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Society of Mary (Marist Laity)

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Society of Mary (Marist Laity) HOLY ORDERS” FOR LAY PEOPLE Following in the Footsteps of Ven. Jean-Claude Colin —The Marist Laity— By Anne Tschanz embers of a “Third Order” ment of a society dedicated to her Mstrive to attain Christian and in her name. The day after his perfection while under the direc- ordination in Lyons, Jean-Claude tion of a religious order and in the and eleven other seminarians and spirit of the great founders. Men priests went to the ancient shrine of and women who are part of the Notre-Dame de Fouvière in Lyons, Society of Mary (Marists), however, where a pledge, signed by all, was follow the school of Mary with the placed under the corporal on the Holy Family as their model. “In all altar during his first Mass. In this things, let us look to Mary,” said pledge, they declared their sincere their founder, Fr. Jean-Claude intention and firm will of consecrat- Colin, “let us imitate her life at ing themselves to the founding of a Nazareth…Let us unite silence and pious society of “Maryists.” They prayer with action. The Society of did not do this lightly or for the Mary desires that we, her children, hope of some material benefit. They should be missionaries of action and did it “solely for the Glory of God missionaries of prayer.” Marists are sus known, loved and served. The and the honor of Mary, Mother of meant to go out to the whole world spiritual attributes desired are those the Lord Jesus.” under Mary’s mantle, echoing the exemplified in Our Lady: simplic- Among the newly-ordained refrain: “The whole world Marist!”, ity, modesty, meekness, humbleness men who went to their various as- i.e., the whole world under Mary’s and charity. signments was Ven. Jean-Claude maternal protection with her heart The Marists came into being Colin, who received further insights for all souls. during 19th century, the great from Our Lord about the proposed The Marist Laity take their in- Marian age of the Church. Among Society over the course of some spiration from Jesus, Mary and Jo- Mary’s devotees were a group of years. Since he was not the one seph, who as the Holy Family lived seminarians who pledged to dedi- who received the original inspira- quietly and humbly in Nazareth, cate themselves towards the estab- tion (Jean-Claude Courveille later with faithful dedication to ordinary lishment of a Society of Mary. The became a Benedictine monk), he duties and love for neighbor. There inspiration for such a society came experienced some reluctance to as- are Marist priests, brothers and from Jean-Claude Courveille (1787- sume leadership over the venture, sisters, while lay people may belong 1866) who believed that Our Lady but he wrote the first draft of the to groups such as the Marist Laity, of Le Puy in France had cured him constitutions for the priests and Marist Associates, and the Third of his blindness. Later, while pray- sisters, including thoughts about Order of Mary. The Marist family ing in Le Puy before the famous a secular third order. Meanwhile, is broad and dispersed to the four statue of Our Lady, Jean-Claude another from the group, St. Mar- corners of the earth, where each, received the inspiration to assist cellin Champagnat, founded the called by Mary, seek to make Je- the Church through the establish- brothers’ branch of the Marist Religious Life January/February 2019 13 12-28 P Jan-Feb 2019.indd 13 12/28/18 12:45 PM family, humbly saying that and dangerous missionary it was Mary “who does work in Oceania, labored everything.” Meanwhile, alone for 12 years until other Fr. Pierre Colin, brother of women joined her. “Count- Jean-Claude, founded the ing on Providence who has Marist Sisters in 1823 with never abandoned me,” she Jeanne-Marie Chavoin. The and other lay women became Marists, while of one heart the Missionary Sisters of the and mind, allowed the Holy Society of Mary. Spirit to send out branches Others too were drawn of the same tree in many to the Marists. St. Peter different directions. aspiring Marist was chosen. Father Julian Eymard was initially In 1825, the Bishop of Belley Colin volunteered other Marists a diocesan priest who joined the in France, asked the two brothers for the mission, and they were Marists and became director of the and two other aspiring Marists to entrusted with this vast missionary Third Order. In 1851, Peter Julian become roving missionaries, going field. Eventually, under his genera- received what he called the grace to the remote mountainous areas of late (1836-1854), 74 men were sent of Fouvière, leaving the Marists, the diocese where the Faith needed to Oceania. who remained very dear to him, to be revived after