I.Origin, Nature, and Objectives
Art 1. ORIGIN
The Association of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was founded by Pius IX
on 21 June 1847, following the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to St. Catherine
laboure. At the beginning it existed at St. Lazare (Paris) Motherhouse of the
Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). The idea to form an Association
with the emblem of the MIRACULOUS MEDAL came from the Episcopate of Poland.
Pope St. Pius X, on 8 July 1909, founded the Association of the Immaculate
Conception of the Holy Medal with a definitive and universal character for
the entire church. He conferred on it proper statutes and entrusted its direction
to the Superior General of the Priests of the Mission.
With time and the changes that took place in the church, it was necessary
to make some modifications in the Statutes to adapt the Association to
present circumstances. The Holy See approved the latest modifications
on 19 February, 1998.
The Association is basically an Association of the Church to which all
Christian faithful of any condition can belong. To belong spiritually
to this Association, otherwise known as General Membership, it is necessary
to wear the Miraculous Medal, duly blessed by a priest, and it is recommended
to invoke Mary with the ejaculatory prayer: "O Mary conceived without
sin pray for us who have recourse to thee."
Those who desire to be members with full rights and to be more involved
in the activities of the Association, otherwise known as Particular Membership
must enroll in the register of the Associates. This register is duly
held in the seat of the duly recognized National Associations.
Art 2. NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS
The Association is:
2.1. Ecclesial. In tune with the pastoral lines of the Local Church
and in communion with the diocesan Bishop
2.2. Missionary. In evangelizing those who do not live what they believe,
or their condition or state do not announce what they live, especially
the poorest and the most distant
2.3. Marian. In honoring Mary as Mother and Model of the Church, example
of Christian Life for the people of God
2.4. Vincentian. In being faithful to the charism of St. Vincent de
Paul evangelizer of the poor, in trying to make the Gospel believable,
by practicing charity.
Art 3. OBJECTIVES
3.1. To acquire a solid christian formation using the basic catechism of the
Catholic Church has a guide. As individuals to make known our hope before the
world through our actions and our manner of being both in our personal life
and in our public or professional activities
3.2. To strive towards on-going sanctification of members through commitment
to a true way of faith under the guidance of Our Lady of the Miraculous
Medal and in turn contribute towards sanctification of others
3.3. To develop the practice of bringing the statute of Our Lady of
the Miraculous Medal into homes as one of the prefered instruments of
evangelization of the Association
3.4. To honor and to spread devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary
in the Mystery of her Immaculate Conception
3.5. To unite the Vincentian Charism to the Association. In the light
of this, the following objectives are implied.
3.5.1. To collaborate with all the Associations of the Vincentian
family.
3.5.2. To contribute both spiritually and materially to the formation of Vincentian
Priests and Daughters of Charity
3.5.3. To have a committed concern for Justice and the plight of the Needy.
To achieve this, we endeavour to help those who suffer from all forms of poverty,
both material and spiritual, with a true spirit of charity. We cooperate directly
and concretely in the charitable campaigns of the Church
3.6. To pray and intercede for members (living and dead) and for the
world.
II. Name and Address, Organization and Administration
Art 4.1. NAME AND ADDRESS
The name adopted for the Association in Nigeria is ASSOCIATION OF OUR LADY OF
THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
Postal Address:
Miraculous Medal Office,
P. O. Box 3356,
Ugwuaji Road Maryland-Enugu,
NIGERIA.
Art. 5. ORGINIZATION
5.1. The Director General: This Association is under the authority of the
one Director General, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission
and the Company of the Daughters of Charity (AAS, 1[1909], 669-671)
5.2. The National Director: A National Director for the Association is appointed
by for a territory he designates. Usually, a candidate is proposed by the Provicial
Superior of the Vincentian Community to the Director General who in turn approves
of, or otherwise, this appointment, in writing for the tenure it covers. It
is recommended that an official tenure covers three (3) years for the office
of the National Director. He may be re-appointed for another three years tenure,
as the case may be. After which, another director should be appointed.
5.3. The Regional or Provincial Coordinator: A Provincial Coordinator may
be either a Vincentian, or, a Daughter of Charity. This office is to assist
the National Director in the duty of facilitation within a designated region
or ecclesiastical province as the case may be. The number of regional or provincial
coordinators must correspond with the existing ecclesiastical Provinces in
the country.
5.4. The Diocesan Coordinator: A Diocesan Coordinator proposed by the National
Director is appointed by the Bishop or Local Ordinary of the Diocese for his
Particular Church. He may not necessarily be a Vincentian. He or she works
under the authority of the National Director.
