Spirituality

In 1048, merchants from the ancient Marine Republic of Amalfi obtained from the Caliph of Egypt the authorization to build a church, convent and hospital in Jerusalem, to care for pilgrims of any religious faith or race. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the monastic community which ran the hospital, became independent under the guidance of its founder, Blessed Gerard. By virtue of the Papal Bull in 1113 “PIE POSTULATIO VOLUNTATIS” the Hospital became a lay-religious order. All the knights were religious, bound by the three monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. From Blessed Gerard, we learn the profound spirituality of serviCE to the poor and the sick, instructing us to perceive the Lord himself in them (Mt 25:40) and to serve them as if they were Christ the Lord Himself. This is the origin of the ancient reference Our Lords the poor and the sick.