The previous letter had raised hopes that the matter was coming to an end. Sad to say, two weeks later, Fr. Champagnats hopes were shattered. Suspicious over the administrative delays, he wrote another letter to the minister, asking him to move the process along. The letter was written by some secretary that the Founder must have located there. Someone in the office wrote on the sheet itself, Wait for the return of the letter submitted to the minister, 16th April. On 17th April, the minister wrote to the prefects of the Rhône and the Loire to ask their opinion about the possible harm the Congregation of the Marist Brothers might cause either to the Brothers of the Christian Schools or to the normal schools. He seems to have been looking for loopholes, and to have been in no hurry to bring this matter to a conclusion, despite the urgent pleas for haste.

Paris, 11th April 1838, Foreign Missions, Rue du Bac, Nº 120.

Mister Minister,

Father Champagnat, founder of the congregation of the Little Brothers of Mary, who has had the honor of being presented to Your Excellency by Mr. Ardaillon, deputy from the Loire, on the twenty-second of January, is still in Paris, awaiting the successful completion of the steps he has taken towards obtaining a royal ordinance in favor of that Institute whose usefulness is attested to by the many requests it receives from all sides. Fr. Champagnat asks again today that you take this matter under consideration, so that he may, after expressing his gratitude to you, return to his home where his presence is keenly desired, to resume the supervision and expansion of his work. Have no doubt, Mr. Minister, that your name will be deeply engraved in the hearts of all the children of Mary as long as this Order lasts.

In the meantime, please accept the assurance of the respectful devotedness with which I have the honor to be, Mr. Minister, your most humble and most obedient servant,

Champagnat

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 A.N. 125 LY, 10749, F. 17 PFM