5.5. Council of Coordinators: A Council of Coordinators shall consist of the
National Director and Provincial or Regional Coordinators, and Diocesan Coordinators
of the Association.This Council shall agree on a standard program of facilitation
and an on-going formation for members and intending members or centres of the
devotion.
5.6. National Executives: National lay executives shall be appointed through
balloting for the executive running of the Association on national level. The
same shall be for the Provincial, Diocesan, and parish levels.
5.7. National Council: A national council shall be constituted. This will
be made up of Coordinators from National, Provincial and Diocesan levels and
members of the National executives. The National Director shall preside at
the meeting of the National Counsellors, deputized by the National lay president
of the Association. This meeting shall be convoked at every first-quarter of
the year.
Art. 6. ADMINISTRATION
The following are the elective offices of the Association for the purpose
of administration on the National, Provincial, Diocesan as well as Parish levels.
To note, election into offices is by secret ballot system.
6.1. President. The President who must be lay presides at the meeting of the
Association. He enjoys executive power in matters concerning the effective
running of meeting of members.
6.1.1. Together with his counselors, he takes final decisions over deliberations
at meetings. He ensures constant communication with other levels of the association.
The National President in turn ensures constant communication with other
arms of the Vincentian Famly. In policy matters, the National President must
confer with the National director for collaborative thinking.
6.2. Vice President: The Vice President deputizes for the President at meetings.
He acts in the interim at the absence of the president.
6.3. Secretary: The secretary runs the secretariat of the Association. His
duty includes keeping of meetings, handling of correspondence, compiling reports
concerning the association, keeping up-to-date reports of registration of enrolled
members, printing and publishing materials concerning the Association, sending
out circulars.
6.3.1. On the National level, the Secretary helps the President
to communicate with other arms of the Vincentian Family.
6.4. Financial Secretary: The financial secretary is to keep accurate and
honest financial records of the association's money, and give financial reports
as and when due. He shall be one of the official signatories to the account
of the Association.
6.5. Treasurer: The treasurer shall keep accurate account of the Association's
finances Together with the president and financial secretary, he is also one
of the official signatories of the association's account during his tenure
of office, same with the former two.
6.6. Promoter: Every member of the association is ipso facto a promoter. Nevertheless,
there is an officially elected promoter. He deals directly with enrollment
of new members: keeps materials, handles enrollment forms and replies.
6.6.1. The Promoter ensures transfers of enrollment fees to the treasurer
and passes on the lists of enrollments to the secretary who inturn passes them
on to the National Secretary for entry into the National Registar.
6.7. Provost: The provost facilitates smooth running of meeting. He prepares
the venue for the meeting and keeps custody of the association's materials used
for every meeting or devotion.
6.8. Patrons and Matrons: Life members of the Association may become matrons
or patrons of this Association .
Art. 7. Tenure and Dissolution of Office
Every elective post in the Association-apart from the office of the National
Director whose mode of appointment varies from the latter-enjoys a Four (4)
Year tenure. The officer may be re-elected for another two (2) subsequent Year
tenure, after which he or she should discontinue.
7.1. The dissolution of office follows suite on completion of tenure. Ipso
facto executive mandate seizes at this point. However, the incumbent secretary
may custody of official documents until a new executive body is elected and
assumes office.
Art.8. MEMBERSHIP
8.1. General or Auxillary or Spiritual Membership: This kind of membership
may be shared by distant persons, relatives and friends living or dead who
receive spiritual benefits from the perpetual novenas and masses celebrated
for the intention of the devotion. However, to belong spiritually to this Association,
it is necessary to wear the miraculous medal, duly blessed by a catholic priest.
8.1.2. This medal by recommendation be conferred either by a priest or by
a delegated lay person according to the rite which has been approved by the
Congregation for Divine worship. And in addition, it is recommended that such
a member consciencously invokes Mary's assistance with the ejaculatory prayer: "O
Mary conceived without sin Pray for us who have recourse to thee".
8.2. Active or Particular Membership: Active membership in the Association
is one which enjoys full rights and benefits of the Association. In addition,
a prospective member under this category in due course, directly or indirectly
involves himself or herself in the activity of the Association in the territory
of his domicile or quasi-domicile. He or she enrols in the register of the
Association. He or she must also undergo some formation arranged for would-be
members of the Association within his or her convenience. And, he or she must
be duly invested with the blessed medal on day of investiture.
