A new year and a new Jacob’s Well! Well, February still feels like the year is getting into gear, so it seems like a fitting time to begin our resource sharing again on this platform.
As 2021 currently unfolding on its own terms, whilst still amid this particular pandemic environment, I thought it could be helpful to draw inspiration from St Marcellin during a significant time in his life. There have been a few occasions where Marcellin, faced with extreme adversity, surrounded by events outside of his control and seeking to put his wild dreams into action, took bold and unexpected undertakings. Drawing on his deep well of faith in God, heartened by a community that trusted him and navigating a myriad of perspectives that sought to temper, change or disapprove of his ambitions, Marcellin Champagnat chose to forge a legacy that continues to inspire, shelter, and care for Marists today. This is the story of the building of the Hermitage, France.
Once again, we seek the perspective of Br Jean-Baptiste Furet, from his biography of Champagnat, to tell the story of the construction of his wild and precious project. It is a story of ambition and folly, discouragement and affirmation, doubt and faith, hope and triumph. The building of the Hermitage was not a simple, inevitable, or romantic task. It required hard work, persistence, community, prayer, and determination. Many people thought it was the wrong type of project, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people. They may have been right, partially. However, the Hermitage has become more than a building: it is a home, a place of faith, a meeting space for family, and a place of beauty, tranquillity, and peace. This is the chronicle of its origins.
On his journeys to Saint-Chamond, Father Champagnat had often let his eyes rest on the valley where the Hermitage now stands. More than once, he had thought of it as a novitiate site, with its deep solitude, its perfect tranquillity and its great suitability for studies. "If God blesses us", he reflected, "We could very well set up house there." Yet, before finally opting for that position, he combed the surrounding district with two of the principal Brothers, to make sure that it was the best available. When he had had a good look at it all, it seemed the most suitable location offering for a religious house.
The valley of the Hermitage, divided and watered by the clear waters of the Gier, bounded on the east and west by an amphitheatre of mountains, covered almost to their peaks with verdure or with oak and fruit trees, is certainly a charming spot, especially in summer. But its restricted area, making it difficult to cater for a large Community there; the breezes and mists associated with the waters and decidedly uncongenial to weak constitutions or to health enfeebled by the exertions of teaching; these would be factors that would later force the chief House of the Institute to be moved elsewhere.
Human wisdom would see a strange imprudence in Marcellin's undertaking to construct such a costly building, while he was entirely without funds. The land alone cost him more than twelve thousand francs. Naturally, then, when it became public knowledge that the community was moving and that a vast building was to be put up, there was a new storm of reproach, criticism, insult and abuse. This one perhaps surpassed even the outburst at the most turbulent time of the Institute. It was in no way abated by the Archbishop's approval of the work, or by his high opinion of the Founder and good-will towards him. Nothing, in fact, could calm the agitated minds or silence the malicious tongues. His plan was regarded as sheer madness, and even his friends heaped blame on him and left no stone unturned to try to dissuade him. Alas! the world has no insight into the works of God, because they transcend its intelligence, clouded as it is by passion. The world treats these works as folly and their promoters, as madmen. "The world", says St. Paul, "treats us as fools." Such was the treatment meted out to Christ in the court of Herod; his servants should expect no better.
"That mad Champagnat", alleged several of his fellow-priests and many other people, "must have gone off his head. What does he think he's doing? How is he going to pay for that house? He must be extremely rash and have lost all judgment to be blind enough to conceive such plans." A Lyon bookseller had secured a loan of twelve thousand francs for Father Champagnat so that he could start the construction. This man called, on business, at a presbytery near Saint-Chamond and was invited to dinner by the parish priest.
On that day, there was a sizable gathering of priests, one of whom bantered on seeing him: "Well, sir, you seem to have got rid of your money?" "What do you mean, exactly?" was the reply. "The news is", continued the other, "that you have just lent twelve thousand francs to that fool of a Champagnat." "I haven't really lent it", corrected the book-seller, but I procured it and went surety for him." On saying this, he was reproached with having made a big mistake. When he asked why, he was told: "Because that man is reckless and stubborn; pride alone drives him, precipitating him into an undertaking which is doomed." Having protested that he had a higher opinion of Father Champagnat than the one expressed, that he believed he was a good man and that God would bless him, the book-seller was assured: "No, no; that's impossible; he is a hopeless man: no knowledge, no money, no ability. How could he possibly succeed? Hounded by his creditors, one day he will have to abandon ship and make off. It was unwise of you to stand surety for him; you only encourage his foolhardiness and put your money in jeopardy." "I hold Father Champagnat in high esteem", was the persistent response. "I have the utmost confidence in him and am convinced that this work will succeed. If I'm wrong, too bad! So far I have not regretted having helped him and I still believe that I shall never have to do so."
