American-Cassinese Congregation

The Constitutions and the Directory

Part III: Matters Pertaining to the Congregation

Chapter IV: The Order of Precedence

C 131. The order of precedence for the Congregation is established in the proper law of the Congregation.

D 131.1. The President of the Congregation or his representative holds the first place during the sessions of the general chapter and at abbatial elections.

D 131.2. During sessions of the general chapter, the following order is observed:

1. The President of the Congregation;
2. The members of the council of the President, in the order of their rank;
3. Superiors of autonomous monasteries or their representatives, in the order of the foundation of their houses;
4. Delegates of independent monasteries, in the order of the monasteries they represent;
5. Priors of dependent priories, in the order of their foundation.

D 131.3. In all other gatherings the following order is observed unless the abbot or the custom of the community has determined a different order for the local community:

1. The abbot with jurisdiction in his own monastery and in houses under his jurisdiction;
2. The President of the Congregation;
3. During a visitation, the visitators;
4. Abbots of territorial abbacies, in the order of their election;
5. The archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey;
6. Abbots with jurisdiction, in the order of their election;
7. Retired or resigned abbots, first of the place, then in the order of their election;
8. Conventual priors with jurisdiction, in the order of their election;
9. The claustral prior of the place;
10. The subprior of the place;
11. Priors of dependent priories, in the order of their appointment;
12. The master of novices of the place;
13. All other professed monks, in the order of their first profession unless the practice of the house provides otherwise;
14. Novices, in the order of their reception into the community;
15. Claustral oblates, in the order of their reception into the community, are ranked according to the practice of the house.

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