Life and Spirit of J B M Champagnat

The papers and documents from which we have compiled this work, have not been taken at random. They are the result of fifteen years of laborious research; and have been supplied: - (1.) By Brothers who have lived with Father Champagnat, who have been eye-witnesses of his conduct, who have looked closely into his actions, taken part in his labours and heard his instructions. These Brothers have given us their written notes. To verify these notes, we have specially interrogated each of them upon their contents, in order to ascertain the accuracy of each statement, and to collect from the Brothers themselves, whatever further information our questions might elicit. (2.) By a great number of other persons who have lived with Father Champagnat or have known him intimately. These persons are either venerable Ecclesiastics or pious laymen who knew him or assisted him in his work. (3) By the Father's own writings and a large number of letters which he had written to Brothers or to other persons. 'Ye have read all these letters, over and over again, with the greatest attention. 'Ye have also found most useful information in a number of letters written to our pious Founder by Brothers and all classes of persons. (4.) By our own recollection; for we have had the advantage and happiness of living nearly twenty years with our venerable Father, of holding office in his council, of accompanying him in many journeys, of discussing with him many things concerning the Rule, the Constitutions, and the method of teaching which he left his Brothers, and generally on all that relates to the Institute. We may say, therefore, in all sincerity that, in writing this Life, we have recorded what we have seen and heard, and what has been to us a subject of serious study for many long years. How edifying soever the Life of Father Champagnat may be, we should have but a very imperfect knowledge of him if we confined ourselves to the mere narrative of his life and actions. Imposing actions, grand undertakings, and toilsome and protracted works, are little in themselves; that which gives them value and shows their excellence, is the spirit which animates them. It is this spirit which pervaded all the sentiments and dispositions of our good Father, that we have undertaken to make known in the Second Part of this work, which, we think, is the more edifying, and which will be found the more useful to the Brothers. We might have called this part 'the Rule in Practice, ' for in it, Father Champagnat appears to us a perfect model of all the virtues proper to our state. Particularly is he a model of humility, poverty, mortification, zeal, exactitude, and regularity. After the example of our divine Master, he began to do and then to teach; that is, before giving any Rule, imposing any practice of virtue or piety, he first observed it himself. Finally, what renders this part of his Life extremely interesting, is that it brings both his example and instructions before us at the same time. In it we shall often hear his very words as spoken or written by himself, in his own instructions, letters, and manuscripts; sometimes these words will be conveyed in notes furnished by Brothers, sometimes our own recollection will come to our aid. When we give his instructions and exhortations, we do not pretend always to quote his words verbatim: which would be morally impossible; but when we have been unable to do so, we have, at least, faithfully expressed his opinions and sentiments. Moreover, we have the firm and conscientious belief that our book faithfully portrays the spirit which animated Father Champagnat, that it summarises his instructions, his maxims, his sentiments concerning the practice of virtue, the Rule and the manner of observing it. and that it contains nothing which is opposed to, or inconsistent with, his life and teachin