Page 110 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert

CONSTITUTION APPROVED 89
that the Constitution conformed with Canon Law. They
had suggestions to make and some questions t;
-minor
ask but they advised him to proceed at once to seek
the approval of Bishop Bousien so thar he and his
Brothers could consecrate themselves to God by the
vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Brother Ryken obeyed promptly.
The Constitution, a very brief document, had been
adapted by from the Constitution of a recently-
-Ryken
rpproved Sisterhood. On September 28, 1846, Bishop
Bousse_n wrote his approval: "Having carefully looke-d
over the foregoing Constitution of the Brothers of St.
Francis Xavier, called Xaverians in our diocese, we have
found good to approve the same Constitution contain-
ing articles. We hereby approve, enforcg and
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confirm the same, retaining to Ourselves and. to Our
lawful successors the right to add or make thereunto
changes which according to the circumstances of the
times might be found necessary."
On the feast of St. IJrsuIa, 1846, which fell that year
on October 22, Brother Ryken and six of his compan-
ions at the conclusion of a five-day retreat pronouiced
for one y.ear their vows of poverty, chastity,- and obedi-
ence. William Duchateau, Brother Caietan, who was
trother Ryken's first disciple, was eligible but he de-
clined. Brother Aloysius, Peter Gudders, was not in-
cluded because he was having difficulties with the mili-
taty. The point at issue rvas whether Gudders as a
graduate of a normal school who was actively engaged
teaching profession was exempt even iho,rfh-he
in -the-
had drawn in the National Lottery a numbei that
marked him as a conscript.ll
Coincidental with this first pronouncing of vows was
Leopold Seghers'receiving the habit. He took the name
of "John." It had been five years since he had entered