Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a challenge for today’s world

On Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of November, a group of more than 30 brothers and lay Marists, – from Rome, Genoa and Giugliano – gathered in the General House (Rome, Italy) to learn and to immerse themselves in the knowledge of a "little known"  Saint Marcellin.

Brother Giorgio Diamanti, a member of the community of Notre Dame de l'Hermitage,  France, passionately  accompanied  the participants in the rediscovery of some features of the Founder that the hagiographic approach of his first biographer, Brother Jean Baptist, had failed to highlight. How many discoveries, and new facts, how much real life we had the opportunity to savour through the reading of other testimonies, from his own letters, while hearing the results of research lately published on an historic level. 

After sharing this research during the whole  of Saturday, the group concluded in a special way by meeting on the Sunday morning with Brother Ernesto, the present Superior General. Brother Ernesto helped us to appreciate the beauty and the novelty of our engagement, shared all over the world, with the "numerous Marists of Champagnat" which characterises, unequivocally, the history of the Institute in which we are called to live.  

At the end of the meeting, each of those present was "sent out", committed to take on the challenge of Marcellin today. This moment was highlighted during the Eucharist with the presentation by Brother Ernesto of the booklet of the calls of the Chapter. 

And finally the fraternal meal during which the participants celebrated the birthday of Bro. Massimo Radicetti.