Volume 1
711 pgs.
To prepare for its bicentennial of 2017, the Society of Mary has produced a critical edition of the writings and words of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. Now the initial offering of this multivolume French work–Ecrits et Paroles–is available in English under the title The Chaminade Legacy.
The reader follows step by step the evolution of Chaminade's thought and activity and examines the dynamism of a spirituality that, while remaining always open to God's inspiration, must often adapt itself to the human condition, both political and cultural.
This edition follows both a chronological and an historical methodology. The chronological approach used highlights two important periods: the "moment" of the laity and the "moment" of the religious foundations. The first volume contains more than 150 documents pertaining to the development of the lay movement in the Sodality of Bordeaux, covering the period up to 1828. A few preliminary texts include writings while Father Chaminade was at Mussidan as a member of the Congregation of Priests and Clerics of St. Charles.
The first section presents the Sodality under Napoleon, and the second consists of documents from the Sodality under the Restoration. Texts include the Manual of the Servant of Mary (1804). Other sections cover the State of a Simple Sodalist, the State of Living the Evangelical Counsels, the State of Religious Life in the World, spiritual development among the sodalists, and the expansion and originality of the Sodality.
Presentation
To prepare for its third centenary in 2017, The Society of Mary decided to produce an integral and critical edition of the writings and words of its Founder, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. While this pays honor to him, it also makes a treasure available to the entire Marianist Family, as well as to anyone interested in the life of the Church in the 19th century. The reader is thus alerted to the way in which a founder listened to the word of God and rendered it operative in his circumstances. In this way, the richness of the past becomes a living heritage.
Basic Approach
Many of Father Chaminade's texts have been published since the beginning of the 20th century. There have been ambitious syntheses on the spirit of his foundations, doctoral theses on many aspects of his teachings, and popular presentations of his thought. All have had this one weakness in common: they presented at best only certain aspects of his words and writings, and they never presented them in a continuous form.
The propitious moment seems to have arrived for a critical edition of those words and writings to allow a fuller reading of them, which hopefully will encourage further studies and commentaries designed to nourish further generations.
The Title of this Work
{The French title is, literally translated, Writings and Words.} Father Chaminade wrote a great deal, although he was never an "author." Moreover, he often communicated his teachings and plans by word of mouth. Fortunately, his disciples preserved many of these written and verbal communications for us.
His writings present no problem of authorship when they are either in his own handwriting or annotated by him, for he often signed and approved texts prepared by his secretaries or councilors. However, the words raise many questions concerning the accuracy of texts dictated after a verbal presentation, or notes taken almost word for word during the course of a presentation, or subsequent more personal developments of the thought.
After detailed study and analysis of such texts, we believe we can attribute to Father Chaminade all the writings and words contained in this critical edition. They are, therefore, presented as an authentic souce of his intuitions, his thoughts, and his activities.
Methodology
This critical edition follows both a chronological and a historical methodology. With the first, we follow step by step the evolution of Father Chaminade's thought and activity. Moreover, this method satisfies our sense of order; over time, it reveals the richness of a long and complex life. It allows us to determine the precise moments when the spiritual energy of Father Chaminade and his disciples blossoms forth with renewed fruitfulness.
The historical method makes clear the dynamism of a spirituality which, while remaining always open to God's inspiration, must often adapt itself to the human condition, political or cultural. While allowing us to situate these writings and words within their societal context, this method underlines their relationships with other civil and spiritual realities of his day.
Both methods, therefore, permit us to read and understand the writings and words of Father Chaminade in their context and to follow the evolution of an insight, a regulation, a structure, or a pattern of religious behavior.
Outline of this Work
The seven volumes planned for these writings and words form a single unit with the {nine} volumes of letters of Father Chaminade already published in French {and in English by North American Center for Marianist Studies and the Marianist Resources Commission}. At long last we can review in its proper sequence the history of the man who revived the Marian Sodalities of Bordeaux; who cooperated in the founding of the Miséricorde; who helped found the Institute of the Daughters of Mary; and who was the Founder of the Society of Mary.
The chronological approach highlights two important periods: the "moment" of the laity and the "moment" of the religious foundations. The volumes of this critical edition, therefore, will be as follows:
I. Developments of the Lay Movements
Volume 1: The Sodality of Bordeaux
Volume 2: Notes for Conferences and Sermons
Volume 3: Notes for Conferences and Sermons
Volume 4: Notes for Conferences and Sermons
II. Founding of the Religious Institutes
Volume 5: The Foundations
Volume 6:Their Growth and Development
Volume 7: Period of Solidification.
However, it must be pointed out that the passage from one "moment" to the other is not clear-cut; there is, in fact, an interpretation. This is why we made the decision to respect chronology, but to place it within the context of a historical reading. This is especially true for the years from 1815 to 1824, when Father Chaminade was occupied both with an outreach to the laity and with his concerns for the religious foundations.
