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Blessed Edmund Rice
Blessed Edmund Rice FOUNDER OF THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
The Early Years Blessed Edmund Rice was born in the town of Callan Ireland in 1762. He was a member of a large family of 9 children and lived on a very successful farm. Edmund’s childhood was full of activity and challenge.
He became involved in assisting many groups in the city using his business skills. Edmund regularly helped the homeless, orphans and widows. He would visit the elderly and played the role of advocate in upholding legal rites for those who were not able to defend themselves in a He was a spirited sportsman and became society that looked down on Catholics, especially involved in hurling, running, jumping, and the poor. His visits to the prisons gave many weight throwing. He was a competent horseman unfortunate souls great comfort and support. He and rower. Unlike many other Catholic boys in also took on the role of guardian for some young the area, Edmund attended school where he people who lost their parents. learnt the basics. Waterford was a very prosperous city with its When Edmund became a teenager he was sent wealth and poverty. Edmund and some of his to the town of Kilkenny to receive special friends regularly visited the slum areas. He also business training from an Academy. At 17, he frequented the military posts unchallenged, moved to the thriving port city of Waterford which was a rare phenomenon of the time. where his uncle owned and operated a very successful store and warehouse business. He enjoyed dancing, singing and regularly took Edmund worked with his uncle in assisting him time to enjoy the musical culture of the city. with the organisation and operations of this Poetry was also a favourite past time and spent merchant business. He devoted much time and many hours with his friends enjoying this art energy in building up his uncle’s business to a form. significant status in the city. The generosity of Edmund Rice, together with Edmund was given the responsibility for his his deep appreciation of the arts, his love of sport family upon the death of his father and and his devotion and to his friends, are virtues administered the family property appropriately. that appealed to his contemporaries and led to He was very involved in the life of the city of his popularity with those who knew him. Waterford. He was a devout church goer and joined a group of young Catholic men who were committed to developing their spiritual lives as well as performing service to others, especially to the poor and needy in the area.
Blessed Edmund Rice