Saint Marcellin Champagnat was born in 1789 in Rosey (Loire, France). He felt a priestly vocation and entered the seminary of Verriéres and then the seminary of Lyon. He was a Marist priest and founder of the Institute of the Marist Brothers. In love with God, he enthusiastically devoted himself to children and young people, especially those most in need.
When I saw children and uneducated young people Neither catechism nor catechism, St. Marcellin exclaimed: "We need Brothers". And on January 2, 1817, with two young men, he began the project of the Institute of the Brothers of Mary. An international community of brothers continues his dream today.
Asia Region, General Chapter in the Philippines
Pope St. John Paul II canonized Marcellin on April 18, 1999 in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican and recognized him as a saint of the universal Church. During these months, the Marists are living the preparation for the XXIII General Chapterwhich will take place in the Philippines starting September 8. The region of Asia has countries with a Marist presence of 50, 75, 100 or more years, and others with the 'Ad gentes' project.
St. Norbert, German, and St. Rafael Guízar, Mexican
Others santos of the day are the Germanic St. Norbert, a priest and founder of the Canons Regular. PremonstratensiansHe was a preacher in France and Germany, and Archbishop of Magdeburg. And the Mexican priest Saint Rafael Guízar Valencia, also a priest, victim of persecution against the Church, for which he took refuge first in the United States and Guatemala, and then in Cuba. He was bishop of Veracruz, almost always in exile or on the run, and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.
