The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has issued the approval decree for the text of the Constitutions of the Legion of Christ. This text, which largely coincides with the Constitutions approved in 2014, includes amendments introduced by the last 2020 General Chapter, two canonical precision adjustments following the review by the Holy See, and a series of editorial improvements without affecting the content.

Father John Connor, LC, general director of the Legion of Christ, announced it as follows in a letter sent to the members of the Congregation, also noting that the amendments voted with a qualified majority of two-thirds of the General Chapter mainly concern the following topics:

1. The relationship with Regnum Christi: It was defined at the General Assembly of Regnum Christi and the extraordinary General Chapter of 2018, followed by the approval of the Regnum Christi Federation on May 31, 2019, and the approval of its Statutes. Therefore, the most important amendment in the current text of the Constitutions is what now states in the first number: “The Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ: 1° is a clerical religious institute of pontifical right, composed of priests and candidates for the priesthood; 2° is constitutively part of Regnum Christi, a spiritual family and apostolic body; 3° is part of the Regnum Christi Federation, which is governed by its own statutes.” Based on this foundation, all other passages mentioning Regnum Christi have been adjusted.
2. The directors of apostolic works: Two new numbers (nn. 220 and 221) are introduced to fill a thematic gap in the Constitutions of 2014.

Other minor content changes: Some other amendments respond to recent years’ experiences and refer to parishes (n. 5), the composition of the Territorial Assembly (n. 135), piety practices (n. 53), and the founding of apostolic houses (n. 196 and 209).

“Having now the definitive text of the Constitutions – continues Father John Connor in his letter – the next task for the General Directorate will be the promulgation, over the coming weeks, of the other codes of canon law approved by the 2020 General Chapter: the Ratio institutionis Christus vita vestra (with few amendments) and the Ratio studiorum Sapientia Christi (which will replace the 2001 version).”