Father Champagnat was well aware of what people were thinking, and saying about him in public; but the talk of men had little influence on him, and he did not invoke the principles of hum on prudence to guide his life. So it was, that despite the large Community on his hands, despite a debt of four thousand francs, despite a lack of money, and with his confidence, (an unbounded one), in God alone, he fearlessly took on the construction of a house and chapel to accommodate one hundred and fifty people. The construction and the land purchase cost him more than sixty thousand francs.
This action certainly flew in the face of human prudence. No wonder that the carrying out of his plans drew so much fire on their author! However, to cut costs, the whole Community worked at the construction; even the Brothers engaged in the schools were summoned to the task. It was a competition in zeal and devotedness with neither the weak nor the sick willing to refrain. One and all wanted the satisfaction of having a share in constructing a building which was so dear to them. There was one difference from the La Valla construction, in which the Brothers had done even the masonry. Masons alone now did this work, while the Brothers quarried and carried the stones, dug sand, mixed mortar and laboured for the stone-layers.
Towards the beginning of May, 1824, Father Cholleton, Vicar General, came to bless the foundation stone of the new building; and such were the bareness and poverty of the House, that nothing could be found to give him for dinner. The Brother cook went up to Father Champagnat and asked: "What am I to do, Father, for I have absolutely nothing to give Father Cholleton." Reflecting for a moment, he replied: "Go and tell Mr Basson, that the Vicar General and I are going to dine with him." That Mr Basson, who was rich and a great friend of the Brothers, welcomed them with pleasure. Moreover, this was not the only time that Father Champagnat called on him for such a service. He did so each time he found himself in a similar quandary.
To house the Brothers, Marcellin rented an old house on the left bank of the Gier, facing the one under construction. The Brothers slept in an old garret so narrow that they were crowded on top of one another. Their food was of the simplest and most frugal variety. Bread, cheese, a few vegetables sent along occasionally by generous people from Saint-Chamond, very exceptionally a piece of pork, and invariably plain water for drink: that was their style of life. 'Father Champagnat shared the conditions of food and housing, often accepting even the worst, for himself. For example, as no space could be found in the house for his bed, he was forced to put it on a kind of balcony, exposed to the onslaught of the wind and sheltered from rain only by the eaves. That's where he slept throughout the summer, and in winter he retired to the stable. The Brothers and their Founder underwent great hardship for almost a year, while they lived in that house, which was in a sad state of repair.
Right through the time of construction, the Brothers rose at four o'clock in the morning. Father Champagnat himself gave the rising signal and, when necessary, lit the lamps in the garret. Having risen, the Community gathered amongst the trees, where Marcellin had constructed a small chapel in honour of the Blessed Virgin. A chest of drawers served as both vestment press and altar; for bell-tower, there was an oak-tree on whose branches the bell was hung. Only the celebrant, the servers and the principal Brothers could fit in; the others remained outside. All prayed there, before an image of the Mother of God. Such was their fervour that they seemed oblivious of all else, and the only noise was from the rustling leaves, the murmuring of the waters a little way off and the song of the birds.
Each morning, the Community went to the chapel, said morning prayers, made a half-hour's meditation and assisted at Holy Mass. -After lunch, they went there again to make a visit to the Blessed Virgin and in the evening, they closed the day by a recitation of the rosary. Many a time, travellers along the road which skirted the mountain opposite, came to a stop, looked this way and that, wondering where those voices were coming from, singing as one and with such vigour. It was the Brothers, hidden amongst the trees and kneeling before the little altar on which the spotless Lamb was sacrificed, to the accompaniment of hymns of praise to Jesus and Mary.
Mass over, each went off to his work, giving it all his energies, in silence. On the hour, a Brother appointed to do so, rang a little bell. Then work was interrupted, each recollected himself, and together they recited the Gloria Patri, the Ave Maria and the invocation to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. No need to say that Father Champagnat was always first to work; he arranged everything, assigned the tasks, and maintained a general supervision. None of this prevented him, according to the opinion of the workers themselves, from accomplishing more stonework than the most skilled of them. As we have already indicated, the Brothers were excluded from that work, but the masons did allow Marcellin to do it, because he was a master of the trade. Often, he could be seen still building and working alone during the short siesta taken by workers, and again in the evening when the others were gone. At night, he said his Office, made out his accounts, marked the workmen's time sheets, listed the materials supplied that day, and planned the next day's work. It is clear, then, that he had very little time for rest.
