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Unfamiliar facts |
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Some unfamiliar facts
The first Brothers The first affiliation The story of the Three Violets Some notes of Father Maîtrepierre on Father Champagnat Champagnat’s brothers and sisters
The first Brothers 1 Br Jean-Marie Granjon 2 Jan 1817. Left 1826 2 Br Louis (Jean-Baptiste) Audras 2 Jan 1817 3 Br Laurence (Jean-Claude) Audras 24 Dec 1817 4 Br Antoine Couturier 1 Jan 1818 5 Br Bartholomew Badard 2 May 1818 6 Br François (Gabriel) Rivat 6 May 1818 7 Br Jean-Pierre Martinol 1818 8 Br Jean-François (Stephen) Roumesy 1819. Left 1826 9 Br Bernard (André) Gratallon 1820. Left 1830 10 Br Stanislaus (Claude) Fayolle Feb 1822 11 Br Jean-Baptiste Furet. 12 Br Joseph Poncet 13 Br Jean-Claude Aubert. (Left 1826) 14 Br Regis Civier. Left 1833 nb: nos 11-14 were four of the eight Postulants who arrived 27 March 1822 The first affiliation in the Institute M. Antoine Thiollière 18 January 1837 see Letters No 85 and Annales vol 1, 1837 [215] The story of the Three Violets From Br Alain Delorme in a communication to Br Mark Farrelly 27 Sept 1997 [The story is that Father Champagnat was walking through the fields and noticed the fragrance of violets. Discovering the tiny flowers hidden by other growth he is supposed to have proclaimed that the violets were and image of the Little Brothers of Mary - hidden from the world’s eyes, but powerful in their effect.] Brother Alexander Balko says: We do not know who first had the initiative of the three violets. We find them about 1880 in the seal of the Congregation, especially on the first pages of our books. So neither Fr Champagnat nor Br François seem to have had any part in this initiative. The Spiritual Testament (1840) defines the spirit of the Institute in two words: humility and simplicity. Modesty was added in the General Chapter of 1852-4 with the idea of conciliating simplicity with politeness in the behaviour of the Brothers. Fr Champagnat adopted the Marian monogram AM as emblem for the Congregation. It is mentioned in the Circular of 27.8.1836. It is part of the decoration of the altar in the chapel built in 1837 as well as of the credence of 1840.
Some notes from Father Maîtrepierre 1853 ORIGINES MARISTES v.II Doc 752 Collateral branches: The Little Brothers of Mary The idea of their foundation was conceived in the Major Seminary of Lyon, at the same time as that of the Society. Father Champagnat, on joining the original founders, said to them: I have always felt within myself a particular attraction for an establishment of Brothers; I join myself with you quite willingly and, if you judge it appropriate, I will take this role on myself. And so he was to be charged with it. My early education, he said, was lacking; I would be happy to contribute to providing for others the advantages of which I was deprived myself. He worked towards this end with an untiring zeal until his edifying death, 6 June 1840, at half past four in the morning, while the good and pious Brothers were singing the Salve Regina in the chapel, as he had them sing for the previous fifteen or twenty years. The history of the beginnings of this foundation is most interesting and most edifying. The poverty, the simplicity, the ignobilia mundi (the despised of the world) shone there on all sides. The tribulations have generally been hidden, but they are neither less numerous or less repugnant for that. The founder was afraid of nothing. To the first attacks which he encountered on the part of the Vicar General, a founder of similar works, he replied: “Up to the present, I used to ask myself if I was working according to the designs of God; the attack which I have just received begins to give me hope.” In the beginning, he received with great ease the one-eyed, the halt, the deaf, those with disfigured faces, wise men, ignorant men, the polished, the unpolished and with these he founded his establishments. For myself, I serve to make my arrows of wood with [ie, make use of] what I have at hand; when I need a superior, a director, a teacher, if I can’t find one with two eyes, I send one with only one eye; when I can’t find one who walks