Little Brothers of Jesus

The community of the Little Brothers of Jesus (French: Petits frères de Jésus, religious symbol: PFJ / PFI ) is a Catholic religious order in the large clergy family of Charles de Foucauld.

Formation

The community was founded in 1933 in Algeria in the Sahara, whither its founder René Voillaume with some companions retired to a life following the example of Charles de Foucauld. De Foucauld had his life long desired a community, but brought no incorporation into existence. Voillaume who had known him personally picked up this request and began with a simple community life contemplative in the midst of the world. In monastic seclusion, the brothers lived until they established small residential and communities of two to three brothers after the Second World War. Since 1968, ecclesiastically recognized, the community spread over the whole world, so that today about 250 brothers live in 40 countries. They are closely connected with the Little Sisters of Jesus, which are a few years later in 1946 emerged and now also distributed internationally.

Training

The Little Brothers are in the tradition of the contemplative orders and should live together in the middle of the world, " in the heart of the masses" ( Voillaume ). The place of her contemplative religious life is - following the example of Jesus of Nazareth - among the people. In each fraternity is a small chapel. The regular celebration of the Eucharist is a central point in life. For this reason, some brothers are priests. Through this ministry, her religious life is not that of the other brothers is different. At regular intervals, each brother pulls prayer back in a hermitage.

Interested parties may for a time (usually one to two years) live with him in a fraternity and a working nachgehend, sharing the life of the brothers after sufficient acquaintance. According to this postulate, in which the decision on the way forward matures, the common novitiate begins. It takes a year. After another year normal Fraternitätslebens first vows can be stored. Four years later, a multi-year study of theology is for all brothers. Six to nine years after his first vows, the final binding occurs through the perpetual vows.

In German-speaking countries there are communities of the Little Brothers in Hamburg, Duisburg, Nuremberg, Zurich, St. Pölten and Vienna.