Peter Friedhofen

Angelus: (Angel of the Lord). Every morning, noon, and evening the ringing of the angelus bell reminds us that God became a human being through a human being, Mary, the Mother of God. As the bell rings, we pray the angelus prayer (also found in the missal, Gotteslob).

Antiphon: is a verse sung at the beginning and end of a psalm.

Augustine: Every religious order lives according to one of the three classic rules (St. Benedict, St. Augustine, St. Francis). The Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help live according to the rule of St. Augustine, the "Father of the Rule."

Benedictus: The Song of Zachariah (Luke 1.68-79) is sung or prayed during Laudes, an early morning prayer office.

Brother: from of address for a man living in an ordered community of brothers, such as Brother Jonas.

Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help: is the name the founder Peter Friedhofen wished to give the order and which was then confirmed by the Church. The Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help perform social and charitable work such as care of the sick, social work, care of the handicapped and elderly, administrative tasks, and much more.

Call: In the Biblical sense, means the hear the call of God and to follow it, by becoming, for instance, a member of an order. A call is neither made nor earned, but comes from God. The "called" one then freely decides to answer this inner desire.

Candidate: a young man who, after the information period, has decided to become a member of the order and is preparing for postulancy.

Canticle (Canticum): is a hymn- or psalmlike poem from the Bible not found in the book of psalms, but used as a psalm in the liturgy. Canticles from the New Testament are sung or prayed in the daily office: Benedictus, Song of Zachariah (Laudes), Magnificat, Song of Mary (Vespers), and the Nunc dimitis, Song of Simeon (Compline).

Care, pastoral, formational: The way in which calls to the religious life are awakened and furthered through prayer, publicity, and personal conversations clarifying the motivation of an inquirer.

Chapter: (room, house): A place in which the members of a convent gather, for example, for common prayer.

Chapter: A gathering or meeting of brothers, such as the Convent Chapter, the Province Chapter, the Genral Chapter.

Charism(a): A special task, gift, ability, or call, which someone has received from God. Charisms are to serve for the building up of the community.

Cloister: a private area in the convent to which outsiders are usually not admitted.

Compline: prayer at the close of day, the last office in the evening.

Congregation: A religious community with vows (also Marian Congregation). The Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help are a Marian congregation. See Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Convent Chapter: (like General or Provincial Chapter) In this governing body, current topics are discussed and decisions reached within each individual convent.

Convent office: The common celebration of the eucharist in a convent.

Convent: Each community of brothers in their various branches.

Conventual: A member of a convent.

Daily Office: Common prayer of a convent (in the cloister church) at determined times and according to prescribed texts: Laudes, Sext, Vespers, Compline.

Dispensation: is a document releasing an individual or group, either partially or temporarily, from an obligation (of church law), for instance, living outside of the convent during schooling. The General Superior and his Advisory Council may dispensate from obligations of the rule or of preliminary vows.

Doxology: A short or long prayer form praising the greatness and glory of God, for example, "Praise be to the Father...," the Gloria and the Te deum in the celebration of the eucharist.

Economist General: In the spirit of poverty, he oversees and administers the assets of the congretation and the provincial administrations. In an annual report, he gives information about the economic state of the provinces and regions.

Eucharist: from Greek: "Thanksgiving," the celebration of the mass (liturgy).

Evangelical counsels: are founded in the Bible (New Testament): the vows of poverty (Matthew 19.24), obedience (Mark 10.44-45), and chastity without marriage (Mark 19.11).

Exercises, spiritual: A time, usually eight days, for spiritual retreat through silence, prayer, meditation, lectures. etc.

FMMA: Latin abbreviation for the Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Fratres Misericordiae Mariae Auxiliatricis.

Foundation, place of: The order was founded at Weiterburg near Koblenz (Germany) on the Rhine.

Founder: Friedhofen, Peter. We try to follow his example and guidance, since the founder of a community should alway determine the direction a community should take.

Founding Day: of the community of the Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was 21 June 1850.

Friedhofen, Peter: The founder of the Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, was born in 1819 in Weitersburg near Koblenz, where he died in 1860. He was beatified in Rome in 1985.

General Chapter: is the highest governing body of the congregation. The regular General Chapter is both elective and deliberative body: the Superior General as well as his Council is elected here. Further, the General Chapter develops visions and plans for the future. It is appointed every six years by the Superior General and consists of ex officio and elected members (delegates).

General Council: consists of four assistants who support the Superior General in leading the congregation.

Generalate: The buildings housing the Superior General and his Council.

Hours, Service of the: another name for the daily office prayed by the Brothers: Laudes, Sext, Vespers, Compline.

