In 1808 Edmund had nine companions. His friend John Power was now Bishop of Waterford and he and Edmund drew up a rule of life based on the constitutions of the Presentation Sisters. On 15 August they took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, officially becoming a diocesan congregation of Brothers known as the 'Monks of the Presentation', under the authority of the bishop. Edmund was then 46 years old.

The Brothers had already established two foundations outside of Waterford city, at Carrick-on-Suir and Dungarvan, and Bishops in other dioceses began to request them to set up communities of teaching Brothers.

However there was a problem with this: when communities were established Bishops were reluctant to release Brothers to go to other dioceses. A solution to the problem was found by amalgamating all the communities of Brothers under a superior general and approval for this arrangement arrived from Rome in 1821. At a chapter held in Mount Sion in January 1822 the Brothers elected Edmund Rice as their Superior General. They compiled a new rule and renamed their congregation the Christian Brothers. They were now a Pontifical Congregation.

A further difficulty arose. Bishop Murphy of Cork would not allow the Brothers at the North Monastery in his diocese to make this change, but despite his dire warnings they slipped away one by one to Waterford and made their vows under the new formula. A few of the Brothers in Cork accepted the Bishop's direction. Under the superiorship of Br.Augustine Riordan they moved to the South Monastery where they continued to live according to the old Presentation rule as a Diocesan Congregation. To Edmund this must have appeared to be a critical division in the young congregation.
He had to cope with many other crises in the years that followed. Even though the work of Daniel O'Connell who was known as The Liberator, brought about the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829, a penal clause was inserted to make provision for the 'gradual suppression and final prohibition' of male religious orders. The penalty for any new member who joined could be transportation for life to the penal colonies of Australia. Indeed Edmund had already violated the Act of 1791 which forbade the founding of any new order. Now he worried greatly that the men who had entrusted their lives to him by joining the congregation were facing a very uncertain future.

In practice, the new law was not enforced and gradually the number of applicants for membership increased. But the two congregations were technically illegal until the founding of the Irish State in 1922.

Edmund would suffer the criticism of government officials, and more painful, of Catholic bishops and even of some of his own Brothers. In 1838 at the age of 76 he resigned as Superior General. Unfortunately dissensions arose under his successor and Edmund's efforts to pour oil on troubled waters led to further criticism, and he even suffered the indignity of being refused permission to attend a chapter of the Brothers he had founded.

Edmund lived to see Brothers depart to set up communities in Gibraltar, USA, England and Australia. But the years of carrying a heavy burden of responsibility took their toll. As he advanced in age his health grew worse. He gradually became an invalid and towards the end of his life he was confined to his room.

Edmund Rice died on 29 August 1844. His remains are enshrined in a beautiful Memorial Chapel, next to the little bakehouse at Mount Sion.

On 6 October 1996 Pope John Paul II declared him Blessed.

His feast day is celebrated on May 5th.

The members of the two congregations, the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers, are now spread throughout the world. Both congregations honour Blessed Edmund as their father and founder.

Reference:
A Man for Our Time : A Short Life of Edmund Rice, Donal S. Blake CFC

 

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