PS 249PS 249

PS 249 PS 249 (Active Letter)(Active Letter)pages 203 – 204, Patrimony Course 2008pages 203 – 204, Patrimony Course 2008

• To: Bro. To: Bro. Marie-Laurent,Marie-Laurent,

Teaching in Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, Teaching in Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, Pas-de-CalaisPas-de-Calais

• Date: April 8, 1839 Date: April 8, 1839 (14th of the 74th letters (14th of the 74th letters written in the year 1839 alone)written in the year 1839 alone)

• Presentor: Presentor: Bro. Demosthenes A. Bro. Demosthenes A. Calabria, FMSCalabria, FMS

PS 249PS 249, page 1, page 1

J.M.J.N.D. de l'Hermitage near St-Chamond (Loire), 8th April 1839

My very dear brother,

Your letter, my very dear friend, greatly aroused my compassion. Since then I never approach the holy altar without recommending you to him in whom we never hope in vain, who can help us overcome the greatest obstacles. Never despair of your salvation; it is in good hands: Mary, isn't Mary your refuge and your good mother? The greater your needs are, the more she wants to rush to help you. Without mentioning your name, we are beginning a novena for you. I am going to say Mass again for that intention today, 8th April, feast of the Annunciation. Continue to be very open with your confessor who, I have no doubt, is a holy priest.

PS 249PS 249, page 2, page 2

We are still receiving many novices from all over. We have made two establishments since Saint-Pol, or I should rather say, they tore brothers away from us for two towns (Izieux and Les Roches de Condrieu) I am leaving now to look over the building which the town of Chambon is offering us. We have had several sick brothers who are either recovered or convalescent. Brother Pemen died of smallpox a week ago. Tell Brother Jean-Baptiste, so that he can take care of what the Rule prescribes.

We are also praying for the mission in Oceania, for the members of the society who are there now and for those we are preparing to send there. We are just about to send brothers to Bordeaux. Everything is going along as usual in the establishments and at the motherhouse.

PS 249PS 249, page 3, page 3

The school inspectors in the departments where our brothers are working are not hostile. Mary our good Mother takes good care of us. She knows very well that we are too insignificant to be able to carry on a struggle. At Grenoble we obtained five certificates of competence: Bro. Denis, Bro. Antoine-Régis, Bro. Gabriel, Bro. Prosper, and Bro. Sylvestre; we did not send anyone anywhere else. Bro. Jean-Chrysostôme is still dangerously ill. We do not believe he will pull out of it. Pray for him. Death upsets me deeply; whom doesn't it? The way to sweeten this last moment is to think about it often: Memorare novissima.

Adieu, my very dear Brother Marie-Laurent; I leave you in the arms of Mary, our good and loving Mother.

PS 249PS 249, page 4, page 4

My best to Brother Director and Brother Africain.

I have the honor to be all yours in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Champagnat

P.S. Also tell Brother M.Pt. that we cannot give him any more brothers until 1841 at best. It would not be possible for us before then; we have made too many other commitments.

SITUATIONS REVEALED BY THE SITUATIONS REVEALED BY THE LETTERLETTER

• The letter deals with spiritual matters.The letter deals with spiritual matters.

• Fr. Champagnat tries to encourage him Fr. Champagnat tries to encourage him to overcome his moral trials, promising to overcome his moral trials, promising prayers for his intentions and giving prayers for his intentions and giving him some news.him some news.

• Despite all this, everything seems to Despite all this, everything seems to indicate that he left religious life a few indicate that he left religious life a few months later.months later.

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF PEOPLE SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF PEOPLE MENTIONED, p. 1MENTIONED, p. 1

• Religious Name:Religious Name: Bro. Marie-LaurentBro. Marie-Laurent• Civil Name:Civil Name: Moriat LaurentMoriat Laurent• Birthday:Birthday: 18191819• Birthplace:Birthplace: Neuville, RhoneNeuville, Rhone• Father:Father: Jacques MoriatJacques Moriat• Mother:Mother: Marie CometeMarie Comete• Enter:Enter: 1834 1834 (15 years old)(15 years old)

• Final Vows:Final Vows: 1838 1838 (19 years old)(19 years old)

• Assignment:Assignment: Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise (with (with Bros. Jean-Baptiste and Africain)Bros. Jean-Baptiste and Africain)

• Out:Out: During the 1839 vacationDuring the 1839 vacation

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF PEOPLE SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF PEOPLE MENTIONED, p. 2MENTIONED, p. 2

