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Saint Marcellin Champagnatand Venerable Brother François

THESOURCE

AND THESTREAM

WORD OF INTRODUCTION

The Source and the Stream is a kind of parallel between our Founder,Marcellin Champagnat (the source), and Brother François who was tobe his first successor, “his living portrait”. Our Congregation, underBrother François, experienced an astonishing growth: the source be-came the stream.Father Champagnat and Brother François lived the same story, thesame beginnings, shared the same ideal, the same charism, the samejourney towards holiness.These pages focus on these two people to-gether so that the Brothers may grow in their affection, enthusiasmand gratitude for them.Though they were two entirely different personalities, they workedtogether as closely as possible. Holiness is first of all the work of theSpirit who marks each person with patience and intelligence; it is al-so one’s heart and life being overcome by the power of the resurrec-tion of the Lord. But Marcellin and François clearly demonstrate thatyou can journey towards God using your own natural, different gifts.The style is meant to be light consisting of summaries and short texts.Perhaps these pages can strengthen in our family the custom of ex-tending to our first Brothers and to all the Brothers who have pre-ceded us that same spontaneous and strong affection that we showour Father and Founder, Marcellin Champagnat. Pride in our originsconsolidates the present day Marist identity.

Among the blessings deriving from his family,

an exceptional mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

A precocious child . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Responsibility laid upon youthful shoulders . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

1826:The time when the friend makes his commitment . . .19

The disciple honors the master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

What François bequeaths to us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

But it is the same Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

A prolonged intimacy with God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

On his countenance, the radiance of the Eucharist . . . . . . .39

Special child of Mary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

I have always loved all of you tenderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

And tell them of your affection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Resignation: 1860 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

The Spirit is the One who fashions the saints . . . . . . . . . . .63

Take an axe... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

A letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

The decree concerning the heroicity of his virtues . . . . . . .73

A Brother’s prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Gabriel Rivat :The key events of his life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Prayer for the Beatification of Brother François . . . . . . . . .78

Prayer for vocations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Among the blessings deriving from his family,

an exceptional father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Difficulties in his personal growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Taking on responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

1826: When illness creates a void . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Two friends along life’s journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

What Marcellin offers us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

The gifts are different . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Basking in God’s sunshine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Jesus, the center of his life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Mary, Our Good Mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

I live only for you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Love the students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Death: June 6, 1840 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

If we consider the differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

We will have our meal together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

A letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

An enthusiastic and practical man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Prayer of a disciple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Marcellin Champagnat: the key events of his life . . . . . . . . .76

T H E S O U R C E A N D4 5T H E S T R E A M

TABLE OF CONTENTSSAINT MARCELLIN CHAMPAGNAT

TABLE OF CONTENTSVENERABLE BROTHER FRANÇOIS

7T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

T H E S O U R C E A N D6

SAINT MARCELLINCHAMPAGNAT

l. In the hamlet of Maisonnettes, parish of La Valla, theRivats are above all a farming family.

2. Of the father, JeanBaptiste Rivat, very little is known.

3. Françoise Boiron, the mother, is an exemplar ofChristian motherhood. She will deeply influenceyoung Gabriel by her devotion to Mary: she conse-crates her young son to Mary when he is five yearsold. Mrs. Rivat is also drawn towards a freely-cho-sen way of mortification: she wears a disciplinarycord around her waist. Despite being paralyzed formany years, she will remain in a peaceful dispositionsaying,“Heaven is the place where we must go.”

4. In the Rivat home there will be seven children, fourboys and three girls. Gabriel is the youngest child.

5. Although not of robust health, the Rivats aremarked by a longevity greater than that of theChampagnat family. Several of the Rivats live morethan seventy years, like Françoise, the mother, andher son Gabriel. (Medicine had made some ad-vances; the era is one generation later than theChampagnats.)

6. Gabriel is born on March 12, 1808. His mother’s im-age will be very clearly seen in him, perhaps also thediscretion of his father.

7. With the accession of Napoleon to power, Frenchsociety no longer experiences the horrors of the

1. The Champagnat family, who livedat Rosey, near Marlhes, are a fam-ily of farmers and small entre-preneurs.

2.. Marcellin’s father, Jean Bap-tiste, is an impressive man,possessing a certain level ofculture. He is involved withthe ferment occurring in so-ciety and favors the ideals ofthe French Revolution. “His father was a man ofsound judgment, very well educated for the timeand region where he lived; his character cautiousand understanding, made him a good mediator whenthere were disagreements among the townspeople.”

3. Marcellin’s mother, Marie Thérèse Chirat, is the onewho forms Marcellin’s heart. She supports him, par-ticularly in his most difficult moments. MarieThérèse is a strong woman, of deep piety, and great-ly devoted to the Blessed Virgin. She is a woman ofsound judgment.

4. Jean Baptist and Marie-Thérèse will have ten chil-dren, five boys and five girls; Marellin is the secondyoungest child.

5. In the religious formation of Marcellin, a paternalaunt, Louise, a Sister of Saint Joseph, will be of greathelp to the mother within the family setting.

6. Marcellin was born on May 20, 1789. In him we shall

AMONG THE BLESSINGS DERIVING FROMHIS FAMILY,AN EXCEPTIONAL FATHER

AMONG THE BLESSINGS DERIVING FROMHIS FAMILY,AN EXCEPTIONAL MOTHER

For MarcellinChampagnat

quotationsare taken

from the lifewritten by

Br. Jean BaptisteFuret, Rome,

1989.

Quotationare takenfrom thebook FrèreFrançois,GabrielRivat:La joied’être Frère,Rome,December2003.

Revolution. On the other hand, Emperor Napoleonis constantly at war, and so there is a need to havemany young men under the flag. Two of BrotherFrançois’ brothers are called to military service.

“Brother François eventually identified himself socompletely with Father Champagnat that the Broth-ers no longer made any difference between the twomen. When Brother François spoke or wrote, it wasFather Champagnat who spoke or wrote.” (BrotherPierre Zind, Brother Francois’ Spiritual Counsels,p. 20).

9T H E S T R E A M

see reflected his father’sense of social action, per-sonal relations and practical skills; we shall see tooMarcellin’s mother with her strength and piety.

7. France is headed into the tragic Revolutionary peri-od, although the turmoil which marks Paris reachesthe country regions in a mitigated form.

Brother Paul Sester offers the following reflection af-ter reading the preceding section:“To draw up a par-allel account of the two men it would rather be thecase of presenting that which makes them differentrather than that which they have in common. FatherChampagnat and Brother François are two diversepersonalities with two kinds of holiness. Producing awork like this is not easy.”


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

We look to Marcellin, as a child

looks to his father, and we learn

essential values from him.

In him we see:

A man of faith living in the

presence of God who saw the

world through God’s eyes.A man

passionate about Jesus and

Mary.A man of prayer.A pilgrim

in faith.A heart full of passion

for God. (Document of the 20th

General Chapter, n° 15)

1. When he was eight years old, François is one of thechildren who attends the catechism lessons of LaValla’s young vicar and the lessons given by the firstlay teacher whom Fr. Champagnat hired. Marcellinhad arrived at the parish on August 12, 1816.When her son is ten years old, Mrs. Rivat confideshim to Father Champagnat. François becomes thesixth Brother in the new congregation.

2. Marcellin gives him Latin lessons, since he knows al-ready how to read and write. He has a priest-brother, a fact that might suggest that the Rivat fam-ily was open to culture.François is drawnto intellectualwork. At the timeof his Hermitagestay in 1826,François demon-strated a keen in-tellectual curiosityand he acquired agood grounding inliterature, mathe-matics, natural sci-ence, Bible history.

