Marcellin and the first Brothers were united in heart and mind. Their relationships were marked by warmth and tenderness. In their discussions about living together as Brothers they found it useful to compare the spirit of their community life to that of a family. Like our early communities, we are inspired by the home of Nazareth to develop those attitudes that make family spirit a reality: love and forgiveness, support and help, forgetfulness of self, openness to others, and joy.38 This style of relating has become a characteristic of our way of being Marist. – Water from the Rock, 30

From our family spirit develops a spirituality that is strongly relational and affective. Marcellin’s preferred ways of relating to God and to Mary were through familial terms: Jesus in his “acred Heart,” Mary as “ur Good Mother.”The relationships he encouraged among the Brothers, and between the Brothers and their students were described in similarly fraternal and loving ways. Among today’s Marists, with the expanded presence of women, the image of sister has enriched the ways Marists relate, and define their ministry. Essentially, our relationship to one another is being brother and sister. – Water from the Rock, 31

Wherever the followers of Marcellin are present, working together in mission, this “amily spirit”is the Marist way of communal living. Its well-spring is the love that Jesus has for all his brothers and sisters – all of humanity. Through this spirit we offer an experience of belonging and union in mission. – Water from the Rock, 32

At the heart of Marist spirituality coming from Marcellin and the first Brothers is humility. It expresses itself in simplicity of behaviour, most especially in our way of relating to God and to others. We strive to be persons of integrity - truthful, open-hearted and transparent in our relationships. – Water from the Rock, 33

In giving us Mary's name, Father Champagnat wished us to live her spirit. He was convinced that it was she who has done everything for us, and he called her our Ordinary Resource and our First Superior. -C 4

Our devotion to Mary, like that of the Church, is expressed in love, confidence, and admiration, and by trying to make our own Mary's attitude towards God and people. - C. 74

Our Founder, who learnt so much from Mary, is always our model of complete self-gift to God and of devotedness to people. - C. 18

God gave his Son to the world through Mary. So we strive to make her known and loved as a way which leads directly to Jesus. - C. 4

Having dedicated ourselves to Mary, and convinced that she is interceding for us to persevere in our fidelity, we continue to thank her for the gift of our vocation. - C. 18

The heart of Mary is revealed to us in her Magnificat, where, true to the tradition of the poor of Israel, she puts her trust in the Lord's faithfulness. - C. 30

We pray in all situations, with creativity and generosity. No matter the difficulties and struggles of daily life, no matter the limitations and injustices we live with, we continue to see the blessings of God upon us and those we love. Like Mary in her Magnificat prayer, we are grateful to God who has blessed us. - Water from the Rock, 88

Marcellin Champagnat had a dream. And it so consumed him that he could hardly restrain himself from telling all whom he met just how much Jesus Christ loved them. Today the fire of that dream must burn as brightly in you and in me as it did in him. - Rekindling the fire! pag 28

It is Mary who inspires our selfless response to the demands that young people make upon us, and our concern for them. - C. 21

May that good Mother keep you safe, give you increase, and bring you to holiness. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be always with you. I leave you all with confidence in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary until we be all united again in a happy eternity. – Spiritual Testament

Like Father Champagnat, we go to Mary as a child to its mother. By prayer, and by studying what the Church is saying about Mary, we seek to deepen our relationship with her. Her great feastdays, especially the Assumption, which is the patronal feast of the Institute, are special times for intensifying our devotion to this Good Mother. - C 74

This attitude grew from the experience of Marcellin and the first Brothers. Marcellin’s formative environment was that of a loving family in a small rural village. From his mother (Marie-Thérèse Chirat) he learned to trust in the providence of God; from his aunt (Louise Champagnat) he learned filial abandonment into the arms of this God. From his father (Jean-Baptiste Champagnat) he learned sincerity and honesty. Through the joys and struggles of life he learned to be humble and confident. Aware of his limitations he experienced them as a grace when he was able to dispose himself with confidence to the will of God. The first generation of Brothers were young men from environments similar to that of Marcellin. All these providential circumstances developed a spirituality that was uncomplicated and down to earth. – Water from the Rock, 34

Young people are attracted to this simple spirituality. The images of God we offer them, and the language, experiences and symbolism we use, are accessible and touch the heart. The more our evangelisation and catechesis are rooted in our distinctive Marist spirituality, the more effective they become. – Water from the Rock, 35

