The Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Marianists) (FMI)

THE CONGREGATION OF THE DAUGHTERS

OF MARY IMMACULATE

by Marie-Luce Baillet, F.M.I.

At the origin of the Marianist Sisters were found troubled times, historical changes...and a young girl named Adele.

1789 : The French Revolution breaks out ... Turmoil everywhere ... Soon things become detrimental to the Church, persecutions start and the cult of the goddess « Reason » replaces the Christian faith.

A young Bordeaux priest, William Joseph Chaminade, who is 28 then, tries to continue his priestly tasks at the risk of his life, and refuses to sign what they called the « Civil Constitution of the Clergy » and, after a clandestine period, is compelled to leave the Aquitaine province to take refuge in Spain.

A hundred kilometres from Bordeaux Adèle was born in the castle of Trenquéllion. Quite soon, this girl was seized by a deep love of Christ so much so that at the age of 14, she asked permission from her mother to enter a Carmel monastery, but her family, who stood in the service of the King of France, had to leave France and to go into exile first to Portugal, and later to Spain.

Two persons they were, two singular vocations, two destinies that were to share their intuitions thanks to a third person. They will never meet except by corresponding. In 1808 Chaminade is 47, and Adèle 19. Overflowing with missionary dynamics, they have committed themselves to reconstructing the Christian fabric of their country which had completely fallen apart from the social as well as the material and spiritual point of view. Chaminade assembles lay people, men and women of all social classes and ages. Adèle has created an association of young girls to serve the poor and evangelize the countryside. So the two of them are on the same wave-length, as the Holy Spirit acts in them.

Chaminade shows Adèle the advantages of the consecration to Mary and gradually the « dear project » grown in Adèle’s heart, materializes on May 25, 1816.

"Coming together in communities inspired by faith, we seek to live the ideal of the first community of Jerusalem, aiming to have but one heart and one soul and to show that today, as in the early Church, it is possible to live the demands of the Gospel (Rule of Life, I.4)

"Like our Founders, we desire to live by faith. Contemplating how God is at work in the world and in human hearts, we gradually become women of faith who see the realities of our times with the eyes of God" (RL I.5)

The aim of the congregation is mission...

"Faithful to the original inspiration, we receive from the Church any mission which leads us to work for formation in faith and Christian life, the ‘multiplication of Christians’, the development of vibrant communities, and the formation of apostles" (RL I.6)

...in alliance with Mary

"By her faith, her openness to the Word and her total willingness to serve God, Mary is the perfect response to the Lord´s calls. Jesus Christ, Son of God, become Son of Mary for the salvation of all, associated His Mother in all His mysteries and in His mission. Understanding her role in the history of salvation, our Founders wanted our religious profession to be an alliance with Mary sealed by the Marianist vow of stability" (RL I.7)

At present the congregation numbers 400 members working in 12 countries. In Africa : Togo, and Ivory Coast; in Northern America; in Southern America : Brazil, Chili, Columbia, Ecuador and in Asia : South Korea and Japan. In Europe : Spain, France and Italy.

Our sisters work in the field of education in grade schools and high schools where they teach, or give religious instruction, do pastoral work and act as trustees with board committees. They also work in hospitals, dispensaries, retreat houses or visit prisoners. Some do Church work in parishes and teach religion. Others work in the Family of Mary as leaders of lay communities and still more work with young people or with the poor.

Let’s conclude and turn back to what Father Chaminade said in his answer to Adèle who had asked him to write the constitutions, while being aware that the world and its language have changed whereas the first intuition is still there :

«You must multiply the Christians... You’ll have to build up religion ... to turn young persons into actual Sodalists, to conduct meetings, to hold retreats ... Your whole community shall be a set of missionary sisters.»

General Administration