Organy zarządu i współodpowiedzialności – rady w prawie własnym Towarzystwa św. Franciszka Salezego

The history of councils which support superiors dates back origins of monastic life, viz. St. Benedictine rule. Second Vatican Council revalorizated the governing and responsibility bodies, especially in religious life. Own law of Society of St. Francis de Sales refers in a clear manner to an issue of religious councils. Religious councils are found on every authority level. The article introduces a short history of a.m. issue. It also gives information about norms of common law of Catholic Church regarding religious councils. In the second part of the article norms of salesian own law are explained against a background of theological and legal premises. Salesian Constitutions regulate those situations when councils support the superiors. Some of the cases mentioned in the article relate to such situation when councils’ approval or advice is necessary to undertake legal acts. In principle, a superior turns to the council but never votes. The only case of collegial activity, which is instituted in Constitutions, applies to decision of dismissal of salesian. Then the superior general also votes. The law follows life and therefore the own law development dynamics is visible, inter alia in decisions of last general chapters. It seems that reprinting Constitutions and General Statutes in Polish, with included changes, is required. It would be also the opportunity to specify language. To sum up, legally determined tasks of councils and actual ministry of brothers, who are members of council, corresponds with Church’s thought regarding shared responsibility of religious for common good. At the same time counsels’ commitment effectively supports the board on every level of congregational organization.