Who was Marcellin Champagnat?

 

Marcellin Joseph Benedict Champagnat is revered by many titles - a Priest, the Founder of the Marist Brothers, a Saint. But to Marists worldwide, he is remembered as a guiding light, a true teacher, and the beating heart of this remarkable family.

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The Beginnings: A Child of the French Revolution

 

Born in 1789 in a small French village, Marcellin Champagnat's life was shaped by the tumultuous times of the French Revolution. Despite lacking formal schooling himself, his impact on education would become profound and long-lasting.

 

As a child, Champagnat witnessed a teacher brutally beating a classmate, an incident that sparked his aspiration for an education rooted in dignity and empowerment for all. Though schools did not captivate him, the call to priesthood certainly did.

 

At the tender age of 14, Champagnat felt a profound spiritual calling, and at 16, he joined the seminary. During his time there, he became part of the fledgling Marist Fathers' group, shaping his vision of a kinder, more tender face of the Church – one with a Marian spirit.

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                                         Marcellin Champagnat - Chapter 1

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The Founding of the Marist Brothers

 

Ordained as a priest on June 22, 1816, Champagnat was deeply loved by his parishioners. However, a pivotal moment came when he encountered a dying 17-year-old boy, Jean-Baptiste Montagne, who had almost no education about Christ.

 

Shattered by the realisation that a young soul had departed without experiencing the love of Jesus Christ, Champagnat was driven by an unshakable belief in his greater mission – to spread the word of God through education, particularly among the neglected children of society.

 

Mere months after Montagne's death, at the age of 27, Champagnat founded the Little Brothers of Mary, or the Marist Brothers, with a simple yet powerful vision: to make Jesus Christ known and loved through education, social initiatives, and faith formation. 

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More than a Priest: A Father Figure

 

From the moment his first two disciples joined him in 1817, Marcellin Champagnat took on a paternal role, shattering the existing stereotype of the strict priest. He was caring, nurturing, and always a friend to his young followers, modeling the values he wanted them to emulate.

 

For the first Marist Brothers, Champagnat was more than a mentor – he was a father figure, and for some, the family they never had. He reciprocated this love by passionately developing their spiritual, pedagogical, and apostolic formation. They were not merely students or subordinates – they were his spiritual sons.

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                                   Marcellin Champagnat - Chapter 2

                    

The Marist Philosophy: Simplicity, Love, Family Spirit

 

Champagnat's approach was marked by five characteristics: In the Way of Mary, Simplicity, Love of Work, Family Spirit, and Presence. These five features continue to form the basis of the Marist philosophy, inspiring Marists to follow in Champagnat's footsteps, seeing their work as the work of God and the Good Mother, and hoping that their devotion uplifts all those entrusted to their care.

 

A Saint and an Exemplar

 

On June 6, 1840, Marcellin Champagnat joined his father in heaven. In 1999, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him a Saint, cementing his legacy in the annals of Catholic faith as an exemplar of compassion, love, and empathetic education.

 

An Undying Legacy: Love, Empathy, and the Gospel

 

From the ashes of post-revolution upheaval, Marcellin created a community rooted in love, empathy, and an uncomplicated rendering of the Gospel. He understood that the bond between a student and a teacher should be governed by mutual respect, love, and understanding, not fear.

 

Today, there are approximately 2,000 Marist Brothers, along with thousands of Lay Marists, in 81 countries, operating over 500 educational institutes that provide schooling to 650,000 students worldwide, especially those from impoverished backgrounds.

 

And the Marcellin vision persists, defying conclusion, carried forward by Brothers, Lay Marists, and all those who embody the Marist spirit. 

 

Read about the Marist Brothers. 
 

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