Letter to M J.F. Preynat PS047 Booklet p:83

1. Letter to M J.F. Preynat • PS047 • Booklet p:83

2. ONCE UPON A TIME … • When I received the letter from Champagnat to M.Preynat . • I stayed mute !!! .What can I tell about that letter. • After some days of work I discovered the sense of the letter of Marcellin for the people of his time but I also discovered the sense in the spirituality ,we share today . • Just a short parable for the introduction:

3. ONCE UPON A TIME …. A thread !!! Where does it come from?

4. The cocoon which empties itself to give a thread… part of its life !..

5. A variety of colours, but always with the same dominant

6. Along the time these threads are formed in weaving a single particular material

7. Even if technology has changed the material is always noticeable!

8. A long way !!!

9. OK !!! A SPIRITUALITY… OUR SPIRITUALITY…

10. Letter from Champagnat • Letters about the school of Sorbiers • October 1834: draft PS 047 p:83 • 12 March1836: draft .PS073 • 11June 1837:copy PS 153

11. LETTER FROM MARCELLIN CHAMPAGNAT To M. JEAN FRANCOIS PREYNAT Sorbiers Loire 1834/10 PS 047

12. SORBIERS

13. HISTORY

14. SORBIERS IN 1834 • Rural town • Nearly 1800h • In the department of Loire ( Saint Etienne ) • Distant of 8kms from Saint Chamond (NDH) • Women and girls are busy by winding silk • Men by mining and nail making . • People very religious and hardworking Reading the letter

15. History of the school of Sorbiers • House belonged to Cassien and Arsène (1832,became brothers • 1834 sold to Champagnat.(10000fr)but fictitious • The town rented the house for the school • Became too small and in bad conditions • 1832-1835:rent not renewed • But we found decisions of the council of the town • (7 /5/1834):200fr for the school and 200fr for the construction of a new building promised • But finally :nothing !!!! • Champagnat will withdraw the brothers from Sorbiers

16. Letter of Champagnat :WHEN ? • October1834 ,nothing is made for the new construction • Champagnat wrote this letter when the brothers are in N.D.H.for vacation before sending them in their new assignment

17. ABOUT Mr PREYNAT • PREYNAT, JEAN-FRANÇOIS-MARIE: (1786-1872), born 13th April 1786 in Saint-Christo-en-Jarret, Loire He is described as a farmer, in the hamlet of La Choltière in the town of Sorbiers (ADL, 49 M). By prefectorial decree of 16th September 1830, Jean-François Preynat was appointed mayor of Sorbiers. A new decree of 22/9/1831 confirmed him in that office, but two months later, on 11th November, he asked the sub-prefect to find someone to replace him (AM, Registre délib.). His request was not acted upon, since he re­mained in office and was reappointed in 1837.

18. About M.Preynat • Letters 73 and 153 give us sufficient information about his conflicts with the brothers during that period. There is no evidence that he was hostile to them; he simply did not know how to deal adroitly enough with circumstances. • He was reappointed to another three-year term in 1840,. • By prefectoral decree of 9th August 1843, Mr. Remillieux was appointed to succeed him. • Mr. Preynat died at home on 22 October 1872 (Reg. décès, n° 58.18.72). (REFERENCES, pp. 430-431)

19. FONDATIONS EN 1834 • 11 postulants prennent l'habit religieux. • 10 Frères émettent privément les vœux perpétuels. • 2 décès. • 5 fondations : Lorette (Loire), Sury-le·Comtal (Loire), St­-Genest-Malifaux (Loire), Vienne (Isère), Anse (Rhône). • Les Frères de St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux fondent deux écoles : Montélier (Drôme) et Courthézon (Vaucluse).

20. In the statutes of the young INSTITUTE (prospectus 1824) • (10) Art. 10. Any village which request brothers will give : 1. 400 to be paid annually for each brother, and travel. • 2. To provide adequate housing for classes for Housing and brothers and all that the use of classes. • 3. To provide furniture for two brothers:1000fr three brothers :1500 fr and so forth.

