Once again, in the Annales de Sury (AFM, 213.76, p. 10), Bro.
Avit enlightens us on the circumstances which provoked this letter. Father came to Sury and did not meet Fr. Metton, [who] wrote him a very sharp letter, complaining that he had not been visited. The humble Fr. Champagnat answered him thus, on 4th December 1839:

Father,

I do not think I deserve the reproaches you feel you should give me. Every time I have gone to Sury I have not failed to pay you my respects, etc….

If the brothers are not very willing to take on clerical functions, it is because His Lordship expressly forbade me to authorize them to do so. Besides, we so clearly recognized the danger and the abuse there is for our brothers in these functions which are foreign to their vocation, that we no longer permit it anywhere.

I am, etc….

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 la minute, AFM, RCLA 1, p. 160, nº 204