3. He will show him-self outstanding intwo fields – medicine, a fieldin which he stays

11T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

A PRECOCIOUSCHILD


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

l. Marcellin will not succeed inhis studies. After seeing theteacher give a slap on theface to one of his class-mates, Marcellin decides todrop out of school.The decisionis firm. “Born in the canton of Saint-Genest-Malifaux (Loire), I knew, frommy own endless difficulties in learning toread and write, the pressing need to es-tablish a Society which could bring tocountry children the solid education that theBrothers of the Christian Schools were providing inthe cities” (534).

2. At fifteen years of age, Marcellin returned to studiesin order to get ready for entrance to the minorseminary: it was difficult. He had to have great willpower and to do lots of work in order to keep uphis studies at the seminary. At the end of the firstyear, he was advised not to return, advice probablygiven as consequence of weak school reports. Hestays up at night to study.

3. On the other hand, at the family farm with his father,Marcellin learns a great many practical skills: mason-ry, carpentry, mill-work and, with his flock of sheep,a sense of money. All through his life, Marcellin willfind manual work an easy thing for him to do.

4. For Marcellin, practical matters normally prevailover theoretical ones. His intelligence, judgment,

DIFFICULTIES IN HISPERSONAL GROWTH

quite up to date. François will be a gifted infirmari-an all his life. It is one of the ways in which he candraw close to his confreres.– being a kind of spiritual gourmand: from the writ-ings of the saints, he gathers many sayings which hecopies into his notebooks.His letters reveal an easy script and he writes agreat deal. François also gives his attention to theintellectual formation of the Brothers. In 1849 heopens the first scholasticate.

4. His reflective nature and his shyness created a cer-tain aloofness. All the same he will be a perceptiveBrother devoted to others, as his letters and hiswork as infirmarian clearly demonstrate.

and inter-personal skills are down to earth, creatingan atmosphere of ease with those around him.


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

We look to Marcellin, as a

child looks to his father, and

we learn essential values from

him. In him we see:

A father who cares for his

Brothers as his own children.

A man full of vigour and

tenderness, who can radiate

joy and a sense of good

humour.A heart that is both

paternal and maternal.

(Document of the 20th

General Chapter, n° 15)

Surely you must fear

acquiring that knowledge

which is self-promoting

unless you develop

at the same time

that charity which helps

others. (Brother Pierre Zind,

Brother Francois’ Spiritual

Counsels, p. 74)

1. In light of his youthful ability, François graduallyenters into the realm of responsibilities. Schooldirector at the age of seventeen, and then, ateighteen, director of the Hermitage and Masterof Novices; at twenty-eight, secretary and righthand man to Father Champagnat whom he suc-ceeds on October 12, 1839, at thirty-one yearsof age.

2. Director General , then, from l852 to 1860, SuperiorGeneral. Hewas twentyyears at thehead of an Insti-tute undergoingrapid growth ina world thatwas becomingevery more ex-acting for edu-cators. He wasalso the leaderof a Congrega-tion now legallyrecognized andspread over allof France andbeyond its bor-ders. In RomeFrançois under-takes the firstmoves in the

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BROTHER FRANÇOIS

RESPONSIBILITY LAID UPONYOUTHFUL SHOULDERS

1. Marcellin is 27years old whenhe is ordained,and when he issent as vicar toLa Valla, wherehe arrives onAugust 12, 1816.

2. On January 2,1817, not yet 28years old, hefounds the newCongregation ofthe Little Broth-ers of Mary. AsFounder andformator, hemolds men intoreligious educa-tors, a charge hesustains over twenty-four years.

3. He brings into existence a type of education basedon love, on presence, on qualities Marial and mater-nal. He constructs the Hermitage and punishes therock face.He bears the responsibility of being trail-blazer, ofthe one who cuts open new pathways; he is a manof the Spirit, a charismatic figure with his two feeton the ground.


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

TAKING ONRESPONSIBILITIES

Br. François isfirstdesignated bythe title,DirectorGeneral(from 1839to 1852),since FatherColin is theSuperiorGeneral ofthe wholeSociety ofMary.Later, whenthe twocongregationsseparate, in1852,the Fatherson the onehand, andthe Brotherson the other,Françoisreceived thetitle, SuperiorGeneral.

process of having the Congregation become on ofpontifical right.

3. He soon makes the Hermitage into a holy place forMarist Brothers, a reliquary of the Founder towardswhom he promotes a devotion among the Brothers.

4. He conceives of his responsibility as that of a disciple.He must be, at one and the same time, faithful andcreative. He will be a man of solid community struc-tures: the Common Rules, the Constitutions, Rules ofGovernment.To be a “Man of the Rule” is his mannerof heeding the Holy Spirit and the signs of the times.

5. At 52 years of age, François resigns. The tempo atwhich the Congregation has been developing allowsone to survise the amount of work that was re-quired of its leader. Marcellin died at 51 years ofage. At the age of 52, François is exhausted.

4. He stays alert to the Holy Spirit and to the signs ofthe times, so that the charism and mission of thenew Congregation become clearer and more uni-fied. He sketches out a spirituality for the active re-ligious.

5. Worn out by work and illness, he dies on June 6,1840 at 51 years of age.


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

You fear,

you despise thoughts,

words and actions

that are opposed to chastity . . .

and it should be the same

with thoughts,

words and actions

opposed to your vocation.

(Brother Pierre Zind, Brother

Francois’ Spiritual Counsels,

p. 65)




In him we see:

A pastor who listens to and

welcomes people.An apostle with

a heart that burns with the desire

to announce the Good News

of Jesus.A friend of children

and of young people.An educator

who can be both understanding

and demanding.A creative

and audacious person. A heart of

an apostle. (Document of

the 20th General Chapter, n° 15)

1. 1824: François is sixteen years old and is amongthose who are working on the Hermitage construc-tion site.

2. 1825: François, seventeen years old, becomes Direc-tor at Boulieu. Faced with this new charge, he asksMarcellin to compose a special prayer for him.Thefounder invites François to entrust everything intothe hands of Mary.

3. 1826: François makes his perpetual vows, commit-ting himself fully to the young Congregation. He iseighteen years old, and, at the moment when someare withdrawingfrom the com-munity, he com-mits himself toit.

4. Marcellin callsFrançois to theHermitage to bethe Director ofboth the com-munity and thenovitiate, and,within a shorttime, infirmarianas well. Fran-çois becomesfirst councilorand replaces

1. 1824: Purchase of the Hermitage property, and, inMay, beginning of construction, an exhausting workwhich Marcellin brings to a successful conclusionamidst many vexing circumstances.

2. 1825: In May, the new Congregation moves into theHermitage: great deprivation, debts, criticism; Mar-cellin is in danger of being abandoned by those whousually support him.

3. 1826: Marcellin becomes gravely ill after Christmas1825. He never fully recovers from the illness.Courveille works behind the scenes in order to bechosen superior, and, in the course of Marcellin’s ill-ness, threatens to abandon everything and leave theBrothers at the mercy of those who are demandingpayment of money that is owed them. Terraillon,one of the priests who made the Fourvière Pledge,


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

1826: THE TIME WHEN THE FRIENDMAKES HIS COMMITMENT

1826: WHEN ILLNESS CREATES A VOIDSAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

leaves the Hermitage. Jean Marie Granjon, the firstBrother, leaves the Congregation; and EtienneRoumezy, talented in financial matters, chooses anoth-er vocation. Courveille is compelled to leave becauseof a scandal.

4. So it is that a void is created at the Hermitage: Mar-cellin is alone, sick, and in debt. Brother Jean Baptistedescribes the pitiable state into which the Hermitagecommunity has fallen.

5. Brother Stanislaus, unlettered but sound of judgmentand well esteemed in St.Chamond, becomes Marcellin’sconfidant, his nurse, his right arm, helping him to returnto health. He rekindles the Brothers’ enthusiasm, en-abling the Congregation to pass through a difficult stage.


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

Marcellin in cases of absence.

