Company of Mary

The Missionaries of the Company of Mary is a

Brothers of Saint Gabriel.^[1]

History

As early as 1700 Montfort had conceived the idea of founding a society of missionaries. Five months after his

missions and retreats under the standard and protection of the Blessed Virgin".^[2]

In 1713 he went to Paris with a view to recruit members for his community. The director of the seminary Du St-Esprit promised to send him such young priests as would feel called to do missionary work. During the intervals between his missions Montfort wrote the Rule of the Company of Mary though no official membership would develop before his death. After de Montfort died in 1716, two young priests and occasional collaborators, Father Adrien Vatel and Father Rene Mulot continued his mission. From 1718 to 1781 the "Mulotins", although few in number, gave over 430 missions throughout western France, most of which lasted a month.^[2]

After the

superior general in 1821. He received from Pope Leo XII a brief of praise for the Company of Mary and for the Daughters of Wisdom, which had also been formed by de Montfort with the help of Blessed Marie Louise Trichet. Father Dalin who was superior general from 1837 to 1855, obtained canonical approbation of both congregations. Hitherto the missionaries had but one residence, the mother-house at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre (where de Montfort and Trichet are buried) in the Pays de la Loire region. During Dalin's administration as general, several establishments were made in France. Under his successor, Father Denis (1855–1877) the community accepted the direction of a seminary at Pontchâteau in the Diocese of Nantes, from where priests were sent to Haiti, the company's first attempt at foreign missions.^[2]

The

Papineauville, Quebec (1900) and missions in Denmark. In 1901 the company took charge of what was then the apostolic vicariate of Nyassa Land (Malawi) where the congregation ministers to this day.^[3]

The 20th century witnessed the expansion of the company throughout the world, and its members now serve on every continent.

Vows

As members of a religious congregation Montfortians embrace the evangelical counsels, taking the three traditional religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Religious Formation

Post Novitiate

Post novitiate is where the newly professed religious deepens his commitment as a member of the Montfortians and decides whether or not to make a lifelong commitment to vowed life. For those with a vocation to be a brother suitable training is pursued in his particular field of interest. It is normal for a brother to make his perpetual profession to the Congregation after 3 or 4 years. The Company of Mary asserts that

The Brothers in particular enrich the Mission with their talents as builders especially, as agriculturists, secretaries, leaders in catechesis and in liturgy: services that they continue to offer with the help of the computer and the internet.^[4]

Those called to

presbyterate between six months and a year later. In exceptional circumstances, temporary vows may be extended beyond the 6-year period, but for no more than 3 years.^[6]

Structure

As with all religious congregations in the Latin branch of the Catholic Church, the Montfortians are led by a superior general who calls a general chapter according to the constitutions of the company.

Communities

Democratic Republic of Congo
parish missions
Vichada
region
Bahamas, Haiti, Réunion and Madagascar

Germany General delegation: parishes, teaching, religious publications
India Delegation: formation houses, education, tribal peoples, justice and peace
Indonesia Vice-province: indigenous peoples, those affected by HIV, education
Italy Province: parishes, retreats, parochial missions, publishing, missions in Madagascar, Malawi, Peru and Zambia
Netherlands Province: missions in Brazil, Indonesia and Uganda, 3 parishes in Denmark with a presence in Mozambique
Papua New Guinea Province (staffed solely by brothers and sisters): education, health care, those affected by HIV
The Philippines General delegation: parish, rural communities on Cebu
Our Lady of Fatima
AIDS
The United States Province: parishes, retreats, parish missions, publishing of religious periodicals, missionary work in Nicaragua^[7]

References

^ Montfortian Spirituality Archived October 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b ^c Bemelmans, John. "Missionaries of the Company of Mary." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 22 January 2016
^ 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia: Company of Mary
^ Generalate website: Fathers and Brothers
^ Code of Canon Law 655
^ Canon 657.2
^ Montfortian Generalate: Where we are

External links

[1] Montfortian Spirituality Archived October 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

[Bemelmans-2] Bemelmans, John. "Missionaries of the Company of Mary." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 22 January 2016

[3] 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia: Company of Mary

[4] Generalate website: Fathers and Brothers

[5] Code of Canon Law 655

[6] Canon 657.2

[7] Montfortian Generalate: Where we are

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