Much like a family examining old photo albums during the holidays, NACMS recently took a deep dive into the past. However, the snapshots examined were from a much earlier era, even before Blessed Chaminade envisioned the Marianist Family.

On November 14, 2023, Mrs. Frances Inbody, a retired teacher of comparative religion and European history, led the NACMS staff in exploring key concepts from the Renaissance and Council of Trent (1545-1563). Areas explored included the Protestant theology of the Reformation and the Catholic Church’s response: the Counter-Reformation and the outcomes of Trent.

Although the French Revolution colored much of Fr. Chaminade’s young adult years, he lived within the continuing cultural context of the Council of Trent and the Counter-Reformation for fifty years after the Revolution. Therefore, this deep dive into the Council of Trent helped us to further explore the context of Fr. Chaminade’s life and ministry.

Published in the December 2023 edition of the NACMS Newsletter.