The Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of Saint John of God is also known as the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, the Brothers of Mercy, the Merciful Brothers, and the Fatebenefratelli, which means "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian. The Roman Catholic Order was created by John of God in the 1530s, and approved by Pope Pius V in 1572 under the Rule of Saint Augustine. Founded in Spain, the Order quickly spread to other parts of Europe and to its distant colonies. In 1584, Pope Gregory XIII called some of the Brothers to Rome and gave them the Hospital of Saint John Calybita, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, on an island in Tiber, which became the motherhouse for the Order. Brother Sebastiano Arias founded the Hospital of Our Lady at Naples and the Hospital of Milan. Another Brother Hospitaller at this time was John Grande, who was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1852. The first hospital founded by the Order in France was in 1601. During the French Revolution, the Brothers were expelled from their forty hospital in France. Founded in 1880, a house in Scorton, North Yorkshire, England later developed into a hospital and nursing home. In 1882, a home for the demented was established near Dublin, Ireland. The Hospitaller Brothers came to the United States in 1941, later establishing health facilities California, New Jersey, and elsewhere. Membership in the Order consists of Brothers from fifty different countries, and the Order has a presence in more than forty countries. The charism for the Order is caring for the sick. The Brothers undergo a course of training to prepare them for the specific works of charity that they will be devoting their life to, and this may include training and licensure in medicine, surgery, and chemistry. Members of the Hospitaller Brothers are not in Holy Orders, but rather they are priests who devote their ministry to the Brothers and to the patients they serve. To the three solemn vows of religion, they add a fourth voew of serving the sick.
Recommended Resources
Brothers of Saint John of God, England/Ireland
The St. John of God Province of England/Ireland is part of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, an international Catholic Religious Order of Brothers, whose members take vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and hospitality, and live together in community. An overview of the community is set forth, including what it is like to be a Brother, as well as the requirements and process of joining the Order.
http://www.stjohnofgodvocation.ie/
Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, Great Britain
The Hospitaller Order is a Catholic religious Order of Brothers that provides health services to people in more than fifty countries. The Order in Great Britain is part of the West European Province of Saint John of God, which also includes the Order in Ireland, Malawi and New Jersey. A history of the Order and its work in Great Britain is put forth, and information about vocations with the Order are included.
http://www.hospitaller.org/
Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, Province of the Good Shepherd in North America
The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd have united with the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, Its mission and values are discussed, and an overview of the Order for those who are considering a vocation as a Hospitaller is included, along with profiles of Brothers of the Order, a calendar of events, and contacts. Contributions to the financial needs of the Order may be made online.
http://www.sjog-na.org/
Hospitaller Order Saint John of God, USA Province
The U.S. Provincial offices of the Catholic Order are in Los Angeles, California, and consists of a variety of facilities, programs and services, including the Hospitaller Foundation of California, St. John of God Retirement and Care Center, St. Joseph’s Health and Retirement Center, St. John of God Health Care Service. The requirements for admission to the Order are stated, and a vocation inquiry form is available.
http://www.stjog.org/
Saint John of God Hospitaller Services
Hospitaller Services is a national charity, and a foundation of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, and international Order of religious brothers that provides health services in more than fifty countries. Its philosophy, values, and mission are set forth, and reviews, newsletters, reports, accounts, and other publications are available for downloading. Job opportunities are published to the site.
https://www.saintjohnofgod.org/
