Early Life of St. Marcellin Champagnat

Study Notes

Marcellin Champagnat was born in 1789 in a village in the south of France amidst the French Revolution.
His father was a farmer and his mother was Marie Chirat.
Marcellin was the ninth of ten children.
His aunt Louise, a former nun, had a significant influence on his life.
His father, Jean Baptiste Champagnat, was a supporter of the ideals of the Revolution but disagreed with the methods used to enact them.
He served as the Commander of the local National Guard and used his position to protect priests during the revolution.
Marcellin grew up helping his father on the farm, acquiring skills that would be valuable later in life.

Marcellin was sent to school at the age of 10 but did not enjoy it due to the strict schoolmaster.
He refused to return to school and later implemented strict rules against corporal punishment for the Marist Brothers.

At 16, a priest recruited boys for the priesthood, and Marcellin decided to pursue it.
Despite having faced difficulties in his earlier schooling, he studied hard and finally reached the required standard for the Junior Seminary.
He sold his lambs to fund his new clothes and other expenses for the seminary.
Tragically, his father and mother died before he became a priest.

Marcellin and his friends were known as the "Happy Gang" for their mischievous nature.
However, after the deaths of his best friend and mother, he became more serious and dedicated to his studies.
He excelled in his studies and became a prefect, allowing him to study more effectively during the night.
The Marist Brothers were founded on January 2nd, 1817, with Marcellin as its first member.
He was joined by Jean Baptiste Audras, who became part of the brotherhood.
Marcellin's dedication to teaching and his strong belief in education contribute greatly to the success of the Marist Brothers.

Born in 1789 during the French Revolution in the village of Marlhes, France, Marcellin Champagnat was the ninth of ten children.
His father, Jean Baptiste Champagnat, was a farmer who supported the ideals of the revolution but not how they were put into practice.
Marcellin's father later became the Commander of the local National Guard.
Influenced by his aunt Louise, a nun who lived with his family after her convent was destroyed by revolutionaries.

Marcellin was sent to school at age 10 but disliked his strict and harsh teacher, refusing to return.
His later experience with his teacher influenced his approach to discipline for his brothers.
Attributed his early skills to his upbringing on the farm, where he learned to care for his father's flocks.
As a young adult, he was known with his friends as the "Happy Gang."

At 16, Marcellin was approached by a priest who asked him to join the priesthood.
Despite a challenging education, he dedicated himself to his studies and eventually reached the required standard for seminary.
Sold his lambs to help afford the expenses of entering the seminary.

Schools were closed for an extended period of time.
Experienced a period of intense study, working throughout the night before eventually achieving the required standard.
Found success in his studies despite numerous hurdles.
His mother and father both passed away before he became a priest.
Marcellin's seriousness developed as he experienced the deaths of his best friend and mother.