Illustrations
Translator's Notes
Foreword
Presentation
A Word to the Reader
Translator's Note
Preliminary Texts
The Earliest Writings
A. Mussidan Writings
1. Table {of Contents} [of Mussidan Notebook]
2. Rules concerning Constancy
3. Jesus Christ, Model of Humility
4. Humility of Saint Vincent de Paul
5. Poverty [of Saint Vincent de Paul]
6. Imitation of Jesus Christ
B. Declaration of Authenticity of Relics
7. [First Declaration]
8. [Second Declaration]
9. [Third Declaration]
Part One
The Sodality under Napoleon
1801 to 1814
A. Foundation and Early Texts
10. Extract of the General Rules of the Sodality
11. Agenda of the Meetings of Fractions
12. Extract of the General Rules of the Sodality of Young Women
13. Resolution concerning Regular Attendance in the Sodality of Young Women
14. Rules for Postulants
15. Extract of the General Rules of the Fathers of Families
16. Extract of the General Rules of the Fathers of Families. Group of Affiliates in Keeping with Article Fifteen
17. Resolution of August 27, 1804
18. Extract of the General Rules of the Association of the Ladies of the Retreat
19. Extract of the General Rules of the Association of the Ladies of the Retreat. Group of Affiliates in Keeping with Article Fifteen
B. Growth of the Sodality and First "Instructions" For The Officers
20. Instruction for the Sodality Prefect
21. Instruction for the Prefect's Deputies
22. General Rules for Officers of Honor
23. Instruction for Officers of Honor
24. Rules Governing the Collection of Dues
25. Regulation for the Expenditures of the Sodality of Young Men of Bordeaux
26. General Instruction for Officers of the Sodality of Young Women
27. Instruction for the Mentor of Postulants
28. Instruction for Officers of the Postulants
29. Rule for the Mentor of Aspirants, Adopted by Resolution of the Sodality Council
30. Instruction for the Mentor of the Probationers
31. Instruction for Assistants of the Association of Fathers of Families
For the Ladies of the Retreat
32. Exercises for a Day of Retreat Given for the Ladies, the Second Friday of Each Month in the House of the Miséricorde
C. Manual of the Servant of Mary, 1804 Edition
33. Introductory Discourse
34. Obligations of Someone Consecrated to the Cult of the Most Pure Mary
35. Consequences of These Obligations
36. Acts of Consecration [to Mary]
37. List of Indulgences
D. Two Difficult Years (1805 and 1806)
For the Young Men
38. The Institute of the Young Men
39. Summary of the Duties of a Sodalist
40. Directory for the Prefect
41. Instruction for the Prefect
42. Directory for Chief Officers of Divisions
43. Instruction for Chief Officers of Divisions
44. Directory for the General Secretary of the Sodality of Young Men
45. Directory for the Reverend Director's Secretary
46. Directory for the Mentor of Aspirants
47. Directory for the Mentor of Probationers
48. Instruction for Mentors
49. Directory for the Deputies (Resolution of June 13, 1809)
50. Directory for the [Chief] Officer of Honor
51. Directory for the [Chief] Officer of Order
52. Resolution concerning Correspondence
For the Ladies of the Retreat
53. Directory for Chief Officers of the Ladies of the Retreat
54. Directory for the Chief Officer of the Ladies of the Retreat
55.Directory of the Officer of Instruction
56. Directory for Officers of Neighborhoods of the Ladies of the Retreat
The Madeleine, "Fourteenth Parish" of Bordeaux
57. Presentation of the Fathers of Families. Comparison of the People of Israel with the Total Institution of the Sodality. Order, Division of Tribes, etc.
