American-Cassinese Congregation

The Constitutions and the Directory

Part I: Matters Pertaining to the Individual Monasteries

Chapter V: The Separation of Monks from the Monastery

Article 1: Transfer to a Monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation

C 88. For a perpetually or temporarily professed monk of any monastery within the Benedictine Confederation to transfer to a monastery of the American‑Cassinese Congregation, the prescriptions of universal law (CIC 684.3) and the norms of the proper law of the Congregation must be followed.

D 88.1. The stability of a perpetually professed monk may be transferred only after the monk has completed a period of probation of at least one year living in the monastery to which he wishes to transfer.

D 88.2. The procedure for the transfer of stability is as follows:

The monk who wishes to transfer must obtain the written permission of his own superior who is competent to give such a permission.
The monk is to write a petition to the abbot of the monastery to which he wishes to transfer, asking for admittance to that monastery. Included with the petition must be a copy of the written permission of his superior to pursue the transfer.
With the consent of the monastic chapter of the monastery to which the monk wishes to transfer, the abbot of that monastery may admit the monk to the period of probation.
After the monk has completed his period of probation, the abbot, with the consent of the monastic chapter of the monastery to which he wishes to transfer, may issue a rescript accepting the monk and transferring his stability (see Appendix 6). This decree is to be kept in the archives of the monastery; an authenticated copy is to be sent to the appropriate superior of the monk who transferred.

D 88.2.5.1 The stability of a monk who is elected or appointed abbot of a monastery other than that of his profession is, from the moment of his confirmation, transferred to the monastery of which he becomes abbot.

D 88.2.5.2 When such a monk ceases to be the governing abbot, he has the option of retaining his stability in the monastery in which he has served as abbot or of returning to the monastery of which he was a monk at the time of his abbatial election or appointment. In the latter case, the provisions of D 88.1 and D 88.2.1-4 do not apply.

D 88.2.5.3 The intention of the former abbot to transfer his stability back to the monastery in which he was a monk at the time of his abbatial election or appointment must be stated in writing within one year of the cessation of his abbatial office. The transfer of stability is effective upon receipt of the written statement by the abbot of the monastery to which the monk is returning. A copy of his statement is to be kept in the archives of each of the two monasteries. Notification should be sent to the President of the Congregation by the abbot who is transferring.

D 88.3. The stability of a temporarily professed monk may be transferred only after the monk has completed at least one year of probation living in the monastery to which he wishes to transfer. However, he may not be admitted to solemn profession in the monastery to which he wishes to transfer until he has spent at least three years of probation living there.

D 88.4. The procedure for the transfer of stability is as follows:

The monk who wishes to transfer must obtain the written permission of his own superior who is competent to give such a permission.
The monk is to write a petition to the abbot of the monastery to which he wishes to transfer, asking for admittance to that monastery. Included with the petition must be a copy of the written permission of his superior to pursue the transfer.
With the consent of the monastic chapter of the monastery to which the monk wishes to transfer, the abbot of that monastery may admit the monk to the period of probation.
If the time for which the monk has made temporary profession elapses before he has spent one year of probation in the monastery to which he wishes to transfer, the abbot of that monastery, with the consent of the monastic chapter, may admit him to temporary profession for the length of time necessary to complete the first year of probation.

D 88.4. 5. 1. After the monk has completed the first year of probation in the monastery to which he wishes to transfer, the transfer of stability as a temporarily professed monk may take place in accord with no. 6 below.

D 88.4. 5. 2. If the transfer of stability does not take place at the end of the first year, it may take place during the second or third year of probation; when, for example, the time for which the monk made temporary profession in the monastery from which he wishes to transfer elapses.

D 88.4. 5. 3. At the end of three years of probation, the monk must either be admitted to solemn profession in the monastery to which he wishes to transfer (by which act his new stability is established); or transfer his stability as a temporarily professed monk; or return to the monastery of his first profession.

D 88.4. 6. 1. If the transfer is to be effected by decree in accord with D 88.4.5.1, D 88.4.5.2 or D 88.4.5.3, the abbot, with the consent of the monastic chapter of the monastery to which the monk wishes to transfer, may issue a rescript accepting the monk and transferring his stability (see Appendix 6). This decree is to be kept in the archives of the monastery; an authenticated copy is to be sent to the appropriate superior of the monk who transferred.

