Father Chaminade
Guillaume-Joseph Chaminade
Tomb of Chaminade (Bordeaux)
Father Chaminade was born in Périgueux, a town in the southwest of France, on April 8, 1761. After studying at the Mussidan seminary, then in Bordeaux and Paris, he was ordained a priest in 1785. He taught at the Mussidan seminary for a while, but in 1789, when the French Revolution broke out, he went into hiding in Bordeaux.
In 1790, Father Chaminade refused to take the Civil Constitution for the Clergy, which required him to submit to the government, and so he had to carry out his priestly duties without being noticed by the authorities. In 1795, the persecution of the Catholic Church subsided for a time, but began again in 1798. By this time, Father Chaminade's existence had become public knowledge, and he was forced into exile.
Father Chaminade chose Zaragoza, Spain, as his place of exile because there were already many French priests there and because there was a Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar dedicated to the Virgin Mary. He spent three years there, during which time he consulted and planned with his fellow priests how to restore Christ in his native country. Finally, one day, while praying before the statue of the Virgin Mary, Father Chaminade is said to have received inspiration to found the "Marianist Family" and the "Group of Those Who Do Not Die," a religious order of men and women.
In the fall of 1800, Father Chaminade returned home and immediately gathered young people. The young people were filled with kindness and enthusiasm, and they cooperated with Father Chaminade with great passion. They taught underprivileged children and devoted themselves to helping the poor and lonely. They truly demonstrated the practice of the Gospel. Many supporters appeared, and on December 8 they were able to form the "Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady)". It was this Young Society of Our Lady that became the basis for the founding of the Society of Mary and the Sisters of Mary Immaculate. At this time, Chaminade was 39 years old and in the prime of his career.
In 1809, the Alliance Marial, a group of lay religious who devoted themselves to God while living in society, was founded. Father Chaminade also led Mme Ramurus (1754-1836) and was involved in the founding of the Congregation of the Misericordes, whose purpose was to rehabilitate women.
Tomb of Father Chaminade (Bordeaux)
In 1816, Adele de Batz de Tranqueléon (1789-1828, beatified in 2018), daughter of a nobleman.
Together with Father Chaminade, he founded the women's convent, the Convent of Mary Immaculate, and in 1817 he founded the men's convent, the Society of Mary. Both convents were born from the congregation (the Society of the Young Men of the Virgin Mary). After founding the convent, Father Chaminade continued to guide the members as Superior General and devoted himself to spreading Christianity until his death on January 22, 1850, at the age of 89, in Bordeaux.
Father Chaminade's contemporary spirituality was highly praised. He was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II on September 3, 2000.
In 1790, Father Chaminade refused to take the Civil Constitution for the Clergy, which required him to submit to the government, and so he had to carry out his priestly duties without being noticed by the authorities. In 1795, the persecution of the Catholic Church subsided for a time, but began again in 1798. By this time, Father Chaminade's existence had become public knowledge, and he was forced into exile.
Father Chaminade chose Zaragoza, Spain, as his place of exile because there were already many French priests there and because there was a Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar dedicated to the Virgin Mary. He spent three years there, during which time he consulted and planned with his fellow priests how to restore Christ in his native country. Finally, one day, while praying before the statue of the Virgin Mary, Father Chaminade is said to have received inspiration to found the "Marianist Family" and the "Group of Those Who Do Not Die," a religious order of men and women.
In the fall of 1800, Father Chaminade returned home and immediately gathered young people. The young people were filled with kindness and enthusiasm, and they cooperated with Father Chaminade with great passion. They taught underprivileged children and devoted themselves to helping the poor and lonely. They truly demonstrated the practice of the Gospel. Many supporters appeared, and on December 8 they were able to form the "Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady)". It was this Young Society of Our Lady that became the basis for the founding of the Society of Mary and the Sisters of Mary Immaculate. At this time, Chaminade was 39 years old and in the prime of his career.
In 1809, the Alliance Marial, a group of lay religious who devoted themselves to God while living in society, was founded. Father Chaminade also led Mme Ramurus (1754-1836) and was involved in the founding of the Congregation of the Misericordes, whose purpose was to rehabilitate women.
Tomb of Father Chaminade (Bordeaux)
In 1816, Adele de Batz de Tranqueléon (1789-1828, beatified in 2018), daughter of a nobleman.
Together with Father Chaminade, he founded the women's convent, the Convent of Mary Immaculate, and in 1817 he founded the men's convent, the Society of Mary. Both convents were born from the congregation (the Society of the Young Men of the Virgin Mary). After founding the convent, Father Chaminade continued to guide the members as Superior General and devoted himself to spreading Christianity until his death on January 22, 1850, at the age of 89, in Bordeaux.
Father Chaminade's contemporary spirituality was highly praised. He was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II on September 3, 2000.
