Marcelino José Benito Champagnat (1789–1840)

Biography

Due to several bad experiences with some teachers and teaching methods in force at the time, he felt called to found an association of brother educators to educate children and adolescents from poor, rural municipalities, with a new methodology based on love and demand, under the special patronage of the Virgin Mary. Marcellin wanted the Marist brothers to be of a single category, without class distinctions between them, constituting this fraternity project a sign of anticipation and progress. His work was born adapted to modern times, to educate "good Christians and good citizens." Its pedagogical and educational contribution is based on the religious vision of life and people, a deep common sense, the practical ability to face the various situations that arise, the pedagogy of presence as the best form of prevention and the preference for the poorest and most abandoned. In his last days, his piety and kindness that were evident in his face, marked by weakness and pain, conquered everyone's hearts. On June 6, while the community sang the Salve, Marcellin gave his soul to God at the age of 51. Currently there are almost 5,000 Marist brothers and numerous lay people make Marcellin's charism present in 75 countries. On April 18, 1999, Marcellin was canonized by Pope John Paul II.