to Monsieur Jean Cholleton, Vicaire général de Lyon,

Rhône; 1833; Original (a draft: written on notebook AFM

132.3), published in: OM 286

LETTER PS 030

Correspondence between Champagnat and Cholleton

• Active Letters:

ps030, ps044, ps045, ps127, ps200

• Passive Letters:

abm082

SITUATIONSImpressed by the Vicar General's insistence during

their meeting on 21st August, Champagnat had not dared to put forward strongly enough the difficulties he foresaw in the plan to unite his brothers with the Clerics of St. Viator, and he promised to go to Vourles to discuss the matter with Fr. Querbes. After further reflection and after consulting his confrères, he wrote this letter to admit his repugnance for the idea, and to open his heart with that moving simplicity which he demonstrated in other similar situations

Délibérations du Conseil du Diocèse de Lyon

• « Le conseil penseroit, sauf l'avis de Monseigneur, que la réunion immédiate des frères de Marie à l'oeuvre de M. Querbes les mettroit à l'abri de toutes difficultés. » (OM 258; 1832-12-05).

• « Le Conseil, en vue de faire jouir les Petits Frères de Marie d'une existence légale, est d'avis qu'ils se réunissent à l'oeuvre des Clercs de St. Viateur de Vourles, légalement autorisés. Du moins, il y a lieu d'en faire l'essai. » (OM 276; 1833-08-07).

CHOLLETON, JEAN (Cf. References, pp. 121-123)

• Born 18-06-1788, in Saint-Marcel-de-Félines, Loire

• Secondary schooling in Saint-Jodard.

• Seminary of Saint-Irenée 01-11-1806.

• Seminary of St-Sulpice (Paris) 01-11- 1809

• Recalled to Lyon by Fesch on 12-11-1811

• Ordained in Grenoble 21-12-1811• Immediately assigned to the seminary, as

professor of moral theology

• In 1815-16, protected and directed the group of Marist aspirants.

• In December 1817, rector of the seminary.

• He played a major role in the establishment of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1822.

• After the arrival of Bishop De Pins, he was named third vicar general, on 01-04-1824.

• He was in charge of religious communities.

• On December 1825, he handed over his responsibility for religious communities to Fr. Cattet.

• From March 1833 to September 1836, he was in charged the affairs of the Society of Mary in the archdiocese of Lyon.

• Fr. Cholleton’s powers as vicar general expired on 02-07-1840.

• He entered in the novitiate of the Marist Fathers on 01-08-1840. After profession 25-09-1841, he was named superior of the novitiate.

• Fr. Colin wanted the members of the Society to learn more liberal opinions in moral theology, so he removed him from the novitiate in of 1844.

• He later relieved him of the responsibility he had exercised from 1841 to 1845 over the branch of Marist Brothers.

• From then on, Cholleton remained at La Favorite as a simple religious. He died at Puylata on 09-02-1852.

OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED• QUERBES, LOUIS: (1793-1859)• Arrived to the Parish of Vourles in 1822.• In 1824 asked for Marist Brothers • In 1826, founded the Clerics of Saint

Viator, to be teachers of Christian doctrine.

• Obtained official approval from the French government: 30-01-1830.

• (REFERENCES, pp. 432-433).

OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED

• JEAN CLAUDE COURVEILLE (1787-1866):

• Promoter of the Society of Mary project among his companions in the Major Seminary of Lyon.

• ETIENNE TERRAILLON (1791-1869):

• Classmate of Courveille and Champagnat that joined the project of the Society of Mary.

Places mentioned

• VOURLES:

A rural town in the department of the Rhône and arrondissement of Lyon, in the district of St-Genis-Laval, 12 km south of Lyon. The 850 people who lived there in 1840 made their living mostly by farming..

(References, p. 611).

Places mentioned

• MILLERY: A rural town of 1275 inhabitants in

1880, belongs to the department of the Rhône, the arrondissement of Lyons. It is 8 km south of St-Genis-Laval.

•(REFERENCES, pp. 556-558).

Intelectual beginning“I have not yet gone to Vourles, because:

1° I was extremely busy…

2° I did not receive an order…

3° I did not clearly understand the affair…

4° My Confrères do not approve the whole thing… It is too serious…

… I do not dare to comment it to my Brothers…”

Intelectual beginning• “You advised me to speak with Fr.

Querbes…• And to reach an agreement with him…• I did see him…• But we came to no agreement…”• The emotional upheaval starts:

– “At the time when (1826)

–Left alone…the sad affair…and the desertion…”

Emotional upheaval• “In the wake of the most terrible threats• To a priest, draining his strength an

resources [1822]”• “Soon new dangers, more terrible [May

1826] enough to destroy everything” • “And my serious illness [January 1826]• Major debts hanging on my head• Refusing my legacy…telling the

Brothers”

Emotional upheaval• “I could see that neither one nor the other

had any fatherly feeling towards my young men [1826]

• Finally, God in his mercy… I reassured my children

• I told them not to be afraid• I would share all their misfortunes and

share the last piece of bread with them”

Back to Intelectual approach

• “On the other hand, I have absolutely no complaints against the parish priest (Terraillon) of Notre-Dame (St.Chamond) [1833], whose behavior in our house was always edifying.”

THE SECRET OF HIS SURVIVAL

• MARY:

• “She was upholding her Society with all the strength of her arm…

• She did not abandon us…• She is helping us, and that is

enough…”

The outcome of Mary’s help

• “We are gradually paying our debts

• Other confrères (Marist Fathers)

• [Séon, Bourdin, Pompallier, Fontbonne, Servant,]… have replaced

• the first ones [Courveille, Terraillon]”

Attitudes of Marcellin

• Responsable: “I cannot take such an important step (the fusion) on my own authority”

• Prudent: “I do not dare to speak to our Brothers about this, seeing….”

• Capable of expressing his feelings:

• “I finally felt calm…”, “During a long and serious illness…”, “Left alone,…” “Desertion”

MENTALITY

• God is the Lord: life, health come from Him

• Community is based on solidarity

• We owe to Mary the existence of our Congregation

BIBLICAL REFERENCE

• Psalm 23/4:• “Even though I walk through the

valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”

CONSTITUTIONS• 4: Marial Spirit: “He was convinced that

it was she who has done everything for us”.

• 33: Following the Founder’s Example: “Father Champagnat’s poverty of heart is seen most clearly in his trust in God’s loving care. The foundation or our Institute is an ever-living proof that no daring is too great for a man of faith”.

CONSTITUTIONS• 49: In the Spirit of our first Beginnings:

“Father Champagnat formed the community of the first Brothers into a real family. He shared their life at La Valla and at the Hermitage, and he spent himself on their behalf… In their turn, the Brothers loved him as their father. Living with him, living close to our Good Mother, they grew steadily in the sense of brotherhood, of devotedness, and of self-renunciation in the service of one another”.

CONSTITUTIONS

• 163: Experiencing God’s Fidelity:

• “In our individual lives and in the life of the Institute, we experience the love and fidelity of God, as well as the motherly care of Mary”.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

• It is quite plausible that Marcellin might have wept while writing a letter such as this, but it was a reality that I did weep while reading it for the first time back in 1985. It made me enter in a state of empathy with Champagnat’s feelings. I found him so human, so vulnerable, so much like me and like so many of us, his Brothers…