On the crisp cool morning of April 8th in Perigeux France, a son was born. Not a first chilld for this deeply religious couple , not even a second to complete a family, but the fourteenth baby out of fifteen. Upon his arrival in 1761 even though hugely devoted to the lord themselves his parents had no idea what an intuitive, compassionate, strong, brave, forward thinker they were to embark on the journey of raising. After watching three of his older brothers become priests, he felt a strong strong calling within himself to serve as well. At the innocent age of 10 he joined a minor seminary in Mussidan, and that is how it all began. William Joseph Chaminade of Perigeux France was ordaned a priest in 1785 for the local diocese. What is a diocese you may ask? A diocese is a district under the supervision of a bishop.

The start of the french revolution was in 1790. This is also the year Chaminade moved to Bordeaux. Once there he gained a title as an enemy of the state, as he defied the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. This stated that he must take an oath confirming his support of the Revolutions secular vales and disclaiming the authority of his Roman Catholic Church. Even though strongly against the law he continued to risk death and work as a priest for a secret group of his followers. An allie he held close in his line of work was a woman by the name of Marie- Therese de Lamourous. Marie Therese was born in 1754 and later passed in 1836. Later on in time he assisted her in founding Bordeaux’s House of Mercy, or Misericorde for so called “fallen women”. It was 1795 when the government sought out to work with the non-juring clergy. William Chaminade took full responsibility for his actions of overseeing the reformation of Bordeaux’s clergy who desperately wanted to make peace with the Catholic church even though they were under the Constitutional Oath. Fifty or more priest completed their reconciliation with his assistance.

In 1797 after the seizure of power labeled the Coup of 18 Fructidor which was brough on by the French Directory he was forced to flee the country or face conviction, thank heavens he found safety in the country of Spain the place, Zaragoza. This is where he would remain for three years. While in Spain Chaminade came accross the Catholic church named Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. Due to his undying love and respect for the Blessed Virgin Mary he decided he would regularly visit this place, to pray for his dream of restoring Catholic faith to france. As a result of many sessions of prayer and years of thought, Chaminade decided to build an organization of not only religious Order members but lay too. Taking the Virgin Mary as the perfectly handcrafted example of a disciple of Jesus.

The year of 1800 had rolled around the corner by the time our now well experienced priest returned to Bordeaux where he actively re-established the Marian Sodality in high hopes it would promote the freedom of France. After seeing all he’d seen and doing all he’d done, William Chaminade asked the question, what about our youth ? The young lay became the prime focus of his mission, source of his devotion, but the traditionalist forces of the Church both clergy and lay opposed him. It was 1824 when Chaminade published a reply to the old fashioned way of thinking, “The levers that move the moral world somehow need a new fulcrum.” I believe this means people need a new way of thinking for a new era of time, or to at least consider openmindedness and not be so stuck in the pre- Revolutionary ways of the church and much more. As the sodality weaved its way through other cities he was recognized by the Vatican for his efforts, they appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Bazas. Later on in the piece they even named him an “Apostolic Missionary” to their region. Only further confirming the faith they had in him.

Upon the year of 1816 the insititue of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate was founded by Chaminade himself and a woman by the name of Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon in Agen France. Only a short year later here returned to Bordeaux where he founded the Society of Mary at Bordeaux. Both of these religious institues devoted themselves to pure teaching . This school was designed to teach Catholic teachers, but this effort was stalled by the 1830 Revolution also known as the July revolution in which was the overthrow of King Charles X. Despite this major event Chaminade’s religious institutes continued to grow. the society of Mary expanded in France and continued into Switerzland in 1839, even coming to the United States in 1850. The Daughteres of Mary founded schools in south-western France to educate rurel women.

Sadly, after battling ten years of extreme hardship with both illness and finance obstacles William Joseph Chaminade passed on surrounded by the memembers of the Society he had founded in 1850. Today we gather to remember this man as he helped hugely shape the future of Marianism not only in France, but the rest of the world.