Sectio II

§ 1.

Comparable to institutes of consecrated life are societies of apostolic life whose members without religious vows pursue the particular apostolic purpose of the society, and leading a life as brothers or sisters in common according to a particular manner of life, strive for the perfection of charity through the observance of the constitutions.

§ 2.

Among these there are societies in which the members embrace the evangelical counsels by some bond defined in the constitutions.

Whatever is determined in cann. 578-597 and 606 is applicable to societies of apostolic life, with due regard for the nature of each society; in addition, cann. 598-602 are applicable to the societies mentioned in can. 731, § 2.

§ 1.

A house is erected and a local community is established by the competent authority of the society with the prior written consent of the diocesan bishop, who must also be consulted for its suppression.

§ 2.

Consent to erect a house entails the right of having at least an oratory in which the Most Holy Eucharist is celebrated and reserved.

The governance of a society is determined by the constitutions, with due regard for cann. 617-633, according to the nature of each society.

§ 1.

The admission, probation, incorporation and training of members are determined by the proper law of each society.

§ 2.

In respect to admission into the society, the conditions established in cann. 642- 645 are to be observed.

§ 3.

Proper law must determine especially the doctrinal, spiritual and apostolic method of probation and training suited to the purpose and character of the society, in such a way that the members, recognizing their divine vocation, may be fittingly prepared for the mission and life of the society.

§ 1.

In clerical societies the clerics are incardinated in the society itself, unless (nisi) the constitutions provide otherwise.

§ 2.

In those matters which pertain to the course of studies and the reception of orders the norms for secular clerics are to be observed with due regard however for § 1.

Incorporation entails obligations and rights for the members defined in the constitutions as well as a concern on the part of the society to lead the members to the end of their particular vocation, according to the constitutions.

§ 1.

All the members are subject to their particular moderators according to the norm of the constitutions in those matters which affect the internal life and discipline of the society.

§ 2.

They are subject also to the diocesan bishop in those matters which affect public worship, the care of souls and other works of the apostolate, with due regard for cann. 679-683.

§ 3.

The relations of a member incardinated in a diocese with his proper bishop are defined by the constitutions or particular agreements.

Besides the obligations which they have as members according to the constitutions the members are bound by the common obligations of clerics, unless (nisi) something else is evident from the nature of the matter or from the context.

Members must live in a house or community legitimately established and observe common life according to the norm of proper law, by which absences from a house or community are also governed.

§ 1.

Societies and, unless (nisi) the constitutions state otherwise, their parts and houses are juridic persons, and, as such, capable of acquiring, possessing, administering and alienating temporal goods according to the norm of the prescriptions of Book V, The Temporal Goods of the Church, cann. 636, 638 and 639 and the norm of proper law.

§ 2.

According to the norm of proper law the members are also capable of acquiring, possessing, administering and disposing of temporal goods, but whatever comes to them in consideration of the society belongs to the society.

The departure and dismissal of a member not yet definitively incorporated is governed by the constitutions of each society.

A member definitively incorporated can obtain an indult of departure from the society from the supreme moderator with the consent of the council, unless (nisi) it is reserved to the Holy See by the constitutions; the rights and obligations flowing from incorporation cease, with due regard for the prescription of can. 693.

§ 1.

It is reserved to the supreme moderator also with the consent of the council to grant permission to a member definitively incorporated to transfer to another society of apostolic life; in the meantime the rights and obligations associated with the prior society are suspended, and the member has the right to return before definitive incorporation into the new society.

§ 2.

In order to transfer to an institute of consecrated life or from that to a society of apostolic life, the permission of the Holy See is required and its mandates must be observed.

The supreme moderator with the consent of the council can grant to a definitively incorporated member an indult of living outside the society, not however beyond three years, with the rights and obligations which are not suitable for the new condition being suspended; the member remains however under the care of the moderators. If it is a question of a cleric there is required in addition the permission of the ordinary of the place in which he must dwell, under whose care and dependency he also remains.

For the dismissal of a member definitively incorporated, cann. 694-704 are to be observed with due adaptations being made.