Provincial superior
Encyclopedia
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order
acting under the order's Superior General
and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical province
, which is a group of particular church
es under the supervision of a Metropolitan Bishop
. The division is generally geographical, and may consist of one or more countries, or of only a part of a country; however, one or more houses of one province may be situated within the territory of another, and the jurisdiction
over the individual religious
is personal rather than territorial. The title of the office is often abbreviated to Provincial.
Among the friar
s and Third Order
Religious Sisters
of the Augustinian
, Carmelite and Dominican
orders, the title "Prior
(or Prioress) Provincial" is generally used. The Friars Minor, in contrast, use the title "Minister Provincial", in line with their emphasis on living as brothers to one another.
were united to form congregations, the arch-abbot of each congregation
was in the position of a superior general whose powers were limited to particular cases, almost like the powers of an archbishop
over the diocese
s of his suffragans. Provincial superiors are found in the congregations of more recent formation, which began with the mendicant orders. The Holy See
hesitated for a long time before allowing the division of congregations with simple vow
s, especially congregations of women, into different provinces as a regular institution, and some congregations have no such division.
The Provincial Superior
is ordinarily elected
by the Provincial Chapter
, subject to confirmation by the Superior General or the General Chapter
, depending on the regulations of the particular groups (in the Society of Jesus
he is directly appointed by the Father General). The "Regulations" (Normae) of 18 June 1901, vest the appointment of the provincial in the general council. The provincial superior is never elected for life, but ordinarily for three or six years. In religious orders with clerics
, he is a regular prelate
, and has the rank of ordinary with quasi-episcopal jurisdiction. In both orders and congregations of men and women, he or she appoints the regular confessor
s, calls together the Provincial Chapter
, presides over its deliberations, and takes care that the orders of the General Chapter
and the Superior General are properly carried out. He or she is an ex officio member of the chapter. His or her principal duty is to make regular visitation
s of the houses of the province in the name of the General and to report to the latter on all the religious and the property of the order; authority over the various houses and local superiors differs in different orders. He or she has, in many cases, the right of appointment to the less important offices. For orders of men, at the end of his
term of office, the provincial is bound, according to the Constitution "Nuper" of Innocent XII (23 December 1697), to prove that he has complied with all the precepts of that decree concerning Mass
es; if he fails to do so, he loses his right to be elected and to vote in the general chapter.
In accordance with the privilege granted to the Society of Jesus, the provincial superior of a religious order is authorized to approve of oratories
set apart for the celebration of Mass in the houses of his order; these oratories may receive the blessing usually given to public oratories, and may not be permanently diverted from their sacred uses, except for good reason and with the approval of the provincial. In congregations with simple vows and not exempt
, the provincial has no power of jurisdiction. According to the "Regulations" of 1901, his or her duty is also to supervise the financial administration of the Provincial Procurator
and the local superiors.
of the first autonomous Indian reserve, known as the (Jesuit) Misones or Reductiones, till 1667, ten years after a Guarani rebellion against increased abuse by the regular colonial authorities: the territory lost its status and was divided up between Spain (then under the viceroyalty of la Plata, previously part of Upper Peru) and Portugal (Brazil)
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
acting under the order's Superior General
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
, which is a group of particular church
Particular Church
In Catholic canon law, a Particular Church is an ecclesial community headed by a bishop or someone recognised as the equivalent of a bishop.There are two kinds of particular Churches:# Local particular Churches ...
es under the supervision of a Metropolitan Bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
. The division is generally geographical, and may consist of one or more countries, or of only a part of a country; however, one or more houses of one province may be situated within the territory of another, and the jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
over the individual religious
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
is personal rather than territorial. The title of the office is often abbreviated to Provincial.
Among the friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s and Third Order
Third order
The term Third Order designates persons who live according to the Third Rule of a Roman Catholic religious order, an Anglican religious order, or a Lutheran religious order. Their members, known as Tertiaries, are generally lay members of religious orders, i.e...
Religious Sisters
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
of the Augustinian
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
, Carmelite and Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
orders, the title "Prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
(or Prioress) Provincial" is generally used. The Friars Minor, in contrast, use the title "Minister Provincial", in line with their emphasis on living as brothers to one another.