Hymn, The: Generally, any song of the Church, specifically, the hymn sung at the beginning of a prayers service (daily office).

Inquirer: A young man interested in joining a religious order.

Juniorate: The time period between the noviate and perpetual (permanent) vows, usually five years.

Juniorate leader: a Brother appointed by the Superior for the care and mentoring of brothers during the juniorate.

Laudes: Morning prayer office of the Western liturgical tradition.

Litany: A prayer consisting of a series of bids or petitions, to which the congregation answers antiphonally, for example the Laurentian litany.

Liturgy: Order of worship, in reference to festivals as well as the order in a particular service. Liturgy comes from a Greek word meaning "service for the people."

Magnificat: The Song of Mary, Luke 1.45-55, sung or prayed in Vespers in the evening office.

Meditation: Intensive concentration upon religious texts or thoughts. Spiritually and religiously directed thought with the goal of experiencing self and God.

Name: At the beginning of the novitiate, at vestiture, the novice receives a "new" name to be used in the order.

Novena: A prayer form known since the seventeenth century. It was and still is often prayed before major festivals or special events, but also in cases of need or danger. A novena comprises nine days, each with special prayers.

Novice: A young man in a "trial period" who has not yet made any vows.

Novitiate leader (master): A brother entrusted by the responsible Superior with the care and mentoring of novices.

Novitiate: The two-year trial period of the Merciful Brothers follows postulancy. It begins with vestiture and ends with the making of the first vow at two years.

Order: A religious community with vows and rules.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help: The title with which the Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help honor the Blessed Virgin as desired by the founder Peter Friedhofen. (Cf. the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians, 24 May), that is, the name of the order.

Patrons: are, the Blessed Peter Friedhofen (23 June), St. John of God (8 March), St. Joseph (19 March), St. Aloysius of Gonzaga (21 June), and St. Augustine (28 August).

Postulancy: Time of preparation for life in the order, usually six months.

Postulant: A young man in postulancy, preparing for the novitiate.

Procurator General: In commission of the Superior General and according to his instructions represents the congregation before the Apostolic See (Vatican, Rome).

Profession of vows: Making a public vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience after the novitiate, first for two years, then three. Perpetual vows follow these.

Province: An area divided according to cultural and economic parameters, e.g., the German and the Swiss province. At least three convents are required to form a province.

Provincial Chapter: Deliberative body of ex officio and delegated members of the province meeting to consult and to elect representatives to the General Chapter.

Provincial Superior: The superior responsible for a province, appointed for three years.

Provincialate: Building where the Provincial Superior and Council work.

Psalms: Religioius songs, poems, and hymns from the Hebrew Scriptures.

Refectory: Common dining room, part of the cloister.

Region: If there are less than three convents in a particular area, i.e., less than requried for a province, that area is called a region: e.g., the Malaysian or Brazilian Region.

Rosary: The rosary is a meditative prayer. Through repetition of the "Hail Mary," the different stations of the life of Jesus become an object of meditation. There is a joyous, dolorous, and a glorious rosary.

Rule: Also called "Form of Living." Prescriptions for the lifestyle of the Merciful Brother.

Salve Regina: A Marian hymn sung in the evening

Scapular: denotes a wide strip of cloth hanging over chest and back to the feet. The scapular is given at the first profession of vows and is part of the habit. The scapular can also express membership in a Marian order.

Secretary General: supports the Superior General in the administration of his office, takes minutes of meetings of the General Council, and is responsible for all records which pertain the the congregation. He also functions as historian.

Sext: The daily prayer office at noon (anciently, the sixth hour).

Superior General, Assistant: The Superior General names an assistant from the General Council. He represents the Superior General in his absence or incapacity with the same rights and duties.

Superior General: Officially the "highest" brother/president of a congregation. He is elected by the General Chapter for six years and is responsible for all brothers worldwide. Superior: The head of each convent responsible for the Brothers and their concerns.

Vespers: The evening prayer office of the Brothers.

Vestiture: After postulance the novice receives during this ceremony the special clothing (habit) of an order, a new name to be used in the order, and the "Form of Living," the rule of the Brothers of Mercy.

Visitation: An official visit by the Superior General or Provincial Superior serves to further the unity of the whole community and to strengthen spiritual life. In conversation with the brothers, he obtains information about their religious and professional life as well as about the condition of buidings and institutions.

Visitor: A visitation is conducted by the Superior General or the Provincial General or their delegates.

Vow: A public promise to God and the community of the Brothers of Mercy for a determined time or for a life-time (perpetual vows), to live poorly, obediently, and chastely in community.