This spirituality of simplicity shapes the whole life of the disciples of Marcellin. In humility, we seek to know ourselves in our strengths and weaknesses and readily accept the help we may need. We grow to be at peace with the person God has created. – Water from the Rock, 36

Approaching others with openness and gratitude, we accept them as they are, and readily listen to how they experience us. We willingly offer forgiveness and take the first step toward reconciliation. – Water from the Rock, 37

This same spirit encourages us to develop a simple style of life. This implies that we avoid consumerism, with its accumulation of disposable goods and wasteful use of resources. We choose to be responsible for creation, a precious gift of God to humanity. This attitude encourages us to join with others in actions necessary to preserve our environment, to enhance the harmony between humanity and nature, and to collaborate with the Creator in bringing creation to its fullness. – Water from the Rock, 38

Our desire to be in communion with nature is expressed in a number of ways. The Marist tradition places great value on manual work because it brings us into direct contact with creation, with other living beings, and with inanimate objects. It involves … caring for nature, in conserving and transforming it. It teaches … patience and precision. As well, such labour affirms both the value of working with our hands and the example of indigenous peoples who live with great respect in close relationship to their land. – Water from the Rock, 39

As woman and mother, she knew in her heart the joys and sorrows of life. In Jesus' company, she lived in utter trust in the Father, even to the foot of the Cross. In the glory of the risen Christ, she becomes, in a special way, the mother of all those consecrated to God (C 18)

This love of manual work reveals a wider attitude in the heart of the Marist that encompasses the values of making do, frugality, service, industriousness, and devotedness. In summary – a simple lifestyle. This manner of living comes from a Marist tradition that seeks to live from the work of our hands. This chosen simplicity of life creates a greater capacity to minister with the poor. – Water from the Rock, 40

As from the Middle Ages, the account of his death by flaying became very popular. Only think of the famous scene of the Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel in which Michelangelo painted St Bartholomew, who is holding his own skin in his left hand, on which the artist left his self-portrait. St Bartholomew's relics are venerated here in Rome in the Church dedicated to him on the Tiber Island, where they are said to have been brought by the German Emperor Otto III in the year 983. To conclude, we can say that despite the scarcity of information about him, St Bartholomew stands before us to tell us that attachment to Jesus can also be lived and witnessed to without performing sensational deeds. Jesus himself, to whom each one of us is called to dedicate his or her own life and death, is and remains extraordinary. – Benedict XVI, 04.10.2006

All of this ensures that, like Marcellin, our journey with God is also one of simplicity. We approach God with transparency, honesty, openness and trust. We consciously seek uncomplicated ways to help us in this journey. – Water from the Rock, 41

Our present age is characterized by a thirst for spirituality. We disciples of Marcellin believe that our way to God is a gift to be shared with the Church and the world. We are invited to join with Mary Our present age is characterized by a thirst for spirituality. We disciples of Marcellin believe that our way to God is a gift to be shared with the Church and the world. We are invited to join with Mary. – Water from the Rock, 42

The story of our spirituality is indeed a simple one. It is a story of women and men who find within a thirst that only God can quench. Having drunk deeply, they find themselves filled with Jesus’ own desire – to give flesh to God’s Good News. Moved by the Spirit, urged by God’s own longing to bring life to the world, we become streams of living water, flowing through the personal, communal, and ministry aspects of our lives. – Water from the Rock, 43

Life is a mystery that is revealed as it unfolds. Even after many years, much still remains hidden to us. This continual unravelling of our inner depths is dynamic, provoking and challenging - an ongoing invitation to keep on searching. – Water from the Rock, 44

As we pass through the different phases of life, we experience beauty and ugliness, certainty and doubt. There are times when we feel uplifted, and times when we feel depressed. All of this both attracts and frightens us at the same time. – Water from the Rock, 45

Our hearts long to find happiness, to believe that we can find love and share in the blessings of life. But we also fear hurt and betrayal and so are tentative in our relationships and involvements. – Water from the Rock, 46

We live in a time of fast and far-reaching cultural and social change. Boundaries are shifting and changing, old values are questioned, and practices of the past no longer seem to work. – Water from the Rock, 47