The Doctrinarie Fraternity of the Word is a movement of holiness of lay faithful who, following the example of Father Caesar de Bus, feel called to base their life towards God on the Word, prayed, contemplated, celebrated and witnessed, especially to the little ones and the poor.
The charisma of Father Caesar and his experience of holiness and mission in the Church, urge the members of the Fraternity to live to become, in simplicity and silence, leaven-light-salt wherever the Lord has called them to live (family, local Church, civil community).
They welcome as models and inspirers Antoinette Reveillade and Louis Guyot who accompanied Father Caesar on the path of conversion, so that their lifestyle is strongly marked by the Beatitude of Mercy, to be credible witnesses and docile instruments of the tenderness of the Father’s Love.
The members of the Fraternity commit to praying the Word of God every day, they live a monthly oratory in the Fraternity, they welcome the initiatives offered for formation and spiritual accompaniment, they feel part of the life and mission of the Religious Family founded by Father Casar De Bus.
Our story
The deepest root of the Fraternity’s seedling is undoubtedly buried in the human life of sanctity and mission of Father Caesar. After his conversion and formation that led him to become a priest, after having remained for some time in solitude at the Hermitage of St. Jacques, he descends from the Colline di Cavaillon to go to the villages and countryside to break the bread of the Word of God to the little ones and the poor. Immediately, attracted by his example and his doctrine, some girls and young men begin to “do oratory” with him. Word, prayer, instruction to go out to the people, becoming themselves “living catechism”.
Over the centuries of the long and troubled life of the Congregation, lay men and women have shared the spirituality and mission of the Family of the Fathers born from the Charism entrusted to Father Caesar. How can we forget the Doctrinaries Ladies…? In the beautiful season of the rediscovery of the Ecclesial Ministry of the Catechist, in Turin, in the parish community of Jesus of Nazareth, led by Father Battista Previtali, the Lord arranged to plant the seed of what would later become the Doctrinarie Fraternity of the Word. It was 1982.

«This call/vocation is for those who feel it is their part to welcome, to guard the Word in simplicity and silence, thus ensuring that it is listened to in the Church Community so that it bears fruit according to the will of God…»
«… in every parish, in its heart and in the heart of the Communities of the Fathers… there are two, three people thirsty for holiness and mission in the Word and through the Word according to the Charism of the Holy Father Caesar.»
(cfr. ‘Rule of Life’ of the Fraternity)

The buried seed remained hidden for many years, buried in prayer, in offering and in the desire to be shared with other simple hearts desirous of sanctity and mission in the footsteps of Father Cesare. In 1995 the Fraternity began in the Communities entrusted to the Fathers of Cavaillon (France) and Turin, followed in 1996 by the Fraternity of Ivrea (Turin) and in 1998 by that of Rome (parish of Sant’Andrea Apostolo) with the adhesion of some sisters from Grosseto. They were joined in 2013 by the Fraternity of Pontecorvo (Fr) and Ruziba (Burundi).
In obedience to the original inspiration, the Fraternity has maintained its own characteristic of vocation, that is, leaving to the Lord the task of calling. The invitation come and see, do me good, is addressed from mouth to ear, in simplicity, to those who already manifest the desire for more communion and life in faith in God, through the Word and by means of the Word, supported by the Congregation, recognized as our Charismatic Family and accompanied by a Father who is within us with his heart.
Aroused in the catechetical field, the Fraternity has expanded and been enriched by members who, in different states of life, share its identity, purpose, mission and means.
On December 6, 2013, the General Council of the Congregation issued the recognition of the Statute or Rule of Life of the Fraternity, deeming it compliant with the charism inspired by the Spirit in Saint Caesar de Bus.