5. From now on, François remains with Marcellin atthe Hermitage. He is as much the man of the Her-mitage as is Marcellin, living there from 1826 to1858 and from 1860 to 1881, a total of fifty-threeyears. (He resided at Saint-Genis-Laval from 1858to 1860.) François will himself be the living historyof the Hermitage and its saint.




In him we see:

A man ahead of his times.

A man who includes the whole

world in his plans and so prepares

missionaries.A man who lives his

ideals with such intensity that a

lot of others want to be like him

and live with him.A heart that

knows no bounds. (Document of

the 20th General Chapter, n° 15)

Advice given to a SuperiorMake a special effort to see that there prevailsin your institution and particularly among the Brothers a good spirit, a great devotednessto the Institute, . . . a real sense of prayer,and above all: charity, humility, modesty,discretion. Be especially attentive aboutwarding off sadness . . .From time to time, bring to their attention the following words of our good Founder:"The Cross and hardships are necessarily the lot of all those who do God's work,committing themselves in a useful manner to the salvation of souls. You see then, that aperson who is afraid of hardships . . . does notexperience the mystery of the Cross or God'ssalvific ways or the road to perfection." Father Champagnat used to say that a superioris obliged to offer his community all of his time, talent, attention, and effort.(Brother Pierre Zind, Brother Francois’Spiritual Counsels, p. 69-70).

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BROTHER FRANÇOIS

1. Marcellin welcomes Gabriel at just ten years of age.Marcellin will be the master forming the disciple.At first, Marcellin leaves Gabriel’s vocational choiceopen, with the possibility that the young disciple, towhom Marcellin givesLatin lessons, choosethe priesthood.

2. Very quickly Marcellinperceives the qualitiesthat Brother Françoispossesses and demon-strates his esteem byassigning responsibili-ties to him. He be-comes Marcellin’s sec-retary and stands infor him in cases of ab-sence. Later Françoisbecomes Marcellin’ssuccessor.

3. Marcellin is the sourceof the confidence thatthe Brothers will havein Br. François. De-lighted when he iselected Director Gen-eral, the Founder doesnot hesitate to sayopenly to the Broth-ers, “The man you


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

TWO FRIENDS ALONG LIFE’S JOURNEY

1. François decides tobe a “living portrait ofMarcellin” and tochange nothing in theway things weredone during theFounder’s lifetime.He wins the Broth-ers’ esteem,becomesa warmer type ofperson, one who getscloser to them andexpresses his affec-tion for them.

2. He takes noteswhen the Foundergive conferences. He leaves us almost 1500 pages ofdocumentation in which we can discover various as-pects of our roots and various elements of Mar-cellin’s ideas.

3. From 1819 to 1865 François writes spiritual reflec-tions, which reveal to us forty-five years of MaristBrothers’ religious history. Eleven of the years cov-ered by the period in question were a time whenthe Founder, living with the Brothers, was thesource of their spirituality.

4. The Circular entitled “The Spirit of Faith,” composedfrom 1848 to 1853, offers a first synthesis of the spir-ituality that characterizes the young Congregation.

THE DISCIPLE HONORSTHE MASTER

5. François is a major influence in the devotion thatBrothers will have for the Founder: “Present your-selves before Fr. Champagnat. You will see that hearranges all matters with his Ordinary Resource, theBlessed Virgin.”

have elected will do better than I.” “In La Valla most of the families have an image of Br.François hanging in their living room, next to theVenerable Champagnat’s picture. In such families, heis invoked every day”, (from statements of Br. Fran-cis Borgia, Summarium 611-655).


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

Clearly,

intimacy with Jesus

was

the destination

of Marcellin

Champagnat’s journey

of faith.

(Circ.A Revolution of

the Heart, p. 25, 6 June

2003, Seán Sammon

S.G.).

The whole house of Our Lady

of the Hermitage can be

considered the Reliquary

of venerable

Father Champagnat.

He built it, and he lived

in it for sixteen years.

Everything speaks of him,

for he had a hand in everything,

guided everything.

(Brother François, Gabriel Rivat:

The joy to be Brother, p. 126)

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BROTHER FRANÇOIS

WHAT FRANÇOISBEQUEATHS TO US

1. At his death in 1840, Marcellin leaves behind him:• A motherhouse, the Hermitage• A novitiate, the Hermitage• A first set of Rules: 1837• 280 Brothers, 48 schools, 7000 students• The Congregation has communities and schools inthe Lyons area as well as in the north of France.Some Brothers are working in the Oceania mis-sions.• Marcellin has made contact with the Brothers ofSaint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, founded by Mazelier.

2. He bequeaths a charism, a mission, a spirit, a newCongregation and a great deal of affection. Even to-day, the Congregation is marked by a mutuality of af-fection between Founder and Brothers.


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

WHAT MARCELLINOFFERS US

1. Upon his resignation in 1860, François leaves behind:• A Congregation legally recognized (1851)• Five novitiates• The first scholasticate, 1848, at Grange Payre• A new Common Rules, 1852• The School Guide, 1853• The Constitutions and the Rules of Government,1854• A fourth vow, Stability, 1855• The first biography of the Founder, the one by Br.Jean Baptiste Furet, 1856• A new Generalate, Saint-Genis-Laval, 1853-1858• 2086 Brothers, 379 schools, 50,000 students• The Congregation is present throughout France,in Belgium, England, Scotland; nineteen Brotherswork in Oceania.• The first endeavors are undertaken in Rome, 1858,for the Congregation to become one of pontificalright.

François created stable structures for the Congregation.

In regard to Br. François, Br. Pierre Zind has drawn up acomparative chart vis a vis the Brothers of Ploermel, todemonstrate Br. François’ activity in regard to thegrowth of the Marist Brothers:

Brother François said openly, “I wish to be a living por-trait of the Founder,” a statement that translates into: agovernment which, at first, makes no changes in the waythings have been done; later, a facing up to events inChampagnat’s spirit as if Marcellin were present, a gov-ernment that makes innovations.

3. Marcellin said to Brother Stanislaus,“I tell you aheadof time: after my death things will be much betterthan they are now.”


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

Year Marist Brothers Brothers of Ploermel

1840 280 395

1860* 2086 935

* Year when Br. François resigned.* Year when Jean Marie de La Mennais, the Founder ofthe Ploermel brothers, dies.

In order to be successful with

the students, here are four

approaches that I can offer to

you as infallible:

- love them

- be loved by them

- encourage them

- help them never to get

discouraged

(Brother Pierre Zind, Brother

Francois’ Spiritual Counsels,

p. 77).

Marcellin’s spirituality was

also eminently transparent.

Simplicity was the quality that

characterised the man.The

founder was direct, enthusiastic,

confident. His humility was

also evident: no-one would ever

describe him as a person

of pretence.

(Circ.A Revolution of

the Heart, p. 25, 6 June 2003,

Seán Sammon, S.G.).

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BROTHER FRANÇOIS

1. Marcellin is generous by nature, robust, outgoing; heenjoys personal relationships and cultivates them.

2. He is inclined to action, to practical matters.

3. Quick to size up a situation and perceive God’s ini-tiatives, he commits himself wholeheartedly, invitingothers to do the same. He cannot sit on the fence;he lives with enthusiasm for God and others.

4. He is a natural, a charismatic leader who easily winshearts over to his cause.“He was endowed with anupright mind and a deep, sure judgment, his heartwas kind and sympathetic… Marcellin’s dispositionwas bright, open, frank, resolute, courageous, enthu-

siastic, constant andequable… open,friendly and consid-erate… with an abiliyto resolve situationsof strife. His unas-suming affability…gained all hearts”, (p.266).

5. There is a current ofaffection that flowsstrongly betweenMarcellin and hisBrothers. He tellsthem, “There isnothing that I am un-


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

THE GIFTS ARE DIFFERENT . . .

