When was marcellin made a saint

Between and he started a primary school at La Valla which became a teacher training centre for his young Brothers. Many of these first Brothers were teenagers themselves who were attracted by the warmth, happiness and family spirit which Marcellin engendered in his communities. He lived among them, teaching them how to live as a religious community, and how to care for and educate young people.

His educational philosophy was a simple one: to teach children one must love them. So from the start, Marist schools became happy places, with a friendly teaching atmosphere in which relationships among teachers and students were easy and open, and inclusiveness was the benchmark — everyone was welcomed and loved.

Marcellin continued his work of establishing Marist communities over the next 20 years. At the age of 51 he succumbed to the effects of continuing ill health. His mother died and he met Jean-Claude Courville. The death of his mother encouraged his studies. Courville was the initial inspiration behind the society of Mary, or Marist, that Marcellin was later to join.

On 22 July Marcellin was ordained to the priesthood. The next morning, 23 July, the aspiring Marists — eight newly ordained priests and four seminarians — made a pilgrimage to the church of Our Lady of Fourviere. Here they renewed their pledge to establish the Society of Mary and to dedicate their lives to Mary. The Marist family traces its origins to this event, to what is now known as the Fourviere Pledge. The young priests, full of enthusiasm, were sent to distant parishes.

Father Marcellin Champagnat was sent to the parish of LaValla as the assistant priest. Marcellin travelled the parish on foot, visiting the numerous hamlets, meeting and ministering to the people. On 2nd January , only six months after his arrival in La Valla, Marcellin, a year-old curate, brought together his first two disciples; the congregation of the Little Brothers of Mary, or Marist Brothers, was born in poverty, humility, and total trust in God under Mary's protection.

While still carrying on his parish ministry, he went to live with his brothers, whom he trained and prepared for their mission as Christian teachers, catechists, and educators of young people. Passionately devoted to the Kingdom of God, conscious of the tremendous needs of young people, and an instinctive educator, Marcellin turned these uncultured young country lads into generous apostles.

He lost no time in opening schools. Vocations arrived and the first little house, even though enlarged by Marcellin himself, was soon too small. There were many difficulties. The clergy in general did not understand what this inexperienced young priest with no material resources was trying to accomplish. However, the nearby villages continually requested brothers to see to the Christian education of their children. Marcellin and his brothers shared in the construction of their new house, which could hold more than persons and which would bear the name of "Our Lady of the Hermitage".

Marcellin comforted his companion and they both recited a prayer to Mary asking for help. They started walking again, and soon after saw a light coming from a nearby farmhouse. They were saved!

With the arrival of a new group of young men, the house at La Valla became too small. A larger house would have to be built and Father Champagnat knew of the ideal place in a valley between La Valla and St Chamond. As this project required a large amount of money, Champagnat was forced to borrow some, as well as rely on local supporters who believed in what he was doing. The Brothers did the building themselves with Champagnat working by their side.

It was a difficult task as they had to quarry out a whole solid rock face to make their bricks. Also, confident that the Brothers would grow, Champagnat designed a large building. In all, this venture proved to be a very onerous, and at times, dangerous task. However, after a year of hard work the building, which became known as Our Lady of the Hermitage was completed and open for use.

One remarkable thing is the fact that there was not a single accident during the whole time of construction. There were, however, several close calls. These attitudes became worse during the building of the Hermitage. He was laughed at and ridiculed by many people.

One of these was the local Bishop who told Champagnat that he was a "madman" and that he would not support him. During the following winter, the Brothers' schools began to flourish in the district. However, in , another Revolution broke out and everything came to a halt. Once more the country was shaken by disorder, riots and religious persecution. Troublemakers whispered that priests were hiding arms and ammunition. The rumours even said that a certain nobleman, and enemy of the state, was hiding at the Hermitage.