the devastation Surprisingly, the Holy Father to found the Congregation of the wrought by the French Revolu- in 1834 issued decrees granting Blessed Sacrament. A little-known tion. The men preached missions, indulgences to the lay branch. lay Marist was St. John Vianney recatechized the weak in faith and One group established a boarding who had studied with the Marists at administered the sacraments while school. In Lyons, a group of women the seminary in Lyons. He admired enduring great hardships. began meeting together in 1836. their work, calling it “a work after The redrawing of the diocesan That same year, Pope Gregory God’s heart because it has humility, boundaries left the Marists divided XVI granted pontifical approval simplicity, and trials.” He added: between two dioceses. In 1830, as for the new Society of Mary. Jean- “Were I more talented, I would they strove for official recognition Claude Colin was elected Superior become a Marist.” Peter Julian Ey- from the two bishops, Father Colin General, professed vows and wit- mard received him as a lay member was unofficially elected superior of nessed the vows of 19 others, four of the Order in 1846. the Marists. From earliest days, lay of whom had made the original The lay Marist Marie Elizabeth people gathered also around the Fouvière pledge. Blot (d. 1871) described the lay Marists seeking spiritual direction. The first group of Oceania mis- branch as a bridge to souls. Father In 1833, when Father Colin and sionaries, led by St. Peter Chanel Colin referenced Elizabeth’s im- St. Peter Chanel met with the Holy and also including lay people, left age when he spoke to his priests Father, Pope Gregory XVI, seeking in December of that year. Twenty in 1872: “I have a great ambition approval for the new society, they years earlier, Peter Chanel had and that is to take hold of the whole included a request for approval of promised with Mary’s help to ac- world, under the wings of Mary, by the lay branch, that is, people “who cept all trials, sufferings, inconve- means of the Third Order…The live in the world.” The hoped-for niences, and even torture, to save Blessed Virgin has given it to you approval did not happen at this souls. In 1837, Peter arrived on to be like a bridge (the expression is time because of various concerns an island northeast of Fiji, where not mine) to go to souls, to sinners.” but Father Colin never stopped after several years of missionary Dominique Meynis, the lay believing that “Mary wants to cover work, he was killed by an emissary Marist who became the Secretary the whole world with her mantle.” of the king, who was angry that his General for the Association for the Providentially, the area of Western son desired to be baptized. Marie Propagation of the Faith in 1834, Oceania in the Pacific Ocean was Françoise Perroton, a lay Marist wanted to become a priest in the in need of its first bishop and an who volunteered for the rugged Society of Mary. Father Colin told 14 January/February 2019 Religious Life 12-28 P Jan-Feb 2019.indd 14 12/28/18 12:45 PM him no, that the work he was doing Marist history and spirituality as as a layman was far more valuable. they gather together regularly to (Ven. Pauline Jaricot, the foundress support each other in the mission. of this Society, was another who Their mission is to be attuned to experienced the grace of Fouvière the prompting of the Holy Spirit after hearing a sermon preached and be instruments of God’s mercy at the shrine one Christmas Eve.) in the world. They were not be Louise Bouffier was a member extensions of the priests and sisters, of the Marist Laity who popular- rather, they were intended to be in ized the term St. Anthony’s Bread, every diocese, but with guidance now known for collections of money from the Marist priests. As it says in raised for the poor in St. Anthony of the Marist International Newsletter Padua’s name. Louise prayed to the (May 2018): “We receive our Marist saint for assistance and in thanks- identity as a gift and call from Mary; giving for prayers answered, gave it is she who invites us to bear her bread to the poor in his name. In name and to continue our journey time, her work expanded to include as Christians under her protection.” collections for the missions. Father Colin, reflecting that Our A beautiful custom that arose out had for this Divine Mother!....Let Lord left His Mother on earth after of the Third Order of Mary was that us imitate them.” Imitate the spirit His Ascension to guide the early of entrusting children in the womb of Mary—“a spirit of humility, Church, believed that she would be and their mothers to Our Lady of self-denial, intimate union with with His followers until the end of Good Hope.
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