St Marcellin Champagnat
Marcellin Champagnat was born on 20th May 1789, in Marlhes, a village in the
mountains of east-central France. The Revolution was about to burst upon the
scene. He was the ninth child of a very Christian family, from whom he received
his basic education. His mother and his aunt, a religious driven from her convent,
awoke in him a solid faith and deep devotion to Mary. His father, who was a farmer
and merchant, possessed an above-average education, and played a significant
role in the politics of the village and the region. He imparted to Marcellin his aptitude
for manual work, a penchant for direct action, a sense of responsibility, and
openness to new ideas.
When Marcellin was 14, a priest passing through the village helped him to see that
God was calling him to the priesthood. Marcellin, whose formal schooling was
practically non-existent, began to study because "God wills it!", even while those
around him, aware of his limitations, tried to dissuade him. The difficult years he
spent in the minor seminary in Verrieres (1805-1813) were for him a time of real
human and spiritual growth.
Among his companions in the major seminary in Lyons were Jean-Marie Vianney,
the future Cure of Ars, and Jean-Claude Colin who was to become the founder of
the Marist Fathers. He joined a group of seminarians whose goal was to found a
congregation bearing Mary's name and including priests, sisters and a lay third
order the "Society of Mary" for the rechristianisation of society. Deeply aware of
the cultural and spiritual poverty of the children of the countryside, Marcellin felt
a strong urge to include a branch of brothers for the Christian education of young
people. "I cannot see a child without telling him how much Jesus loves him." The
day after their ordination on 22nd July 1816, these young priests went to consecrate
themselves to Mary and to place their project under her protection at the
shrine of Our Lady of Fourviere.
Marcellin was sent as curate to the parish of La Valla. His ministry there included
visiting the sick, catechising the children, helping the poor and helping families to
live the Christian life. His simple, direct style of preaching, his deep devotion to
Mary, and his apostolic zeal, made a profound impression on his parishioners.
His encounter with a dying 17-year-old boy who had absolutely no religious instruction,
shook him to his depths, and moved him not to delay any longer in putting his
plans into action.
On 2nd January 1817, only six months after his arrival in La Valla, Marcellin, a 27-
year-old curate, brought together his first two disciples; the congregation of the Little
Brothers of Mary, or Marist Brothers, was born in poverty, humility, and total trust
in God under Mary's protection. While still carrying on his parish ministry, he went
to live with his brothers, whom he trained and prepared for their mission as Christian
teachers, catechists, and educators of young people. Passionately devoted
to the Kingdom of God, conscious of the tremendous needs of young people, and
an instinctive educator, Marcellin turned these uncultured young country lads into
generous apostles. He lost no time in opening schools. Vocations arrived and the
first little house, even though enlarged by Marcellin himself, was soon too small.
The clergy in general did not understand what this inexperienced young priest with
no material resources was trying to accomplish. However, the nearby villages continually
requested the brothers to see to the Christian education of their children.
Marcellin and his brothers shared in the construction of their new house, which
could hold more than 100 persons and which would bear the name of "Our Lady
of the Hermitage". Freed from his parish duties in 1825, he thenceforth devoted
himself totally to his congregation: the spiritual, pedagogical and apostolic formation
and accompaniment of his brothers, visits to the schools, and the opening of
new ones.
Marcellin a man of deep faith, never ceased to seek the will of God through prayer
and dialogue with the religious authorities and with his brothers. Very conscious
of his own limitations, he counted only on God and on the protection of Mary, his
"Good Mother", "Ordinary Resource" and "First Superior". His deep humility, and
his acute awareness of the presence of God, helped him to live through many severe
trials with great inner peace. He often prayed Psalm 126: "If the Lord does not
build the house," convinced that this congregation of brothers was the work of God
and Mary. His motto was, "All to Jesus through Mary, and all to Mary for Jesus".
"To make Jesus Christ known and loved" is the brothers' mission. The school is the
privileged setting for this mission of evangelisation. Marcellin taught his disciples to
love and respect children, and to give special attention to the poor, the most ungrateful
and the most neglected, especially orphans. Spending a great deal of time
with young people, with simplicity, family spirit and love of work, and all of this carried
out as Mary would have, were the essential points of his vision of education.
In 1836, the church recognised the Society of Mary and entrusted to it the missions
of Oceania. Marcellin took his vows as a member of the Society of Mary, and sent
three brothers with the first missionary Marist Fathers to the islands of the Pacific.
"Every diocese of the world figures in our plans", he had written.
Steps for obtaining legal recognition of his congregation made great demands on
his time, energy and spirit of faith. He never stopped repeating, "When God is on
your side, and you rely only on him, nothing is impossible!"
A lengthy illness gradually wore down his robust constitution. Worn out by his labors,
he died at the age of 51 on 6th June 1840, leaving this message with his
brothers: "May you be of one heart and one mind. May it be said of the Little Brothers
of Mary as of the first Christians: see how they love one another!"