BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART. — A religious institute of simple vows, founded in Lyons in 1821 by the priest André Coindre (q.v.), for the Christian and civil education of youth in schools and colleges, in order to repair the damage caused by the Revolution.
The organizational structure of the new institution is due to Brother Hippolytus Gendre, who, endowed with a lively intellect and broad vision, propagated it in France with as many as 70 schools, and in Canada.
Today the Institute is divided into seven provinces with 170 houses and over 2,000 religious. It is spread throughout almost all the countries of the world, but especially in Canada, where it carries out extensive activity in the field of education.
Bibl.: anon., André Coindre, Lyons 1888.