View source for Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

{{One source|date=December 2023}}
The '''Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy''', or in full '''Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help''' ('''F.M.M.'''), are a Catholic [[religious institute]]. 

==History==
The institute was founded at [[Mechlin]] (Flanders, capital of the [[ecclesiastical]] province coinciding with Belgium) in 1839 by Canon [[Victor Scheppers]] (1802 - 1877) for the instruction and care of prisoners and of the sick. They were invited to S. Balbina in [[Perugia]] by [[Cardinal Pecci]], afterwards [[Leo XIII]], who had witnessed their work while he was [[nuncio]] in Belgium at [[Brussels]]. It was at his instance that [[Pius IX]] confirmed the institution of the brothers in 1854.<ref name=Catholic/> A few years before, [[Xavier de Mérode]] had been appointed to a papal office which entailed the direction of the Roman prisons. Historians have documented Mérode's efforts to improve the penitentiary system in Rome. Mérode adapted some of the concepts of Belgian reformer [[Édouard Ducpétiaux]]. He also brought some of the Brothers of Mercy from Mechelen to Rome to assist in this work.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10209a.htm Sollier, Joseph. "Frédéric-François-Xavier Ghislain de Mérode." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 9 April 2020{{PD-notice}}</ref>

In 1855 [[Henry Edward Manning|Cardinal Manning]] invited them to London, where they have undertaken the care of the prisoners in Catholic reformatories and the education of the children of the poor.<ref name=Catholic/>

They are under simple vows and the term of the novitiate is two years. They wear a black [[Religious habit|habit]] and [[scapular]] with a brown cross on the breast.<ref name=Catholic>{{Catholic|wstitle=Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy|inline=1}}</ref>

==References==
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{{Reflist}}

{{Catholic religious orders|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Institutes of Catholic religious brothers]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1839]]
[[Category:Catholic orders and societies]]
[[Category:Catholic religious institutes established in the 19th century]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in Belgium]]


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