History of the Marist Brothers in the United States
Chapter I - The Origin of the Marist Brothers

The founder of the Institute of the Marist Brothers of the Schools was born on May 20, 1789, at Le Rosey, a hamlet in the township of Marlhes in southeastern France. On the following day he was baptized Marcellin Joseph Benedict Champagnat at the parish church of Marlhes. His biographer, jean Baptistse relates a series of incidents which marked him as an child of destiny.

She (his mother) was fully confirmed in this presentiment (of future sanctity) by a sign which she looked upon as supernatural.  Several times, as the child lay in the cradle, she saw a bright flame, hovering round his head, diffuse itself about the apartment . . . she felt that Heaven, in its mercy, had designs upon her child, to be made known in its own good time, and that it was her duty to correspond with its intentions to the best of her power, by bringing him up in more than ordinary virtue and piety.(1.)

The training which young Marcellin received at home instilled in him a noble sense of justice, of piety and of charity.  His mother and his aunt, a nun in hiding, were his childhood teachers. They prepared him for his first communion, which he received at the age of eleven. The ceremony was performed in secrecy since the priest was in hiding from the French government.

His formal education began in 1804 at the age of fifteen. The revolution had disrupted the educational system of the times, so that it was only after Napoleon I became ruler of France that Mercellin Champagnat was able to make use of the educational opportunities that were then made available.(2.)  In 1803 Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Fesch, was appointed archbishop of Lyons. This prelate directed his clergy to seek out young men for the priesthood, in order to fill the depleted ranks of the clergy. Young Mercellin Champagnat was one of these who was thus approached.

Father Courbon, a professor at the diocesan seminary, was the instrument God used to introduce this destined young man to the call of the ministry.  On a visit to the Champagnat family at LeRosey he told Marcellin: "My child, you must study Latin and become a priest, . . . it is God's will." (3.) This significant mandate pleased the shy Marcellin, but his parents, with the best of intentions, tried to deter him because of his limited learning and of his disinclination to study. To their objections he replied: "My resolution is taken, I can now think of nothing but study." (4.) Secretly admiring his determination, they allowed him to follow the priest's suggestion.

This determination was a characteristic which spelled success in the life of Marcellin Champagnat. He traveled to nearby Saint Sauveur to study Latin under his brother-in-law, Mr. Arnaud, the schoolmaster there.  Although he did not succeed too well, he nonetheless entered the minor seminary at Verrieres the following year. At first his deficiencies cause him great hardship. But with consistent effort he reached the standard demanded by the seminary authorities, and was even advanced to higher classes, where he distinguished himself in the Latin studies.(5.)  Recognizing his qualities of leadership, his superiors appointed him prefect, a position which he filled with efficiency.

During this period of his life, young Marcellin strengthened his habits of piety and order, which later helped him to organize a congregation of men. A year before he was transferred to the mayor seminary at Lyons, he became acquainted with two new seminarians who were to become close associates in the ministry, and who helped him implement his future ideas. These were Jean Claude Colin, co-founder with Blessed Champagnat of the Society of Mary, and Jean Marie Vianney, the Cure D'Ars and Patron of Parish priests.(6.)

On November 1, 1813 these three seminarians entered the Grand Seminaire of Lyons, where they studied for three years. They were serious students, who during recreations often spoke of establishing a congregation of priests dedicated to their ideal, the Blessed Virgin. In 1816 Jean Colin, Marcellin Champagnat and others presented their views and future plans to their superior, Father Challeton. This holy priest approved their ideas, and brought them to the famed Marian shrine of Lyons, Notre Dame de Fourvieres, where they dedicated themselves to the purpose of founding the Society of Mary. Later this superior, who became Vicar General of Lyons, joined the Society of Mary.(7.)

One recommendation that Marcellin Champagnat often propounded to his fellow seminarians was the inclusion of teaching brothers in the Society of Mary.  But they were adverse to this proposition. In fact one of them told him: "Eh bien, chargez vous des freres, c'est vous qui en avez eu l'idee." These words he kept in mind.

On July 22, 1816 Marcellin Champagnat was ordained by Bishop Dubourg, Bishop of New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bishop was the representative of Cardinal Fesch. The young priest returned to Notre Dame de Fourvieres, a few days later, to consecrate his life and ministry to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Father Champagnat was twenty-six when he was named curate in the parish of LaYalle, a hamlet situated on the slope of Mont Pilat in the Loire, where he was to serve as assistant to Father Rebaud. The pariah included two thousand souls, most of whom lacked any formal education and who were scattered in the mountainous area. As the newly ordained priest studied the situation, he became determined to do his utmost to teach these people the fundamentals of the Faith, and so to change their ways. His ingenuity in preaching soon effected results. The children became well instructed in the catechism, and their parents guided back to the Faith. In an unpublished dissertation on Blessed Champagnat, Brother Albert Hamel stated:

Father Champagnat had been in the parish only a short time, when it was entirely reformed. Faith was revived; the sacraments were frequented; devotions were attended; family prayers were again recited; in fact, a complete transformation took place. The work started in the pulpit, and was completed in the confessional.(8.)

