The Rule Book outlined what it meant to be a seminarian and an aspirant to the call of being a priest.  It elaborated in detail the training of a seminarian and spelled out such things as spiritual exercises, prayers, minute details about  study, recreation, rest, dining, personal responsibilities and how students should behave even when outside the seminary.

Each student was required to have his own copy, and each year the rector read the book aloud to students in classes 1-3.

Two versions of The Rule Book are available for download: (NOTE: Because these are large documents, they may open slowly when using a mobile device.)

• Click here for the PDF version
• Click here for the text version

Thanks to Jim Hammond (Class of 1966) for sharing his copy with some markings of items he wanted to call attention to at that time, to Norb Bufka (Class of 1961) for  the text version and to John Mullally (Class of 1961) for the 1957 Supplement that was added to account for the opening of St. Henry’s Hall for upperclassmen.  NOTE: click on an image for a larger and easy to read version.

The Rules of Saint Joseph’s Seminary

The Rules – Page 1

The Rules – Pages 2-3

The Rules – Pages 4-5

The Rules – Pages 6-7

The Rules – Pages 8-9

The Rules – Pages 10-11

The Rules – Pages 12-13

The Rules – Pages 14-15

The Rules – Pages 16-17

The Rules – Pages 18-19

The Rules – Pages 20-21

The Rules – Pages 22-23

The Rules – 1957 Supplement