Bl. Gwidon
The days when bl. Gwidon from Montpellier lived, were in many ways similar to those today. The unification of Europe, the conflict between Cesar and the pope, a longing for a return of the original fire of evangelization. The dynamic changes in society and economy (as today), caused an increase in the number of poor people and those without adequate materials for living. When we include the problem of disowned children, the sick and the elderly thrown out to fend for themselves, then we see a picture of society as we know today. Could it be then that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit which bl. Gwidon from Montpellier felt, is also relevant today?
Martha Robin said once: “The current world isn't waiting so much for people who will preach the good news, but for places where the word of God is alive today”. Houses of the Holy Spirit built by bl. Gwidon from Montpellier, were indeed places such as these. They were places where the needy could experience joy as well as fruits from the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace..., where through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, one could overcome his or her sufferings and tragedies in union with the passion of Jesus Christ. They were also places where together there lived in harmony: brothers, sisters and lay people. But let us start from the beginning...
Bl. Gwidon was born around 1160 in Montpellier. He was the fourth son of prince Guilhem VII and princess Matilda from Burgundy. He had three brothers and five sisters. The Guilhem family ruled Montpellier for over 200 years. During the life of bl. Gwdion (1160-1208), as many as seven different popes were seen to the head of the church. In particular pope Alexander III (1159-1181) had an influence on his childhood and youth. On two occasions this pope was guested by the prince of Montpellier.
At the age of 12, both of Gwidons parents died. Following this Gwidon was sent to grow up in the Order of the Templars. Some 6 years later however, most likely in December of 1178 Gwidon left the Order of the Templars. Not long after this perhaps at the age of 18, Gwidon founded the first House of the Holy Spirit which is located in his hometown. His motivation behind building the House for the Order of the Holy Spirit is to be a place of refuge and peace for: pilgrims, the sick and poor, lonely mothers, abandoned babies, as well as all those looking to convert and change their lives.
The concept behind the lifestyle in the Order of the House of the Holy Spirit was a relatively new one. Brothers of the Holy Spirit, Sisters of the Holy Spirit and the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit are the three branches created from this order.
The House in Montpellier was situated on the outer side of the city walls (beside the current „Faubourg de Nîmes”), not far from the gates facing the suburb of Saint Gilles, which in later years was named „Portalieres du Saint Esprit” (the Portal of the Holy Spirit). Hospital buildings occupied the area around the intersection of „Pilgrim road” and the Merdanson River (today known as Verdanson). Their location – near the city walls alongside freshwater, separated from suburban housing – was characteristic of hospitals of the Holy Spirit.
During the 90's of the 20 th century hardly a trace existed of the hospital of the Holy Spirit, only a few old houses waiting to be demolished. In 1998 however, archaeological excavations brought forth a new light on to the shape of the original hospitals. Uncovered were the ruins of the original buildings built by bl. ft. Gwidon. The foundations of certain elements of the buildings including that of the oratory were uncovered and relocated elsewhere to be specially displayed in a park. Texts on rocky tablets in this park tell of the history of bl. ft. Gwidon from Montpellier.
The basis behind the spirituality of the Order of the Holy Spirit is its openness to the working of the Holy Spirit and allowing its graces, gifts, fruits and inspirations to be made manifest. The fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5,22): charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity... should be seen throughout the works conducted by the Order for the poor... Mary is the perfect example of someone who was completely obedient and fulfilled the role given to her by God. In this way Mary officially plays a role in the vows made within the Order: I offer and devote myself to God, Holy Mary, the Holy Spirit and our sick and poor whom I shall serve to for the rest of my days.
Bl. Gwidon had a desire, that the members of his new family in the Order would seek out the image of the suffering Christ inside thy neighbour. The spirituality of the Order is strongly based on this fact and in particular on the words of Lord Jesus in the book of Matthew: „... Everything that you did for smallest of my brothers, you did also for me”. Due to the fact that bl. Gwidon from Montpellier based the rules of the Order on those of St. Augustine, the aim of the regulations as with other canon orders, was to have a love for the Eucharist, prayer and especially liturgy, as well as shaping the life of the community into one of harmony with prayer and apostolic works – charitable, based on those of the first Christians in Jerusalem.
Pope Innocent III gave witness to the life in the Order and the acts of mercy given to those in need in the hospital in Montpellier in his document “His praecipue” on 22 IV 1198. It included the following words: “Among all the hospitals that have in recent times been formed, the hospital of the Holy Spirit built by our beloved son Gwidon from Montpellier, differs with the spirit of an Order and shines with the light of mercy and good deeds with respect to the poor, but is otherwise better known by those who have received this mercy. In this place the hungry are fed, the poor given clothing, the sick adequate treatment, the lonely given joy, such that the hosts and brothers shouldn’t so much be called the hosts as servants in need; but they themselves go hungry among the poor, whom they continue to serve with mercy.
The double armed cross became the sign that characterized the family of this new Order. It is the Résumé of the spirituality of the community of the Order. It is a representation of the cross of Jesus Christ unified with our own cross. The image of the dove above this cross, reminds us that our human hardships and sufferings are intertwined with Christs’ sacrifice in the Paschal mystery, which is made possible through the grace of the Holy Spirit. The deeper this unification is, the more fruit that is born in a persons life: love, joy, peace...- i.e. the 12 fruits (which also represent each of the corners of the cross) are spoken about St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians (Gal 5,22). Bl. Gwidon desired that the mercy expressed by the members of the community, flowed from this source and held this form.
In chapter 36 of the regulations of which the author is bl. Gwidon we read: „where possible children, widows and those abandoned shall be fed, while pregnant women in need shall be accepted at no cost and will be treated with love”. He authorised the care of children to the sisters of the Order. Near the gate of the hospitals there was erected a special feature – a movable drum with an opening and a small bed – where at any time of the day one could leave an unwanted baby or one that was found by itself. Individuals carrying these babies here were assured absolute discretion.
Chapter 7 of the regulations state: „If the sick come or are brought to the House of the Holy Spirit, then they shall first go to confession followed by Holy Communion. Following this they may lay down in bed and here they will be fed and served each day”. Once a week, each of the brothers was to go out looking on the streets of the city for abandoned children, widows, sick and the poor. Each of them was to be brought to the hospital where they were nursed with great urgency. If in the hospital there was a lack of vacancies, there was an obligation that they would be cared for privately in houses, while children were to always be brought to the hospital.
As well as the three forms of vows within other Orders, brothers and sisters of the Order of the Holy Spirit had an option of a fourth, relating to the care of the sick. „I ... devote and offer myself to God himself, Holy Mary and our sick and poor, that for the rest of the days of my life I will be their servant...”.
The culmination of the life’s workings of Gwidon from Montpellier, was written in the papal document Ad commemorandas nuptias on 3 I 1208, in which pope Innocent III informed him of his decision to call the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, also known as „holy station”. The pope directed that every year on the first Sunday following the Epiphany „the veil of Jesus from St. Peter’s Basilica” was to be taken in solemn procession. It was to be displayed for worship for the believers in the hospital where everyday through the suffering, the face of Christ was wiped, showing mercy to those in need. In the same year of 1208, only a few months later, Gwidon passed away in Rome.
After some years br. Peter Saunier characterized the founder in the following way: “Gwidon who from a noble family, rich in gifts of fortune, even richer in gifts of wisdom, filled with faith and the fire of love, was so sensitive to the needs of the poor, that he worshipped them like lords, respected them like masters, loved them like brothers, nursed them like sons and worshipped them like the veil of Christ”.