As part of his ministry, Father Champagnat often traveled the rocky mountain paths to administer the sacraments to the sick and the dying. It was on one of these trips to a twelve year old boy that he decided to found a congregation of teaching brothers. He found the dying boy ignorant of the most elementary truths of religion. For two hours Father Champagnat prepared him for death. He left the boy with the consolation that a soul had been saved. This incident affected him so deeply that he decided to confide to a young parishioner, Jean Marie Granjon, his desire to organize a teaching brotherhood that would educate young men in the fundamentals of the "Faith".

Six months after his arrival at LaValla, Father Champagnat rounded the Marist Brothers. Two young men, Jean Marie Granjon and Jean Baptiste Audras, were received as its first members on January 2, 1817. They were lodged clear the rectory in a house which had been rented by Father Champagnat for their novitiate. He visited them daily to teach them the principles of religious and community life. He drew up a temporary set of rules to mold these two young country boys into cultured religious gentlemen. The following March in order to distinguish them from the laity he gave them names in religion and a distinctive attire in blue.

To inspire them he motivated their thinking by reminding them often of the importance of the religious life, and of the need for religious instruction in a France that had been spiritually ravaged by the Revolution of 17$-9. He established goals which have became the first two articles of the present Constitutions of the Marist Brothers: to labor for the greater glory of God, for the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for their own sanctification; and (as a secondary end) to procure the salvation of souls by the Christian instruction and education of children, chiefly those of the rural districts.

Before the end of the year there were three others in the novitiate. As part of their training program, he assigned them to instruct children and grown-ups alike, in the nearby hamlets of the parish. He also assigned them to assist in the school which he had just opened in the parish. After this period of trig 1, he allowed them to make promises a fidelity to God and to one's vocation, rather than the simple vows of religion.

The catechetical movement which Father Champagnat had begun elicited much favorable comment. Encouraged by this he gave the brothers more intensive training, not only in the teaching of religious principles but also in pedagogy and .secular subjects. In November 1619 he felt that the time was ripe for his young religious to be assigned to the parish schools of LaValla and that of Marlhes. In both schools the brothers quickly earned an enviable reputation as schoolmasters, disciplinarians and pious men. The commendable work they achieved with their students drew the attention of several priests and civil authorities in the surrounding area.

In 1820 other young men who had entered the novitiate became teaching brothers in schools at Saint Sauveur and Tarentaise.(9.) Two brothers were usually sent to staff each school, and a third brother to do the cooking, and a little practice teaching.

Before Father Champagnat organized the teaching staffs, he trained Brother Jean Marie (Granjon) to direct the first community at La Valla. In order to be of greater assistance in this training, Father Champagnat moved from the rectory to the brothers' residence. Though he did not partake of the community life, he spent much of his time directing the efforts of the brothers in the art of teaching, in the art of governing a religious community, and in molding their characters.

Thus the founder combined his interests in the brothers with the charge of his ministry. He continued teaching catechism in the parish, visiting the sick and the dying, administering the sacraments and caring for twelve orphans.

To supplement what little revenue he could spare from his salar as a curate, he also helped the brothers make nails which they sold.(10.) Fortunately his robust constitution withstood the pressure of all these duties.

Father Champagnat's work was appreciated by pastors and people alike. But there were a few priests and laymen who found fault with his methods, with his plans for expansion, and with his policy of sending young and inexperienced brothers to teach. With characteristic humility he tried to justify his noble undertaking, and his faith in Divine Providence to whom he always looked for material and especially for spiritual assistance. The docility of the well disciplined students taught by the brothers was proof of the effectiveness of his teachers. Nonetheless charges were made against him that he was duplicating the expenses and work of other congregations that existed for similar purposes at this time. Complaints reaching the Vicar General actually placed the existence of the congregation in danger.

In 1824 when trials were weighing heavily on the Founder, a new administrator for the diocese of Lyons, Archbishop de Pins, became a source of encouragement. In fact on a visit that Father Champapat paid to the Archbishop to explain his position, the latter stated: "I bless you and all your brothers, May God increase your little family and may it spread, not only through my Diocese, but through the whole of France."(11.)  He then authorized the founder to clothe the brothers with a religious habit, to allow the brothers to take a simple vow of obedience; and he contributed toward the building of a proposed mother house. Later he offered Father Champagnat the pastorate at La Valla, but the founder declined because of his preoccupation with the Congregation.

