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Mercedarian Historical Survey

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    MERCEDARIAN LIBRARY VI

    THE ORDER OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY (1218-1992)

    A Historical Synthesis

    Historical Institute of the Mercedarian Order Rome 1997

    Please note: An entire Section, including all chapters, (i.e. Section I. In Its First Century, Chapters 1-12) can be printed by clicking on that Section and selecting ‘File/Print’ in your browser.

    See also the Constitutions of the Order (PDF).

    Table of Contents:

    PresentationIntroduction

    HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF THE ORDER OF MERCY

    1. Captivity in the Thirteenth Century
    Captivity as a Social Problem
    Captivity as a Political Problem
    Captivity as a Religious Problem
    Attitude of the Church vis-à-vis Captivity
    Attitude of Civil Society vis-à-vis Captivity
    Captives’ Paths to Freedom
    2. Saint Peter Nolasco, Founder
    Peter Nolasco’s Place and Date of Birth
    Peter’s Profile and Work before the Foundation of the Order
    I. IN ITS FIRST CENTURY
    (1218-1317) A Lay Organization1. Foundation of the Order2. Nature of the Order

    3. Organization of the Order
    The Master
    The Master’s Lieutenants and Commanders
    Lay Brothers and Clerical Brothers
    The Donates
    The Sisters
    The General Chapter
    4. Redemptive Activity
    Collection of Alms for Redemption
    Redemption Fund
    Statistics about Redemptions
    A Few Redemptions of that Period
    Other Works of Mercy

    5. Pontifical Confirmation of the Order6. First Foundations of Houses

    7. Saint Peter Nolasco’s Death

    8. Saint Peter Nolasco’s First Successors
    Brother Guillermo de Bas (1245-1260)
    Brother Bernardo de San Román (1260-1267)
    Brother Guillermo de Bas II (1267-1270)
    Brother Pedro de Amer (1270-1301)
    9. Brother Pedro de Amer’s Constitutions (1272)
    Contents of the Amerian Constitutions
    10. Mercedarian Spirituality
    Imitating and Following Jesus Christ the Redeemer
    Love and Devotion to the Virgin Mary
    Service to the Catholic Faith
    Practice of Merciful Charity
    11. Fruits of Sanctity
    Martyrs
    Saint Raymond Nonnatus
    Saint Serapion
    Saint Peter Paschasius
    Saint Peter Armengol
    Saint Mary Cervellon or the Helper
    12. Mary in the Order of Mercy
    Origin of the Name of the Order of Mercy
    Mary’s Name in the Title of the Order
    Images of Mary, Mercedarian Churches and Sanctuaries
    Mercedarian Marianism
    II. UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE EVANGELIZATION OF AMERICA
    (1317-1492) A Clerical Organization
    1. The 1317 General Chapter
    Precedents
    Chapter Celebration
    2. Father Raimundo Albert’s Constitutions (1327)
    Clerical Masters General
    Contents of Albert’s Constitutions
    3. The Redemption of Captives
    Evolution and Characteristics
    Intervention of Popes and Monarchs in Redemption
    Redemptions during This Period
    4. Expansion of the Order
    Sardinia and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
    Spain
    France
    5. Regulations and Government of the Order
    Masters General of this Period
    General Chapters
    6. Cultural and Apostolic Development of the Order
    Premises
    Consequences in the Area of Culture
    Pastoral Activity
    7. Fruits of Sanctity
    Juan Gilabert Jofré and His Social Work
    Other Exemplary Religious
    8. Cult to the Virgin of Mercy
    Expansion of Marian Devotion in the Order
    Mercedarian Marianism
    III. UNTIL THE TRIDENTINE REFORM
    (1491-1574) Inception of Evangelization1. The First Mercedarians in the Americas
    2. Establishment in America
    Preliminary General Situation
    Santo Domingo, the First Convent of the Americas (1514)
    Panama
    Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica
    Mexico
    Venezuela
    Colombia
    Ecuador
    Peru
    Argentina
    Chile
    3. Apostolic Work in America
    Initial Activity
    Defending the Natives
    4. Consolidation of the Order in America
    Religious life
    Vocations, Formation and Studies
    Process of Autonomy of the American Provinces
    5. The Life of the Order in Europe
    The Masters General
    New Foundations and Residence of the Procurator in Rome
    A Difficult Situation in France
    Attempted Reforms
    The Redemption of Captives
    Cultural Activity