1. François is a shy per-son by nature, re-served, a bit cool anddistant, and not ofvigorous health.

2. He is inclined to in-tellectual interests.He will writing agreat deal, especiallyfrom 1860 when hestarts to collect themaxims of the saints.He is a talented infir-marian, a work inwhich he combinesknowledge, affectionand prayer.

3. In his religious sensibility, he appears drawn towardsthe mystical way more than was Marcellin.

4. His leadership was intellectual and mystical.

5. François is held in high regard by his confreres. Heis elected Director General by an overwhelmingmajority, garnering eighty-seven votes out of theninety-two that were cast. Many Brothers describehis affection as fatherly and motherly. To the Broth-ers, François composes letters that are full, rich, pol-ished and often quite affectionate:“You know, Broth-ers, that I have always loved you tenderly.”

BUT IT IS THESAME SPIRIT

6. He can be very dynamic when the interests of theCongregation are at stake.

7. Many people seek his advice because he is known asa prudent and wise man.

8. François makes the Hermitage a Marist reliquary, aplace of devotion to the Founder. Because of Broth-er François, esteem for the Founder develops intothe preservation of memories, into devotion and in-to piety.

9. François is, in the best sense of term, a man of theRule, thinking of it as a way of listening to the HolySpirit. To the Congregation in a stage of rapidgrowth, he gives the needed structural elements:Common Rules, Constitutions, Rules of Govern-ment, the vow of stability.The structures will endurefor about a century.

prepared to do in order to help you. I am ready toshare with you the last crumb.” To the Brothers hewrites short, practical, affectionate letters. For hisfollowers he is really a father.

6. Marcellin is the one who built the Hermitage, theman who attacked the wall of solid rock. Full of dy-namism, he transmits dynamism, enthusiasm andgenerosity. He had the knack of getting others tojoin him on his religious and human adventure.

7. Above all else, Marcellin is Founder, the man withthe charism, with the mission, the one to lead theCongregation, a man faithful to the Holy Spirit.


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

Self-promotion is a

treacherous thief who makes

off with our good works

and slips in so subtly

that he has already struck

his blow before we even

realize it. (Brother Pierre Zind,


Counsels, p. 38)

Here is my invitation to you:

to be Champagnat today!

Dare to be Champagnat!…

It is essential that the Brothers

bring Champagnat to life

through their consecrated lives

and that they become

prophetic signs of the values

and the reality that form the

essence of their life.

(Brother Benito Arbués, S.G.,

7 April 1999).

35T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

A PROLONGED INTIMACYWITH GOD

1. It was in prayer that Champagnat conceived and de-cided upon all his projects. He began, continued andcompleted everything in prayer. “I could never un-dertake anything without having long recommendedit to God”. (p. 300).

2. Prayer is the capital point in forming the Brothers. Ifyou have the gift of solid piety, you are in possessionof all virtue.A Brother who is not prayerful is a manwho will accomplish nothing. (p. 313)

3. “Nothing struck me or edified me so much as Fr.Champagnat’s prayerfulness. When you hear himpray, you become certain of his holiness. Thosewho had the happiness of living in his companycould not fail to become prayerful men.” (p. 288)

4. Marcellin was particularly attached to the prayersof the Church and preferred them to all others.(p. 302). He held strongly for meditation and Eu-


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

BASKING IN GOD’SSUNSHINE

1. Br. François wouldundertake nothingwithout long reflec-tion, without pray-ing a great deal andasking for prayers.He would placehimself at God’s dis-position. He wouldstudy matters withcare, consult, takelots of time. Godwas his greatest ad-visor” (p. 105).

2. “Have your confr-eres become men of prayer; thus you will promotetheir sense of well being and help them infallibly togain their salvation” (p. 122).

3. “A thoroughgoing participation in Jesus Christ’s filialspirit before the Father, such a prayerful frame ofmind gives us the deep confidence of a child, an ab-solute confidence that allows us to bring beforeGod, as before the best of fathers, our simplestneeds and the least of our sufferings” (p. 122).

4. “Who will free us from that hardness of heart thatis so deadening? Who will bestow on us that sensi-tive heart, that heart opened-wide which will enableus to savor God’s law, to embrace it with courageand perseverance? The practice of prayer will do so.

By nature hard and stubborn, ingrate and rebellious,inclined to sensate pleasure and resistant to theSpirit, our heart will be softened by meditation andby prayer” (p. 129).

The Presence of God“Let us adopt a habit of making very short, spontaneousprayers that they will keep our mind and heart alwaysturned towards God. Let us betake ourselves often intothe sanctuary of our soul, and there through faith weshall find God (p. 125).

charist, (p. 311). “If you are faithful to your medita-tion, I answer for your salvation, and you will be-come good religious”, (p. 308).

5. “I have such a keen interest in these Brothers that Inever feel that I have prayed for them enough, and Icontinually recommend them to Our Lord and hisBlessed Mother”, (p. 303).

The Presence of GodFather Champagnat’s preferred religious practice wasthe presence of God, (p. 321). Often to make very short,spontaneous prayers and to make them so often thatthey turn work into true prayer, (p. 310).


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

Yes, how little you know of

God's kindness. If you

understood what that kindness

involves, your failings would

enflame you with love and

sorrow; but never would they

make you sad or melancholy,

for such sadness comes from the

devil. Why is it then, that you

burden yourself so readily with

that bad "relic"? What kind of

attention ought you to pay to

such sadness? Has it ever done

you any good? (Brother Pierre

Zind, Brother Francois’ Spiritual

Counsels, p. 36)

The title of Father

and Founder is not only

a memory from the past;

the Founder is also

the guardian of a charism

from which comes our

spirituality and mission. More

so, today it is this charism that

must be lived if we are to have

the benefits of its richness.

(Brother Basilio Rueda, S.G.,

Circ. of 8th January 1968)

39T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

ON HIS COUNTENANCE,THE RADIANCE OF THE EUCHARIST

1. “His piety in celebrating Mass was a source of ad-miration. His recollected countenance, his earnest-ness, the reverence of his manner were all clear in-dications of the sentiments that overflowed hisheart and of the deep impression made on him bythe holiness of the august sacrifice which he offeredto God”, (p. 328)

2. “If you could only understand the immense benefitsthat are contained in the Eucharist”, (p. 338). “If wecould grasp how much we profit from visits to theBlessed Sacrament, we would ceaselessly be lyingprostrate before the Blessed Sacrament”, (p. 333).

3. Jesus, present in theBlessed Sacrament, wasMarcellin’s refuge; there,at the feet of Jesus, hewould ponder what hadto be done, and neverdid he make even theleast important decisionwithout recommendingit to Jesus, (p. 334).

4. To make Jesus Christknown and loved is theaim of your vocationand the goal of the Insti-tute.All religious knowl-edge lies in knowing Je-sus Christ, (p. 340).

38

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

JESUS,THE CENTEROF HIS LIFE

T H E S O U R C E A N D

1. Above all it is in Communion that we are united in-timately with Jesus. We become one body and onespirit with him. We live with his life, and he com-municates to us his purity, his humility, his holiness,all virtues (pp. 122-123).

2. François used to place himself before the BlessedSacrament and there he would find the solution tohis problems (p. 89).

3. One who has known Jesus Christ can no longerworry about the things which are going well or thethings that are causing suffering. He thinks only ofdrawing closer to Jesus Christ (p. 134).

4. Let us draw near to Jesus Christ by knowing andloving him, and especially by imitating him (p. 134).

5. When François returned to his place after receivingCommunion, an extraordinary smile shown uponhis countenance. “It was something that seemed likea supernatural occurrence, and yet, all the same, itappeared to come about in a natural manner.” (p.62).

6. My life would be unbearable if I had no suffering tobear for the sake of Jesus Christ. (p. 129).

5. Before Communion, when Marcellin would say,“Be-hold the Lamb of God,” you would have thought hewas seeing Jesus, (p. 290).


