THE PATRIMONY OF THE SONS OF ST. ANNE

THE PATRIMONY OF THE ASSOCIATION SSA

1.1  MEANING OF A PATRIMONY

Vatican II has talked about the variety of charismatic gifts as a constitutive of the nature and the life of the church. (Lumen Gentium 4a, 12b. Ad Gentes 4, ), but has never used in explicit way the term “CHARISM” in relationship to religious institutes and institutes of consecrated life in general.

The word charism that is present in the last scheme in preparation to the code in 1992, is replaced in the Code with the GIFT Can 577. “NATURE”, “CHARACTER” and “FINALITY” Can 588 “PATRIMONY” Can 631.1 Finality, Spirit, character can 722.2 are the forms used already by Vat.II which talks about primordial spirit of the institutes, their own portrait, of their own functions, of patrimony of each institute. LG 45a, PC 2a, b.

The placing of the word CHARISM has been made because from juridical point of view it seemed to ramble, not specific but rather difficulties to determine it, what cannot happen with NATURE, FINALITY, CHARACTER, SPIRIT, WISE TRADITIONS, and PATRIMONY Can 578

All these refer to what we collectively call COLLECTIVE CHARISM OF THE INSTITUTE and CHARISM OF THE FOUNDER. M. Rosa 11-12, ET.11. The patrimony of the institute coincides with the collective charism.

Each religious institute is deposit of spiritual patrimony that means a variety of goods that in the past has received as a heritage and in the past has acquired during the journey done. This patrimony is constitutive of the foundational charism, having the first point of the first inspiration.

The charism of the founder is converted in a patrimonial tie, in a heredity transmitted to each member of the congregation. They receive it as a free gift but with responsibility. They have the right to welcome it and to incorporate it to their life, to protect it, to nurture it and enrich it progressively in its continuity.

The patrimony is a gift given for the good of the church. Therefore it is a good that the members must protect and of which they cannot dispose, changing and not caring. This duty bind the church itself that recognizes and interprets the charism but does not modify it. To ensure fidelity the church requires that this patrimony remains in fundamental code Can 578, 1

Finally it can be said that all elements that constitute and specify the institute form the patrimony of the same institute and moreover the patrimony of the church for whose good it is given.

  

1.2  ELEMENTS OF THE IDENTITY

a)      THE NATURE

The nature of the institute requires that it is clearly defined that the institute of religious or secular, clerical or lay, of contemplation of apostolate. It has particular importance the way in which the founder has seen his or her institute. Can 588, 2

b)     THE AIM

The aim is given by the founder, according to what he presents as finality of the institute, regarding God and others. The aim is not identified with concrete activities. It constitutes a guide that command the different activities which can change according to the signs of the time, but always in a specific line. Aim means the finality for which the institute has started and continue to live.

c)      THE CHARACTER

The character is the specificity in the kind of institute example in the kind of religious institute is understood and those dedicated to contemplation, apostolic life. In those in apostolic life are distinguished by the canonical dispensation. Moreover the specific character is further determined by each institute in the proper constitution.

d)     THE SPIRIT

The spirit is not easy to define, often it’s talked about the specific spirit of the institute. Then it means the attitude that one takes in front of God and to the brothers, feeling that inspires and moves the conduct. It can also indicate the way to go and leading the brothers to God. It also means the way of participating in the ministry of Christ, therefore the concrete way to be in relationship with God and to work for the good of the brothers.

e)      THE HEALTHY TRADITIONS

The healthy traditions are practical way of actualizing in the space and time the same original charism. The daily prayers and life.

THE PATRIMONY OF THE SONS OF ST. ANNE

The origin of the patrimony: Foundress, the approval.

The public association of the faithful SSA founded with the intention that after necessary preparation may become a clerical religious institute aggregated to the family of Daughters of St. Anne founded by M. Rosa Gattorno, a small portion of the people of God which moved by the Holy spirit to respond to a gratuitous call from the father, has been gathered to work “in the vineyard” sharing in the church and with the church in the salvific work of Christ.

 (Statute 1)

The approval of his Eminence the Card. Vicar of His holiness for the diocese of Rome, firmly integrates the association within the life and holiness of the church. Although it will be divided according to the vocations that the Lord will inspire, into various local communities which will be distinct from another, it will be characterized by single structure through which the individual members will be united to one another and to the center, more by virtue of the bond of the charity than by force of juridical norms which regulate its life and activities. (Statute 4).

