The history of the “Little Brothers of the Congregation of St. John the Baptist” is intimately connected to the life and work of Father Vincent Lebbe, a Belgian missionary who dedicated his life to China and to the promotion of an authentically Chinese local Church. Founded in 1928, this congregation is a living witness to the Vincentian spirit, where service to the poor and evangelization is at the heart of its mission.

Biographical profile of Father Vincent Lebbe

Frédéric-Vincent Lebbe, better known as Father Vincent Lebbe, was born on August 19, 1877 in Ghent, Belgium, into a devout Catholic family. His father was Flemish, a notary public, while his mother was of half French and half English descent. From a young age, Lebbe felt a strong inclination towards the missions, inspired by the martyr Jean-Gabriel Perboyre, a missionary of the Congregation of the Mission martyred in China in 1840. In 1895, he joined the Congregation of the Mission, founded by St. Vincent de Paul in the 17th century for the evangelization of the poor and the formation of the clergy, which constituted the beginning of his spiritual and missionary formation.

The young Fr. Lebbe, with the Vincentian missionary cross.

Lebbe was ordained a priest in 1901 in Beijing and was quickly assigned to the Tianjin region. In his initial assignment, he worked on the reconstruction of the Xiaohan Church, which had been damaged during the Boxer Rebellion. From the beginning, he showed a deep respect for Chinese culture. He learned to speak fluent Mandarin, to read and write Chinese and to immerse himself in local customs. He even adopted Chinese clothing and fully integrated into the daily lives of his new fellow believers.

In 1915, Lebbe founded the Yishibao (益世報) newspaper in Tianjin, with the aim of connecting Catholicism with the intellectual and social life of China. This newspaper would become one of the most influential during the Republican era. Through this media, Lebbe promoted Christianity, patriotism and an ethic based on social justice. His desire was for the Church in China not only to evangelize, but also to be led by the Chinese people themselves.

This ideal led him to confront the European missionaries and the colonial policies of the time, which kept the Chinese Church under foreign leadership. Lebbe actively defended the slogan: “Give China back to the Chinese and the Chinese will turn to Christ”. This stance caused tensions with some of his superiors in the Congregation of the Mission, who saw in his ideas a threat to the traditional control of the missions.

One of the most prominent controversies in which he was involved was the Laoxikai Affair in Tianjin in 1916. The conflict arose when the French consul, with support from the Church, attempted to expand the French concession at the expense of Chinese land. Lebbe and his newspaper criticized these actions, which led to his transfer to the Ningbo diocese in 1920, and subsequently his return to Europe. However, his advocacy of an autonomous Chinese Church influenced Pope Benedict XV’s 1919 apostolic letter Maximum Illud, which pushed for the indigenization of the Church and the elimination of colonial abuses.

During his stay in Europe, Lebbe did not abandon his commitment to China. He helped Chinese students and founded the Society of Mission Auxiliaries and the Lay Missionary Auxiliaries. He also advocated with the Vatican for the appointment of Chinese bishops, which he finally achieved in 1926 with the consecration of the first six Chinese bishops in St. Peter’s Basilica, a historic event that he witnessed.

Fr. Lebbe in 1936.

In 1927, after years of tensions within the Congregation of the Mission, he decided to leave it in order to dedicate himself fully to the foundation of new religious communities in China. This allowed him to act with greater freedom in the promotion of an autonomous Chinese Church. In 1928, he was granted Chinese citizenship, symbolizing his deep integration and commitment to the country. Shortly thereafter, he founded the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist and the Little Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, two Chinese religious orders focused on living a spirituality close to the people and rooted in the local culture.

Lebbe was also noted for his support of the Chinese people in times of conflict. During the Japanese invasion and war in China, he organized Catholic rescue teams to care for the battlefield wounded and refugees. His courage and leadership in these humanitarian efforts were widely recognized.

In 1940, in the midst of the civil war between the Kuomintang forces and the Red Army, Lebbe was captured by the communists in Shanxi. He was subjected to torture and, although he was released after more than forty days in captivity, he was severely weakened. He died on June 24, 1940 in Chungking, China.

Vincent Lebbe’s legacy was instrumental in the inculturation of the Catholic Church in China. His struggle for a local Church free from colonial influences and his defense of the rights of the Chinese people made him an influential figure both in the Church and in society. His cause for beatification was opened in 1988 by the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist of Taichung, Taiwan. His influence lives on through the congregations he founded and the values he promoted.

In recognition of his service, the Chinese government honored him as a martyr of the revolution, and his figure continues to be remembered as a symbol of dedication and commitment to justice and human dignity.