properly, I send one who is lame, and I say: “If the Holy Virgin wishes this to proceed, it is necessary that she gets involved in it [has a hand in it]; she sees that otherwise it cannot go ahead. He had often enough a way of speaking which was somewhat distinctive in its originality, eg: some months before his death, I had the consolation of spending about a week with him. [In a letter to Fr Lagniet Fr Maîtrepierre 5 April 1840 says: I spent a week at the Hermitage in the middle of March; the good Fr Champagnat was ill, I left him a little less suffering. I was very edified there.] One day Brother Jean-Marie, econome of the house, brought him a letter; he read it, continuing to reflect with me, when suddenly he said: Hold on a minute, Br Jean-Marie, this is your business; Fr So and So has introduced a young man; he is very kind, but that will not pull any of his teeth [that won’t cost him anything]; if he is has any go in him [if he has any elbow] we could make him work, but he is only fifteen years old; that may cost you food and good money and he will pay us by showing a clean pair of heels.” At the general retreat which he gave for the Minor Seminarians at Meximieux in 1837, he gave us an example of detachment which edified us very much. Up till then, by force of circumstances, as he had worked at his task with some independence, it was thought fitting to ask him to resign as Superior of the Brothers. Everyone knows how much founders and former superiors hold on to their work, striving to direct things in the way they see fit. So as soon as Champagnat understood that this was said with all due consideration, he answered: Yes, I will hand in my resignation, and I ought to do so. The only thing which causes me pain is that you have to go to this trouble to tell me. I have had the grace of state to begin; I do not have it to continue. And he handed in his resignation there and then. Father General reappointed him immediately. So his dependence became more regular, more affective and more fruitful for himself and for his congregation. It is up to the Little Brothers of Mary to give his history. I know that they are occupied in collecting some very interesting notes which they will publish in due time. (Translated Br Tony Butler March 1997, with reference to Br Owen.)
Champagnat’s brothers and sisters
Anne-Marie, b. 11 Dec 1775, d. 1817, m. Benoit Arnaud; son Philip greatly assisted Champagnat at the Hermitage. Two grandsons become Marist Brothers - Brs Tharcice (Jean-Baptiste Seux 1829-1890) and Théonas (A. Seux 1840-1902)*
Jean-Bartholémey, b. 12 March 1777, d. 20 Jan 1838. m. Marie Clermondon. He inherited the family farm. Two sons became Marist Brothers: François-Régis – Br Regis (1827-1885), and Jean-Baptiste (Br Théodoret. He left soon after his first profession)
Anne-Marie, b. 20 Feb 1779. m. Dominique-Jean Lachal.
Jean-Baptiste, b. 11 Sept 1780, According to the Chronologie he died young; according to Brother Stephen Farrell he died 8 August 1803 aged 22.
Marguerite-Rose, b. 20 Feb 1782, m. Guillaume Chénet, d. 15 April 1829.
Marguerite-Rose, second of that name, b. 1 Aug 1784, d. young.
According to Farrell, the order of the two Marguerite-Rose children was reversed. He adds that one son of Marguerite-Rose and Guillaume Chénet became a Marist Brother as Brother Straton but he did not stay.
Anne-Marie, second of that name, b. 25 July 1786, d. young.
Jean-Pierre, b 26 Dec 1787, cared for with great love by Marcellin, buried at the Hermitage 1833, as were four of his sons who died fort jeunes (quite young). One of the daughters was a nun at Belley. Jean-Pierre married Marie Ravel.
Marcellin Joseph Benedict, b. 20 May 1789, founder of Marist Brothers, d. 6 June 1840.
Joseph Benedict, b. 27 Oct 1790 d. young.
* It seems that one of the Arnaud family arranged for a photograph to be taken of Marcellin Champagnat after his death. This photo was given to the Marist Brothers in recent years. I do not know its provenance but it is a very convincing photo, going by the death portrait.
References Chronologie de l’Institute Rome 1976 pp.15-16 Farrell, Brother Stephen Achievement from the Depths Drummoyne 1984 pp8-9
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