SCHEPPERS, CORNELIUS VICTOR. - Founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, b. at Mechelen on 25 April 1802, d. there on 7 March 1877.

Ordained a priest in 1832, the practice of ministry among young people opened his heart and mind to the two foundations that he wished to undertake for their salvation. In 1839 he began with that of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy, with the aim of attending to all works of charity, with particular regard to prisoners and the mentally ill. To the schools, in fact, opened at Mechelen for poor children, there was soon added the care of prisons and penitentiaries (Vilvoorde, Aalst, Ghent, Namur, etc.). Cardinal Pecci, the future Leo XIII, called the Brothers to Perugia, and Cardinal Manning to London. They were called to Rome in 1854 by Pius IX, who entrusted them with the direction of the reformatory of St. Sabina, to which other houses were soon added. In 1854 Scheppers founded the parallel branch of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, who care for girls, with schools, homes for the elderly, and workshops.

Bibliography3 works

BIBL.: H. Nimal, Mons. S., fondateur des Frères et des Soeurs de N.-D. de la Miséricorde, Malines 1906; E. Rosa, La vita e le opere di mgr. S., Roma 1914; E. Martire, Le scuole più pontificie maschili di Borgo, ivi 1939.

Celestino Testore

@incollection{ec11_scheppers_cornelius_viktor, author = {Testore, Celestino}, title = {Scheppers, cornelius viktor}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XI}, pages = {44}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1953}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/scheppers-cornelius-viktor} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Scheppers, Cornelius Victor

About this entry