641 chapter 21: the restoration of the mystical temple God.169 For mercy embracing everything is able both to appease the angry God and to retain the grace of the favorable God. There are fourteen works of mercy by which you will achieve everything with God. Those relating to the body are recorded in the following line of verse: I visit, give drink, give food, ransom, clothe, take in, bury. Those relating to the spirit are contained in the following line of verse: I advise, forgive, console, admonish, teach, pray, remit. The remarkable work of visiting the sick is praised by our Lord and Savior Himself, who said, “[I was sick], and you visited me” (Mt 25:36) [LV]. Those who practice this work in a truly praiseworthy manner do not approach the beds of the poor and the sick with empty hands. John of God, as he is called, a most blessed man, founded an Order that has the duty and the vocation to seek out the sick who have become poor and to take care of them. In all the regions of Europe, among the Christians of true faith, this most pious Order has become so famous for its distinctive charity, that we commonly call them the Good Brothers170 because of their truly good work, with which they are very occupied. In many places, especially in Rome, there are houses for the sick, for whom the generosity of merciful people provides everything; [and] along with [providing] medicines, [this generosity] paves for itself a sure path to Heaven. In that City one can also see the Supreme Rector of Seminaries, also the purple-clad august assembly of the Church, in turn at the feet of the destitute and the sick, with how great a consolation for them! With how great a profit for themselves! With how great an edification of the people! 169 Cf. Tob 1:6, 19-21; 2:3, 7-9, 16. 170 St. John of God (d. 1550) was born in Portugal and founded the Hospitaler Order in 1537, subsequently approved in 1571. Their aim is: “bodily and spiritual assistance of the sick and the needy, especially the poor.” They are commonly called the “FateBeneFratelli,” and in Poland the “Bonifratrzy.” Cf. Botifoll, Riccardo, OH, The Hospitalers of St. John of God: DIP VI, 982s.
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