The original of this letter, as it appears in the first volume of Circulars, is not authentic. It was unfortunately rearranged, perhaps with an eye to a more elegant presentation, but certainly at the expense of its authenticity. We do not know who tampered with it, nor what the original text looked like. We presume that the sense of the text was not substantially altered. As for the addressee, he is sufficiently well-known, so we do not have to introduce him here. (Cf. Vie du Frère Louis-Marie, deuxième Supérieur général de lInstitut des Petits Frères de Marie, 1810-1879, par un Frère de cet Institut, Lyons, Paris: Librairie catholique Emmanuel Vitte, 1907; Frère Ignace Thiry, Mariste, La vie dun grand organisateur, Genval, Belgium: Edition Marie Médiatrice, 1955.

Jesus, M, St. J.

Notre Dame de lHermitage, 29th August 1831

Monsieur Labrosse,

The most important, and I might say, the only condition required for entering our house, along with good health, is good will and a sincere desire to please God. If you come with those dispositions, you will be received with open arms. Mary, our Good Mother, will protect you, and after having had her as your First Superior, you will have her as your Queen in heaven.

The clothing you wore in the seminary, along with your personal linen, will do equally well in our house, and will be sufficient wardrobe for you. The novitiate fee is 400 francs, if you can afford it.

I leave you in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I have the honor to be your most devoted servant.

Champagnat, superior of the Marist Brothers

Edition: Translation from: Lettres de Marcellin J. B. Champagnat (1789-1840) Fondateur de l?Institut des Frères Maristes, présentés par Frère Paul Sester,1985.

fonte: Daprès lexpédition autographe, AFM 113,2; publiée dans CSG I, p. 162; dans AAA, pp. 107-108 et dans la biographie de Fr. Louis-Marie, p. 12