Holy Ghost, Orders of

1. Order of the Holy Ghost di Sassia (Order of the Holy Ghost de Montpellier), established in 1178 by Guido of Montpellier, according to the rule of St. Augustine for hospital knights, In 1204 the order obtained the Hospital di Sassia, in Rome, in which the superior of the order took his seat as grandmaster. Henceforth the members of the order were divided into hospital knights, with simple, and into regular canons, with solemn vows. Pius II abolished the knights in 1459 in Italy, but in France they survived. Having been restored in 1693, the order was divided into the degrees of Knights of Justice and Grace, Serving Brothers and Oblates, and in 1700 was changed into regular canons, who still exist. At an early period in the history of the order a female branch was established.

2. Sisters of the Holy Ghost of Poligsy, established in 1212 and still continuing in France, a branch of the White Sisters.

3. Hospitallers (brothers and sisters) of the Holy Ghost in France, established in 1254 as a secular association, and connected with the Order of the Holy Ghost di Sassia. The sisters, on account of their dress commonly called the White Sisters, are still numerous; they are devoted to the nursing of the sick and the poor, and to the education of young girls.

4. Canons of the Holy Ghost, probably founded in Lorraine by Jean Herbert, and confirmed in 1588 by Sixtus V, are devoted to instruction.

5. The Society of Missionary Priests of the Holy Ghost was founded in 1700 by abbé Desplaces and Vincent le Barbier for missions, seminaries, and the nursing of the sick; newly established in 1805; still exists, and is active in the foreign missionary fields of the Roman Catholic Church.