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We are a ordered community of Catholic religious which lives according to the Rule of St. Augustine. In addition, we have our own rules by which we orient our communal life.
Our form of life, also called Rule, gives us help and direction for our lives. It contains valuable and binding advice for each Brother of Mercy. In 1850, on 21 June, our order was founded. The poverty and great social needs of this time were the main factors for the founding of the order. |
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We call ourselves »brothers,« because Christ has called us to be a community of brothers. »Brothers of Mercy«, because of the works of mercy which we perform for suffering people. »Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help« because devotion to Mary was the expressed desire and will our founder. |
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Today the Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help live and work in may lands: Germany: Trier, Zemmer in the Eifel, Safig, Koblenz, Bonn, Rilchingen (Saarland), Freiburg, Paderborn. Switzerland: Oberwil-Zug, Lucerne, St. Gall Luxembourg: Luxemburg (City) France: Straßbourg Iltaly: Rome Brazil: Maringa, Porto Alegre Asia: Ipoh/Malaysia, Singapore
About Life and Work in the Order |
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The center of our spirituality is Jesus Christ. God’s Word in the Bible gives us practical help for ordering our daily lives. The highpoint of the day is the celebration of mass (eucharist). The daily office prayed in the morning, mid-day, and in the evening forms stations of prayer in our work. In this way we find peace and integration in the hectic of the everyday. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the title »Our Lady of Perpetual Help« is a central point of our spirituality. From all of these sources we draw strength to live out the three vows of poverty, celibate chastity, and obedience. |
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Daily meditation on the Bible, spiritual reading of religious texts as well as personal prayer, silence, and meditation enriches and deepens our spirituality. |
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An important aspect of our life together is community. In the Rule of St. Augustine, it says concisely, »The first goal of your common life is to live together in harmony and to be one heart and one soul (Acts 4.32) in God.« In prayer and work, in conversation and intellectual exchange, through common recreation and free-time, we experience this community in and through each other. |
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The apostolic and charitable ministry to poor, ill, or weak persons is part of our very being. This comprises activity in physical, emotional, and pastoral areas. As Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, we stand in the middle of our world and are open to the signs of the times. Although ministry to the sick is the chief task of our community, we wish to be open to other opportunities to serve the Church as well. |
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Our apostolic and charitable work, our ministry in a technological world subject to rapid and deep change demands from all a general and professional formation and continuing education, secure abilities, strength for responsible action and continually keeping up with modern developments. All Brothers should continuously strive for further spiritual and religious formation. |
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The question »Am I called?« is one you can discuss quite concretely with us. We would like to hear from you. For this purpose, we offer the following possibilities:
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