Prayer to Saint Alexius

Saint Alexius, bless the Congregation of the Alexian Brothers and send vocations to the Order.  Guard and guide its members in commitment and service. Help them to be strengthened in their mission and their work to contribute to the spread of charity and humanity in the world. Amen.

Prospero Fontana - Saint Alexius giving alms,
1573, Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore, Bologna, Italy.

The chapel of our community from the outside and inside, including the icons that decorate the chapel and display physical and spiritual renewal and healing.

 

History of the Alexian Brothers

Saint Alexis or Alexius was chosen by the Cellite Brothers as their chief Patron saint in 1469. They subsequently became known as the Alexian Brothers. The Congregation of Alexian Brothers is a religious brotherhood within the Catholic Church. We were founded in 1334 and emerged from an earlier group or brotherhood known as Beghards. The old Rule Book of the Brothers called us "Alexian or Cellite Brothers". Many streets today in Holland and Belgium still bear testimony to the existence of the Brothers prior to the Reformation; almost every large town or city, including Amsterdam, has a street named "Cellabroeder Straat".

The Alexian Brothers Crest

The Alexian charism and mission is found expressed in the Alexian crest. The top half of the crest depicts the Pelican feeding her young with her life blood (a popular medieval symbol) representing total self giving and the self-sacrifing imperative Alexians choose in order to serve wholeheartedly those who come to them for spiritual and material sustinence.

In the lower half there are two sections: on the left the crossed spades, a rather grim reminder of the burial ministry of the past yet a source of inspiritaion for Brothers currently working with the dying whom they assist with 'hands-on' ministry and counselling. On the section to the right, the raven with bread in its beak is a symbol of trust in Providence and also reminds Alexians of their origins when they begged for bread for the poor. Centrally to the ministry today is feeding the poor spiritually and physically.

The cross on which the crest rests is the emblem of dedication to the Alexian mission for the sake of Christ. The Christ who was born, lived and died for us in his faithful mission journey is the same incentive they chose to faithfully dedicate themselves to their mission today.

Across the crest is the banner which bears the words which carry the driving force of their charism: 'Caritas Christi Urget Nos', the love of Christ inspires us.