The willing and faithful observance of the Constitutions – not according to the letter, which kills, but according to the spirit, which gives life – will help us to know God's will more clearly and deeply, and will lead each member of the Congregation of the Resurrection to a complete dedication to the Risen Christ.
To draft the rule, the first Resurrectionists appointed Father Piotr Semenenko, who was later also chosen as Superior General. Throughout the Lenten season of 1842, consultations and discussions took place concerning the proposed texts. The Rule, consisting of thirty-three paragraphs and containing the original thought and vision of Bogdan Jański, was completed and accepted at midnight on Holy Saturday. On Easter Sunday, March 27, 1842, in the Catacombs of St. Sebastian in Rome, the first seven Resurrectionists professed their religious vows, thereby formally founding the Congregation. This Rule was binding for an experimental period of five years.
The Rule of 1850, adopted by the Fifth General Chapter (November 21, 1849 – February 2, 1850), is a faithful expression of the thought, spirit, and love of the Founders of the Congregation. Although its development was a joint effort of the Chapter Fathers (Józef Hube, Hieronim Kajsiewicz, Piotr Semenenko, Aleksander Jełowicki, and Karol Kaczanowski), its creation is mainly credited to Father Semenenko. After two years of experimentation with the Benedictine rule, Father Piotr became a reliable guide for the others in formulating the principles of life and spirit of the Congregation, and a zealous advocate for returning to the original ideas of Bogdan Jański.
