"Community" is the key and foundation for understanding Father Chaminade's thinking.
1 After the French Revolution, Father Chaminade returned to Bordeaux in the autumn of 1800. He immediately gathered young people and began to spread the Gospel. This shows that Father Chaminade had a good grasp of the state of the Church in France even during his exile and had deep insight into how to rebuild the Church. Father Chaminade's mind was occupied only with "evangelization."
Historical figures who aimed to renew or rebuild the Church first gathered their followers and founded religious orders. Father Chaminade, however, focused on establishing a "community of the faithful." He was convinced that a community animated by the Gospel was the one that could nurture faith, bear fruit, and attract people with its living example. He was convinced that such a community of the faithful would bring light to the French Church, which was suffering from religious indifference and ignorance, and be the path to reconstruction.
2 The Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady), which started as a gathering of young men and women, eventually developed into a Mothers' Association, a Fathers' Association, and then into a community made up of people from all walks of life, education levels, and social classes. Since the organization and structure of the French Church was very weak after the Revolution, the Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady) played the role of a parish. Father Chaminade asserted that the Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady) is a miniature Church, a miniature People of God. Even after the parish activities were on track, he said, "The Congregation has a special reason for existence in the Church. It is because it gives people, especially young people, an opportunity to experience Christ as a community, an experience that they cannot have in a parish."
1 After the French Revolution, Father Chaminade returned to Bordeaux in the autumn of 1800. He immediately gathered young people and began to spread the Gospel. This shows that Father Chaminade had a good grasp of the state of the Church in France even during his exile and had deep insight into how to rebuild the Church. Father Chaminade's mind was occupied only with "evangelization."
Historical figures who aimed to renew or rebuild the Church first gathered their followers and founded religious orders. Father Chaminade, however, focused on establishing a "community of the faithful." He was convinced that a community animated by the Gospel was the one that could nurture faith, bear fruit, and attract people with its living example. He was convinced that such a community of the faithful would bring light to the French Church, which was suffering from religious indifference and ignorance, and be the path to reconstruction.
2 The Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady), which started as a gathering of young men and women, eventually developed into a Mothers' Association, a Fathers' Association, and then into a community made up of people from all walks of life, education levels, and social classes. Since the organization and structure of the French Church was very weak after the Revolution, the Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady) played the role of a parish. Father Chaminade asserted that the Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady) is a miniature Church, a miniature People of God. Even after the parish activities were on track, he said, "The Congregation has a special reason for existence in the Church. It is because it gives people, especially young people, an opportunity to experience Christ as a community, an experience that they cannot have in a parish."
3 The Congregation (Congregation of the Virgin Mary) had the following characteristics:
① Equality: The spirit of the French Revolution's slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" was incorporated into the community. This equality attracted people's attention at a time when class consciousness remained even after the revolution.
② Diversity: As mentioned in point 2 above, anyone could find their place in the community. This diversity also meant a diversity of activities that "addressed the needs of the church at that time and in that place."
① Equality: The spirit of the French Revolution's slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" was incorporated into the community. This equality attracted people's attention at a time when class consciousness remained even after the revolution.
② Diversity: As mentioned in point 2 above, anyone could find their place in the community. This diversity also meant a diversity of activities that "addressed the needs of the church at that time and in that place."
③ Layness: It is a forerunner of the “lay apostolate” in which lay people take responsibility and become leaders in evangelization.
④ Community: Witnessing to Christ not only as individuals but also as a group. Father Chaminade's goal was to "present a community of saints to the world."
4. What Father Chaminade expected from the Congregation (Congregation of the Virgin Mary)
① It is a testimony
"Communities can bear witness to the Holy People by literally living the Gospel." This is a passage from a letter that Father Chaminade sent to Pope Gregory XVI in 1838. At the time in France, rationalism was rampant, and it was argued that accepting the Gospel and living according to it was impossible and meaningless. In response to this trend, Father Chaminade asserted, "This is absolutely not the case. The Gospel is still meaningful and can be fully put into practice."
To realize this ideal, the congregations of the laity were founded, who worked hard to put the Gospel into practice through the witness of their community.
4. What Father Chaminade expected from the Congregation (Congregation of the Virgin Mary)
① It is a testimony
"Communities can bear witness to the Holy People by literally living the Gospel." This is a passage from a letter that Father Chaminade sent to Pope Gregory XVI in 1838. At the time in France, rationalism was rampant, and it was argued that accepting the Gospel and living according to it was impossible and meaningless. In response to this trend, Father Chaminade asserted, "This is absolutely not the case. The Gospel is still meaningful and can be fully put into practice."
To realize this ideal, the congregations of the laity were founded, who worked hard to put the Gospel into practice through the witness of their community.
② It must be attractive.
Members of the Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady) "can attract others by the way they live." This was the way of life of the early Church, described in Acts 2 and 4. "The believers were all united and had everything in common, and each shared what he had with others as needed. They went to the temple with one heart and praised God with joy and sincerity, and so won the favor of the whole people." The Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady) of Bordeaux also attracted people's attention by showing a similar way of life.
Members of the Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady) "can attract others by the way they live." This was the way of life of the early Church, described in Acts 2 and 4. "The believers were all united and had everything in common, and each shared what he had with others as needed. They went to the temple with one heart and praised God with joy and sincerity, and so won the favor of the whole people." The Congregation (Young Society of Our Lady) of Bordeaux also attracted people's attention by showing a similar way of life.
③ It must be diffusive
"Such communities give birth to new communities. Just as in the growth of living things, attractive communities expand exponentially and can become an ideal tool for re-Christianizing society," Father Chaminade believed.
"Such communities give birth to new communities. Just as in the growth of living things, attractive communities expand exponentially and can become an ideal tool for re-Christianizing society," Father Chaminade believed.
