The Marist Brothers are inspired by St. Marcellin Champagnat (1789-1840), a young French priest who founded the order in 1817 to combat the illiteracy and spiritual poverty in post-revolutionary France. Marcellin believed God called him to help young people, especially those in need, and responded by forming a religious community of Brothers dedicated to educating youth and conveying the love of Jesus Christ through Mary.

Like many youngsters of his day, Marcellin did not attend school regularly because of the French Revolution. Although gifted with natural intelligence, his lack of formal education caused him to struggle as a seminarian. From these difficulties sprang his educational philosophy: “To educate children you must love them and love them all equally.”

Realizing that many young people had little religious or academic education, Marcellin was determined to combat the illiteracy and spiritual poverty the revolution had wrought.

While still in the seminary, Marcellin was part of a small group of seminarians who would pledge themselves to form a new society dedicated to Mary, consisting of religious and lay men and women. Six months after his ordination, after encountering a dying teenager who knew little of his faith, Marcellin founded a religious community called The Little Brothers of Mary, now called The Marist Brothers of the Schools. His goal: to make Jesus Christ known and loved through the Christian education of youth, especially the most neglected.

When Marcellin died in 1840, there were 280 Brothers evangelizing and supporting youth. In 1955 Marcellin Champagnat was declared Blessed by Pope Pius XII. He was canonized a SAINT by Pope John Paul II on April 18, 1999.

Links of Interest – To learn more about the different Marist congregations:

Marist Brothers international website - www.champagnat.org
Marist Fathers website – www.maristsociety.org
Marist Sisters website - www.maristsisters.org
Marist Missionary Sisters website – www.maristmissionarysmsm.org