ACT OF FOUNDATION

We the Hospitaller Brothers of Saint John of God, give thanks to God for the gift that has been bestowed on the Church in Saint John of God.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and inwardly transformed by the merciful love of God, St. John of God lived love for God and neighbour in perfect unity.

He dedicated himself completely to the salvation of his brothers and sisters and faithfully imitated Jesus in his attitudes and actions of mercy.

Despite many debts, worries and cares, he trusted wholly in Jesus Christ and devoted himself totally to serving those who were sick and suffering in Spain, in the city of Granada, where he died in the year 1550.

Our Hospitaller Order was born of the gospel of mercy as lived in its fullness by Saint John of God, and it is precisely because of this characteristic that we justifiably claim him as our Founder. He indeed understood that the clearest sign of the passage from death to life is love of one's brothers and sisters, not only expressed in words but manifested in deeds and in truth.

Following the request of our early Brothers, the Religious Family to which we belong was approved by Pope Saint Pius V on 1st January 1572 and is known in the Church by the name of THE HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD.

This name expresses our identity, since the reason for our existence in the Church is to live and manifest the charism of hospitality in the spirit of Saint John of God.

Consecrated in the Spirit of God, we follow more closely the chaste, poor, obedient and merciful Christ. In this way we assist in building up the Church, serving God in suffering people.