Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas

The Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas (Italian: Piccoli Fratelli di Jesus Caritas; abbreviated and stylised jc) are a male religious congregation of the Catholic Church. They follow the life and inspiration of Saint Charles de Foucauld.

Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas
Italian: Piccoli Fratelli di Jesus Caritas
Abbreviationjc
Formation1969 (55 years ago) (1969)
FounderGian Carlo Sibilia jc
HeadquartersSpello, Italy
Paolo Maria Barducci jc
Key people
Carlo Carretto PFE
Parent organization
Catholic Church
Websitejesuscaritas.it

History

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The Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas were officially recognised in 1969 by the Bishop of Foligno.[1] It was founded under the leadership of Gian Carlo Sibilia,[1] who was mentored and guided by Carlo Carretto, himself a member of the Little Brothers of the Gospel.[2][3]

In 1979, the use of Sassovivo Abbey was handed over to the congregation.[3]

At Carretto's death in 1988, he willed his archive to the custody of the congregation,[2][3] and it is presently kept at Sassovivo Abbey.[4]

On 21 July 2017, the congregation elected Paolo Maria Barducci to succeed Sibilia as prior of the congregation.[5]

On 31 July 2017, Gabriele Faraghini, a priest of the congregation, was appointed by Pope Francis as rector of the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary.[6][7]

Organisation

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Locations

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The Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas have three houses:[8]

  • Spello, Italy — mother house of the congregation
  • Sassovivo, Italy — in a former Benedictine abbey
  • Nazareth, Israel — in a house once owned by Charles de Foucauld[9]

From 1990 to July 2021, the congregation also resided in the Abbey of San Guglielmo al Goleto.[10]

List of priors

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  • 1969–2017: Gian Carlo Sibilia[5]
  • 2017–present: Paolo Maria Barducci[5]

Activity

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The daily routine of the Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas includes Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as manual labour and providing pastoral services to parishes.[3] They also host retreatants that temporarily live with the community.[3]

The congregation typically lives in small communities.[7]

The congregation also publishes a periodical titled Jesus Caritas.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "The "Family" is still growing | Jesus Caritas". www.jesuscaritas.info. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Carlo Carretto | Isacem". www.isacem.it (in Italian). Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Impressions of Italy: Abbey of the Holy Cross at Sassovivo". Benedictine Abbey of Christ in the Desert. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Piccoli Fratelli di Jesus Caritas – Il Fondo Carretto a Sassovivo" (in Italian). 31 March 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Piccoli Fratelli di Jesus Caritas – Il nuovo Priore" (in Italian). 21 July 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Bergoglio nomina fratel Gabriele Faraghini rettore del Pontificio Seminario romano maggiore". lastampa.it (in Italian). 31 July 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Chi è Fratel Gabriele Faraghini, la nomina bergogliana al Pontificio Seminario Romano". Formiche.net (in Italian). 4 August 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Piccoli Fratelli di Jesus Caritas - "Apparteniamo completamente soltanto all'attimo presente"" (in Italian). Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Charles de Foucauld's embrace with the persecuted peoples of the Middle East". lastampa.it (in Italian). 31 October 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Storia abbazia del Goleto". www.goleto.it (in Italian). Retrieved 12 November 2021.
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