Foundation of the Marist Brothers

Below reproduced courtesy the Marist Institute Anniversary of the foundation of the Marist Institute – Champagnat

On January 2, the Marist Institute celebrates its anniversary. Saint Marcellin founded the Marist Brothers by welcoming the first disciples to the small house in La Valla, France.

Below we reproduce the narration of that moment according to the words of Br. Seán Sammon, former Superior General, in the book “A Heart that knew no bounds“.

The community begins to grow

Jean-Baptiste Audras, later Brother Louis, was only fourteen and a half when he asked to join the De La Salle Brothers at Saint Chamond. Judging him to be too young, they advised him to continue discussing his vocation with his confessor. As luck would have it, that person was the young priest from La Valla. The boy told Marcellin that he had resolved to consecrate his life to God. After talking with Jean-Baptiste and his parents, and reflecting prayerfully on the situation, the priest invited young Audras to join Granjon.

Two months later the house repairs were complete. The first two recruits took up occupancy on January 2nd, 1817. Henceforth, the Bonner house would be referred to, at least in the Marist world, as the “cradle” of the Institute, and January 2nd, 1817 as the foundation date of the Little Brothers of Mary. Its members were to embrace a spirituality that included mindfulness of God’s presence, confidence in Mary and her protection, and the practice of the “little” virtues of simplicity and humility.