Letter of Champagnat to Bro. François

1. Letter of Champagnat to Bro. François • 15 letters to Bro. François (all written during his trips to Paris) • 1st Trip to Paris 1836: (25 Aug-bf 20 Sept, 3 wks) PS067 (28/81836) • 2nd Trip to Paris 1838:(09Jan-24/25 April) PS169(10 Jan at Lyon) PS170, PS172,PS174,PS175,PS176, PS177,PS179,PS182,PS185, • 3rd Trip to Paris1838: (14 May-2 Jul) PS193, PS195, PS196, PS197 Unfortunately we do not have any letter from Bro. Francois to Champagnat

2. Letter PS197 • From: Champagnat at 120 rue de Bac MEP Seminary • To: Bro. Francois at Hermitage • Date: 23 June 1838 • Written during his last stay at Paris

3. Introduction to PS197 • According to Bro. Avit (AA, p. 251), "It seems that Bro. François asked to be relieved of the burdens of government". But it is less the encouragement which he certainly needed which occasions this letter, than the fact that the Founder is about to leave Paris for Saint-Pol-en-Artois, and then return to the Hermitage. Then there is no doubt his visit to the minister, at which he hints. The latter appears to have been more disappointing than encouraging. This time, the Founder is convinced that Mr. De Salvandy is constantly looking for new ways to drag out the process because, in the final analysis, he does not want to give him the requested authorization. So Fr. Champagnat leaves Paris disappointed but resigned, realizing that staying there would not speed matters up sufficiently to accomplish his goal.

4. Peoples : 1. Bro. François(1808-1881) Name: Gabriel Rivat Born in 12 March 1818 at les Maisonnettes (pic) Father: Jean-Baptiste Rivat Mother: Françoise Boiron 7 children (3 girls 4 boys): Jeanne-Marie, Jean Claude, Jena-Antoine, Antoinette, Jeanne, Jean-Marie and François

5. Bro. François(1808-1881) (continue 1) Jean-Claude and Jean-Antonie served in the army of first Empire. Their mother make a vow that if they return safely , offer a painting for BVM. She spend 500 fr for a painting of BVM by Ravery and a statue to put at the Church of La Valla. Jean- Antonie later became a priest Francois also has a nephew, Jean-Marie David, who became priest

6. Bro. François(1808-1881) (continue2) • On 6th May 1818, 12years old, his Mother consecrated him in front of the painting of BVM and then entrusted him to Champagnat. • Received habit on 8 September 1819 • Perpetual vow on 11 Oct 1826 • Work in the school of La Valla, • 1820 served as cook at Marlhes, • Taught lower class at Vanosc, upper class at Boulieu until 1826 • 1831 became secretary of Champagnat and stayed at Hermitage. • Certificate of competence was given to him by Mr. Briot. • Elected Director General on 12 Oct 1839 • Semi retire on 1860 (taking care of garden of herbs in Hermitage) • Fully retired on 1863 after Bro. Louis-Marie became SG • Died on 22 Jan 1881 at the age of 73

7. Philippe Arnaud • Carpenter, nephew of Fr. Champagnat, born 26th September 1805 in Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue, Loire. His father, Benolt Arnaud, a former seminarian, then schoolteacher in Saint-Sauveur, was the one who tutored young Marcellin Champagnat to help him make up for his late academic start; he died 15th November 1826. His wife, Philippe’s mother, was Fr. Champagnat’s sister Marie-Anne, who died in 1816, ten years before her husband. • in 1828, he rejoined his uncle at the Hermitage, where he was of great service to him as a carpenter. • On 29th January 1834, he married Jeanne Patouillard • He and his wife lived at the Hermitage at least until 1838

8. FRANÇOIS-REGIS, BROTHER • Claude Joseph Boiton born in 1814 • Enter 6 April 1832 • Habit 15 Aug 1832 • 7 Oct 1832 professed • In 1835, he was in Mornant under the direction of Bro. Laurent. The following year, 1836, he replaced Bro. Paul as director in Marlhes • Listed for the mission to Oceania but did not go there. • Left in 1838

9. Marie-Augustine, Brother • Joseph Drevet, born in August 1809 in Doissin, district of Virieu, Isère, to Pierre Drevet and Anne Bouvier. On 8th May 1835, he was admitted to the Hermitage, and received the religious habit on 26th July of that year; he made private temporary vows on 4th September, and on 10th October 1836, made public perpetual profession • sailed on 9th September 1838, with Bros. Elie-Régis and Florentin, accompanying Frs. Epalle and Petit • Worked as coadjutor brothers • Left the Society on 1852

10. Bro. Fabien • Born Jean-Pierre Bouvard around 1818 in La Frette, Isère, to Pierre Bouvard and Marie Vidol. He was admitted to the Hermitage on 3rd September 1836, received the religious habit on 3rd January 1837, and nine months later, made temporary vows for three years on 9th October 1837 (RVT, 1, p. 68). He probably spent the few months he had left to live at the Hermitage, where he died on 6th or 7th June 1838, according to the certificate of his burial on the 8th (RD, I, p. 15, n.45). (Cf. L. 197.) (REFERENCES, p. 227).