Art.9. INDULGENCES
9.1. Members of the Association of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal generally
as well as particularly enjoy the indulgences granted in perpetuity according
to the rescript of the Sacred Penitentiary given on October 27, 1995.
9.1.2. Members who endeavor to attend the sacrament of Reconciliation
and then the Blessed Eucharist on the following feasts or events enjoy the
benefits as refered to in art. 9.1.
On the Day of Investiture
On the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, November 27
On the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, August 22
On the feast of St. Catherine Laboure, November 28
On the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, September 27
On the Anniversary of the Establishment of the Association, July 8
9.2. Members of the Association also derive particular spiritual benefits
acruing from the Novena Masses offered for their intention by Vincentian fathers
all over the world and particularly in Nigeria.
9.3. And of course, members who wear the Medal, duly blessed, and who consciensciously
recite the prayer: "O Mary concieved without sin, pray for us who have
recourse to thee," do enjoy particular graces
9.4. Death of an Active Member
Every member in the Association enjoys a perpetuity of intercession. With the
death of an active member, the executives judging custom and disposition
may arrange some symbolic condolence for the bereaved family, or relation.
Art.10. REGISTRATION AND INAUGURATION
10.1. Registration
10.1.1 To become an active member of the Association, the individual
obtains an enrollment form from the nearest promoter and make the necessary
entries. He or she then identifies with the nearest centre where the devotion
is observed.
10.1.2. Usually it is recommended that every centre of the devotion falls
under a parish structure. The applicant then attends weekly devotion with
other members at the centre. It is the prerogative of the centre promoter
to notify the cordinator when a reasonable number of enrollments have been
compiled. The coordinator then organizes a formation program that will
be convenient for these persons involved.
10.1.3. A normal formation program is expected to last for a minimum of
three months. There is a standard format for the program which the coordinator
in turn facilitates . This program ends with a retreat after which the
new members are invested with the medal and handed the necessary handbooks
and prayer leaflets. The investuture under normal circumstances.takes place
within the mass
10.2. Inauguration of a Centre
10.2.1. Every centre of the Association falls under a parish structure.
As members increase, it is recommended that new centers be proposed.
10.2.2. This is in line with the objective of the Association, whereby
AMM constantly strives to creat christian communities of evangelization,
as well as integrating itself into the parish and diocesan pastoral program.
10.2.3. To inaugurate a centre, the mother centre of the parish notifies
the pastor of the parish for clearance. The key functionaries are elected.
These are the Promoter , the secretary, the treasurer, and the provost.
On commencement, the promoter acts as facilitator during devotions and
meetings.
10.2.3. In other words, there can only be ONE PRESIDENT under a parish.
There can be as many promoters as there are centres. The parish president
conducts the affairs of the Association under the parish. His function
lies basically at presiding over parish meetings when all the centres meet
perhaps once every month.
10.2.4. A minimum of five persons can form a centre. To inaugurate a new
centre a holy mass is booked for that intention. A name preferably from
the hagiography of Vincentian Family Saints in general is chosen as Patron
or Patroness of the group.
10.2.5. At the inauguration of a new centre, it is the prerogative of the
parish president to notify the national secretary for entry into the national
register. Every parish has her executive body constituting the key functionaries
as in Art.2.1.
Art.11. ANNUAL MEETINGS AND CONGRESSES
11.1. Parish Meeting: By its very nature and essence, the Perpetual Novena
is observed on regular, uninterrupted basis. For pastoral reasons, and for
popular devotion, members meet once every week for the novena prayers.
11.1.2. Beside the prayer meeting, it is recommemded that a parish
meeting of members from existing centers holds every month. In that forum matters
concerning the welfare of the Association are deliberated upon.
11.2. A Diocesan Council: A Diocesan Council may meet more than once in the
course of the year. Preferably during the first quarter of the year.
11.3. A Provincial Council: A Provincial Council meeting could take place
at least once every year.
11.4. A National Council: A National Council Meeting should convoke at the
beginning of the year. This is a meeting of Coordinators (Animators) and the
Lay National Executives. The first plenary meeting could hold say at the month
of February, while the Council could as well meet in October to review the
activities of the passing year.
11.4.1. A Project may be proposed as a pastoral plan for the Association
at the begining of the year. This project should by its very nature reflect
the objectives of the Association without prejudice to Art. 3 of this Statutes.
The project could form a major theme of the National Council in her first plenary
meeting to enable the Association have a focus for the rest of the year.
11.5. National Executive Council: This meeting comes up usually at the first
quarter of the year. It is recommended that the meeting of national lay executives
comes after the national council meeting.