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

All Christians are like artists

who have to produce

a portrait of Jesus Christ.

Their eyes must be attentively

focused upon the divine

original. In that way they

can express in themselves

those features of his virtues.

Try it yourself. You will

soon realize that

contemplating Christ's

mysteries and his way of life,

like a brush in the hand

of a fine artist, will make

of you a perfect copy of this

divine Savior. (Brother Pierre

Zind, Brother Francois’

Spiritual Counsels, p. 23)

We feel called

to centre our lives

and our communities

passionately on Jesus,

as Mary did.

(Document of

the 20th General Chapter,

n° 18).

43T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SPECIAL CHILDOF MARY

1. Devotion to Mary ispresent from his infan-cy, (p. 34), derivingfrom his mother andhis aunt Louise.

2. From long periods oftime spent with Mary,near her altars, Mar-cellin came to see thatGod was inviting himto a life of sanctity (p.341). It was at onesuch moment spentwith the Blessed Virginthat he received theidea of founding theCongregation and ofgiving it the very name of her who had inspired theidea in him (p. 342).

3. Mary is the Good Mother and Ordinary resource,she who has done everything for us, the First Supe-rior. Marcellin considers Mary as his mother and asthe way that leads him to Jesus (p. 341).

4. His motto is: All to Jesus through Mary; all to Maryfor Jesus (p. 341).

5. Everything in the Institute belongs to Mary; every-thing must be used for her glory (p. 346).


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

1. Born on a Saturday, died on a Saturday. His motherconsecrates François to Mary when he is five yearsold. She re-consecrates him often, even on the dayon which she brought him to Marcellin Champagnat.François thought of himself as a special child of Mary(p. 41).

2. On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, I madea resolution to aim at the perfect execution of myevery action (p. 46).

3. Let us go to Mary with the utmost confidence, forthere is nothing that the spirit of her Son will refuseher. He is as devoted to her as she is to him, grantingher every wish, and she freely uses this influence withHim as if His power were her own,bestowing his bles-

sings wherever she wish-es.That is the measure ofJesus’ love for her, thelove that is the source ofher power. (Letter of the6th of Dicember 1858 .Conseils spirituels du Fr.François – Pierre Zind. P.24).

4. Let me pray to the lovingMother of God, Star ofthe Sea and my GoodMother so that she her-self may steer the vesselthat she has confided tome (p. 46).

MARY, OURGOOD MOTHER

5. “To work to form Jesus in ourselves and in our stu-dents; to have the same affection for the Brothersand the students that Mary has for Jesus; let us hearthe word of God and keep it in our heart as Marydid; let us lead a hidden life as Mary did” (p. 43).

6. From 1830, the Salve will be sung each morning inorder to place the Congregation under Mary’s pro-tection and to tell her of our confidence in her (p.351).The Memorare in the Snow is one of the mostbeautiful indications of the protection offered by theGood Mother. (pp. 352-354).


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

“The blood that gives life

to Jesus’ heart

flows from Mary’s heart

and the grace that

sanctifies Mary’s heart

issues from Jesus’ heart.

(Gabriel Michel: Frère François,

Gabriel Rivat : 60 ans d’histoire

mariste, p. 341)

I invite each Brother

and each community to undertake

a spiritual pilgrimage

to deepen ourselves in the charism

of the Founder

which is still very much relevant

today.

I am sure that we all will find

something good

“for the body and for the soul”,

something that will bring to life

in us the passion for Champagnat.

(Brother Charles Howard, S.G., 1989).

47T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVEDALL OF YOU TENDERLY

1. Never has a father loved his children more tender-ly than Fr. Champagnat loved his Brothers. “You are,my dear Brothers, the special focus of my concern;my every wish, my every desire is that you would behappy ” (p. 437).

2. “You know that I live only for you, and that there isno truly good thing that I do not, each day, ask Godto grant you; that I would not desire to obtain foryou even at the cost of great sacrifices.” (p. 438)


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

I LIVE ONLYFOR YOU . . .

1. Here I am, placed at the head of my confreres, tolove them and cherish them with a father’s senti-ments, to be a guide and example for them at alltimes and places.” (Brother François, Gabriel Rivat: 60Years of Marist History, 73)

2. My very dear Brothers, I am now placing upon an-other Brother the difficult and important functionsthat I am no longer able to perform. I feel that myaffection for you,my attachment to you, and my con-cern for all that involves the Institute will neverlessen.On the contrary, it can only grow, as long as Godgrants me life . . . . In fact, when one has been twen-ty years at the head of a group as precious andcommitted as the Little Brothers of Mary; whenone has had, with its members, contacts so fre-quent, so intimate, so pleasant: would such a onebe able to forget them? My very dear Brothers,truly I have always cared for you tenderly, and I willalways love you in that way. Yes, I will hold thethought of you preciously in my memory, and I willalways bear your interests in mind.” (Circular ofl860 announcing the election of a Vicar-Superior,Louis Marie).

3. Some characteristic phrases drawn from Br.François’ letters:“I love you. You know that I love you, and my onlywish is for your good.”“You are aware that I love you very much, and I de-sire fervently that you advance in perfection.”

“You know, my dear Brother, that I have ever lovedyou tenderly.”(Brother François, Gabriel Rivat: 60 Years of Marist His-tory, p. 215)

3. “There is no mother who has more kindness for herchildren than Fr. Champagnat had for us.” BrotherLaurent (pp. 336-337).

4. “I beg of you, my dear Brothers, with all the affectionof my soul, and by all the love you have for me, doall you can to ensure that charity is always main-tained among you. Love one another as Jesus Christhas loved you. Be on one heart and mind. May it besaid of the Little Brothers of Mary as of the firstChristians: ‘See how they love one another’” (Spiri-tual Testament).


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

We would like to work

at our salvation, but in a way that

costs us nothing.

We do not wish to suffer eternally

in hell, but, at the same time,

we wish to have all possible

conveniences here on earth.

We desire to receive

the merit and reward of poverty,

without lacking a thing;

of chastity without denying

ourselves; of obedience doing

all the while what we wish.

We would continue to live

in the consecrated life as long

as we are better off there than in

normal lay life and even much better

off. (Brother Pierre Zind, Brother

Francois’ Spiritual Counsels, p. 39).

51T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

JOY

1. He had a lighthearted character, was open, easy toapproach, attentive, a man who helped people to getalong well together.“He is very kind; he knows howto work things out in an easy going way.” (274).

2. The most admirable feature of Fr. Champagnat’scharacter was his equanimity. Contradictions, chal-lenges, difficulties, nothing disturbs his peace of soul


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

JOY

1. Never did I see the Servant of God lose that even-ness of temper which is possessed by those whoseek solely the will of God. No surprise or setbackwould disturb him. He never became discouraged;instead, bigger problems served only to increase hisconfidence. When the way ahead was blocked, hewould wait for God’s moment (89). But he also usedto have his moment of impatience when he was sick.

2. Do not lock yourselves up in prison for the sake ofyour students. You need times of recreation. Betterthat the students learn less but form a stronger bondwith the Brothers and appreciate them. Such a situa-tion is preferable to having the students complain whenthey discover that the Brothers treat them sternly inorder to get them to do their work. (Brother François,Gabriel Rivat: 60 years of Marist History, p. 222).

3. “Pay careful attention: sadness never, no sulkingaround at any time, never pouting; rather, no matterwhat may happen, always maintain a gentle light-heartedness, a holy joy, an even disposition, completeacceptance of what occurs.” (Letter from early 1853;Spiritual Counsels of Venerable Brother François, p. 35 –Pierre Zind).Try never to lose peace of soul or joyof heart” (Ibid. p. 36). “Be conscious of the following:when you draw near to God with joy, simplicity andconfidence, as a child approaches his father, you do amuch greater and a much better thing than if youpermit fear to gain a mastery over you. Such exces-sive fear crushes the heart and puts a layer of ice up-on our pathway to perfection” (Ibid. p. 36).

