Two Unpublished Texts concerning the Distribution of the Vincentian Common Rules, 1658

Vincent de Paul prepared the Congregation’s Common Rules in Latin for the priests and distributed them himself in a moving conference. Two months later, Rene Almeras presented the Rules in French to the lay brothers and seminarians. Members who lived outside Paris received the Rules and a circular letter written by Almeras. The circular and a short description of Almeras’s distribution of the Rules are published here for the first time. Both are transcribed, translated, and accompanied by commentaries. The circular explains how the Rules are to be kept and, in particular, guarded.