The Spirit of Marcellin Champagnat

Meeting: 9 August 2007

Presenter: Brother Ray Arthur fms

Brother Ray shared his great love of the practical founder of the Marist Brothers – Marcellin Champagnat who inspired his life as a Marist Brother. As well as the notes presented below Br Ray quoted from the book Strong Mind and Gentle Heart by another Australian Marist Brother Frederick McMahon fms, pages 129 – 131. Quotes:

Marcellin Champagnat did not leave books of spiritual reflection to his Brothers. Instead he left them a particular living spirit…..Champagnat was not an other-world theorist; he was immersed in real life. The Brothers were encouraged to come close to God in and through life – personal life, community life and apostolic life…… simplicity, sincerity, directness, frankness…....Champagnat was not the retiring type…..self-acceptance with no pretense, no assumption of airs…..mutual acceptance, tolerance and good humour were part and parcel of the family spirit.

Champagnat gave his Brothers the liberty to be themselves; there was no suppression of individual personality. Champagnat himself was a lively character, well endowed with the spriti of fun. In fact, on one occasion Fr Colin thought fit to deliver a mild reprimand to Champagnat, chiding him about jokes which evidently did not measure up to Colin’s standards of due religious decorum! ..…a willingness to work was regarded as a requirement for admission to the institute: “to love work and to detest idleness” He insisted on manual work and wanted a garden at every Brother’s house (something that Brothers’ continue till this day) providing their own vegetables the brothers helped minimise the cost of their annual support in the parish and community….

Having examined the spirituality of Champagnat we can readily understand how deviotion to Mary became part of the Marist spirit. From Calvary’s cross Jesus gave us Mary: ‘Son behold your mother’ or in our parlance ‘Son, take Mary into your home.’ Champagnat encouraged his Brothers to heed these words……The apostolate of the school was the centre of Marcellin’s work and he was always attracted by the Mission lands…..He volunteered for service overseas, but had to settle for sending his Brothers to Oceania. Enthusiasm for the apostolate of the Missions is a legacy from Champagnat.

1. Major influences on his life
   - His father and the values of the revolution (equality, freedom, liberty)
   - His mother and Aunt (faith, prayer)
   
   
2. Basis of his spirituality (Const 2.) Led by the Spirit, Marcellin was seized by the love that Jesus and Mary had for him and for others. His experience of this as well as his openness to events and to people, is the wellspring of his spirituality and of his apostolic zeal. It made him sensitive to the needs of his times, especially to the ignorance concerning religion among young people and the poor circumstances in which they lived.
   
   
3. Presence (Presence of God /presence to others) Immense confidence and trust in God. The quality of his presence to others His favourite psalm: Psalm 127

   If the Lord does not build the house,			 
   The work of the builders is useless;			
   If the Lord foes not protect the city; 			
   It is useless for the sentries to stand guard		
   
   It is useless to work so hard for a living,
   getting up early and going to bed late.
   for the Lord provides for those he loves
   while they are asleep
   

   
   
   
4. Following Jesus in the way of Mary
   (Const 3.) The love which the Holy Spirit pours in to our hearts gives us a share in the charism of Marcellin Champagnat and directs all our energies to this one aim: TO FOLLOW CHRIST AS MARY DID in His life of love for the Father and for people.
   Also from a letter of Marcellin to Bishop Pompallier (vic. Apost. of Oceania) on 25/8/1838.
   Without Mary we are nothing, with Mary we have everything, because Mary always has her adorable son either in her arms or in her heart.
   
   
   
5. Humility / simplicity /modesty. These three marial virtues gave a sense of truth, authenticity and kindness to the way he related to others. (Const 5)
   
   
6. Family Spirit This was important to Marcellin as it helped to create an atmosphere of love, forgiveness, mutual support, forgetfulness of self, openness and joy amongst those who come together
   
   
7. Love of work Nothing was too difficult and it was a way that helped him identify with all people, especially the poor and disadvantaged. It is through work that the common person is able to survive and raise their families.