As soon as he had received the Founders first reply (L. 323), Fr. Pradier, seeing that he had knocked on the right door, writes again to ask for specific terms. But the Founder, seeing that he can not keep up the pace, asks him to wait until they can sit down together to discuss the matter.

2nd March 1840

Father,

We hasten to clarify for you the conditions under which we provide brothers to direct establishments of the type you are proposing. They receive their board, laundry, footwear (shoes only), they have the use of the linen of the establishment, and also receive an annual salary, which is set at 300 francs for the Brother Director of the house, and at 200 francs for each of the other brothers. The administrators make a one-time-only payment to the motherhouse of 400 francs for each brother, to cover the expenses of the foundation.

Before deciding anything about your establishment, it is necessary that we meet with you, in order to agree on the various regulations which ought to be drawn up for the prosperity of the work.

Accept the sincere and respectful devotedness with which I have the honor to be your very 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 la minute, AFM 113.16B; , RCLA 1, pp. 177-178, nº 222