While the tide of objections was ebbing in one quarter, a new swell of criticism arose when in 1824 the founder purchased land to build a mother house in a valley near Saint Chamond. Ignoring this new opposition Father Champagnat accompanied his brothers to the site to begin the construction work. Father Challeton came to bless the project. But other priests frowned upon the founder for working like a mason and ignoring his priestly d'gnity. Others refused him loans for a project that they considered foolish. Nevertheless contributions did come from unexpected sources to prove them quite rash in their judgment.

In 1824 Father Champagnat was freed at his request from his parochial duties at LaValla, He then joined the brothers in community life„ at Notre Dame de 1'Hermitage, where the LaValla community of twenty brothers and ten postulants had moved.(12.) In addition, two priests of the Society of Mary joined their confrere at the Hermitage to offer their services.

Once the congregation had a mother house, Father Champagnat turned his attention to the detailed work of drawing up permanent rules, and to the development of pedagogical studies. In 1826 he substituted the use of promises at investiture by the simple vow of obedience.(13.) Two years later he chose the present religious habit for the brothers: a black cassock and a separate cape, a white rabat, and a woolen cord for the professed brothers. On the cord a knot indicated a vow taken by the brother To these were added a brass crucifix set in ebony to be worn by brothers who had taken final vows.

To better instruct the brothers, Father Champagnat wrote extensively on religious and pedagogical topics. In 1829 he wrote his first circular letter, on those subjects. Since that time every Superior General has likewise addressed the members of the congregation. From the multitudinous notes he penned at this time, the Second General Chapter of the Institute in 1852 co-ordinated his instructions for publication. Some of the books that were written after his death from this source included: The Common Rules (1852), The Rules of Government (for superiors . . . 1852), The School Guide (1852), The Teacher's Guide (1852), Principles of Christian and Religious Perfection (1863), Sentences; Lecons Avis du Venere Pere Champagnat (1868), Le Bon Superieur (1869).  Brother Jean Baptiste who edited these works was also responsible for a two volume biography, The Life of Marcellin J. B. Champagnat (1857) and Models in Religion (1891), the biographic coverage of the early pioneers.

It was specifically during his last fifteen ears of life (18251840) that Father Champagnat became recognized as 'One of the Great Christian Educators of the nineteenth century. He was recognized in a special manner for his prudence and courage in training young men with a grade school education to become zealous and effective teachers. For this he took every opportunity to guide the brothers in their endeavors. Thus he made use of Easter and summer vacations to offer summer courses, and to conduct teachers' conferences. He filled the post of school supervisor in an expert manner. He continually studied and applied various methods of teaching in order to develop an elite group of teachers.(14.) Father Champagnat's work can be gauged in this quotation:

The last fifteen years of the life of Venerable Champagnat were closely associated with everything pertaining to education. Not satisfied with familiarizing his disciples with pedagogic theory, he frequently visited the schools to see how the Brothers put it into actual practice. He questioned the pupils less to test their knowledge than to discover if the lessons had been understood and taking the teacher's place he gave the latter a practical demonstration of what he considered an ideal lesson.(15.)

THE SOCIETY OF MARY

THE HISTORICAL GROWTH OF THE INSTITUTE
1840-1960

Throughout its history the Institute has met with serious interference from various governments. Blessed Champagnat's trials with the Department of Public Instruction, and the persecutions of the brothers in various countries have already been mentioned. But the greatest hardship suffered by the congregation was the anti-clerical legislation passed by the French government at the turn of the century. In 1891 the education law of 1886 secularized eighty-three schools taught by tine brothers in France.(23.) Ten years later the infamous law of Associations of 1901 withdrew the legal status of all Roman Catholic teaching congregations in France. Two years later every school, private as well as public, was secularized and all religious teachers were expelled from the schools. Brother Albert Hamel in his dissertation states:

The French Sectarian haws of 1903 struck a heavy blow to the Marist family, as the major portion of the 700 and more schools that the congregation had in that country were forcibly closed. However, a number of brothers ardently devoted to the cause of religious instruction, remained in the country and strove to carry on the work of Christian education. These Brothers were forced to adopt the mode of life of the people among whom they labored. They had to abandon their religious costume and sacrificed most of the consolations of community life.(24.)

THE MISSIONARY APOSTOLATE, 1836-1961

Tous les dioceses du monde entrant dans non vues; quant a NN. SS. lea Eveques respectifs voudront nous y appeler, nous noun empresserons de voler a leur aide et de noun y regarder toujours comme leurs tres humbles and tres soumis serviteurs.(29.)

