In 1966, with the Apostolic Letter Ecclesiae Sanctae, Pope Paul VI, “in order to promote an adequate renewal,” invited all religious institutes to convene a general chapter.

For this reason, and also because the Decretum Laudis had already been obtained, thus marking the need to begin a new phase of institutionalization, an Extraordinary General Chapter was convened on June 21, 1968, the first in the history of the Congregation. It was held in two separate sessions: the first in Rome in 1968, and the second in Dublin in 1969. Seventeen capitular fathers participated and, for the first time, elected the governing body and produced two successive documents: the Message of the General Chapter to all the Legionaries (1968), and the Communication of the Participating Fathers in the First General Chapter to all the Religious of the Legion at the end of the sessions held during the second period, August-October 1969 (1969).

Both texts emphasized the Congregation’s full adherence to the Church and to the pope in those early post-conciliar years, the importance for all Legionaries to observe the spirit of the Constitutions, the significance of co-responsibility in carrying out the assigned mission, and the essential need for profound apostolic preparation in all fields in order to face the growth in various activities and works that were taking place.

After twelve years, the II Ordinary General Chapter was convoked on October 31, 1991, and took place at the General Directorate Headquarters on Via Aurelia in Rome. A total of 26 capitular fathers participated between November and December of 1992. The results of the proceedings were published in 1993 under the title “Communiqué and Decrees.”

This text primarily focuses on the mission of the Legion of Christ in the Church at the time, the process of internal institutionalization that had characterized the Congregation in the 1980s, and the formation of the religious of the Institute.

Additionally, it extensively addresses the situation of the Prelature of Chetumal, the Regnum Christi Movement, ECYD, and other apostolic works. It also updates some disciplinary norms. On December 18, 1992, Pope John Paul II received the capitular fathers in a private audience in the Throne Room of the Apostolic Palace; the Holy Father exhorted them with the following words:

“God the Father has blessed you with an abundance of vocations, to which you seek to provide human, doctrinal, and spiritual formation in light of the challenges that the Church faces in the current age. With the vitality and joy that characterize you, you have the possibility of contributing—also through the Regnum Christi Movement, which spreads your spirituality among laypeople, young and adults—to the Christian renewal of society according to the demands of the Gospel, particularly with the new evangelization.”

From January 8 to February 25, 2014, a new Extraordinary General Chapter took place, held under the presidency of the pontifical delegate, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, CS, with the assistance of his advisors, Fathers Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ, and Agostino Montan, CSI.

The chapter was once again held at the headquarters of the General Directorate and included the participation of 61 capitular fathers. The main tasks were the revision of the Constitutions and the election of a new government.

The Chapter Communiqué was published a few days later and addressed the following points in light of the reform process carried out in recent years: the charismatic identity of the Legion of Christ, the relationship between the Congregation and the Regnum Christi Movement, fraternal life in community, liturgical and prayer life, the formation of Legionary religious and the Ratio Institutionis, apostolic renewal, governance, authority and obedience, administration, and the vow of poverty.