Marist Founder

Today marks the death of Father Jean-Claude Colin (1790-1875), who in 1816 founded the Society of Mary, known as the Marists. Born in France, he grew up in the aftermath of the French Revolution, which event had devastated the French presbyterate. As seminarians, he and Jean-Claude Courveille decided to form an order that would help restore the Church in the revolution’s aftermath. Courveille believed that just as a Society dedicated to Jesus arose during the Reformation, now the time had come to found a Society of priests dedicated to Mary, whose members would be known as Marists. In 1816 the Marists started with twelve members. (Communities of brothers and sisters soon followed.) When the society received papal approval, Colin was named Superior General. Under his leadership, the Marists started mission houses, schools and colleges, and they supplied missionaries to Oceania. In 1863 two Marist Fathers came to America, where they engaged mainly in high school and parish work. Father Colin’s canonization cause is currently under consideration.