It is worth pointing out that no Brother or other workman employed by Marcellin, was ever in an accident. This should be seen as a particular protection of God for the Community, especially as Father Champagnat spent his whole life building and always involved the Brothers in this kind of work. Quite often, serious accidents threatened the Community, but divine Providence, through Mary's intercession, always halted or averted the harmful effects. Let us take a few examples.
A workman, building at a great height on the side of the house next to the river, fell, and was headed for giant stones below, where he would have been dashed to pieces. On his way down, with the scaffolding materials, he was lucky enough to brush against a big tree and seize one of its branches, on which he hung till help came. Re wasn't harmed, not even scratched. The protection of God is even more evident from the fact that the wood of the tree was brittle and the branch so weak that it couldn't normally support such a weight.
A young Brother, attending the masons on the third storey of the building, was walking on a rotten plank which gave way under him, causing him to fall. As he dropped, he called on Our Lady's help and remained hanging by one hand, his entire body below the scaffolding. His situation was so dangerous, that the first workman to come to his rescue didn't dare approach him or touch him. A second, more fearless and generous, rushed forward, grasped the Brother's hand and pulled him back. The only harm he suffered was an extreme fright.
Ten or so of the strongest Brothers were carrying up stones to the second storey. One of them, having reached the top of the ladder with an enormous chunk on his shoulders began to feel faint under the weight of the heavy burden. His strength failed and the stone fell capsizing the Brother following, who was knocked to the bottom of the ladder. A slight movement of the head on his part, even though he was unaware of any problem, meant that he was simply grazed instead of having his head shattered. Father Champagnat, a witness of the incident from up above the ladder, considered his death as a foregone conclusion and gave him absolution. Yet he was not harmed, only so frightened that he ran around in the field as though out of his mind. All the Brothers present shared his fright, as did Father Champagnat, who immediately had prayers of thanks said for the protection God had just shown the Brother. Next day, he again offered Mass for the same intention.
Although overburdened with work, Father Champagnat always found time, bath at night and on Sundays, to give the Brothers instruction and spiritual formation. During that summer, he thoroughly instructed them on the religious vocation, on the end of the Institute and on zeal for the Christian education of children. Sustained and invigorated by these instructions, the Brothers displayed admirable piety, modesty, devotedness and energetic effort during the entire time of the construction. The workmen were unstilted in their admiration for the spirit of sacrifice, of humility and of charity that prevailed amongst the Brothers; so much so, that their admiration was given clear public expression. The good example of the Brothers was not lost on the workmen themselves who, having admired them, did their best to imitate them. Hence, they, too, soon became silent, modest, reserved in their speech and full of consideration and kindness towards one another.
However, with the approach of All Saints, thought had to be given to sending the Brothers back to the schools. Father Champagnat preached them an eight-day Retreat, suggesting to each the resolutions befitting his needs, his defects, his character and his responsibilities; each one was to head his list of resolutions with the constant recall of the presence of God.
Two new schools were opened during that year. The one at Charlieu was requested by the Archbishop. The parish priest, Father Térel and Mr Guinot, the mayor, paid the initial expenses and proved to be lasting protectors and benefactors of the Brothers. The children were found to be in great ignorance and a prey to all vices that normally accompany it. For some time, their task was a difficult and thankless one, but their zeal, devotedness and patience triumphed completely in the end and that school became one of the most flourishing in the Society.
The second school founded at this time, was that of Chavanay. The parish priest, Father Gaucher, presented himself in person to request Brothers, and accepted responsibility for some of the initial expenses of the foundation. The people of Chavanay were most enthusiastic about having the Brothers. A delegation of leading men was sent to the Hermitage to accompany them to their residence, and the school, with the total backing of the people, was attended from the start by all the children of the parish.
About the feast of All Saints in 1824, Father Champagnat was released from his duties of curate at La Valla. Up till then, on Saturday evenings during the construction, he went up to La Valla to hear confessions and to say Mass on Sunday. Now that he was free from all commitment outside his project, he gave himself exclusively to the service and welfare of the Community.
Winter was passed on work inside the house. As he usually did, Father Champagnat led the workers, the carpenters, the plasterers, etc; The work went ahead at such a pace, that in the summer of 1825, the community was able to take up residence in the new house. The chapel , too, was completed and readied for divine service. Father Dervieux, parish priest of Saint-Chamond was delegated by the Archbishop to bless it, which he did on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. That holy priest, whose feelings towards Father Champagnat and his Congregation had changed, presented a set of candlesticks for the chapel and they were used at the blessing.
