Blessed Edmund Rice

Blessed Edmund Rice was born in Callan, Ireland, in 1762. In the late 1700s, he and a group of young visionaries from Waterford Ireland, inspired by their Catholic faith, formed by their work with the disenfranchised of their city, and aware of the discrimination that the people of an occupied Ireland faced, made a commitment to act. In 1802, inspired by the work of Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters, he and his companions opened a free school for boys in a New Street stable.

Facing many challenges, Edmund and his companions developed a relevant, relational, and faith filled pathway for young people to rise from demeaning poverty and hopelessness to live a life of dignity and full humanity. Edmund and his companions took vows as a religious community in 1808, forming the Christian Brothers in 1820.

Edmund’s deep belief in God’s “providential presence in his life” inspired him to “open his whole heart to Christ present and appealing to him in the poor”.

Edmund died in 1842, but his legacy is lived out in over 20 countries around the world. He was beatified by the Church in 1996 in Rome.

Deeply aware of the Father’s providential presence in his life,
Edmund Rice was moved by the Holy Spirit
to open his whole heart to Christ
present and appealing to him in the poor.

Christian Brothers' Charism Statement 1982

"One thing you can be sure of: that whilst you work for God, whether you succeed or not, he will amply reward you".

Blessed Edmund Rice 1810

"Have courage, the good seed will grow up in the children's hearts later on."

Blessed Edmund Rice 1837

"Were we to know the merit and value of only going from one street to another for the love of God, we should prize it more than gold or silver".

Blessed Edmund Rice 1810

"The will of God be done in this and everything we undertake".

Blessed Edmund Rice 1810

The world and everything in it is continually changing which proves to us that there is nothing permanent under the sun, and that perfect happiness is not to be expected but in another world!

Blessed Edmund Rice 1813

Give to the poor in handfuls!

Blessed Edmund Rice

Blessed Edmund Rice