Here we have three successive attempts at a new letter to the king, requesting the authorization of the Institute. As we cannot find any other trace of this letter, we may presume it was never sent; perhaps there was not even a final draft. Since these drafts bear no date, it is no less difficult to determine that as well. These few lines come after the letter to the queen, sent during May 1835. Did Father Champagnat intend to write to the king at the same time? We think he rather intended to do it the following year, to accompany the dossier of recommendations from the mayors who employed our brothers (cf. L. 75), which was sent sometime during August 1836.

Letter to the King

Sire,

Following the vote of the Royal Council, under date of 28th February 1834, on the Statutes of the Association of the Little Brothers of Mary which we presented….

Sire,

The Superior of the Little Brothers of Mary comes again to throw himself at your Majestys feet to beg you….

Sire,

Father Champagnat, Founder of the Association of the Little Brothers of Mary, established near St-Chamond (Loire) comes once again to throw himself at Your Majestys feet with several members of the said society, to humbly beg you to grant the request which we dare to present to you concerning the ordinance which will give us legal existence.

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 un brouillon, AFM, 132.1, p. 50