Xaverian Brothers

The Xaverian Brothers (Latin: Congregation Fratrum a S. Francisco Xaverio, dt: Xavenier brothers, Short Form: Xavenier, religious symbol: CFX ) are a lay brotherhood of the Roman Catholic Church. It was founded in 1839 by Theodoor Jacob Rijken in Bruges (Belgium), named after Saint Francis Xavier. The Great Commission is of Catholic education, their main distribution area is the east coast of the United States. The Congregation is under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Bruges.

History

The foundation dates back to Theodoor Jacob Rijken, who worked as a religion teacher in North Brabant. Here he worked in an orphanage and organized care for cholera patients. In 1831 he traveled to the United States, where he was employed as a catechist at the American missionaries. During his three -year stay, the idea to establish a fraternity that should be employed in addition to the mission priests developed.

The founding

After his return to Belgium, he began in 1833 with the planning of a missionary society. He substantiated his idea with the promise of six American bishops who supported his plan to appoint religion teachers in the United States. Rijken traveled to Rome and asked Pope Gregory XVI. permission and the papal blessing. During this trip he learned the work of the Redemptorist and Jesuit know and decided to founding the fraternity hl. Franz Xaver to dedicate. The first attempt at establishing June 15, 1839 proved to be difficult, because the two brothers failed due to their overload. Only a year later, found suitable and strong-willed brothers, so that in Bruges soon became a primary school and a school for vocational training were opened. 1841 could buy with strong financial support near Bruges a great good the Brotherhood. The Xavianer brothers, as they called themselves, now campaigned in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, Ireland and France to new lay brothers. 1848, the first brothers went to England and opened new schools in Bury and Manchester, in London, they founded the Clapham College.

The brotherhood subjects in their vows of the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. 1865 she was awarded with an Apostolic Letter of Pope Pius IX. confirmation as an institute of consecrated life.

Conflicts

After the election of the Superior General was heard within the Order criticism of Theo Doore J. Rijken. Especially his skills as an administrator were objected to and a significant crisis developed in the General House. The Bishop of Bruges, Jean -Baptiste Malou, ordered him and put him close to his resignation. The Founder acquiesced and left in 1860 the younger friar Vincent the office. From 1860 to 1871, the number of members was increased from 58 to 133, who were active in Belgium, England and the United States.

Mission in the United States

In 1853, Martin J. Spalding, Bishop of Louisville, who asked Xaverian Brothers to found a school in his diocese. 1854 settled the first brothers in the United States, they built several schools and 1864, the St. Xavier High School in Louisville (Kentucky) was opened. There followed in 1864 a new request by Martin J. Spalding, who had in the meantime become Archbishop of Baltimore. He asked for the establishment of schools and educational institutions. Baltimore became the center of Christian education in the United States. 1876 ​​here the first novitiate of the Congregation was launched, it is even now at Mount Saint Joseph College in Baltimore. By the year 1900, the Xavianer had founded in the U.S. states of New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania schools. In 1949, Brother Sylvan Mattingly in Louisville a small rosary church ( the working group of the Rosary for " Our Lady of Fátima " ) which quickly expanded to 17 000 members.