Bethlehemite Brothers
| Betlemitas | |
Catholic religious order | |
| Headquarters | Originally in Guatemala, since 1984 in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife |
|---|---|
The Bethlehemite Brothers are a
Their official name is Order of Bethlehemite Brothers (Ordo Fratrum Bethlemitarum: O.F.B.), or Bethlehem Brothers (Hermanos de Belén), and the members, like the members of two other
In 2007, the order had 17 members, living in a single community.[1]
Foundation
The Bethlehemite Brothers were founded in
Betancur converted his home into a hospital for the sick poor. He was supported in this work by the bishop and governor, as well as by donations from private individuals. These donations enabled the purchase of the surrounding houses, so that a larger hospital could be built, Betancur himself working with the masons. The institution was placed under the patronage of Our Lady of Bethlehem, and as a congregation of helpers began to assemble, they were accordingly called Bethlehemites. The Bethlehemites also worked at two other hospitals in the city. Betancur, who had become a member of the
In addition to his work with the sick, Betancur continued to befriend poor children. The prisoners also excited his compassion. Every Thursday he begged for them through the city and visited them in their cells. The
Betancur inspired a devotion to the Virgin Mary in his followers. During a
Betancur sent Brother Anthony of the Cross to Spain to solicit the king's approbation of the work. The favour was granted, but before the news could reach Betancur, he died at the age of forty-eight on 25 April 1667. His funeral was impressive and at the request of the Capuchin Friars he was buried in their church where, for a long time, his remains were held in veneration.[3]
Expansion and suppression
From that time the community prospered, beginning with the extension of the hospital and the erection of a beautiful church. Brother Anthony, who assumed the government, drew up constitutions which he submitted to the bishop of the diocese for approval and it was at this juncture that the Capuchins requested him to make some alterations in the habit worn by his religious. A free school for poor children was already connected with the Bethlehem hospital, a feature of all new foundations. One of these was soon undertaken by Brother Anthony of the Cross who sent two of his community to Peru where they were very favourably received by the viceroy to whom he had recommended them. Doctor Antoine d'Arvila gave them the Hospital of Notre Dame du Carmel which he was then establishing at Lima (in Peru) and afterwards solicited admission among them.[3]
In 1672 Brother Roderick of the Cross obtained the confirmation of this establishment by the King of Spain and it was also through his efforts that
Later,
Meanwhile, the order was multiplying its foundations in
In 1688 Brother Anthony of the Cross, with the help of a pious woman, Marie Anne del Gualdo, founded at Guatemala a community of Bethlehemite nuns and a hospital exclusively for women. These nuns were cloistered and observed the same rule as the men. They too were suppressed in 1820.[3]
Restoration
Later in the 19th century, Encarnación Rosal (1815-1886) revived the female branch of the order, establishing houses in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador.[6]
The
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 1425
- ^ Colegio Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Bethlemitas Palmira, "Santo Hermano Pedro de San José Betancur"
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Besse, Jean (1907). "Bethlehemites". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ Diccionario enciclopédico de teología, Volumen 2
- ^ "Estudio preliminar de los azulejos betlemitas en la Ciudad de México" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-02-19. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
- ^ Beata María de la Incarnación Rosal
External links
- Obras sociales del Hermano Pedro Archived 2018-09-26 at the Wayback Machine