V. Let the rectors of colleges endeavor to obtain intelligence of the houses, gardens, farms, villages, and other estates which may be owned by the first nobility, merchants or citizens, and if it can be done, the taxes and rents by which they may be burthened; but cautiously, for it can be done most effectually by confession, companionship and private conversations, wherefore when a confessor obtains a rich penitent, let him immediately inform the rector, and try to cherish him by every method.
VI. But the sum of the matter consists in this, that all our members should know precisely how to conciliate their penitents, and others with whom they associate, and to accommodate themselves to the disposition of each; wherefore let the provincials provide, that many be sent to places, which are inhabited by the rich and noble; and that the provincials may do this the more prudently and completely, let the rectors remember to inform them accurately of the proper time to act.
VII. Let them also inquire whether by the reception of their children into the society, their contracts and possessions would pass to it; and if it can be done let them inquire whether any goods, by some agreement could be transferred or otherwise ceded to a college so as to come back after some time to the society; to which purpose let the poverty of the society and the greatness of its debts, be intimated to all, especially to the rich and great.
VIII. If it happen that widows, or rich married persons who are attached to us, have only daughters, let our members direct them kindly to the state of a devotee, or to religious seclusion; but if they have sons who may be fit for our society—let such be enticed to it, and let the others be encouraged by some small inducement to go to other orders. But if there should be an only son, by all means let him be drawn to the society, and all fear of his parents removed from his mind, and that the vocation is of Christ is to be shown by proving that the sacrifice would be acceptable to God although it required him to leave his parents without their knowledge and against their will; then let him be sent to some remote noviciate, having first given notice to the general: but if they have sons and daughters, let the daughters be first sent to a monastery or state of devotion, and then let the sons with the inheritance of the estates be drawn into the society.
IX. Let the superiors gently but firmly admonish the confessors of widows and married persons of this description that they may usefully employ themselves in behalf of the society according to these counsels: which if they do not, let them be removed and others substituted in their place, so that they cannot maintain any correspondence with the family.
X. The widows and other devout persons who appear to strive with great earnestness after perfection are to be induced as the most efficient method of rising to the pinnacle of excellence, to give all their possessions to the society, and to live upon the annuity which the society will regularly appoint them according to their need, so that without any care or solicitude, they may more freely serve God.
XI. To manifest more effectually the poverty of the society, let the superiors borrow money on bond from rich persons attached to the society of which the payment should be deferred; and then in time of dangerous disease especially, let such person be constantly visited, and by every method be prevailed on until he is persuaded to surrender the bond; for so we shall not be known in the will, and in the meantime will nevertheless obtain something without incurring the hatred of the heirs to the estate of the deceased person.
XII. It will also be proper to borrow money from some persons, at a yearly interest, and to dispose of it somewhere else at a higher rate, that the excess may cover the expense; for in the meantime it may happen, that the friends who have lent us the money, moved by compassion for us may give the society the interest, and at length even the principal, either by will or by donation during their life, when colleges are to be built or temples raised.
XIII. The society can also usefully trade, under the name of rich merchants attached to us; but certain and abundant gain is to be looked at, as in the Indies, which have furnished the society not only souls but thus far also much wealth through the favor of God.
XIV. Let our members take care to provide, in places where they reside, a physician who may be faithful to the society, whom they should especially commend to the sick, and extol above others; that in turn, he commending us in preference to other religious orders, may cause that every where we will be called to them that are sick and dying, and especially to such as are persons of great distinction.