It’s 1789. The French Revolution begins.
People take to the streets, shouting : “ Liberty, Equality, Fraternity! ”.

Rosey is a group of houses, part of the village of Marlhes. It is a mountainous region. The big city of Lyons is not very far away.

On May 20th, the ninth Child of a simple country family is born. At his baptism, he is given the name, Marcellin.

The boy’s father, John Baptist Champagnat is a leader in the area. The people appreciate his good judgement, and friendly spirit.

His mother, Mary Therese, takes care of the house and raises her children with love. She teaches them to love Mary.

Marcellin is the smallest of the children. Even though the children fight sometimes, there is a real bond of unity and love among them.

Their aunt Louise, a religious, lives with them at home because of the religious persecution going on. She prepares Marcellin for his First Communion. Her example stays in his mind.

Marcellin will always remember his first day at school. The teacher slaps a boy in front of all the children. Marcellin refuses to return there. He prefers to look after his sheep.

From his father he learns the skills of a farmer. Since he is very clever and is smart in doing business, he succeeds in saving a little money from selling sheep.

One day, during a catechism class, a priest uses an ugly nickname for one of Marcellin’s classmates, and causes the boy to be very sad. Marcellin never forgets this incident. He feels everyone deserves respect.

At that time there was great ignorance in France. The children do not have schools or they go to schools that do not function well. The country needs good teachers and many priests.

One day a priest stops at Champagnat’s family house and asks if any of the boys wants to go to the seminary. The older son says no. Then the priest turns to Marcellin.

After seeing how open-hearted and friendly the boy is, the visitor asks him to be a priest. Marcellin says, “Yes, I want to be a priest because that is what God wants me to do ”..

Just as Marcellin is preparing to leave for the seminary, his father dies. Marcellin is fifteen years old. He suffers greatly from this loss because he loved his father very much.

At sixteen, Marcellin enters the seminary at Verrières. He stands out from the rest because his is so tall. Some laugh at him. But little by little, he earns their respect and friendship.

While Napoleon, the ruler of France, is looking for glory in war, Marcellin concentrates on growing in knowledge and piety.

In the beginning, not everything goes well for him. He starts behind his classmates in the seminary. He has to study long and hard to catch up with them.

His conduct and schoolwork improve, and he is put in charge of the dormitory. This gives him more time to study. He tries to live up to the trust people have in him.

Marcellin’s mother, his greatest support in difficult times, dies when he is twenty years old. He will always remember her with love.

Marcellin moves on to study theology at the major seminary in Lyons. He is already a man, twenty four years old. His dream of becoming a priest is getting closer all the time.

During summer vacations, he rounds up groups of children from his village. He organises games, and tells them about God’s love for them. It’s something they look forward to each year.

He often gets together with a group of his friends in the seminary. They want to form a religious congregation with Mary’s name. They are very enthusiastic about their idea.

Marcellin has another concern. He sees a great need for teachers for the children. He keeps telling them: “We need Brothers!” They put him in charge of this.

He becomes sick and has to stop his studies for a while. The fresh air and the work in the countryside help him to recover. Nothing will stand in the way of his vocation.

The big day arrives. Marcellin is ordained a priest, along with fifty-two companions. The cathedral of Lyons is overflowing with people. It is 22nd July, 1816.

The next day, he walks with a group of his friends to the Church of Fourvière to dedicate their lives and work to Mary. The Society of Mary is about to begin.

He is sent to the parish of La Valla, a little village in the mountains. When he first sees the houses, he kneels and prays to God and to his Good Mother.

The parish is in a bad way. It will take a priest who is strong and understanding to tackle the drunkenness and other serious problems. Marcellin is such a man and he soon starts to make an impact.

His catechism classes become a joy for the children. Many have to walk long distances. He treats them all with affection. He prefers to encourage rather than to punish them.

He speaks with adults in such a way that all listen and pay attention to him. He is specially welcoming towards the sick and the poor. They are his favourites.

Marcellin is called to the bedside of a boy who knows nothing of God’s love. He speaks to him about Jesus, and helps him to die in peace. He had arrived on time !

The situation requires an answer. A short time later, on 2nd January, 1817, he begins the Little Brothers of Mary. Two young men move into rooms near the parish Church.

The Brothers are not priests. They dedicate their lives to God in order to educate young people in a Christian way, through their presence among them.

To carry out their life’s work they must get ready. They live simple lives, pray, study and earn a living making nails. They also take time for relaxing and having fun.

He opens a school in Marlhes. Word of its success travels fast. The children were not used to having teachers that shared their lives with them in such a friendly simple way.