4. When the Servant of God saw a confrere under theinfluence of real sadness, he - the one who was soserious - used to reach out to the Brother, even tothe point of singing a humorous song; and he wouldnot desist until had had evoked a smile and a reli-gious expression of confidence (p. 100).

or the calmness of his countenance.You never sawhim looking sad or disheartened (274).

3. To maintain the Brothers in joy of heart and thesimple, appealing lightheartedness that he strove toinspire in them, Fr. Champagnat allowed them toplay during recreation times. He preferred to seethe group playing simple games rather than con-versing or walking around. He himself sometimesjoined with the Brothers in their games (p. 278).

4. Once, he was making a trip on foot with a Brother.Since his companion seemed depressed Marcellinkept trying to lift his spirits during the trip and tocheer him up. He began to sing the hymn “Memen-to salutis auctor,” and sang it by himself from startto finish, repeating three times the chorus, “Maria,Mater gratiae”. In that way he brought a bit of sol-ace to the Brother (p. 275).

5. It is demons who ought to be sad, and it is religiouswho ought to be happy because they are children ofGod. Outside of sin, nothing is worse, nothing moredangerous than sadness and a sour disposition (p.278).


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

You know,

it is not success

that God rewards

but effort

and good will.

There you have

the advantage

of working

for God.

There you have

the reason why the saints

were always filled with joy.

(Brother Pierre Zind,


Counsels, p. 75).

1. To be a success withyoung people, you mustwin their love and re-spect. When the studentslove the Brother who isassigned to them, they arecontent and happy, notwishing to make life diffi-cult for him. When theyrespect him, his presencekeeps them in order andmoderates their frivolityand natural disorderliness.To be loved, you mustlove. You must be amongyour students like a fatheramong his children. Thestudents have to realizethat you love them, thatyou are interested in allaspects of their world:their health, their prob-lems, their joys, theirwork, their pastimes; and. . . you must let them knowthat you are pleased withthem and that the onlything you care about istheir spiritual and materi-al happiness. (Brother Fran-çois, Gabriel Rivat: 60 Yearsof Marist History, p. 159)

55T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

AND TELL THEM OFYOUR AFFECTION

1. Marcellin Champagnat is a born educator. The secretof his success as an educator lies in the simplicity ofhis human relationships and in the confidence thathe placed in his youthful followers. (In the footstepsof Frather Champagnat, p. 30-31).

2. As far as Marcellin is concerned, the heart of theapostolate is “to make Jesus Christ known andloved.” (Constitutions 2) “Every time I see youngpeople I long to catechize them, to make them real-ize how much Jesus Christ loves them.” (Constitu-tions 2)

3. To raise children properly, we must love them, andlove them all equally. (550).


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

LOVE THE STUDENTS

2. Brother Avit, a highly intelligent man, is given the jobof being “School Visitor.” Among many bits of wisecounsel that Brother François wrote to him, weread,“When you visit the classes and find somethingthat you have to correct, be careful to say nothing infront of the students that could offend the Brothers.You are not to reprimand or correct a student infront of the others. Instead, take the child aside pri-vately and inform him one to one, that is, with good-ness and gentleness.” (Brother François, Gabriel Rivat:60 Years of Marist History, p. 140).

3. Brother François is a person who reflects and plans.

4. We have to live amongst the students; the principleof personal presence. (In the footsteps of FratherChampagnat, p. 61)

5. A presence that reflects the motherly nature ofMary. (In the footsteps of Father Champagnat, p.66).She is the Mother of every student in our schools.”(Letter to Br. Barthélemy)

6. A formative presence in which family spirit is promi-nent. (In the footsteps of Father Champagnat, p. 63)

7. Marcellin is open and spontaneous.


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

With most heartfelt

affection and in union

of prayer with you,

I am, in chapel,

in community

and at the tomb

of Father Champagnat,

your most devoted

Brother François.

(Brother Pierre Zind,


Counsels, p. 25)

Equally, so, Marcellin Champagnat

was known for his simplicity.

There was no guile in him.

He was direct, honest, unassuming,

and he encouraged his brothers

to develop the same traits.

The founder was clear: as poverty

marks a Franciscan, so also should

the virtue of simplicity mark each

and every one of his Little Brothers

of Mary, and, indeed, marks

the lives of all who today would

claim his charism as their own.

(Message from Seán Sammon, S.G.,

on 6th June 2004)

59T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

Marcellin died at the age of fifty-one, worn out by workand illness. When Brother François wrote to the Broth-ers in Oceania, he put is as follows:

“You are undoubtedly surprised, my very dear Brothers,not to hear the name of the one whom no so long agowe referred to as our father, our superior. You see, itwill soon be six months since God took him from thisworld. His final illness had exhausted and drained him somuch that he was no longer anything more than a livingskeleton. Like his life, his death was greatly edifying.”(Letter of November 20, 1840).


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

DEATH: JUNE 6, 1840

When he was fifty-two yearsold, François resigned be-cause of poor health. Broth-er Francis Borgia, AssistantGeneral under Brother Dio-gène (1920 – 1942) wrote inhis deposition: “It is no sur-prise that the health of thissimple worker in the Lord’svineyard was weakened andeven in a rather critical stateat the age of fifty-two. For along time Brother Françoissuffered from headaches. Dif-ficult situations, worries, hardwork, concerns: he never hada moment’s release fromsuch things. The headachesbecame chronic, and were ofsuch an intensity that he asked to be released from thetask of leading the Institute.” (cf. Positio super Virtutibus,p. 611-655).

People’s feelings upon learning that BrotherFrançois had died:At his death “the reflection of heavenly glory was so ev-ident that each person wanted to have some pious ob-ject with which to touch him. All day long on Sunday, theplace was never empty of visitors. At the High Mass, Fa-ther Rabier suggested that prayers be said for the de-ceased; in a particular way, however, he recommendedhimself to the prayers “of a soul which is so just.”

RESIGNATION: 1860

The day of the funeral was very cold and there were twenty centimeters of snow on the ground.Brother Stratonique was present with other Brothers,“joyful and comforted in the thought that they were going to attend the funeral of a saint”(Brother François, Gabriel Rivat,60 Years of Marist History, p. 370).

People’s feelings when they learned that Fr.Champagnat had died:“Feelings of sorrow were tempered by the deep convic-tion in every mind, that his afflictions had been trans-formed into an immense weight of glory. Those whocame to pay their respects were at peace; they desiredto look upon him and kiss his feet” (p. 255).

“Let us weep for a tender father, a worthy superior andfounder, a holy priest, the one who was our support, ourguide and our helper always at hand . . . . Fr. Champag-nat’s death, like his life, was enormously edifying, and wehave not doubt that, in God’s eyes, it was a preciousone.” Brother François (p. 257).


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

63T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

THE SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHOFASHIONS THE SAINTS

1. Robust constitu-tion; height 1.79meters.

2. In the family envi-ronment, the fa-ther is a formida-ble presence, pos-sesses a certainculture, is activein politics.The mother is adecisive presencein critical mo-ments. She formsthe heart of herson Marcellin.

3. For Marcellin, studies are a burden.

4. Marcellin is part of the “Happy Gang” that some-times visits the local café.

5. At the age of twenty-seven, he takes on real re-sponsibilities: vicar, then Founder.

6. A natural leader:his personality is marked by self-con-fidence, dynamism, action and affection: a man whobuilds buildings, who builds men. He has a talent formaking friends; he creates with his Brothers bonds offather-to-son. Spontaneous and expressive in his af-fectivity. In character, lighthearted; has to develop theserious side. His life will be active, full, short.


