Aantal berichten : 167 Registratiedatum : 09-03-09
Onderwerp: Saint Étienne de Harding Charter zo jul 12, 2009 2:20 pm
Citaat :
Saint Arnvald Cistercian Abbey in Noirlac, Duchy of Berry, France
Saint Étienne de Harding Charter between the Saint Arnvald Cistercian Mother Abbey and the Cistercian Daughter Abbeys
PREAMBLE
The Saint Etienne de Harding Charter (SEHC) defines the relationships between the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac and the cistercian daughter abbeys.
The cistercian family is international and the goal of this document is to make sure that it remains consistent, sharing the same values and practices, as St Benedict told us when he wrote his Rule.
ABOUT THE CISTERCIAN ABBEYS
1. The cistercian order is composed of two kinds of abbeys : mother abbey and daughter abbeys.
2. There is only one mother abbey: the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac. The Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac is the mother of all daughter abbeys. The cistercian order is lead by the abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac.
3. There can be only one cistercian abbey per linguistic zone. Daughter abbeys have 2 official languages : English and the one spoken in their linguistic zone. French is the official language -along with English- of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac only.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CISTERCIAN SYNOD
1. Coordination between the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac and the daughter abbeys is the task of the International Cistercian Synod (ICS). Official languages of the ICS are French and English.
2. Members of the International Cistercian Synod may be voting members or consulting members (thus non-voting). Each abbey (including the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac) has 3 voting members : its abbot and 2 members of its chapter, designated according to the internal rule of the abbey. Consulting members are : former abbots of both mother and daughter abbeys, high officials of the cistercian order as appointed by the abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac and cistercian bishops (or cardinals...).
3. The abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac is the leader of the ICS. He has a right of veto.
4. The ICS will meet at least once a month in the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac.
5. The abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac may organise the work of the ICS as he wants. He may delegate some specific tasks to some of its members.
ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF DAUGHTER ABBEYS
1. Only the abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac may decide to found a new daughter abbey (or to associate an exisiting independent abbey to the cistercian order). The abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac names the first abbot of the new daughter abbey. Following abbots are named by the chapter of the daughter abbey.
2. At least three active members in the targeted linguistic zone have to commit to involve themselves in the life of the future daughter abbey. These founders of the daughter abbey will have to go through the novice teaching in the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac (curriculum in English).
3. Daugther abbeys will have Saint Arnvald as their patron saint. They are encouraged to have additional patron saints (recognized by the Aristotelician Church) native from their linguistic zone.
4. The future daughter abbey will be officialy opened after a formal visit of its building and a formal examination of its internal Rule by the ICS. The abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac will pronounce the official founding.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF DAUGHTER ABBEYS
1. Daughter abbeys are members of the cistercian order. Thus they will integrate in their own internal Rules the values and main concepts of the Cistercian Charter of Charity and the Rule of Saint Benedict. The Rules of the daughter abbeys will also explicitly mention a complete respect of the dogma and cannon law of URAC.
2. The abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac or his/her representative will be a member of the chapter of each daughter abbey. He (or his/her representative) will have all keys of the daughter abbey (ie. have admin rights on the forum of the abbey). He will make sure that the members of the daughter abbey continuously respect the cistercian values and stay consistent with the cistercian teaching and liturgical usages.
3. Daughter abbeys will be organised consistently with the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac. Its members will have similar functions (abbot, high priest, dean of seminar, master of novices ...) and the buildings (ie. forum) will be organised according to the same scheme than the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac. Also, the members of the daughter abbeys will wear the cistercian traditional black scapular and white dress. The blason of the cistercian order will be made visible. Daughter abbeys are encouraged to develop their own additional symbols.
4. The daughter abbeys will base their teaching methods and curriculums as well as their liturgies on the ones used in the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac. The traditional cistercian blessing based on Aristotle reference to the 5 elements shall be the only form of blessing pronounced by cistercian priests. The extraordinary cistercian liturgy shall be used for important ceremonies.
5. New members (novices) of the daughter abbeys will have to go through a novice training similar to the one done in the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac (at least 15 days of roleplay involvment in the life of the abbey and a 5 lessons curriculum). Of course, they shall also be baptised. They then pronounce their vows in the daughter abbey and get appointed as sister/brother by the local abbot or high priest.
6. After their inception, daughter abbeys are free to name their abbot and members of chapter according to their own internal Rule. The naming process will have to be documented. The abbots of the daughter abbey will swear obedience to the abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac and respect of the cistercian values.
7. According the the Cannon Law, abbots and high priests of the daughter abbeys won't have the status of bishops unless appointed as such in the seculat way. Only the Abbot of the whole cistercian order (and thus of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac) and its high priest (in French, grand prieur) are considered as bishops of a pseudo diocese: the cistercian order. As a consequence, if the abbot or high priest of a daughter abbey wants to ordain a member of his/her abbey, they have to get explicit permission from the abbot of the cistercian order or its high priest for each ordaining. The futur priest will have to follow appropriate theological courses and be baptised according to the Cannon Law.
8. Abbots of daughter abbeys or their representative will keep in the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac records of the members of their abbeys (members of the chapter, brothers and sisters, novices, oblates). They will also write monthly reports on the status of their abbey and noticeable events.
ABOUT THE NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE CHARTER
1. In case of violation of the cistercian values or of the present charter, the abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac or his/her representative, will take action to correct the wrong behaviour. If these corrective actions are not enough, he will have all powers to dismiss the abbot of the faulty daughter abbey, after having consulted its chapter. If the members of the faulty daughter abbey keep violating the cistercian values, the ICS may pronounce the exclusion of the whole abbey from the cistercian order. Such measures would only be taken after appropriate inquiries as dialog is the favorite mean of conflict resolution within the cistercian order.
2. The abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac has all powers to revoke, sanction, suspend or formally reprove members of daughter abbeys, after having consulted with the ICS.
ABOUT THE MODIFICATION OF THE SAINT ETIENNE DE HARDING CHARTER
1. The Saint Etienne de Harding Charter (SEHC) may be modified by the abbot of the Saint Arnvald abbey in Noirlac after a vote of the ICS.
2. The modified SEHC will then be signed again by all cistercian abbots.
In Nomine Cistercium Mater Nostra, by Aristotle and Christos, may Faith and Reason guide you and Saint Arnvald the fair protect you. Gaming salutations and Aristotelician blessings.
Signed and sealed by Frere Roger, Abbot of the Saint Arnvald Abbey in Noirlac.
Onderwerp: Saint Étienne de Harding Charter 
zo jul 12, 2009 2:20 pm