More and more villages want to have a school run by the Brothers but Marcellin doesn’t have enough Brothers. As always, he prays Mary : “ Good Mother, help us! This is your family ”.

In a surprising and unexpected way, eight young men arrive one day and ask to become Brothers. Marcellin’s confidence grows.

Returning to La Valla after visiting a school, Marcellin and Brother Stanislaus get lost in a snowstorm. Exhausted, they pray to Mary… and a light appears nearby ! They are saved.

Many young people come to join the Little Brothers of Mary. The present house is too small. A much bigger place is needed to receive all the new Brothers.

In the valley of the Gier River, Marcellin finds a very rocky piece of property at a low price. Since he can’t afford any other place, he decides to buy it.

Everyone sets to work. Marcellin help the builders and since he’s very strong, he carries the heaviest stones himself. The House, given the name of Our Lady of the Hermitage, opens in 1825.

Marcellin resigns from his parish duties in La Valla and goes to live with the Brothers at the Hermitage. Life is simple, the food very plain. All are happy to be together in their new home.

They’re a lively group. One late afternoon, in the dark, Brother Sylvester jumps on the back of someone going up the stairs. “ Keep quiet ! Move ! ” At the top he realises that it’s Marcellin.

Marcellin travels, on foot, up and down mountains, no matter how bad the weather. He becomes seriously ill, and is not expected to recover.

Fr. Courveille tries to make himself the leader of the Brothers. His unkind manner and the possible death of Marcellin upsets them. Some want to return home.

Brother Stanislaus does not lose heart. He softens the effects of Father Courveille’s cruel words and deeds. He encourages the others to stay.

Marcellin is able to get up and join the community. The Brothers are overjoyed, and their confidence returns. Little by little he makes a complete recovery.

The number of schools grows steadily. Marcellin is constantly opening new centres.

In 1830, a revolution in Paris, forces many seminaries to close. Marcellin remains unafraid, and continues welcoming new candidates at the Hermitage.

His letters to the Brothers are filled with affection. joy and confidence. He encourages and guides them when problems arise. He always has the right word for each one.

How he enjoys visiting the Brothers’ schools, speaking with the children about Jesus’s love for them, questioning them about their lessons…

He travels to Paris to obtain government recognition for the Brothers. For three months he visits one office after another. He listens to lots of nice words, but no approval.

The first three missionary Brothers go to the Pacific. Marcellin, who has always dreamed of going to the missions, can only accompany them in prayer and spirit.

Even though he lives in a small village, he declares that “ all the dioceses of the world enter into our plan. ” No national borders can stop him. His love reaches out to everyone.

In 1837 appears the first written Rule for the Brothers, the fruit of lived experience. He is very happy, because they will help to ensure the future success of the Institute.

Aware that he has very lttle time left, Marcellin wants the Brothers to elect a new superior. An assembly chooses François as his first successor.

Although tired and weak, he continues to meet with students. He speaks with such sincerity and makes a deep impression in them. For them he is a saint.

The moment arrives when Marcellin is completely exhausted and can’t go on anymore. He can no longer stand and is bedridden. He’s on his deathbed.

The Brothers make as little noise as possible. Though sad, they do all they can to make him comfortable. They pray a lot but know he will not get better.

Days before he dies, Marcellin dictates his last wishes for his Brothers. “ Love one another. Love our Good Mother and teach others to love her. Give good example to young people… ”

He dies at the Hermitage at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, 6th June, 1840, while the Brothers are singing their daily hymn to Mary, “Hail, holy Queen”. He is 51 years old.

Today, throughout the world, the small seed that Marcellin planted is bearing fruit in over seventy countries of the world.

Brothers work closely with young people and children, especially those who are most needy : in schools, on the sports field, on the street, under a tree, in good times and bad… They offer them the presence of a friend.

They make their schools places where all can feel at home and learn to live together happily : centres for good education, sports, prayer and friendship. That is to say, a true family.

People pray to God through Marcellin and their loved ones are cured : a woman from USA, Georgina Grondin, a young man from Madagascar, a Brother in Uruguay.

The Church recognises Marcellin as a model of Christian life for all believers.

Since Marcellin’s time, Brothers have gone to many countries to continue his work. Do you know when they arrived in your country ?

More than two hundred years after his birth, Marcellin lives on in the hearts of many young people and adults who are inspired like him to live the Gospel in Mary´s way.

The Marist Brothers continue to do what Marcellin did best : help them to be “ good christians and good citizens ”.

The Marist Brothers have chosen to be Marcellin Champagnat’s followers. In what ways do you find yourself inspired by his life and mission ?