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

1. Physically not strong; sickly

2. In the family, little is known of the father. His moth-er’s character is marked by a striking and deeply re-ligious personality which passes into the soul ofFrançois. The Rivats are more clearly a farming fam-ily than the Champagnats, profoundly Christian: onebrother a priest; a sister who, like mother, wears apenitential cord around her waist; one nephew apriest.

3. At ten years of age François studies Latin. He will al-ways be a quick learner.

4. He appears to have an on-going religious develop-ment, preserving his bap-tismal innocence.

5. Assumes real responsibilitywhen he was seventeenyears old, assuming the di-rectorship of the Boulieuschool in 1825.

6. An intellectual leader, givento reflection, to recollec-tion, to contemplation. Peo-ple consult him as a wiseand prudent advisor. Seri-ous by nature, he has a needto develop joy. He prefers

IF WE CONSIDERTHE DIFFERENCES

to carry out his plans by indirection. Is conscious ofbeing in a relation of leader-to-subject and infirmari-an-to-patient, but enters the relation with sensitivity.Respect for nature and a sense of ecology.

7. A simple life, active, long: 72 years.

8. Man of the Rule, of structures.

9. Creates the first synthesis of spirituality: CircularThe Spirit of Faith, 1848-1853. Transforms it intoRules and Constitutions.

10. A true apostle. In a discrete manner, he begins tobring to reality Marcellin’s dream, “All dioceses ofthe world enter into our views!”

11. François desires to be “the living portrait of theFounder.” He warms his heart at the heart of theFounder, all the while remaining himself: admirablebut different from Marcellin.

7. Attentive to the big picture while not neglecting thedetails.

8. Man of the Holy Spirit, of the charism of innovation

9. Creates for religious of the active life a spiritualitythat adapts itself to the circumstances of founding anew congregation: nothing is set in stone.

10. Expansive apostolate: “All the dioceses of the worldenter into our views.”

11. Fr. Champagnat was François’ formator: choosinghim for key roles, training him in the ways of lead-ership, showing him great esteem.


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

Our Constitutions remind us

that “the Institute is a gift

of the Holy Spirit to the Church

and is a grace forever relevant

to the world”. We must rejoice

in the gifts we have received

as they are the heritage left to us

by the Founder. But we must also

make every effort possible to be

more faithful to father

Champagnat, to his spirit

and to his spirituality. (Brother

Charles Howard, S.G., 1989).

67T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

TAKEAN AXE

Br. Jean Pierre Martinol, director ofthe community of Boulieu (Ardè-che) paid a visit to La Valla in l824.Upon his departure, very earlynext morning, Fr. Champagnat toldhim,“Since the Brother who prepares the meals has notyet gotten up, take this piece of pastry with you. It is thespecially blessed bread that I am given on Sunday for cel-ebrating the High Mass. You can eat it as your breakfastalong the way.”“No, Father,” was the reply;“I will take it to my commu-nity, and we’ll share it at our table. You see: everythingthat comes from you and from our motherhouse at LaValla is special, suits us well and does us good. I’ll bepleased to provide my confreres with this little treat. Iam sure it will give them great pleasure, and, while wehave our meal, we will speak about you and the La Vallacommunity.”Fr. Champagnat was quite taken with such sentimentsand said,“Br. Jean, when you speak in such a way, I couldweep for joy. Feelings like that truly manifest the familyspirit which should enliven every Little Brother of Mary.Let’s hold fast to those feelings and that spirit; then we’llknow the full happiness of the consecrated life” (Avis,Leçons, Sentences: Ed. 1927, p. 321-322).


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

WE WILL HAVE OURMEAL TOGETHER

The first reason which motivatesme to believe that he was a holyman is the strange permission hegave me, after I explained to himthe way we had lived in the Quin-cié community during the unhappy year 1854-1855.Here are his very words.“In the future, if you find your-self in a similar community setting and you are left byyourself in the house for days on end, come to theMotherhouse.And if it is necessary to do so in order tohave enough money to make the trip, take an axe, smashopen the desk, take the money and come.” Second reason.When I was substitute infirmarian at theHermitage in 1860, the following incident occurred. ABrother, named Zephirin, had a tonsil operation.The lefttonsil was cut too deeply, and there resulted a consid-erable hemorrhage that lasted from 4:00 to 8:00 in theevening. At 8:00 p.m. I left the sick Brother in the careof a confrere and ran to tell Br. François who came atonce. Upon arriving, he asked me for a bottle of sulfu-ric acid, and, taking a wad of damp cotton, he applied itfor an instant to the left side of the neck, the part thatwas exposed. Immediately the hemorrhage stopped.Was it the acid treatment that made it stop or theprayers of the Superior (because he was praying whilegiving the treatment)? I do not know. The fact is thatthe hemorrhage was stopped forthwith and the patientwho was in a fainting spell came back to his senses.(Testimony given by Br. Juventin; Positio Super Virtutibus,pp. 500-501).

In 1824,La Valla was the

Motherhouse;construction

of theHermitage

had not yetbegun.

In 1825 Br. François

becamedirector of the

Boulieucommunity.

69T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

A LETTER

Dear Brother Barthélemy and your dear fellow-worker,

I was very glad to hear from you and to know that you are ingood health. I also know that you have many children in yourschool; you will consequently have many copies of your virtues,because the children will model themselves on you,and will cer-tainly follow your example.What a wonderful and sublime occupation you have! Youare constantly among the very people with whom Jesus


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

A LETTER

Dear Brother,

I am very pleased to giveyou this special name -even if, for a short time, youhappen to be distant fromus - because you are al-ways linked to the Societythat you always loved, and Iam always your superior.

I received your letter withmuch pleasure and satis-faction. I was hoping thatyou would write in order togive me news about your-self, to let me know howyou are doing just now andhow you’re feeling, so that I might be of service to you andoffer you some advice.

The fact is that I still care about you with great affection, andI often think of you. I have remembered you in my prayers.If I had known your address before, I would have written, orbetter still, paid you a visit.

A great sadness, a real sorrow came upon me when I heardthat I would not have the pleasure of meeting you at Beau-camps. How much I regret not have been able to have aword with you, offer you a little comfort, encourage you; andhow many times have I said to myself: if I could have metwith him, he would not have left the Institute (p. 52).

(The Bother to whom the preceding letter was written re-turned to the Institute.)

Dear Brother,

“…Our Brother Acaire’s illness induces me more and moreto urge you to supply your colleagues generously with all thatthey need to withstand the fatigue that comes with teaching.Conserving their health is the greatest economy you canmake for the Society. Always keep to the limits set by theRule except - I have no need to tell you this - in cases of ex-traordinary need, the kind that an attentive, fatherly careknows how to spot even before the sick person tells youabout it (p. 55).


VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

Christ was so delighted to be, since he expressly forbade hisdisciples to prevent children from coming to him. And you,dear friend, far from preventing them, are making every ef-fort to lead them to him. What a reception you will have inyour turn, from this divine and generous master, who doesnot let even a glass of cold water go without its reward!Tell your students that Jesus and Mary love them all verymuch: those who are good because they resemble JesusChrist, who is infinitely good; those who are not yet good, be-cause they will become so. Tell them that the Blessed Virginalso loves them, because she is the mother of all the childrenin our schools. And tell them that I love them very much too;and that I never once say Mass without thinking of you andyour dear children.How happy I would be if I could be a teacher, and devotemyself even more directly to educating these impressionablechildren!

Notre Dame de l’Hermitage, January 21, 1830Letters, Document 14

73T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

What heritage has Marcellin left to his Brothers? Cer-tainly not a collection of books about theology and theconsecrated life.

His heritage is found rather in a generous heart, a pas-sion for the Gospel of Jesus, solid good sense along witha practical approach to life. To put it simply, Marcelinwas a man of passion and a man of action.

