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THE RULE OF LIFE
Chapter IV
Mortification
1. Concerning internal mortification of passions, desires, and your own judgment and will - without which the old Adam can in no way be cast off - and in which it is fitting that you be most experienced: bodily chastisement greatly contributes to internal mortification. "Put to death whatever in your nature - says St. Paul in Colossians 3 - is rooted in earth" (Col 3:5; cf. 1 Pt 2:11). Therefore, let your food be (cf. l Pt 2:11) moderate: such that prevents hunger, but does not fill your stomach. Food should not be prepared in an exquisite way, using vegetables, herbs, roots and relishes. You will not eat. meat (the sick, the weak, aged and travelers excepted). However, butter or some fat will be allowed to be used for condiment. But, outside your houses, what will have been put before you, with God's blessing, you will eat moderately (cf. Lk 10:8).
2. Your ordinary drink ought to be water. Should you have any other drink, it will be up to the superior to allow you to drink it sparingly, with the exception of vodka, which is absolutely prohibited to you. Away from the community meal or outside of the house, it is not allowed for anyone to eat or drink anything without the superior's permission. Frequently think: food is destined for the stomach, but the stomach is destined for worms. By limiting yourselves to a small amount of food, you will render your nature satisfied, your spirit vigorous. Certainly water and bread were the staple food at the beginning of humankind. When man thus feasted, he lived longer. The abundance of meals now brings about sicknesses, shortens life, opens up hell. Certainly, that one who feasted splendidly daily was buried in hell (Lk 16:19ff. The story of the rich man and Lazarus). Be content, therefore, with little and simple food and drink. Do not murmur on this account against anyone. If the superior would see in the Lord that he can provide something beyond two courses - especially at the time of great celebrations and the monthly recreation - then this is left to his prudence, since his authority will be able to mitigate, in the fear of the Lord, this norm in consideration of persons, places and times, both in quantity as in quality.
3. Besides the church's fasts and those customary in the region, you will observe the following: vigils of the seven feasts of our Lady, and of the Saints Michael the Archangel, Joseph, Stanislaus and Anna, with one meal or by limiting yourselves to bread and water. Also, you will use lenten foods, according to the custom of the place, from the feast of St. Martin to the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, and from the octave of the Immaculate Conception to the solemnity of Christmas. While you will hard press the body by abstaining from food, try all the more to abstain from vices. One fasts in a disorderly way if he is hard pressing the body while he neglects the spirit. Nor is food fruitfully taken away from the body unless the mind is recalled from evil.
4. Because softness of garment incites not only pride, but also lust, you, as hermits, will wear clothing from the most simple, rougher and thicker material: You will wear a habit stretching to the ankles - not one which trails the ground, or shows the ankles too much - and a short mantle reaching to the knees, and a shirt from coarse linen or some other stinging material. All of these will be white in color, in honor of the pure Conception of our Lady, and the greatest cleanliness of them should be observed, because dirty poverty can please no one.
5. At least when inside the house in summer, wooden sandals will be worn with bare feet. Outdoors, for the sake of propriety, and in the winter in cold regions for reasons of health, simple, uniform but not extravagant shoes are permitted. Hats lined with sheep's wool are not forbidden to be used to protect the body in a cold climate, after the Superior General of the Congregation has been consulted.
The brother-workers will have to wear a different habit from the priests: a habit reaching to the ankles, of grey color, and a mantle without a collar. (By worker are understood those who in choir cannot perform the Office of the Dead and devotions with the others in the Latin language.)
You must be very strict regarding modesty. When you are about to give your body rest, you will lay it down in the straw and cover it with your own mantle, or with some simple woolen cloth, or with a rough blanket.
All will have the uniform clerical tonsure, according to the size proper to each order. Everyone will also shave their beard and moustache monthly.
6. Common flagellation will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, for your own sins and those of others, especially for the dead. However, anyone will be able to make use of flagellation on any day on rising or before going to bed to honor our Lord who was whipped, and as often as it will be imposed by the superior.
The original is an apparent misquote: "Mortify your members which are of heaven."
This prohibition was stressed by Fr. Stanislaus also on April 10, 1701 in the first addition to his Testament (cf. Positio, p. 498). Probably shortly after, in "Praecepta" he specifies that the use of vodka is forbidden to Marians both at home and outside "under the loss of Divine blessing" (cf. Ibid., p. 502, n. 5). This absolute abstinence from strong alcoholic drinks was in striking contrast with the prevalent customs of the Polish society of that time. Fr. Stanislaus saw how much moral, physical and material evil was caused by these customs. Hence he tried to oppose them at least by the example of his abstinence and that of his religious.
By the first half of tile 18th century, the practice of weekly recreation was introduced, but the General Chapter of 1754 restored the primitive observance: one day of recreation per month.
This is not a reference to Stanislaus Kostka. S.J. who was only canonized in 1714, but to Stanislaus, bishop and martyr (d. 1079), the principal patron of Poland and patron of the Servant of God. His feast is celebrated in Poland on May 8.
Thus the white habit was designed by Fr. Stanislaus for the Marians as one of the means by which they were propagating the devotion to the Mary's immaculate Conception- Later, he said: "I assumed the white habit in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (cf. Positio. p. 495). Strangely enough, the 1687 version of the Rule of Life gives a different significance of the white color of the Marians' clothing, namely: "in honor of Our Lord mocked [ridiculed?] by Herod."
That is, the minor and major orders such as porter, exorcist, etc.
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