Life of Brotherhood
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.”
— 1 John 4
The brothers live together a life of fraternal communion that allows them both to grow in their personal vocation and form a small familial Church that is the living sign of the presence of Christ among them. Thanks to their community life, silent prayer and the pursuit of truth can be lived together in faithfulness and fraternal solidarity.
Ordinarily, the brothers live in priories in small fraternities, assuming some elements of monastic life such as the religious habit. This is a sign of their consecration and a witness to the presence of Christ. A brother enters fully into the Fraternity by the profession of vows.
The brothers undertake manual work, services, and other responsibilities for the good of the house or community (cleaning, cooking, singing, etc.), and also for the good of their missions. These can vary depending on the specific needs of the place in which they find themselves. Some brothers specialize in crafts according to their God-given talents (such as carpentry, gardening, baking, brewing, etc.). Sacred chant in the liturgy also has an important place in the brothers’ lives as a way of bearing witness to God by their art.
The brothers love to share their life of prayer, search for truth, and mission with all those who desire to experience it and those who come to them to renew their strength. In this way, the brothers are sent by the Holy Spirit to live the commandment of love given by Christ and to bear witness to Him.
“As members of Christ living together as brothers, religious should give pride of place in esteem to each other. By charity, we know that we have crossed over from death to life. Furthermore, the unity of the brethren is a visible pledge that Christ will return and a source of great apostolic energy.”
— Vatican II, Perfectae caritatis, §15