From Rome to Częstochowa

Thirty years after the founder’s death

The first General Chapter took place quite late since by his death in 1550, Saint John of God had not founded a religious congregation. It was only in 1572 that the disciples of the beggar from Granada gained papal recognition as a religious congregation. However, this recognition did not grant them the ability to hold chapters because the brothers were still directly under the jurisdiction of local bishops.

It was only from 1586, with their recognition as a religious order, that they were authorized to celebrate general chapters. The first was held in June 1587 at the Saint John Calybite Hospital-Convent on the Tiber Island in Rome to allow time for all the capitulants to arrive. At that time, the twenty-five hospital-convents had to be represented: seventeen in Spain, five in Italy, and three in Latin America (Colombia, Mexico, and Peru). However, only twelve participated, seven from Spain and five from Italy.

This first chapter organized the Order into provinces: the Italian province on one side and the Spanish province with the Latin American houses on the other. It also led to the drafting of the first constitutions, established the Tiber Island hospital as the headquarters of the Order, and set the frequency of chapters at every six years. In addition to the election of the Superior General, provincial and local superiors for each house were also chosen at the General Chapter. Thus, Saint John Grande was confirmed as superior of the house in Xérès at this first chapter.

The first Superior General elected was Peter Soriano, but he passed away a year later, prompting the organization of the second chapter in early March 1589, again in Rome. The constitutions were revised and corrected, and John Mendez was elected General. At this chapter, a new province was created: Sicily, which already had seven hospitals. However, Father Mendez also did not complete his six-year term because, in 1592, a Brief from Pope Clement VIII reduced the Order to its previous status as a religious congregation, without its own hierarchy and entirely dependent on local bishops. The brothers in Spain had to wait until 1611 for their institute to be fully reinstated as an Order, and those in Italy until 1617.

2 parallel congregations, 101 chapters

From that moment on, two independent congregations coexisted, each with its own Superior General and holding general chapters separately: Spain with Portugal, Latin America, Asia, and Africa on one side, and Italy with the other European countries on the other.

Today we refer to the General Chapter in Częstochowa as the 70th, as only the chapters of the Italian congregation are counted. The Spanish congregation ceased to exist in the mid-19th century, and its 31 general chapters were not counted during the reunification of the Order. In total, 101 chapters have been held throughout the Order’s history!

A chapter to reunite the Order

The Spanish congregation had thus disappeared when, during the 1856 General Chapter in Rome, the capitulants were surprised to receive a letter from Brother Raphael Moreno y Salazar, former provincial secretary and prior of Arcos. He had heard of the celebration of the general chapter of the Italian congregation and wished to send his greetings to the capitulants on behalf of all the Spanish brothers dispersed for over 20 years, recalling their memory and recommending themselves to them.

Subsequently, the celebration of general chapters was prevented for more than 30 years due to wars and the suppression of religious orders in Italy. Thus, it was at the 1887 chapter that the reunification of the Order was finally achieved. This chapter was held in Venice, a place free from foreign influence. This chapter was a beautiful moment of fraternization, attended by twenty-seven delegates from eight provinces. Spain was dignifiedly represented by Saint Benedict Menni, who had restored the Order there a few years earlier. This chapter is also the first for which we have a photographic record.

Participants at the General Chapter of 1887

Thereafter, the chapters were held regularly, though interrupted during the world wars. To remain faithful to the spirit of Saint John of God, these chapters continually evolved the Order while maintaining its harmony with the Church and the society in which the Brothers carry out their mission. Thus, the chapters decided on drafting reference documents for the Order, such as the charter or spirituality according to the style of Saint John of God, to explain and better disseminate the hospitality of Saint John of God. Extraordinary general chapters have also been held several times, allowing the brothers to devote themselves entirely to revising the Constitutions and General Statutes. The last of these, held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2009, added an entire chapter on coworkers to the Order’s General Statutes.

Coworkers at the chapter

Indeed, coworkers have taken on an increasingly important role within the Order, and this role has also been recognized by the chapters. Thus, they were invited for the first time in 1988. At this general chapter, eight coworkers, representing different parts of the world, attended as auditors for one day. Subsequently, their number was increased to one layperson per province, and their participation time was extended, but they also became true participants in the chapters, contributing to reflections with the capitulants on certain topics, a recognition and testament to their co-responsibility in the Order’s mission of hospitality.

A theme, a logo, a website

The 21st century also brought its share of new developments to the general chapters. The General Chapter of 2000, celebrated in Granada, was the first to gather its capitulants around a theme: "The Incarnation of the Prophecy of Saint John of God: Hospitality in the Third Millennium," inaugurating a tradition of defining a theme or motto for each chapter. The choice of theme clearly reflects the concerns of each six-year term: “The Saint John of God Family at the Service of Hospitality” in 2012, “Building the Future of Hospitality” in 2019.

In 2000, the General Chapter took place in Granada.

The uniqueness of each chapter, now marked by a theme, was reinforced from the following chapter, in 2006, by the addition of a specific logo and a temporary website entirely dedicated to the General Chapter, enabling the whole Hospitaller Family of Saint John of God around the world to prepare in advance and remain connected with the capitulants throughout this important moment in the life of the Order.

The logo and claim of the General Chapter 2006

Where to celebrate the chapter?

As for the chapter’s location, it has always been chosen with care. The vast majority have, of course, been held in Rome, often allowing for an audience with the Pope, who addressed a message to the capitulants. But in 1994, for the first time, the chapter was held outside Europe: it took place in Bogotá, Colombia. Since then, chapters have alternated between Rome and other locations around the world. This year, Poland is the sixth country to host a general chapter, after Italy, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, and Portugal. Through this choice, the Order wished to show its support for the Polish province, which, along with its communities in Ukraine and Nazareth, is deeply committed to humanitarian aid for those affected in these two currently challenged regions. After Fatima in 2012, another Marian shrine hosted the General Chapter: Częstochowa. For the next chapter, no surprises, if tradition is followed, it will take place in Rome in six years’ time.

The members of the General Chapter of 1934 at St. Peter's Square in Rome

Pope Pius XII welcoming the participants of a General Chapter

At the General Chapter of 1976