21. Attitudes of Marcellin • Surprise of Marcellin (nothing is made!): »you have not begun to build another one » • Questionning on other resources: « I wouldbe very pleased to know if you have some other ressources » • Threatening to withdraw the brothers: : «because they are too small and unhealthy »

22. Affirms his right for his brothers : « The brothers cannot under anycircumstances operate the town schoolin their own quarters » • Put pressure on the mayor : »I willinforma town which has asked for subjects … » • Keep respect for authorities: «Please Mr Mayor ,do me the honor of giving me a prompt reply. »

23. MENTALITY OF Marcellin on some matters • Marcellin is firm to preserve the lives of his brothers. (Salary, health, space, garden…) see the prospectus1824 • Marcellin has many requests on the part of prefects for schools. This allows him to make pressure on the mayor of Sorbiers • Marcelin is concerned with money for his brothers and for the mission

24. Biblical allusion • Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves hispayment.(Luke 10,7) For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing," and, "A worker deserves his pay. » (1Thimoty 5,18)

25. Life of Fr Champagnat ( f.jean Baptiste 2nd part: chap 9 nth From his love for poverty. Father Champagnat practiced poverty all his life. His small heritage was barely enough to pay his pension in seminaries and to provide support; so it had nothing when he was ordained a priest.

26. Poverty economy inthe life of Marcellin , A brother who is thrifty and is not unnecessary expenditure, in his modest salary to maintain his house to help the Institute, and to encourage vocations applicants who can not pay; while another brother who is not economical, which does not take care of things, which buys trifles miles, which it could happen, debt his house, the leaves wither and furniture can not even pay its locker room at the Institute (life F Jean Baptist, part 2: love of poverty c. 9)

27. In the Spirit of our first Beginnings • C.49. Father Champagnat formed the community of the first Brothers into a real family (1). He shared their life at La Valla (2) andatthe Hermitage, and he spent himself on their behalf. "You know," he told them, "that I live only for you, that every day I ask God to give you everything that is genuinely good for you, and that I would give anything, even at the cost of thegreatest sacrifices, to procure that for you." (3)

28. Reflects in our present Marist • The Evangelical Counsel of Poverty:following the poor Christ • C. 28. Christ, who, although rich, became poor for love of us (1), urges us to become one with Him in His poverty. He was born in deprivation (2), lived by the work of His hands, announced the good news to the poor (3) and proclaimed them blessed.

29. 156. Brothers appointed to administer the assets of the Institute are administrators, not owners, of the goods of the Church. In their management, they show great concern for the common good, for justice, for poverty and charity, and they keep in close touch with theapostolic ministry of the Brothers. Their method of management will respect the Canon Law (1).

30. Texts about the evangelical uses of means • CIRCULAR of Benito concerning our material goods (Volume 30)-31 oct 2000 • COMMISSION OF THE EVANGELICAL USES OF THE MEANS :persons ,programs, animation.

31. Two titles of the circular of Benito which reflects the same attitudes … • Material goods in service to the lives of the Brothers…………. • Material goods destined for mission …..

32. And even in our latest projects with the poor we ought to be very careful. In recent years, a sense of solidarity has given rise to a number of new communities, to provide an ecclesial presence in marginalized areas and to serve as a mission “ad gentes.” Frequently they lack sufficient resources and are supported by their Province. There are two ways of looking at this. On the positive side, the Province is showing its solidarity by redistributing the resources within the Congregation. On the other hand, such new communities may reveal their tenuous existence if the Brothers remain unable to support themselves by their work. This reminds me of Father Champagnat’s concern when he drew up contracts that were reasonable but at the lowest possible cost for the localities involved. We too will need to be creative in our solutions.( Circular of Benito )

33. PHRASES THAT IMPACT ME • In the text of the letter there are no phrases or words which have impressed me .But it’s the spirit ofthe whole letter :The care of his brothers and of the mission of his little institute

34. About a similar letter of Champagnart at the same Jean françois Preynat 073 :the end • [04] You know, my God, whenI.... You know.... You know, my God You know, Mary You know….

35. Some reflections …. • Some historians ad researchers say that this part of letter might have been a song of the old time .A song that Marcellin knew! .I think it is also a prayer for Marcellin .He faces many material problems and with his trust in GOD and his complete confidence in Mary ,he offers to her his problems . • As a child goes to his father … • As a child goes to his mother …..

36. REFLECTIONS • Ability to manage money. Marcellin is son of a farmer . • Remember also his ability when he earned 600fr with his small flock and paid his pension at Verrières • For Marcellin money is neccesary for the mission . • No separation between tjustice and sharing .

37. Where your treasure is, there also is your heart!