History
The old orders had no provincial superiors; even when the monasteriesMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
were united to form congregations, the arch-abbot of each congregation
Congregation (catholic)
The term "congregation" has three usages specific to the Roman Catholic Church. One concerns the Roman Curia, the other two concern religious institutes.- Roman Curia :...
was in the position of a superior general whose powers were limited to particular cases, almost like the powers of an archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
over the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s of his suffragans. Provincial superiors are found in the congregations of more recent formation, which began with the mendicant orders. The Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
hesitated for a long time before allowing the division of congregations with simple vow
Vow
A vow is a promise or oath.-Marriage vows:Marriage vows are binding promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a wedding ceremony. Marriage customs have developed over history and keep changing as human society develops...
s, especially congregations of women, into different provinces as a regular institution, and some congregations have no such division.
The Provincial Superior
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
is ordinarily elected
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
by the Provincial Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
, subject to confirmation by the Superior General or the General Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
, depending on the regulations of the particular groups (in the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
he is directly appointed by the Father General). The "Regulations" (Normae) of 18 June 1901, vest the appointment of the provincial in the general council. The provincial superior is never elected for life, but ordinarily for three or six years. In religious orders with clerics
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
, he is a regular prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
, and has the rank of ordinary with quasi-episcopal jurisdiction. In both orders and congregations of men and women, he or she appoints the regular confessor
Confessor
-Confessor of the Faith:Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith, but not to the point of death. The term is still used in this way in the East. In Latin Christianity it has come to signify any saint, as well as those who have been declared...
s, calls together the Provincial Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
, presides over its deliberations, and takes care that the orders of the General Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
and the Superior General are properly carried out. He or she is an ex officio member of the chapter. His or her principal duty is to make regular visitation
Canonical Visitation
A canonical visitation is the act of an ecclesiastical superior who in the discharge of his office visits persons or places with a view of maintaining faith and discipline, and of correcting abuses by the application of proper remedies.-Catholic usage:...
s of the houses of the province in the name of the General and to report to the latter on all the religious and the property of the order; authority over the various houses and local superiors differs in different orders. He or she has, in many cases, the right of appointment to the less important offices. For orders of men, at the end of his
term of office, the provincial is bound, according to the Constitution "Nuper" of Innocent XII (23 December 1697), to prove that he has complied with all the precepts of that decree concerning Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
es; if he fails to do so, he loses his right to be elected and to vote in the general chapter.
In accordance with the privilege granted to the Society of Jesus, the provincial superior of a religious order is authorized to approve of oratories
Oratory
Oratory is a type of public speaking.Oratory may also refer to:* Oratory , a power metal band* Oratory , a place of worship* a religious order such as** Oratory of Saint Philip Neri ** Oratory of Jesus...
set apart for the celebration of Mass in the houses of his order; these oratories may receive the blessing usually given to public oratories, and may not be permanently diverted from their sacred uses, except for good reason and with the approval of the provincial. In congregations with simple vows and not exempt
Exemption (church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, exemption is the whole or partial release of an ecclesiastical person, corporation, or institution from the authority of the ecclesiastical superior next higher in rank....
, the provincial has no power of jurisdiction. According to the "Regulations" of 1901, his or her duty is also to supervise the financial administration of the Provincial Procurator
Procurator (Catholic Church)
This is the term for an office used among religious orders. In this context, the title is applied to a treasurer or financial officer of the group, with each level of the order having their own officer, from the local community to that of "Procurator General", who supervises the finances for the...
and the local superiors.
Politics
A unique case was eastern Paraguay, where the Spanish colonial authorities allowed the Jesuit missionaries to establish both the Catholic faith and a unique, humane regime for the local Guarani Indian tribes, making their provincial superior the governorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the first autonomous Indian reserve, known as the (Jesuit) Misones or Reductiones, till 1667, ten years after a Guarani rebellion against increased abuse by the regular colonial authorities: the territory lost its status and was divided up between Spain (then under the viceroyalty of la Plata, previously part of Upper Peru) and Portugal (Brazil)
List of famous provincial superiors
- Society of JesusSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
- Brazil: José de AnchietaJosé de AnchietaJosé de Anchieta was a Canarian Jesuit missionary to Brazil in the second half of the 16th century. A highly influential figure in Brazil's history in the 1st century after its discovery on April 22, 1500 by a Portuguese fleet commanded by Pedro Álvares Cabral, Anchieta was one of the founders of...
- Brazil: Manoel da Nóbrega
- Philippines: James T. G. Hayes
- Brazil: José de Anchieta