In answer to Fr. Croziers letter asking for brothers, Fr. Champagnat shares with him some reflections with which he was certainly familiar, about the overall situation of which he is a witness, and on the Churchs great need for Christian educators. This is the entire motivation for the work to which he has devoted himself indefatigably for twenty years now.

Dear Father,

We have received your letter asking for brothers for the parish of Coutouvre. We cannot satisfy your desire this year, because we have just about reached the limit of the number of establishments we can make, in terms of the subjects available to us.

The description you give us of the building destined for the brothers seems very satisfactory, except that the classrooms must be separated only by a partition with a door containing a window so that the brothers may more easily communicate with and watch over one another.

It is very true that we receive requests from all over. Each one asserts the reasons why he should receive preference, dictated by his ardent zeal for the Christian education of youth. We would like to be able to answer them all, but the field is too vast for the number of workers. May it please the Master of the harvest to send out good workers, filled with his Spirit, to carry out their tasks worthily.

The confidence you show in us urges us to ask you to join your prayers and Holy Sacrifices for the good of our society, for the greater glory of God, so that we, for our part, may soon be in a position to show you in more effective ways the good will and total dedication with which we have the honor to be, etc….

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: PS123.DOC; Daprès la minute, AFM, RCLA 1, p. 50, nº 47; éditée en CSG I, p. 228