Fidelity to the Consecrated life by Mauro Johri

The nature and end of the three evangelical counsels, which we profess with vows in profession, is to unite us to Christ with a heart made free by grace, in an obedient life, without anything of our own, and in chastity for the kingdom of heaven, after the example of st. Francis (Const. 22.1)

A code of ethics for our commitment to a life of consecrated chastity.

We are called to establish trust between ourselves and the people we are committed to serve.

The evangelical counsel of chastity for the kingdom of heaven

Pope Francis: Fraternity has an enormous power to call us together, the sickness of fraternity, on the other had, had a power that destroys. The temptation against fraternity is that which most impedes a path in the consecrated life. The individualistic tendency is at base a way to not suffer the fraternity. \

At times it is difficult to live fraternity, but if it is not lived, it is not fertile. Work, also apostolic work, can become an escape from the fraternal life. If someone does not succeed at living fraternity, he cannot live the religious life.

A life without conflicts is not a life…..

In the case of a brother in temporary vows who maintains an improper relationship of this kind, this usually indicates that we are dealing with the brother’s need to be able to grow in maturity in a setting other that our own, without the social and relational constraints which the vows necessarily impose.

A friar in perpetual vows in the same situation will be immediately ordered to break off the improper relationship. Should he persist, he should be firmly invited to ask the church for a dispensation from his obligations. He should be told, truthfully and charitably of the possibility that the superiors may instigate a process of dismissal from the Order if he persists in his improper behavior.

If a formator or a friar in authority is involved in an improper relationship with a brother in initial formation, the case must be treated as abuse of a minor, since the situation involves an abuse of authority.

These fraternal, pastoral and disciplinary rules in no way contradict the words of St. Francis to a minister: “there is no brother in the world who has sinned, however much he has looked into your eyes, would ever depart without your mercy..