11. Brother Justin • Born Pierre Champallier towards the end of 1814, in La Valla, to Jean-Claude Champallier and Antoinette Poyeton, was admitted to the Hermitage on 18th October 1832, according to his own statement, although Fr. Champagnat entered him under date of 16th November (RV 1, p. XXII; RE, 1, p. 45). He received the religious habit on 2nd February 1833, made temporary vows for three years on 29th October of that year (RVT, 1, p. 45) and public perpetual profes­sion on 10th October 1836 • 1835 went to St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to avoid conscription, fell ill and returned. • 1837Assigned to Perreux • In March 1838 he had to go to the infirmary at the Hermitage, where he died a most edifying death. A very unsettled postulant who witnessed his death was so touched by it that he asked to receive the religious habit and to be given the deceased brother’s name.

12. MARIE-THEODORE, BROTHER • Born Jacques Cincyr (or Saint-Cyr) in Fleurieux, to Jacques Cincyr and Honoree Decrau, entered the novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Hermitage on 10th August 1834 and received the re­ligious habit on 6th January 1835, at the age of 15; he made temporary vows for three years on 10th October 1836. • Left 1838

13. Grange-Payre (see photo on page after 289) • Was a property belonging to the Fournas family. It was in the town of Izieux, and included a residence and some farm buildings. According to our documents, it was estimated at that time to be worth 70,000 fr. Miss Marie Fournas, the last owner, legally gave it to Fr. Champagnat, in the offices of Mr. Louis Maximilien Finaz, on 15th May 1833, less than three weeks before her death on 2nd June. In 1834, Fr. Champagnat suggested to Fr. Cholleton that the com­munity of Marist Fathers in Valbenoîte be transferred there • In 1837, Fr. Champagnat decided to use the building to house “postulants who have not reached the age of 13 (or 15), who will be charged 100 écus [300 fr.] a year”

14. Grange-Payre (continue) • In 1838 the house began to take in boarders under the direction of Bro. Cassien, who was succeeded in 1839 by Bro. Athanase • Fr. Champagnat insisted on visiting La Grange-Payre one last time, on Holy Thursday 1840 • In 1847 the boarding school was closed and replaced by the scholasticate directed by Bro. Sylvestre • In 1853 La Grange-Payre property was sold for 75,000 fr. to pay for the one which had just been purchased in St-Genis-Laval (see photo on page after 289)

15. Attitude of Champagnat • Encouraging without overstate it [ref 01] • Remain in calm and confident even though he felt annoyed. [ref 03] • Deep faith and trust God [ref 03] • Concerned, remembering and loving all the Brothers in details [ref 04,08,09,11]

16. MENTALITY OF MARCELLIN • Just try our best and let God do the rest as He knows better. [ref 03] • Keep busy (discipline) and frequently go to confession [ref 09]

17. BIBLICAL REMINISCENCES • Ps 127 “If the Lord does not build the house,… • Mt26:39, Mk 14:26, Lk 22:39 Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane “Father, let your will be done.”

18. Marist Documents • Constitutions 42 directly refers to PS197 • The Obedience of a Superior • 42. When, after dialogue with his major Superior, a Brother is called to assume a Superior's role, he should put his trust in the Lord, who confides this mission to him, and accept it with simplicity (1). • Const.121: Superior help brothers in position like Fr. Champagnat • Const.45: denounce seeking power

19. PHRASES THAT IMPACT me • You did not go looking for that position. Just try to do your duty well and God will do what you cannot. • I am very annoyed, but not upset; • I still have great confidence in Jesus and Mary. We will obtain what we want, I have no doubt; only I do not know when. • What is really important is that we do nothing on our side except what God wants us to do. • Do not forget to tell all the brothers how much I love them, and how much I suffer from being separated from them

20. PERSONAL REFLECTIONS • We are workers not the master builder (ref to prayer of Oscar Romero –We are prophets of a future not our own. ) • Try our best and let God do the rest. • Accept my limitation and leave it to the Lord, especially when I am in leadership position. • Be his “living image”---François

21. What will you say about the relationship between Fr. Champagnat and Br. Francois? • How do they see each other?

22. From his letter to Bishop Pompallier “Brother François is my right arm; he runs the house in my absence as if I were present. Everyone submits to him without any problem.” (PS194) On receiving Ravery’s portrait of Champagnat, he jotted in his note-book:“Be his living image” (AFM, Carnet No1, p.41) Champagnat - François

23. Open question for all • How Marcellin came to accept this reality that he had failed to obtain the authorization after such a long and hard endeavor? (lobbying, offering mass, novena, writing letter etc)