Statutes of Brother Robert (Jobert), 1176

General Chapter of 1176

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

• Let all people know - those who are, and those who in the future will be sons of the Holy Mother Church - that I, Robert, Master of the Hospital of Jerusalem, with good intentions and the unanimous consent of all our brothers gathered at the General Chapter, in the presence and in witness of the passion and resurrection of our Lord, have given and granted into perpetual possession to our blessed lords, that is to the poor of the Hospice of the Hospital of Jerusalem, and to brother Steven - the present Hospitaller - and to their successors who shall come after, forever, two estates, namely the estates of St. Mary and Caphaer, with all their property and appurtenances or without, for the provision of white bread which shall be given to them forever; and if it should happen that in the estates there is no grain or it is insufficient to meet all the needs of the poor, the necessary sum of money must be taken from the treasury to buy white bread for the relief of the poor; and if it should so happen that the wheat in the estates is mixed with harmful weed, good wheat must be taken in the same quantity from the granary of the Hospital and the necessary amount must be provided to our poor lords. And in due course, so that this gift may be confirmed and remain unchanged forever, we consider that it should be sealed with our seal; and if anyone ever acts against this Holy Decree, or should pervert it, let him be cursed like Judas, the traitor, in endless damnation, like Cain and Dathan and Aribon, whom the earth swallowed up, let him be accursed in his condemnation. Amen.
• Each loaf must weigh two measures, and must be distributed to two poor persons.
• This decree was written in 1176 years from the Resurrection of Christ.

Translated by © Enton, 2009