• Bro. Jean-Baptiste Bro. Jean-Baptiste (Furet Jean Baptiste)(Furet Jean Baptiste)– director of the Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise community in 1839 director of the Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise community in 1839

<32><32>– also identified as Bro. M. also identified as Bro. M. (Jn)(Jn) Pt. Pt. (Bt)(Bt) in the P.S. of the letter in the P.S. of the letter– wrote the biography of Fr. Champagnatwrote the biography of Fr. Champagnat

• Bro. Africain Bro. Africain (Chalandar Pierre)(Chalandar Pierre)– a member of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise community in 1839 a member of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise community in 1839 <25><25>

• Fr. Francois RobitailleFr. Francois Robitaille– parish priest of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise in 1837parish priest of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise in 1837ffff– believed to be the confessor of Bro. Marie-Laurentbelieved to be the confessor of Bro. Marie-Laurent

• Bro. P(o)emenBro. P(o)emen (Ardens Jean-Pierre) (Ardens Jean-Pierre), from Marnans, Isere, from Marnans, Isere– died at the end of March 1839 at the age of 26died at the end of March 1839 at the age of 26

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF PEOPLE SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF PEOPLE MENTIONED, p. 3MENTIONED, p. 3

• Bro. Jean-Chrysostome Bro. Jean-Chrysostome (Jean-Louis Doche)(Jean-Louis Doche)– dangerously ill dangerously ill (his sickness was considered (his sickness was considered

irreversible)irreversible)– died in 1841died in 1841

• Five Brothers who obtained certificate of Five Brothers who obtained certificate of competence at Grenoble:competence at Grenoble:– Bro. Denis Bro. Denis (Joseph Bron)(Joseph Bron) – out 1843 – out 1843– Bro. Antoine-Regis Bro. Antoine-Regis (Jean-Antoine Raymond)(Jean-Antoine Raymond) out out

18561856– Bro. Gabriel Bro. Gabriel (Caillot Andre)(Caillot Andre) died in 1859 died in 1859– Bro. Prosper Bro. Prosper (Jean-Baptiste Vial)(Jean-Baptiste Vial) out 1840 out 1840– Bro. Sylvestre Bro. Sylvestre (Jean-Felix Tamet)(Jean-Felix Tamet) died in 1887 died in 1887

ATTITUDES OF ATTITUDES OF MARCELLINMARCELLIN

• Compassionate – “Your letter, my very dear friend, greatly Compassionate – “Your letter, my very dear friend, greatly aroused my compassion.”aroused my compassion.”

• Encouraging – “Never despair of your salvation, it is in Encouraging – “Never despair of your salvation, it is in good hands…continue to be open with your confessor.”good hands…continue to be open with your confessor.”

• Obedient – “We are just about to send brothers to Obedient – “We are just about to send brothers to Bordeaux.”Bordeaux.”

• Supportive – “We are praying for the mission in Oceania.”Supportive – “We are praying for the mission in Oceania.”

• Humble – “She knows very well that we are too Humble – “She knows very well that we are too insignificant to carry on a struggle.”insignificant to carry on a struggle.”

• Caring – “Bro. Jean-Chrysostome is still dangerously ill. Caring – “Bro. Jean-Chrysostome is still dangerously ill. Pray for him.”Pray for him.”

MENTALITY OF MENTALITY OF MARCELLINMARCELLIN

• He is a man of deep trust in God.He is a man of deep trust in God.• He also counts on Mary as Ordinary He also counts on Mary as Ordinary

Resource and Good Mother.Resource and Good Mother.• He is concern with the sick, the suffering He is concern with the sick, the suffering

and the dying brother.and the dying brother.• He values the rules of religious life always.He values the rules of religious life always.• He is a man of great humility and simplicity.He is a man of great humility and simplicity.• He is very concern about the works of the He is very concern about the works of the

brothers. brothers. (careful educationalist)(careful educationalist)

BIBLICAL ALLUSIONSBIBLICAL ALLUSIONS• Psalm 127:1 – “Unless the Lord build the house, they Psalm 127:1 – “Unless the Lord build the house, they

labor in vain who build.”labor in vain who build.”• John 19:27 – “He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your John 19:27 – “He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your

Mother!’”Mother!’”• Galatians 6:1 – “Brothers, even if a person is caught Galatians 6:1 – “Brothers, even if a person is caught

in some transgression, you who are spiritual should in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in gentle spirit.”correct that one in gentle spirit.”