    6. Fruits of Sanctity7. Mercedarian Laity and Mercedarian Nuns

    8. Cult to the Virgin of Mercy and Mercedarian Marianism

    IV. DURING ITS GREATEST FLOURISHING
    (1574-1770) Charismatic and Cultural Growth
    1. Guadalajara General Chapter (1574)
    Situation of the Order at the End of the Sixteenth Century
    Tridentine Decrees Applied to Structures
    Application to the Common State of the Order
    Government of the Order and Masters General of this Period
    2. The Redemption of Captives
    Acts Related to Redemption
    Ways of Collecting Alms and of Carrying Out Redemptions
    Contribution of the American Provinces
    Some Important Redemptions
    Other Works of Mercy
    3. Creation of New Provinces and Vice-Provinces
    In Europe
    In America
    The Vicars General for America
    4. Religious Formation
    Characteristics of the Formation Plans
    Mercedarian Colleges
    5. Cultural and University Work
    Sacred Sciences
    Literature and Other Disciplines
    6. Apostolic Activity
    Evangelization of America and the Doctrinas
    Popular Missions and Mission Colleges
    7. New Legislation and Configuration of the Order
    Father José Linás’ Constitutions (1692)
    The Order of Mercy, a Mendicant Order
    Situation of the Order at the End of the Eighteenth Century
    8. Fruits of Sanctity9. The Mercedarian Family
    Discalced Mercedarians
    Mercedarian Nuns
    Mercedarian Laity
    10. Cult to the Virgin of Mercy and to the Saints of the Order
    The Feast of Mercy in the Church’s Calendar
    Liturgy and Saints of the Order
    Renowned Sanctuaries and Images
    Mercedarian Marianism
    V. BETWEEN SUPPRESSIONS AND HOPES
    (1770-1880) Crisis and Survival1. New Currents of Thought
    2. Situation and Suppression of the Order of Mercy in France
    The Commission of Regulars and the Mercedarians
    Negotiations to Resolve the Situation
    Suppression of Houses
    Definitive Disappearance of the Mercedarians in France
    3. Situation and Suppression in Spain
    The Carlist Reform
    Napoleonic Suppression and Constitutionalist Reform
    Liberal Suppression
    Situation of the Exclaustrated
    4. Situation and Suppression in Italy
    Situation of the Mercedarians in Italy
    Suppression Resulting from the Napoleonic Wars
    General Exclaustration
    5. Situation of the Order of Mercy in America
    Situation of the American Provinces
    The Mercedarians and Pro-Independence Movements
    Effects of the New Political Régime
    Reform of the Provinces of America
    6. Government of the Order
    The Masters General until 1834
    The Vicars General from 1834 to 1880
    Election of Master General Peter Armengol Valenzuela
    7. Apostolic Activity
    The Redemption of Captives
    Social Works
    Teaching
    8. Fruits of Sanctity9. The Mercedarian Family
    Missionary Mercedarians of Barcelona
    Mercedarian Sisters of Charity
    Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
    Sisters of Mercy
    Mercedarian Laity10. Mercedarian Marianism and Cult to the Virgin of Mercy

    VI. FROM THE RESTORATION IN EUROPE TO THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
    (1880-1965) New Horizons
    1. Restoration of the Order in Europe
    First Steps of the Restoration in Spain
    Generalate of Father Peter Armengol Valenzuela
    Saint Adriano Convent and its Novitiate
    Continuation of the Restoration in Spain
    2. Creation of Provinces and Vice-Provinces
    Bolivia Congregation
    Vice-Province of Concepción, Chile
    Concern for Restoration in Mexico
    Sicily Vice-Province and Sardinia Commissariat
    Roman Province
    The Province of Peru
    Father Valenzuela Is Reelected
    3. Father Valenzuela’s Constitutions (1895)
    General Congregation of 1893
    Contents of the Constitutions
    Complementary Books
    4. Government of the Order
    Father Valenzuela’s Last Years
    Masters General of this Period
    Reform of the Constitutions
    5. Apostolic Activities of the Order
    Redemptive Mission
    Teaching Ministry
    Missions
    Prison Ministry
    6. Religious Formation and Cultural Development
    Religious Formation
    Cultural Development
    Historical Studies
    7. Expansion of the Order and New Trials
    New Foundations and Situation of the Order
    Religious Persecution in Mexico
    The Spanish Civil War
    8. Fruits of Sanctity9. The Mercedarian Family
    Mercedarian Tertiaries of the Child Jesus
    Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
    Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz
    Mercedarian Missionaries Sisters of Brazil
    Federation of Sisters of the Order of Mercy
    Mercedarian Slaves of the Blessed Sacrament
    Mercedarians of the Divine Master
    Mercedarian Laity
    Confraternities
    Knights of Our Lady of Mercy
    10. Cult to the Virgin of Mercy
    Spiritual Graces
    Crowned Images of Our Lady of Mercy
    Mercedarian Basilicas
    VII. FROM THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL TO THE PRESENT
    (1966-1992) Renewal of the Charism1. Religious Life in the Council and its Repercussion in the Order
    2. Special General Chapter of 1968-1969
    Celebration of the Chapter
    Constitutions and Norms ad experimentum of Father Bernardo Navarro (1970)
    3. Deepening of the Charism and Spirituality of the Order
    Appreciation of the Figure of the Founder
    Elements of the Charism and Spirituality of the Order
    Manual of Mercedarian Spirituality
    4. The Updated Constitutions of Father Domingo Acquaro (1986)
    Experimentation Period
    Extraordinary General Chapter
    Contents of the Constitutions
    5. Liturgical Renewal
    Rite of Religious Profession
    Mercedarian Liturgical Calendar
    Mercedarian Masses
    Liturgy of the Hours
    Ritual of the Order
    6. Different Forms of Government
    New Style of Chapters
    The Council of Provincials
    Provincial Statutes
    Provincial Vicariates
    Interprovincial Meetings at Various Levels
    7. Formation and Studies
    General Plan of Vocations, Formation and Studies
    Historical Institute8. Initiatives of a Charismatic Nature9. The Order’s Response to the Church’s Missionary Call

    10. The Mercedarian Family
    Religious of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy
    Secular Association of Our Lady of Mercy
    Attention to Other Members of the Mercedarian Family
    Mercedarian Laity11. Mary of Mercy or of Liberation
    LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
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