Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
Encyclopedia
The Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God are a Roman Catholic order founded in 1572. They are also known commonly as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian
.
in Portugal. In his fortieth year he was drawn strongly to God's service and began a life of prayer, penance
and charity towards his neighbour. He founded his first hospital at Granada
in Andalusia
, (south Spain), where he served the sick and afflicted. He was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII
in 1690 and was declared patron saint of the dying and of all hospitals by Pope Leo XIII
in 1898.
The charity of St. John of God was destined to be perpetuated among his brethren, whom he had formed by his lessons and example. His first companion Antoni Martin was chosen to succeed him as superior of the order. Thanks to the generosity of King Philip II of Spain
, a hospital was founded at Madrid
, another at Cordova
and several others in various Spanish towns.
St. Pius V approved the Order of the Brothers Hospitallers in 1572 under the rule of St. Augustine
. The order spread rapidly into the other countries of Europe, and even into the distant colonies. In 1584, Pope Gregory XIII
called some of the Brothers to Rome
and gave them the Hospital of St. John Calybita, which then became the mother-house of the whole order. Brother Pietro Soriano was appointed first superior. Brother Sebastiano Arias founded the hospital of Our Lady at Naples
and the famous hospital of Milan. Another Brother Hospitaller at this time was John Grande, who was beatified by Pius IX in 1852.
The first hospital of the order in France was founded in Paris, in 1601, by Queen Marie de Medici. In the stormy days of the French Revolution
the Brothers were expelled from the forty hospitals where they were caring for 4,125 patients. But since then some large new hospitals have been established. The order is governed by a prior general who resides in Rome.
In addition to these, a hospice of the order has been established at Nazareth. In 1882, a home for demented men was founded at Stillorgan
near Dublin, Ireland. The house at Scorton, North Yorkshire, was founded in 1880 for the reception of male patients suffering from chronic infirmities, paralysis, or old age, supported by charitable contributions and payments for inmates. The Irish postal authority recognised and honoured the contribution to society by the order by issuing a special commemorative postage stamp in 1979 for the order's centenary in Ireland.
The Brothers undergo a special course of training in order to fit them for carrying out their various works of charity to which they devote their life. In some provinces some of them are even graduates in medicine, surgery and chemistry. The members are not in holy orders
, but priests wishing to devote their sacred ministry to the Brothers and patients are received. After the example of their founder, they seek their own sanctification and their patients' spiritual and corporal welfare. To the three solemn vows of religion they add a fourth, of serving the sick for life in their hospitals.
They also perform the usual duties and pious exercises of the religious life. They assist daily at Holy Mass, meditation, the recital in choir of the office of Our Lady and spiritual reading. Young men of good disposition, sound health and possessing aptitude for the order, resolved to the religious life are received from the age of fifteen to thirty-five. The religious habit is usually given to postulant
s after three months. The time of novitiate is two years, after which the novice
pronounces the vows which, although simple, are perpetual. Three years later, he can be admitted to solemn profession.
, County Kildare
, Ireland
, helping people with disabilities in the area.
, which taught pupils with learning difficulties, in Christchurch
, New Zealand. A number of brothers who worked there were accused of sex offences.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
.
History
St. John of God, the founder of this religious institution, was born 8 March 1495 at Montemor-o-NovoMontemor-o-Novo
Montemor-o-Novo is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 1233.0 km² and a total population of 18,485 inhabitants. The city itself has a population of 12,000.The municipality is composed of 10 parishes, and is located in the District of Évora....
in Portugal. In his fortieth year he was drawn strongly to God's service and began a life of prayer, penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
and charity towards his neighbour. He founded his first hospital at Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, (south Spain), where he served the sick and afflicted. He was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII
Pope Alexander VIII
Pope Alexander VIII , born Pietro Vito Ottoboni, was Pope from 1689 to 1691.-Early life:Pietro Ottoboni was born of a noble Venetian family, and was the son of Marco Ottoboni, chancellor of the Republic of Venice...
in 1690 and was declared patron saint of the dying and of all hospitals by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
in 1898.
The charity of St. John of God was destined to be perpetuated among his brethren, whom he had formed by his lessons and example. His first companion Antoni Martin was chosen to succeed him as superior of the order. Thanks to the generosity of King Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, a hospital was founded at Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, another at Cordova
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
and several others in various Spanish towns.
St. Pius V approved the Order of the Brothers Hospitallers in 1572 under the rule of St. Augustine
Rule of St. Augustine
The Rule of St. Augustine is a religious rule employed by a large number of orders, including the Dominicans, Servites, Mercederians, and Augustinians.-Overview:...
. The order spread rapidly into the other countries of Europe, and even into the distant colonies. In 1584, Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...
called some of the Brothers to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and gave them the Hospital of St. John Calybita, which then became the mother-house of the whole order. Brother Pietro Soriano was appointed first superior. Brother Sebastiano Arias founded the hospital of Our Lady at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and the famous hospital of Milan. Another Brother Hospitaller at this time was John Grande, who was beatified by Pius IX in 1852.
The first hospital of the order in France was founded in Paris, in 1601, by Queen Marie de Medici. In the stormy days of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
the Brothers were expelled from the forty hospitals where they were caring for 4,125 patients. But since then some large new hospitals have been established. The order is governed by a prior general who resides in Rome.
In addition to these, a hospice of the order has been established at Nazareth. In 1882, a home for demented men was founded at Stillorgan
Stillorgan
Stillorgan , formerly a village in its own right, is now a suburban area of Dublin in Ireland. Stillorgan is located in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, and contains many housing estates, shops and other facilities, with the old village centre still present...
near Dublin, Ireland. The house at Scorton, North Yorkshire, was founded in 1880 for the reception of male patients suffering from chronic infirmities, paralysis, or old age, supported by charitable contributions and payments for inmates. The Irish postal authority recognised and honoured the contribution to society by the order by issuing a special commemorative postage stamp in 1979 for the order's centenary in Ireland.
The Brothers undergo a special course of training in order to fit them for carrying out their various works of charity to which they devote their life. In some provinces some of them are even graduates in medicine, surgery and chemistry. The members are not in holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, but priests wishing to devote their sacred ministry to the Brothers and patients are received. After the example of their founder, they seek their own sanctification and their patients' spiritual and corporal welfare. To the three solemn vows of religion they add a fourth, of serving the sick for life in their hospitals.
They also perform the usual duties and pious exercises of the religious life. They assist daily at Holy Mass, meditation, the recital in choir of the office of Our Lady and spiritual reading. Young men of good disposition, sound health and possessing aptitude for the order, resolved to the religious life are received from the age of fifteen to thirty-five. The religious habit is usually given to postulant
Postulant
A postulant was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a monastery or a convent, both before actual admission and for the length of time preceding their admission into the novitiate...
s after three months. The time of novitiate is two years, after which the novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
pronounces the vows which, although simple, are perpetual. Three years later, he can be admitted to solemn profession.
Orders
The order has bases in over 40 countries, including a base in CelbridgeCelbridge
Celbridge is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. As a town within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the R403 and R405 regional roads....
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, helping people with disabilities in the area.
Sex abuse in New Zealand
The St. John of God order ran the Maryland's SchoolMaryland's School
Marylands School was a residential school for children with learning difficulties in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was opened in 1955 and run by the Roman Catholic order Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God....
, which taught pupils with learning difficulties, in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand. A number of brothers who worked there were accused of sex offences.