [day, month, year] [first, middle, last name] who is a member of the same Congregation. _________________________________________________ [Signature of the one vowing] _________________________________________________ [Signature of the witness]

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