. . . nous en enverrions avec plaisir en Amerique pour seconder le zele den bona missionaires, s'il nous etait possible: noun espeons que la divine Providence noun applinira les difficultes, et nous facilitera les moyens de parvenir jusqu'a tnous, lorsque le temps et les moments que le Pere a reserves a son souverain pouvoir seront arrives.(30.)

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Footnotes:

1.	Brother Jean Baptiste, The Life of Marcellin J. B. Champagnat, p. 4.
2.	Napoleon I, through political expediency negotiated the Concordat of 1801 with Pope Pius VI. Through this treaty the dioceses of France were reorganized and each was given the right to conduct schools. In the reorganization the diocese of Le Puy, where Marlhes was situated, was incorporated in the archdiocese of Lyons.
3.	Ibid., p. 8.
4.	Ibid., p. 9.
5.	The advanced students at the seminary followed courses in Latin, the others followed those in French.
6.	Ibid., p. 29.
7.	Marist Brothers, The Centennial Book, _1817-1917, Part I, p. 21.
8.	Brother Albert, Father Champagnat, One of the Great Christian Educators of the Nineteenth Century, (Unpublished Master's Dissertation Fordham University, 1940).
9.	When the brothers entered a town they either replaced a lay teacher or founded a town school.
10.	The people of this area often made nails during the winter months.
11.	Brother Jean Baptiste, op. cit., p. 122.
12.	There were twenty-two others teaching in the schools.
13.	It included the promise to practice the virtues of poverty and chastity. These were adopted as vows in 1903 according to the wishes of Vatican authorities. A special vow, t hat of stability was introduced in 1855 for professed brothers pledging loyalty to the Institute.
14.	Father Champagnat traveled a great deal to other schools to study methods used. He chose to follow the ideal set by St. John Baptiste de la Salle, founder of the Christian Brothers of the Schools. While visiting Marist Schools he gave conferences on methods.
15.	Brother Albert, OP. cit., p. 25.
16.	Circulaires, 1817-1917, Vol. 10 p. 7.
17.	The Marist Sisters were founded by rather Jean Colin in 1845.
18.	Brother Jean Baptiste, op. cit., p. 240.
19.	The title of Superior General was adopted in 1854 when the brothers were given their autonomy from the Society of Mary.
20.	The Centennial Book of the Marist Brothers, 1817-1917, book I, p. 21.
21.	The remains of the founder were exhumed in 1889 and encased in a tomb in the Notre Dame de l'Hermitage chapel. In 1955 his remains were transferred to a special wing of the chapel that was financed by Marist students.
22.	Mergers of small congregations with the Marist Brothers continue to this day. On January 13, 1956 the Sacred Congregation of Religious approved the union of the Brothers of St. Peter Claver. These brothers had been founded by Bishop Whelan of Owerii, Nigeria in 1948. The expansion of the congregation alarmed the Bishop in 1955. There were 23 brothers and 30 novices and the growth of the order looked very promising. The Bishop asked the Marist Brothers of the Province of England and Ireland to study the merger of his congregation with theirs. This was done on January 9, 1957: Bulletin of Studies, Vol. 48 (Dec. 1956), pp. 102-104. Two years later the Holy See approved the union of the Brothers of St. Francis Regis to the Marist Brothers. The congregation which had been founded by Father Maxim de Bussy, S.J., at Roche-Arnaud, France in 1850 found itself close to extinction by 1957. There were aged brothers in Canada and in Roche-Arnaud, France. In 1959 the Canadian brothers were united with the Province of Levis and the French contingent with the Province of Notre Dame de l'Hermitage: Bulletin de l'Institut, Vol. 50 (April 1960), pp. 91-96.
23.	Brother Zephiriny, "Little Brothers of Mary," Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 6 (1911), p. 182.
24.	Brother Albert, op. cit., p. 19.
25.	Loc. cit.
26.	Florence Gilmore, Martyr of Futuna, p. 189.
27.	Other martyrs of the Marist Congregation include eight brothers during the Boxer rebellion in China, 192 Spanish brothers were killed by the communists during the Spanish Civil War and Chinese brothers who have paid the supreme price when the communists overran the China mainland in the early fifties.
28.	St. Genis Laval Archives.
29.	Circulaires, 1817-1917, Vol. 1 p. 220.
30.	Ibid., p. 22. All the dioceses of the world enter into my thoughts. When the respective bishops will call on us, we will hasten to come to their aid and to always consider ourselves most humble and most obedient servants. (Translation mine) . . . . We would send some (brothers) to America with pleasure t o implement the zeal of the good missionaries, if it were possible. I hope that Divine Providence will eliminate the difficulties and will provide the means once the time and the moment when the Father has destined that His Holy Will be done. (Translation mine).
31.	Ibid. , p. 221.
32.	See Appendix A.
33.	See Appendix J.

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