Despite the insistence of Bishop de Bonald of Le Puy, Fr. Champagnat could not send brothers to the parish of Craponne in 1838. The school which the Brothers of the Sacred Heart had left will be kept open for a year under the direction of a layteacher, Mr. Roche. If the Founder has waited until September to set forth conditions, it is possibly because only then is he fairly sure of having brothers available, and also because he knows that the conditions have already been fulfilled, since the school has been in operation.

Father,

We are thinking of sending you three brothers provided you can meet the following conditions:
1º That you guarantee us possession of the house where the brothers are going to live;
2º That you guarantee the salary of the three brothers we are giving you;
3º That the expenses of the foundation be paid in advance as is always the case;
4º That the brothers own furnishings be provided in their entirety;
5º That if there be any full boarders, or boys who are not from the city, but who only sleep at the school without taking their meals there, the brothers will receive their fees as additional revenue.

Your entire revenue would come from the collection of the monthly fees from the well-to-do children of the city: so see if you can manage with whatever help that may offer you.

Accept, 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: Daprès la minute, AFM, RCLA 1, p. 133, nº 165