In this age of social media, the role of an influencer is a source of income for some, and a source of inspiration or guidance for others, for better or worse. There might be people on your feeds that you specifically follow out of interest, or in search of deeper connection with them. Good for you! However, this form of profession has always been with us throughout history: people who, by their example, advice or behaviour, change the way others see or act. Their identification in our lives, and in the lives of other people, whether for good or bad, is important.
A return to Marcellin. A little history about Marcellin, and the women that influenced his life. It is not a coincidence that Marcellin had a strong devotion to Mary: his lived experience was one of being surrounded by courageous, intelligent, faithful and powerful women.
This week, I wanted to share some stories of these women in Marcellin’s life.
From Br Lluís Serra Llansana, (2001), “Founder of the Institute of the Marist Brothers”:
While political events unfold, Marcellin lives a close relationship with his mother. Mrs. Champagnat is involved with the silk and lace trades, and she expands the family income by farm work and milling. Marcellin's mother, Marie Therese, exercises a moderating and calming influence upon her husband activities. A few years older than her husband, her forceful character and her competence in managing home and children make it easier for her to fulfil her obligations. She raises her children carefully, putting the emphasis on piety, social relations and a spirit of thrift. Louise Champagnat, Marcellin's aunt, is a Sister of Saint Joseph. She was expelled from her convent in the Revolution. The influence she leaves upon Champagnat by her prayer, teaching and good example is so marked that he will frequently remember her with pleasure and gratitude. When he is seven years old, Marcellin asks, "Aunt Louise, what is the Revolution? Is it a person or some kind of wild animal?" In the environment of the time, one could not but feel the pulse of history. Marcellin's upbringing unfolds at the intersecting point where the new ideas introduced by his father meet the deep, traditional religiosity represented in his mother and aunt. At the heart of the family, problems are experienced in all their intensity, and find their resolution through a spirit of moderation, one that is more at the service of people than of ideology. There prevails a spirit of community, a closely-knit bond among the brothers and sisters.
Another story from Br Lluís Serra Llansana, “Marcellin's Pilgrimage to Lalouvesc”:
In the summer of 1803 two recruiters for the priesthood visited the Champagnat family to see if any of the boys in the family might consider the priesthood. When the proposal to train for the priesthood was presented to the three sons, it was only Marcellin who showed interest. The one great drawback was that Marcellin was almost illiterate. His father thought this to be too great an obstacle and repeatedly questioned the lad on his intentions but Marcellin's mind was made up: he thought only of becoming a priest.
Marcellin was 14 years old... his decision to enter the priesthood caused him to do some study under his brother-in-law Benoît Arnaud, married to Marcellin's sister, Marianne. Formerly, Arnaud had been a seminarian. Marcellin made little progress in his studies whilst staying with his brother-in-law over two years. Benoît decided to tell Marcellin to forget about studying and to do something else. However, this failed to shake Marcellin's determination. He prayed harder invoking the intercession of St John Francis Regis.
Finally, Benoît brought him back to his mother, declaring that he could not agree with Marcellin's going to the seminary. Yet the more the obstacles piled up in his path, the more determined Marcellin became in his vocation.
His mother, seeing her son's determination suggested a pilgrimage to Lalouvesc (or La Louvesc), in the conviction that they would find help at the shrine of St John Francis Regis. For this Pilgrimage they walked the 40km from Marlhes to Lalouvesc and back in three days. When they returned, Marcellin declared that he had made up his mind to go to the seminary. He was sure it was God's will for him to do so.
Br Seán D. Sammon, (1999), “A Heart That Knew No Bounds”:
What about the women who inspired Marcellin? Marie Thérèse Chirat, his mother, was the first. A prudent person of steadfast character, she married Jean Baptiste in 1775. Marked by “utter integrity, sterling faith, and a love of work,” this woman instilled in her son the rudiments of prayer and the first stirring of his vocation. Louise Champagnat was the second woman to encourage Marcellin. A religious Sister of Saint Joseph and a sister to Jean-Baptiste, she was expelled from her convent by the new government and sought sanctuary with his family during the days of revolutionary excess. Louise assisted in the boy’s early religious formation; she was probably the first to model for him the merging of a life of prayer with one of service to others.
Finally, there was Mary, the mother of Jesus. While a later arrival in Marcellin’s life, in the end, she would make all the difference. Devotion to her was part of the rich texture of faith in the local dioceses of Lyons and Le Puy. Marcellin would, in time, place Mary at the center of the community of brothers he founded. In keeping with the spirituality of his times and particularly of the region around Marlhes, she became eventually for him a “Good Mother,” his “Ordinary Resource”.