St Bonnet-le-Troncy
Jean-Claude Colin was born on 7th August 1790 at Les Barbery, which is about 2 kms away from St Bonnet-le-Troncy. The house where Colin was born no longer exists, but a cross was erected in 1936 to mark the site of the house. In 1804 the population of Les Barbery was 60 and from the register of the parish we … Read more about St Bonnet-le-Troncy
Le Rosey-Marlhes
Marcellin Champagnat was born in the hamlet of Le Rosey, a village of Marlhes on 20th May 1789. The population of Marlhes was 2700 in Marcellin's time. The Brothers still have an elementary school there today. Undoubtedly something of his ability as a leader and a man of action had come from his shopkeeper-miller … Read more about Le Rosey-Marlhes
Coutouvre
Jean-Marie Chavion was born in Coutouvre on 29th August 1786, and was baptised in the church on the same day. In 1786 the village had a population of 1700. "Coutouvre" means "hill open on all sides" and from the highest point there is a magnificent view across the plan of Roanne to the distant Forez … Read more about Coutouvre
Fourviere
There has been a shrine at Fourviere dedicated to Our Lady since 1170. The interior of the chapel, restored in 1751, has not greatly altered since then. The Basilica on the hill was consecrated n 1896, in fulfilment of a vow by the city of Lyon, and in thanksgiving to Our Lady for protecting the city from the … Read more about Fourviere
Le Puy
Le Puy is 140km south-west of Lyons. Built in the volcanic crater, it is dominated by two strange stalagmite-shaped rock formations. On one, 630 metres high, a chapel in honour of St Michael has been erected and on the other, a huge statue of Mary, 16 metres high. The statue is made of cast iron from a cannon … Read more about Le Puy
Cerdon
Cerdon is a time and place of profound transformation. For Father Colin in Cerdon for his first priestly appointment, the dawning realization that the Society of Mary was truly from God, and that he was genuinely suited to it, led to 'six years of extreme sweetness'. Kerr comments, "This spiritual … Read more about Cerdon
The Bugey
Bugey is the general name for all the area between the Ain river and Gex, near to the border of Geneva. The area is mountainous and under snow for a good part of the winter. The Marist missioners could do their work only in these winter months because it was the only time of the year when they could bring the … Read more about The Bugey
Belley
In 1832 the population of Belley was 4,286, today its population is about 6000. Belley marks the fifth stage in the development of the Society of Mary. Le Puy with the inspiration to Courveille Fourviere with the promise of 1816; Cerdon with the writing of the first draft of the Rule The Bugey where the first Marist teams went … Read more about Belley
Puylata
In 1837, the Marist priests under Jean-Claude Colin moved into a substantial property called 'Puylata' in Lyon, France. Puylata was the first house of the new congregation and it was from here the Jean-Claude Colin was able to direct the mission of the Society. Fr Colin was rather aware that the first Marists, … Read more about Puylata
Sainte Foy
If we take "origin" as meaning a place that the "founders founded", Sainte Foy is not strictly a place of Marist origin. However, Fr Colin did spend a good deal of time at Sainte Foy and it has a long Marist tradition. The name more appropriately associated with Sainte Foy is that of Father Favre, the second superior … Read more about Sainte Foy
La Neyliere
La Neyliere was bought in 1850 by Fr Colin when he was superior general. It was the Founder's intention that the house be a Eucharistic Retreat for the members of the Society. The second superior general, Fr Favre, did not favour this intention and the idea was not pursued, however Fr Colin came to La Neyliere in … Read more about La Neyliere
Journey one
In the 17 years between the Fourvière Promise in 1816 and Colin's first visit to Rome in 1833 a number of important developments happened. The Dispersal Despite their initial fervour, in the years following the promise made in the chapel of Fourvière most of the aspirants did not in fact persevere with the Marist … Read more about Fr Colin's first journey to Rome
Journey two
Colin returned to France in February 1834. It would be eight years before he was to make another visit to Rome and during that time significant developments took place in the Marist project. The reasons for his second visit were rather different, then, from those of the 1833 visit. Let us recall … Read more about Fr Colin's second journey to Rome
Journeys three and four
In fact, he made two journeys around this time but for the sake of convenience they are combined here into one. The first, which he made alone, was in July and August 1846. The second was the longest of his stays in Rome, from December 1846 until June 1847, accompanied by … Read more about Fr Colin's 3rd and 4th journeys to Rome
Journey five
Colin made his final visit to Rome in 1854 following the General Chapter in which his resignation as General was accepted. In the seven years since his previous visit to Rome, many significant events had taken place which affected the life of the Society of Mary, chief among … Read more about Fr Colin's 5th journey to Rome