XIII. Utiliter etiam societas sub nomine mercatorum divitum nobis addictorum negotiari poterit; sed respiciendum certum ac copiosum lucrum, etiam in Indiis, quæ societati non tantum animas, verum etiam opes multas hactenus, Deo favente, subministrarunt.
XIV. Procurent nostri habere in locis ubi resident, medicum aliquem societati fidelem, quem apud ægros præ cæteris præcipue commendent et extollant; ut vicissim ipse nostros præ cæteris religiosis commendans, efficiat ut passim apud primarios ægrotos et præsertim moribundos vocemur.
XV. Confessarii sint assidui in visitandis ægris, potissimum qui periclitantur, et ut alios religiosos et ecclesiasticos inde honeste eliminent, procurent superiores, ut tempore illo quo confessarius discedere cogitur ab ægroto, continuo alii succedant, et ægrotum in bonis propositis foveant; interim incutiendus erit prudenter horror inferni, &c. ad minimum purgatorium, demonstrandumque, quod sic ut aqua exstinguit ignem, sic eleemosyna exstinguit peccatum; nusquam autem melius eleemosynas impendi posse, quam in hujusmodi personarum alimentum ac subsidium, qui ex vocatione sua profitentur charitatem erga salutem proximi, sic enim illius participes faciendos, et satisfacturos ægrotos pro peccatis propriis, qui charitas operiit multitudinem peccatorum; describi potest quoque charitas, tamquam vestis illa nuptialis, sine qua nemo admittitur ad mensam cœlestem. Denique ex scriptura et sanctis patribus alleganda erunt, quæ, respectu habito ad capacitatem ægroti, efficacissima judicabuntur ad illum permovendum.
XVI. Mulieres conquerentes de vitiis aut molestiis suorum maritorum, doceantur subtrahere secreto summam aliquam pecuniæ, illamque, Deo offerre pro expiandis peccatis maritorum, et impetranda illis gratia.
CHAP. IX.
Of increasing the revenues of our colleges.
I. When it can be prevented, let no one be admitted to complete profession as long as he expects any inheritance, unless he has a younger brother in the society, or on account of other important reasons; but in all things, and above every thing, let the interest of the society be consulted in accordance with the known objects of the superiors; who agree at least in this, that the church should be restored to its former splendor, for the greater glory of God, and that all the clergy ought to be of one mind; wherefore let it be frequently suggested and every where promulgated, that the society consists partly of members who are so poor that but for the daily alms of the faithful they would totally want all things; that another part consists of fathers, poor indeed, but who possess a certain support, and are not like others, mendicants and burthensome to the people in their studies and functions; wherefore let the confessors of rulers, of noblemen, of widows and others from whom the society can hope much, seriously inculcate those things which concern this matter, that while they confer spiritual and divine things upon them, they should receive at least earthly and temporal things in return; and scarcely ever omit opportunities of receiving them when offered; and if any thing be promised and delayed, let it be prudently recalled to memory, when it can be done, so as to conceal all love of riches; but if any confessor of noblemen or others seem less industrious in attending practically to these things, let him be seasonably and cautiously removed; and let another be substituted; and should it be necessary for the greater satisfaction of his penitents, let him be sent to the more remote colleges, declaring that the society most needed his presence and talents there; for we have recently heard that some young widows, prevented by sudden death, did not make a legacy of tapestry very precious, which had been designed for temples of the society, through our negligence in not accepting it in right time; for it is not time, but the good will of our penitents which is to be looked at, in receiving such things.
II. Let prelates, canons, pastors, and other ecclesiastics who may be rich, be allured by great efforts to religious acts, and by degrees through the influence of the propensity to religious actions, conciliated to the society, which may finally see their liberality become gradually manifest.
III. Let confessors not neglect to interrogate their penitents, (but cautiously) about their name, family relations, parents, friends, estates, and then to examine their expectancies, state, intentions and resolutions, which ought to be moulded favorably to the society, if not so already. But if the hope of any advantage should be apparent, for it is not expedient to inquire about all things at once, let them be directed under pretence of greater clearing of conscience, or some salutary penance, to confess weekly; wherefore for the same reason let them be pressed to come freely to the confessional, so that what could not be inquired into on one occasion, may be ascertained on repeated opportunities; which if it shall succeed according to his wish, if it be a female, let her by every method be induced to persist in frequent confession and visitation; if a man to frequent companionship and familiarity with us.
IV. What has been said about widows may be understood to apply concerning merchants and rich citizens and married persons, without children, from whom the society may frequently acquire their whole estate, if these rules are prudently reduced to practice. But these things are to be chiefly observed towards rich female devotees, who adhere to us, about whom, if not descended from very distinguished parentage the common people can at most but murmur.