• Deuteronomy 4:6 – “Observe them carefully, for thus Deuteronomy 4:6 – “Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations.”intelligence to the nations.”

• Philippians 2:8 – “He humbled Himself, and becoming Philippians 2:8 – “He humbled Himself, and becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”obedient to death, even death on a cross.”John 3:30 – “He must increase; I must decrease.”John 3:30 – “He must increase; I must decrease.”

• John 17:12 – “When I was with them I protected them John 17:12 – “When I was with them I protected them in Your name and I guarded them…”in Your name and I guarded them…”

PLACES WHERE THE INTUITIONS OF THIS LETTER PLACES WHERE THE INTUITIONS OF THIS LETTER ARE REFLECTED IN OUR PRESENT MARIST ARE REFLECTED IN OUR PRESENT MARIST

DOCUMENTSDOCUMENTS

• C7 – “We are content to leave the results of our work entirely in God’s C7 – “We are content to leave the results of our work entirely in God’s hands.”hands.”

• C4 – “He was convinced that it was Mary who has done everything for C4 – “He was convinced that it was Mary who has done everything for us, and he called her our Ordinary Resource and our First Superior.us, and he called her our Ordinary Resource and our First Superior.C9 – “We are drawn into unity around Mary, our Good Mother.”C9 – “We are drawn into unity around Mary, our Good Mother.”

• C54 – “The members of the community see the sick or suffering brother C54 – “The members of the community see the sick or suffering brother as a source of blessings.”as a source of blessings.”C55 – “The community will show a great and loving care for a brother C55 – “The community will show a great and loving care for a brother who has come to life’s end.”who has come to life’s end.”C51 – “We try to develop a finely-tuned awareness of others – a C51 – “We try to develop a finely-tuned awareness of others – a sensitivity of heart which is quick to see that a companion is sensitivity of heart which is quick to see that a companion is troubled…”troubled…”

• C8 – “We are united by charity and by obedience to the constitutions.”C8 – “We are united by charity and by obedience to the constitutions.”• C48 – “Our life, like hers at Nazareth, is to be simple and hardworking.”C48 – “Our life, like hers at Nazareth, is to be simple and hardworking.”

C5 – “The three Marial virtues of humility, simplicity and modesty come C5 – “The three Marial virtues of humility, simplicity and modesty come to us from Marcellin Champagnat.”to us from Marcellin Champagnat.”

• C49 – “You know that my every breath is for you; and that there is no C49 – “You know that my every breath is for you; and that there is no genuine happiness which I do not ask of God for you every day, and genuine happiness which I do not ask of God for you every day, and which I would not be willing to win for you at the cost of the greatest which I would not be willing to win for you at the cost of the greatest sacrifices.”sacrifices.”

PHRASES THAT IMPACT PHRASES THAT IMPACT ON MEON ME

• Your letter, my very dear friend, greatly aroused Your letter, my very dear friend, greatly aroused my compassion.”my compassion.”

• ““I never approach the holy altar without I never approach the holy altar without recommending you to Him recommending you to Him (in whom we never (in whom we never hope in vain, who can help us overcome the hope in vain, who can help us overcome the greatest obstacles)greatest obstacles).”.”

• ““The greater your needs are, the more she wants The greater your needs are, the more she wants to rush to help you.”to rush to help you.”

• “…“…we are too insignificant to be able to carry on a we are too insignificant to be able to carry on a struggle.”struggle.”

• ““Death upsets me deeply!”Death upsets me deeply!”• ““I leave you in the arms of Mary, our good and I leave you in the arms of Mary, our good and

loving Mother.”loving Mother.”

PERSONAL REFLECTIONPERSONAL REFLECTION• Spiritual Direction Spiritual Direction (and Confession)(and Confession) are are

important in religious life. important in religious life. (C73 – ‘It is (C73 – ‘It is important for the growth of our spiritual life important for the growth of our spiritual life to be accompanied by another person.)to be accompanied by another person.)

• Community Living is life-giving but also Community Living is life-giving but also challenging in religious life.challenging in religious life.

• Encouraging a brother who is struggling in Encouraging a brother who is struggling in his vocation.his vocation.

• Caring for the sick is my personal challenge Caring for the sick is my personal challenge as a young brother.as a young brother.

• Support during death of a family member or Support during death of a family member or love one is very strong among Marists in my love one is very strong among Marists in my province.province.

The End!!!The End!!!

•Thank you very Thank you very much!!!much!!!

•Have a good day!!!Have a good day!!!•God bless!!!God bless!!!

PS 249PS 249