Pope Gregory XVI

 Brief of approval of the Institute

TO OUR VENERABLE BROTHER  ALEXANDRE RAYMOND DEVIE,   BISHOP OF BELLEY.

Dear Brother, salute and apostolic blessing.

Our dear son Gabriel Taborin has come to Our Holy City, and after venerating the holy mortal remains of the Apostles, he humbly requested Us to give Our apostolic approval to the pious Society called of the Holy Family, which he himself founded several years ago under your authority, venerable Brother; their members, living under a Rule already approved by you, and under the direction of Brother Gabriel, Superior, has grown not only in your diocese, but has also spread, with the blessings from heaven, to several places of France and Savoy.

This dear son has presented Us, together with his request, the Rule of said Society, as well as two additional letters given one by you, and the other by Our Venerable Brother the Archbishop of Chambéry, in which you both give a shining witness to this pious Institute and you earnestly request Our approval.

While receiving these documents We greatly rejoiced in the Lord to find a new help in workers who, without being promoted to the priesthood, but only tied by simple vows renewed every three years, have chosen the humblest part, which is to form the children to piety, to teach them the first elements of sciences, but especially who are eager to help the Parish Priests, and furthermore, in the places where they are called, to commit themselves to other good deeds of religion and charity.

Regarding the approval of this Society, in order to act with a convenient maturity, according to the use of the Holy See, we shared these documents with some of our Venerable Brothers Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, made worthy by their wise and enlightened zeal, whom we delegated to head the consultations of Bishops and Regulars. These same Cardinals, after diligently and carefully considering the matter, as we ordered them, for the good of the Society thought convenient to postpone the approval of the Rule, in order to be able, after a longer period of practice, to judge conveniently of what is to be added or to be changed; but, meanwhile they advised Us to approve right now this same Society, worthy to be recommended both for the holiness of its purpose , the commitment of its members and the benefits of their work which is already recognized in many dioceses.

For these reasons, following the advice of these Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church and after having seriously deliberated Ourselves, We willingly and heartily approve through the present letters, and confirm by Our apostolic authority, the above mentioned pious Society of the Brothers of the Holy Family, who, under the guidance of one Brother Superior and under the full authority of the Bishops, commit themselves to all kind of good deeds, but above all to the education of the youth. These Brothers will continue to make temporal simple vows, as far as the Holy See, after deliberating on the Rule submitted, in a convenient time for the glory of the Lord, will decide otherwise. Thus, We confirm and ratify this decision, disregarding any opposition.

Finally we humbly pray to the Lord to spread on you, venerable Brother, the abundance of heavenly graces and to grant you every kind of prosperity, as well as on our dear Son Gabriel and on all the members of this pious Institute, and We give you with all Our heart and with the most tender affection Our Apostolic blessing.

Given in Rome, at Saint Mary the Major, on 28th August of the year 1841, the eleventh of our pontificate.

GREGORY XVI, POPE