58. Concerning the Sodalities under the Title of The
Immaculate Conception of Mary, Mother of God
59. Requests To Be Made of Most Reverend Archbishop in Favor of the Madeleine
E. Starting Anew
The Class of Postulants
60. Extract from the Registers of the Council concerning the Class of Postulants
61. Institute for the Postulants
The Fathers of Families
62. Notebook of [Questions To Be Treated in the Meetings of] the Association of Fathers of Families
63. Institute of the Fathers of Families [First Draft]
64. Institute of the Fathers of Families [Second Draft]
65. Items of Instruction for Persons Received among the Fathers of Families
66. Instruction
A Testimonial: Louis Xavier Chaminade
67. Notes on the Life of Louis Xavier Chaminade
Retreats for the Sodalists
68. [Retreat]
69. Exercises of Retreat
70. Retreat. Division of the Exercises
71. Conferences. Notes Taken at My First Retreat, 1809
F. Suppression of the Sodality
Final Steps
72. Notes on the Sodality Provided by Rev. J. Chaminade, Honorary Canon of the Church of Bordeaux
73. Observations Provided by Rev. W. J. Chaminade on Various Items on the Inventory of His Papers
74. Reflections Submitted to the Archbishop of Bordeaux
Suppression of the Sodality
Occasion For New Ventures
75. The Religious State Embraced by Christians Dispersed in the World
76. The Religious State Embraced by Young Christian Men Dispersed in Society
77. [Formula for the Vow of Obedience]
78. The Religious State Embraced by Young Women Dispersed in Society
79. Vow of Obedience. Its Limits
80. Vow of Chastity. Its Limits
81. Formula of Vows
Retreat of 1813
82. Notes Taken at the Retreat of 1813
Buying and Selling: Financial Statements
83. Notes to Clarify Father Lasausse's Account
84. Memorandum to Father Lasausse
85. [Voucher]
Part Two
The Sodality under the Restoration
A. Between the First and Second Abdications of Napoleon
86. Agreement of the Young Men of Bordeaux on the Reestablishment of Their Sodality (April 30, 1814)
87. Works of Zeal
88. Ceremonial for the Reception of His Excellency, the Bishop of Limoges
89. Discourse at the Blessing of a Banner
90. Interrogation of Father Chaminade at Fort du Hâ
B. The Three States of Life in the Sodality
91. On the Specific Purpose of the Sodality or on What Distinguishes This Society from All Other Religious Societies
First State: That of a Sodalist
The Manual of the Servant of Mary
92. Notice
93. Introduction to the State of a Sodalist
94. Renewal of Baptismal Vows
The State of a Sodalist Among the Fathers of Families
95. Institute of the Elders or Fathers of Families of the Sodality Erected in Bordeaux under the Title of The Immaculate Conception of Mary
96. Works of the Sections
97. The Fractions of the Fathers of Families
98. Agenda of the Meeting
The Commission For the Rules (1819 to 1820)
99. Duties of the General Mentor
100. Duties of a Sodalist
101. Duties of the Chief Officers of Fractions
102. Duties of the Assistants
103. Duties of the Treasurer
104. Works or Exercises
The State of a Sodalist Among the Young Men
105. Order of Business of the Fractions
106. The Sodality
107. Sodality of The Immaculate Conception of Mary
108. Institute of the Sodality of Young Men of Bordeaux
109. Observations on the Rev. Director's Council. Reply to the Former Prefects
110. [Notes of] September 21, 1817
111. Institute of the Sodality of Young Men of Bordeaux under the Title of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
112. Institute of the Sodality of Young Men of Bordeaux under the Title of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin (Another Draft)
The State of a Sodalist Among the Young Women and the Ladies of the Retreat
113. Institute of the Sodality of Young Women Erected at Bordeaux under the Title of The Immaculate Conception of Mary
114. Institute of the Sodality of Ladies of the Retreat Erected at Bordeaux under the Title of The Immaculate Conception of Mary
Second State: That of Sodalists Living According to the Evangelical Counsels
Among the Young Women and the Ladies
115. Reunion of the Tens
116. Special Reunion in Honor of the Ten Virtues of the Blessed Virgin
117. Promise of the Special Reunion
118. Institution for the Perpetual Cult of Mary
119. Statutes for the Perpetual Cult of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary Established in the City of Agen
Among The Young Men
120. The "Center" of the Sodality
121. [Act of Commitment]
122. Notes on the Institute
123. [The "Center" and the Rev. Director]
Third State: That of the Religious Life in the World
124. General Observations for All the Religious States
125. [Vow of Obedience]
126. [Marian Formula]
Among the Young Men
127. Statutes for the Young Men Religious Sodalists
128. Extract of the Rule of the Institute of the Children of Mary
129. Extract of the Rule of the Institute of the Children of Mary
Among the Ladies and the Young Women
130. Statutes or Notes for the Young Women Religious
131. Institute of the Women Religious Sodalists
132. The Third Order of the Daughters of Mary
133. Practices of Zeal
C. The Spiritual Life in the Three States of the Sodality
A Moral Life Based on the Gospel
134. The Practice of Watchfulness over the Heart
135. Rules of Christian Modesty
A Life of Prayer
136. Method of Mental Prayer
137. On Mental Prayer
138. Considerations Based on Faith
139. Excellence of the Light of Faith
140. On Mental Prayer
141. Method and Practice of Mental Prayer
A Life Renewed by Retreats
142. Retreat of Eight Days Begun September 15, 1816
143. Short Retreat, Octave of the Conception, 1819
144. Retreat for Men, 1825
A Life in Harmony with Faith
145. Rule of Life
D. The 1821 Edition of the Manual
146. [Directive for the 1821 Edition]
147. [Contract of March 5, 1821]
E. Spread of the Sodality outside Bordeaux
148. Statutes and Rules for Libourne, 1819
149. [Autograph Lists for Libourne]
150. The Sodality of Libourne
Other Affiliations
151. Affiliation of the Sodality of Le Mans
152. The Sodality of Lyons
F. The Newness of the Sodality
153. Answers to the Seven Questions or Objections Usually Raised about the New Structure of the Sodalities of Bordeaux and on the Relationship in General between the Sodalities and the Parishes
154. Answers to the Objections Usually Raised against Sodalities Established on the Plan of That of Bordeaux or on the New Structure Given Them, and on Their Relationships with the Parishes
Bibliography
Biblical Index
Index of Proper Names
Index of AGMAR Documents