2.2 IDENTITY OF THE PATRIMONY SONS OF ST. ANNE

NATURE

The public association of believers SSA has been founded with the intention that after the necessary preparation could become a clerical institute.

GOVERNANCE OF ASSOCIATION

Until the association has members who have made their final vows (perpetual profession), the superior General of DSA has the supreme personal authority over it. Local domestic authority will exercised by the members designed by Mother General in common agreement with card. Vicar’s delegate after basic consultation with the members of the association.

(Statute 1-65)

THE CHARACTER

Through the Holy Mother of Mary, rooted in the spirituality of Yahweh’s poor, the SSA follow Christ, poor man par excellence, while contemplating Mary, who stands out among the poor and humble of the lord and live their consecration in poverty of spirit which for them becomes more than mere practice of virtue, the manner of being, of living and existing which distinguishes their presence in the world and inspires the life style of their family and apostolate

(Statute 6)

The SSA considering themselves like Mary, the humble servants of the lord, they continue in the church and throughout the world their essential paternal mission as Sons of the heart of St. Anne, dedicating themselves to the work of zeal and mercy, especially in the service of the poor.

(Statute 7)

Thus their vocation is deeply rooted in the vocation of the church herself, which is called by the founder to walk the path of poverty in order to communicate the fruits of the salvation to all mankind. As a result, apostolic activity is an essential part of the charism of the association of the sons of St. Anne, for them it is the fundamental demand involving their whole life and making them feel solidarity with various events of humanity and totally ready to meet humanity’s needs in the historical circumstances of the moment, according to the mandate and directives of the church.

(Statute 8)

THE SPIRIT

Family life Style….(Statute 19)

IN THE SELF PATERNAL GIVING

…… (Statute 25)

THE ACTING OF THE PATRIMONY OF THE SONS OF ST. ANNE

GOAL

…(Statute 6a)

The SSA by virtue of their baptism and of a specific divine call of the mission of the church, they are helped by the foundress’s words “I see them intent and full of God’s love, to work for the glory, converting sinners, evangelizing all the world” they try to be docile instruments through whom the Lord manifests his love for the people when and how he has chosen to do, therefore answering to the needs of humanity, they continue in the church in the paternal donation and poverty of heart, the mission of Christ ready to exercise:

a)      The priestly ministry in all its demands: evangelization on the universal level, administration of the sacraments, education of the people of God to the faith.

b)      The ministry of charity in its various forms, giving priority to the neediest.

(statute 48-49)

SOUND TRADITIONS

For our association, the healthy traditions are the historical events we are living. Its easily understood considering our history in the first years of existence, and all what we will experience in our life as SSA, living the charismatic dimension.

CONCLUSION

It’s impossible to identify with Christ through prayers, the sacraments and above all the Eucharist without becoming one with him. And since Jesus is one with the father and the Holy spirit, the spiritual family of M. Rosa follows Jesus’s thought and example by letting itself be guided by the spirit on the path that will lead it to full adherence to the father’s will and perfect communion with him.

(Treatise page 114)

The members of the Holy immaculate called to express the covenant, nourish their fraternal communion with hope. They are heirs to the community spirit of the REMNANT of ISRAEL, the first of whom are Anne, Joachim and Mary, constituted in the name of the lord, faithful to the unity desired by Jesus and intended in fraternal love, the family’s motto, like Mary they live the dimension of openness to God in all circumstances and situations that their hearts filled with attention to their brothers and sisters.

(Treatise 115)

The family of St. Anne today has the mission of announcing the kingdom and to incarnate in the history a presence of maternal- paternal love of God. He gives himself in poverty of heart in the service to the poorest that in the modern social ecclesial context are:

-          The sick at home and in hospitals

-          The youths, exposed to the risks of modern society: drugs, prostitution, AIDS

-          The families in need of reviving the sense of their vocation to holiness

-          The elderly who are alone and often abandoned in their weakness.

To all these poor as M. Rosa was inspired, members of the family of St. Anne are called to witness hope and to announce, serving them with paternal-maternal donation, the father’s love and his will to make of all one family of children of God.

Their life style is characterized by the family style, lived in simplicity and in the joy of a communion of prayer and life that of every family.