Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- A Note on Editorial Principles
- Introduction
- PART I Recollections of the Society's Early Years
- PART II Government
- PART III Life and Training
- III.1 Rules for the Mistress of Novices
- III.2 Notes on the Novices' Rules and Regulations
- III.3 Rules for Visitors and Outer Sisters
- PART IV Work
- Bibliography
- Index
- Church of England Record Society
III.1 - Rules for the Mistress of Novices
from PART III - Life and Training
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 August 2018
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- A Note on Editorial Principles
- Introduction
- PART I Recollections of the Society's Early Years
- PART II Government
- PART III Life and Training
- III.1 Rules for the Mistress of Novices
- III.2 Notes on the Novices' Rules and Regulations
- III.3 Rules for Visitors and Outer Sisters
- PART IV Work
- Bibliography
- Index
- Church of England Record Society
Summary
The well-being of a Religious Community depends mainly on the good training of the Novices. The Mistress should not only be wise, gentle, and devout, but humble, patient, and considerate, taking good heed that her Office occasion no feelings of pride or self-sufficiency, but studying by the grace of God, to lead her novices on, step by step, in true devotion with a view only to His Glory, and not of her own self-exaltation.
RULES
1. There shall be two Instructions for the Novices daily, morning and evening, for the purpose of guiding them as to the best method of performing their prayers and meditations and other spiritual exercises.
2. There shall be 3 public obediences daily, at 9.30 a.m; 1 p.m; 6 p.m; at each of which the Novices will make all necessary enquiries respecting their duties and work, and ask for all they may require. The will also receive directions as to the employment of their time until the next obedience, in order that the Rule of Silence be not unnecessarily broken.
3. Each Novice shall have one private Conference with the Mistress per week. The daily faults committed against the Rules must be acknowledged and corrected in public but not in the prcscncc of the Lay Novices.
4. The Mistress must earnestly discourage any confidences which involve condemnation, either directly or indirectly, of the Confessor, Superior, or any of the Community, she should strive to impress upon them that all the Community should have but one heart and one mind, remembering that our Lord, by His Holy inspiration, has so joined and united them together, that they can never be disunited, but continue together in unity of mind, and the tie of Charity, which is the very bond of all perfection.
5. The Mistress must not in any way usurp the office of Confessor, or the Mother Superior, or have any secrets from them, as regards those under her charge.
6. Although the Mistress may vary the spiritual exercises according to her judgement, she may not introduce any new ones without the Mother's sanction - for example devotions that might be fitted for the Mistress, might not be such as would be suited for the Novice, She is also cautioned against overburthening them with devotional exercises.
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- Chapter
- Information
- All Saints Sisters of the PoorAn Anglican Sisterhood in the Nineteenth Century, pp. 179 - 180Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2001