Brothers of Christian Instruction of St Gabriel
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The Brothers of Christian Instruction of St Gabriel, otherwise Gabrielite Brothers, is a secular Catholic order. Its roots go back to Saint Louis de Montfort, in around 1711, when he opened a few schools for poor children in La Rochelle, France.
After the French Revolution, the congregation amalgamated under the guidance of Father Gabriel Deshayes into the Brothers they are today. The name of "Saint Gabriel" stems from the dedication of the first chapel of the congregation.
The order's main concern is Christian education, especially for the poor, orphans and the physically challenged. Other organizations inspired by Montfortian ideals are the Company of Mary and the Daughters of Wisdom. The 'Associates' are a lay association linked to the Gabrielites and similarly inspired by Montfortian spirituality.