7 March
Saints Perpetua and Felicity, virgins and martyrs
1851: Brother Antoine, 4th member of the Institute, died in Ampuis, France
1926: Brother Stratonique, 5th Superior General, died in Grugliasco, Italy
Photo gallery | Bulletin de l'Institu XXI/160 | Homily of Pope Pius XII - Spanish (doc)
The beatification
On this warm Pentecost morning, 29 May 1955, while the air is not yet heavy with the crippling heat of the Roman summer, groups of Marist Brothers, from all the provinces of the Institute, coming from 35 countries and representing as many nationalities, have been converging from all parts of the city on the basilica of Saint Peter. They are going to assist at the beatification of their Father, the Venerable Marcellin Champagnat. They number 600 chosen to represent their confrères at these grandiose ceremonies, 600 privileged ones, designated by lot or chosen by office because of their functions, or for other reasons which make it a bit confusing for them to find themselves there, in preference to so many others of equal merit. But in the end, someone has designated them and they have come.
For once, obedience will have come very easily for them. Since the evening before, one has had the impression that there are Marist Brothers all over the Eternal City, for their white rabat and black habit make them recognizable from afar and, since they have so little time, they have been making the best of their opportunity to see the beautiful monuments of Rome.
So they are hurrying towards the basilica, happy and excited. And why shouldn’t they be? It is for their beloved Father, all this display, those grand banners hung at the entrance to the basilica or in the glory of Bernini, those sumptuous decorations inside Saint Peter’s; for him all the homage paid at the centre of Catholicism. The pilgrims by chance, going to Saint Peter’s to take advantage of a beatification, look on them with gazes of admiration little short of envy.
Bulletin de l’Institu n. 160 – Tome XXI, page 628
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Chronology of the cause of Fr. Founder Marcellin Champagnat
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