The Vincentian Charism and Father Lebbe

Father Vincent Lebbe is a shining example of how the Vincentian charism, centered on service to the poor, can adapt and flourish in diverse cultural contexts. His time in the Congregation of the Mission was crucial to his formation as a missionary and to his development as a spiritual leader. Like St. Vincent de Paul, Lebbe understood that evangelization must be accompanied by concrete works of charity and justice.

Lebbe remained faithful to Vincentian principles throughout his life. Rather than simply imposing the faith, he sought to inculturate himself into the life of the Chinese people, learning their language, customs and culture. This approach set him apart from many of his contemporaries, who saw the Chinese as mere recipients of the Gospel, with little regard for their ability to lead their own Church.

The Vincentian spirit also manifested itself in Lebbe’s insistence that missionaries should live simply and close to the poor. Instead of establishing grandiose or distant missionary structures, Lebbe encouraged the Little Brothers to live among the people, sharing their sufferings and working for their welfare.

Foundation and development of the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist

Father Vincent Lebbe founded the Congregation of the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist in 1928, with the vision of creating a religious community that would live immersed in the reality of the Chinese people, serving the poorest and promoting a local Church. Inspired by the life of St. John the Baptist, the members of the congregation dedicate themselves to preparing the way for Christ in the hearts of the poor, just as the Precursor did.

The purpose of the congregation is twofold: on the one hand, to bring the Gospel to the most forgotten corners of China and, on the other hand, to serve the poor in their material, spiritual and social needs. This mission is rooted in the Vincentian spirituality of seeing Christ in the poor and serving them as one would serve Jesus, himself.

The Little Brothers are to embody the humility and service of St. John the Baptist, living a life of poverty and dedication to others. Like their founder, they seek to promote a Church that is led by the Chinese themselves and reflects the local culture. For them, evangelization is not only about preaching the Gospel, but also about being an active part of the life of the Chinese communities, sharing their suffering and struggling to improve their living conditions.

Since its foundation in 1928, the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist have worked in various regions of China, especially in rural and poor areas. The congregation grew slowly, but with a strong commitment to its mission. During the years of war and political persecutions, especially during the Japanese invasion and the Communist Revolution, many Little Brothers suffered arrest, imprisonment and in some cases, death. Despite these difficulties, the congregation survived, remaining faithful to its charism of service and closeness to the poor.

Today, the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist are active, although in smaller numbers, and their legacy lives on in many of the works of charity and evangelization that continue to be inspired by the example of Vincent Lebbe. Currently, the Congregation is active in Taiwan, Vietnam, the United States, Italy, the Philippines, Canada and China.

Spirituality of the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist

The spirituality of the “Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist” is based on three fundamental pillars: humility, service and identification with the poor. These values are deeply rooted in the life of St. John the Baptist, whose example of humility and sacrifice is central to the life of the congregation.

Like St. Vincent de Paul, the Little Brothers see Christ in the poor and believe that their mission is to serve them concretely and directly. Poverty is not something they want to avoid, but a place to find God. Community life and service to others are essential to their spirituality, which is rooted in the Vincentian charism.

Father Vincent Lebbe instilled in his followers the need to live close to the poor, not as distant benefactors, but as brothers who share their sorrows and joys. For the Little Brothers, missionary work is not just an external activity, but a way of life that transforms not only those who serve but also those who are served.

The emblem of the Little Brothers of the Congregation of St. John the Baptist was personally designed by its founder, Father Vincent Lebbe. It bears the Latin motto Violenti Rapiunt Illud (“The violent take it away”), inspired by Fr. Lebbe’s deep admiration for the Patron Saint of the Congregation, St. John the Baptist, inspired by a verse from the Gospel of Matthew: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it away” (Mt 11:12). The shape of the shield in the emblem symbolizes the stability of faith, while the bees represent selfless diligence, reflecting the life of St. John the Baptist, who survived in the desert by eating locusts and honey. Thus, the bees and honey on the emblem convey a spirit of hard work. During the founder’s time, the green cross in the design symbolized the nascent Congregation, with the promise of endless growth, just as green life grows in the earth. The white background with yellow borders is inspired by the papal flag, symbolizing the unwavering loyalty of the Congregation to the Pope.

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The story of the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist and the life of Father Vincent Lebbe are a vibrant witness to the transforming power of the Vincentian charism in missionary contexts. As a result of his membership in the Congregation of the Mission, Lebbe learned to see Christ in the poor and to serve them wholeheartedly, a teaching he brought to its fullest expression in his work in China.

The Little Brothers, with their dedication to those most in need and their commitment to a truly Chinese Church, continue to be a living manifestation of the ideals of St. Vincent de Paul. Through their simple life, humility and selfless service, they embody the spirit of the Gospel and continue the mission that Vincent Lebbe began more than a century ago.