D 88.4. 6. 2. If the transfer is to be effected by temporary profession in accord with D 88.4.5.1, D 88.4.5.2 or D 88.4.5.3, the abbot, with the consent of the monastic chapter of the monastery to which the monk wishes to transfer, may admit the monk to temporary profession when the time of his profession for the monastery from which he wishes to transfer elapses. Notification of the profession is to be sent to the appropriate superior of the monk who transferred.

D 88.4. 6. 3. If the transfer is to be effected by solemn profession, the provisions of the proper law of the Congregation must be observed. Notification of the profession is to be sent to the appropriate superior of the monk who transferred.

D 88.4.7 To the extent that they are applicable, the provisions of D 90.4, D 90.5, and D 90.6 are to be observed.

C 89. A perpetually professed monk who is a member of a monastic congregation or institute that follows the Rule of Saint Benedict but is not a member of the Benedictine Confederation may be admitted to probation in a monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation in accordance with the provisions of CIC 684.1 and the procedures established in the proper law of the Congregation. A new novitiate is not required.

D 89.1. The following procedure is to be observed:

Once the monk has obtained the permission of his own superior who is competent to give such a permission, the abbot of the monastery to which he wishes to transfer, with the consent of the monastic chapter, may admit him to a one‑year probation in the monastery.
At the end of the year, the monk, with the written consent of the competent superior and council of the institute from which he wishes to transfer, is to make application for transfer in writing to the abbot of the monastery to which he wishes to transfer (cf. CIC 684.1).
The abbot then presents the request to the monastic chapter.
With the consent of the monastic chapter, the abbot may then clothe the monk in the habit of the monastery to which he is transferring. The monk is to have the status of a junior monk for a period of not less than three nor more than six years, the provisions of CIC 685.1 being observed.

D 89.2. When all the stages of probation have been completed, the abbot, with the consent of the monastic chapter, may admit the monk to solemn profession in accordance with the proper law of the Congregation (cf. CIC 685.2).

D 89.3. If at any time the monk chooses not to persevere in the monastery, or is not admitted to a further stage of probation, or is not admitted to solemn profession, he is to return to his former institute, unless an indult of departure (secularization) has been obtained (CIC 684.2).

D 89.4 To the extent that they are applicable, the provisions of D 90.4, D 90.5, and D 90.6 are to be observed.

C 90. Perpetually professed religious not provided for in C 88-89 may be admitted to probation in a monastery of the Congregation in accordance with the provisions of CIC 684.1 and the procedures established in the proper law of the Congregation. A new novitiate is always required (cf. CIC 684.4).

D 90.1. The following procedure is to be observed:

Once the religious has obtained the permission of his own superior who is competent to give such a permission, the abbot of the monastery to which he wishes to transfer, with the consent of the council of seniors, may admit him to a period of probation in the monastery. The length of this period of probation and its circumstances are to be decided by the abbot.
At the end of this period of probation the religious, with the written consent of the competent superior and council of the institute from which he wishes to transfer, is to make application for transfer in writing to the abbot of the monastery to which he wishes to transfer (cf. CIC 684.1).
The abbot then presents the request to the monastic chapter.
With the consent of the monastic chapter, the abbot may admit the religious to the novitiate in the monastery.
At the end of the novitiate the religious is to be clothed in the monastic habit and have the status of a junior monk for a period of not less than three nor more than six years, the provisions of CIC 685.1 being observed.

D 90.2. When all the stages of probation have been completed, the abbot may, with the consent of the monastic chapter, admit the religious to solemn profession in accordance with the proper law of the Congregation (cf. CIC 685.2).

D 90.3. If at any time the religious chooses not to persevere in the monastery, or is not admitted to a further stage of probation, or is not admitted to solemn profession, he is to return to his former institute, unless an indult of departure (secularization) has been obtained (CIC 684.2).

D 90.4. From the time a capitular of a monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation receives the written permission of his abbot to begin the process of transfer, he lacks active and passive voice in the monastic chapter of his monastery. If he returns, active and passive voice in the chapter are restored.

D 90.5. When a monk of a monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation has completed the process of transfer, the abbot of the monastery from which the monk transfers is to:

keep a record of the transfer in the archives of his own monastery;
send authenticated copies of all pertinent documents (e.g., baptismal certificate, profession and ordination documents) to the appropriate superior of the monastery or institute to which the monk is transferring.

D 90.6. When a monk or religious transfers to a monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation, the abbot of the monastery is to:

secure authenticated copies of all pertinent documents from the appropriate superior;
insure that new versions are drawn up of those documents that require rewriting in view of the transfer (e.g., last will and testament).

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