11.6. National Congress: A congress consists of a gathering of all members
of the Association in the region or country. It is recommended that a national
congress be held at least once every three years.
Art.12. FORMAT FOR PERPETUAL NOVENAS, RITE, AND
RITUAL
12.1. By nature of the devotion, a perpetual novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous
Medal continues all through ones lifetime. A standard format is found in the
booklet for the devotion. The devotion could be personal or family, or in group.
For convenience and constancy, the novena may be on weekly basis where it involves
a group, without prejudice to Art. 11.1.
12.2. Altar : Where there is a shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous medal,
the novena is best recited at the Shrine. However, it may be conducted before
a simple altar of Our Lady, which consists of a blessed Statue of Our Lady
of the Miraculous Medal, a blessed candlelight, and some flowers to decorate
the altar. A Picture of the Apparition could suffice where a statue cannot
be got.
12.3. Novena during Feasts
The standard length of days for novenas in the church is recommended. Petitions
are received before the commencement of the Novena. The petitions may be
placed before the altar through the period of the Novena. On the last day
of the Novena, a mass intention is booked, usually on behalf of the members
of the Association, and specifically those who participated in the Novena.
12.3.1. Where possible, the mass celebrated should be for the sole
purpose of the Novena. Due to the inner spiritual significance of pertitions
generally in the Catholic Church, Novena Stipend(s) is forwarded to the treasurer
of the Centre who in turn transfers it to the National Director who happens
to be a Priest.
12.4. NOVEMBER 18-26:
The Association attaches special importance to the Novena of November 18-26,
prior to the feast of the Miraculous Medal which is the 27th of November.
12.4.1. For its intricate significance, the following events are
attached to this period
i. All Memberships are renewed
ii. Petitions booked for this Novena are burnt at the National Shrine of Our
Lady of the Miraculous Medal
iii. New Members are invested with the medal
iv. A Plenary Indulgence is received by every member of the Association both
spiritual and active in the manner and essence infered in Art. 9 of this Statute.
12.5. The Petitions submitted for the Novena are the sole resposibility of
National Director who ensures that their intrinsic nature be respected and
accomplished. The petitions are sent collectively to the National Shrine as
the case may be.
12.6. Renewals of Membership are compiled through centres to the National
secretary for Entry into the Association Register. The Renewal Fees, and New
enrollments, and special donations or pledges are likewise compiled by promoters
and submitted to the National Directorate through the National Secretary.
12.7. Members use this privileged season of the devotion to make donations,
or, pledge financial support to the mission of the priesthood and Religious
Life, or, support the spread of the Miraculous Medal Apostolate. for special
favors received through the devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
12.8. .Format of Weekly Devotion (Confer the regional handbook)
-Opening Hymn to Our Lady
-Invocation of the Holy Spirit
-The rosary/Litany of the BVM
-Another Hymn
-Novena prayers
-Scripture Reading( From Bible, St. Vincent's Readings, Approved Marian Texts,
Life of St Catherine, or Other
Vincentian Saints or saints of the church, Social Teachings of the Church,
Catholic Catechism,
Letters from Synods concerning social Justice, development and Peace)
-Reports from members on weekly apostolate
-Secret Bag collections
-Prayers for the vincentian family, vocations, and sinners
-Expositon/Benediction where possible
-Dismissal
NB. Every prayer meeting may last for at most 1.30hrs.
Art.13. FINANCE
13.1. The Association gets her revenue from her secret bag collections, levies,
benefices such as properties and money from members, living or dead, and donations
from individuals and Charity Agencies,
13.2. The Association, on Parish, Diocesan and National levels should run
a Savings Account, or, otherwise, for the safe keeping of her finances. It
is recommended that for effective handling of the fact of the matter, the President,
Financial Secretary and Treasurer should constitute the official signatories
to the Association's Account in the respective levels as enlisted.
Art.14. DISSOLUTION
14.1. Dissolution of a Centre: On extremely grave reason, e.g. public scandal,
heresy, or abuse, a centre may be suspended by the National Director. This
authority is a proximate authority.
14.2. Change of Constitution
Ipso facto, this Particular Statutes of the Association for use only by the
Nigerian Province, enjoy the legitimate approval of the Director General, the
Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and Company of the Daughters
of Charity.
It remains a guide for the activity of the Association within the region it
designates. Ipso Facto only the Director General enjoys sole authority to ammend,
abbrogate or annul any article in this Statutes for the Association of Our
Lady of the Miraculous Medal now and in the future.
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