The Hermitage that was built by the future saint and hisfirst Brothers permits us to catch a glimpse of the fer-vent character of the man; the building made withroughly cut stones shows us his qualities: strength, de-termination, constancy.

In Marcellin’s soul there was a fire that was both con-suming and full of light.

He always had a warm welcome for everyone; he was aman of heart, a man full of affection.

There is no doubting the fact that it was this passionwhich made the Founder the charismatic man whom weknow, not only for the young people whom he attract-ed so naturally but even for those who met him alonglife’s path.

(A Heart that Knows No Bounds, p. 93,Br. Seán Sammon, S.G.)


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

AN ENTHUSIASTIC AND PRACTICAL MAN

With all the strength athis disposal, BrotherFrançois sought to bethe living image of Fr.Champagnat: throughthe love of Jesus in theEucharist, imitation of the Blessed Virgin, gratitude forblessings received, encouraging everyone to share insuch feelings.Hidden in God, Br. François loved silence, humility, mod-esty. His innocence of soul was remarkable; and hepracticed a freely chosen bodily mortification, even tothe extent of using the disciplinary whip and wearing apenitential cord around his waist.Compassionate, kindly, loving towards all, especiallyyoung people, the poor, the sick, he had a marvelous tal-ent for giving encouragement and comfort.As we presently see the issue . . . no doubt exists re-garding the theological virtues of faith, of hope and ofcharity both towards God and towards the people heencountered during his life. The same is true for thecardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and tem-perance as well as the other virtues which are contin-gent upon them. The Servant of God, Brother François,Superior General of the Little Brothers of Mary, prac-ticed to a heroic degree all the virtues referred toabove.

Given at Rome, July 4, 1968Cardinal Benno Gut,

Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites

THE DECREE CONCERNING THEHEROICITY OF HIS VIRTUES

Brother François,with wholehearted generosity you made an offering of your life for the benefit of your brothers and sisters.Now we ask you to come and help us along the path of love and self-donation,so that Jesus may become the focus of our lives,that those with whom we live may see that he is our

Master.

You were “the Living Rule.” Promote within us a love of our Constitutions,like the love that the poor of Yahweh had for the Law.You had the opportunity to see our family grow in

numbers,extend itself, and receive many new members.Today we traverse a desert;intercede for us so that we may joyfully announce:“Truly, sons are a gift from the Lord!”

You were an excellent infirmarian,combining a mother’s tenderness and the doctor’s

reserve.Today we ask you to pray for (name of the sick

person . . .).

François, listen to our prayer.

Amen!

75T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

A BROTHER’S PRAYER

Father Champagnat,I am pleased to be one of your disciples.I admire the enthusiastic way in which you devoted yourself to your work,the love you showed to the Brothers,to young people and the poor.I admire too your simple affection,sound common sense,your love for Mary and for Jesus whose boundless goodness you wanted toreveal to the world.Your joyful enthusiasm sprang from the timesof prayer that you spent before the Blessed Sacrament.Saint Marcellin: grant that I may resemble you

in some small way.Help me to manifest to others, as you did,a joyful enthusiasm,and to love the Marist Family in its many manifestations:Brothers, young people, colleagues who share your spir-it.Above all, help me to grow in my love for Jesus and hisMother,the one you called “Our Good Mother.” I thank you for all that you accomplished and for the love that you have for me.By your prayer, grant that in my life and in the great Marist Family the Holy Trinity may be glorified,Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

PRAYER OF A DISCIPLE

77T H E S T R E A M

VENERABLE

BROTHER FRANÇOIS

GABRIEL RIVAT :THE KEY EVENTS OF HIS LIFE

1. 1789, May 20 - birth at the Rosey hamlet, Marlhes,France

At his baptism he receives the names: Joseph,Benoît, Marcellin.

2. 1816, July – Ordination in Lyons, France

3. 1816,August 12 - arrives at La Valla as vicar

4. 1817, January 2 - founds the Congregation in La Val-la

5. 1824 - begins the construction of the Hermitage

6. 1825 - The Brothers move into the Hermitage.

7. 1826 January – Marcellin is gravely ill.

8. 1836 and 1838 - Efforts made in Paris to obtaingovernment recognition of the Congregation

9. 1839 - The Founder is ill.

10. 1840, June 6 - Marcellin dies at the Hermitage.

11. 1889-1891 - The first steps on behalf of Marcellin’scause for canonization are initiated at Lyons.

12. 1920 - The decree, issued by Pope Benedict XV, re-garding the heroicity of the virtues practiced byMarcellin.

13. 1955, May 29 - Beatification by Pope Pius XII.

14. 1999,April 18 - Canonization by Pope John Paul II.


SAINT MARCELLIN

CHAMPAGNAT

MARCELLIN CHAMPAGNAT:THE IMPORTANT EVENTS OF HIS LIFE

1. 1808, March 12 - birth at the hamlet of Maisonettesin the commune of La Valla, France.At his baptism heis given the name, Gabriel.

2. 1813 - At the Valfleury sanctuary, his mother conse-crates him to the Blessed Virgin.

3. 1818, May 6 - enters the Congregation at ten yearsof age

4. 1819, September 8 - commits himself to the Con-gregation by the promise of obedience, taking thename François out of love for his mother, FrançoiseBoiron.

5. 1826 - makes his perpetual vows.6. 1839, October 12 - elected Director General and

thereby replaces Marcellin.7. 1852 - becomes Superior General.8. 1852 - 1854 - General Chapter: Common Rules,

School Guide, Constitutions, Rules of Government.9. 1858 - François and his General Administration

move to Saint-Genis-Laval.10. 1860 - resigns from office and retires at the Her-

mitage11. 1876 - suffers a stroke and is paralyzed on his right

side.12. 1881, January 22 - dies at the Hermitage13. 1910-1934 - First steps on behalf of Br. François’

cause of canonization are begun at Lyon.14. 1968, July 4 - Pope Paul VI issues the Decree re-

garding the Heroicity of the Virtues and the accom-panying title of “Venerable.”

79

PRAYER FORTHE BEATIFICATION OF BROTHER FRANÇOIS

O God,You gave Gabriel Rivat the gift of being drawn to religious life from his very early

years,so that he became one of Marcellin Champagnat’s first followers,later succeeding him in the leadership of the Institute dedicated to the Blessed

Virgin.Grant us, your servants, we pray,the joy of seeing his name honored with the title of “Blessed.”We beg you to increase your blessings upon those whom Brother François intercedes for in your presence.O Mary, our Good Mother, hasten the day when we see raised to the honorof sainthood the one who was your servant here below.Amen.

Lord Jesus,as we look on our world today

we realize the tremendous needsof countless children and young people.

Bless them with heralds of hopeand witnesses to your love for them.

We thank you for inviting each of usto strengthen our vocation of service.

Help us to live in such a waythat our witness will be a wellspring of hope,

and an inspiration for new vocationsas lay people, religious, and priests

committed to your mission.

We prayfor all the men and women you are calling

to live Marcellin’s dream,to bring your Good News to children

and young people,especially those most in need.

In a special way, we lift up to you in prayerthe young men you are calling to be Marist Brothers.

As they listen to your call, may they be inspired to be daring in following youwith passion and generosity.

Mary, our model of courageous faith,pray for us your Family!

Presentation and texts: Br. Giovanni Bigotto, Postulation GeneralEditor: Marist Brother – General House – Rome, September 2004

® Institute of the Marist BrothersC.P. 10250 – Rome. Italy.Tel. (39) 06545171Fax (39) 0654517217E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected] Web: www.champagnat.org

Formatting and photolithography: TIPOCROM S.r.l. – Via G.G. Arrivabene, 24 - Roma - Italia.Printing house: C.S.C. GRAFICA, s.r.l. – Via G.G. Arrivabene, 40 – Roma - Italia.

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