Day 3!

Does time move more quickly in France? Maybe it does in Champagnat land. Day three!

Our day began in Marlhes This is not the original church where St. Marcellin was baptized, but in it is the baptismal font that was used for his baptism.

This is the baptismal font that was used for St. Marcellin as a child.

St. John Francis Regis... a source of great inspiration for St. Marcellin. Marcellin's mother took him on a pilgrimage to this saint's shrine in La Louvesc to encourage Marcellin to pursue his vocation.

We then walked from the church to Le Rosey, where Marcellin lived for the first 15 years of his life.

This church was built in honor of Marcellin when he was made Blessed Marcellin in the 1950s.

The inside of the Champagnat home.

This is the window of Marcellin's room. It is incredible to look out it, knowing that the founder spent time in reflection looking out the same window. He would return home a few times and stay in this room after he had moved out to pursue his vocation.

The site where the Montagne experience took place. A visitation of the ill Jean-Baptiste Montagne, knowing nothing of the love of Christ or the Gospel, would change his life. When Jean-Baptiste passed, Marcellin knew he wanted to begin the Institute.

This is the Donat home. Mr. Donat, a local farmer took in Marcellin and Br. Stanislaus when they got lost in a massive blizzard. This is the site of the Memorare in the Snow.

This hill behind the Donat home is where Marcellin and Stanislaus were stuck without direction. Imagine these hills and mountains covered with snow! It truly was a miracle that saved them.

More to come!

From the Founder's Room

In St. Marcellin's room, there's a kneeler near his bed. It looks pretty ordinary, with a storage space inside. What I learned during a tour of the house is that Marcellin has a chess board drawn inside it! The door comes off and can be placed on a table. Pretty neat!

During work, school, service, and ministry... we need breaks. Sometimes we run marathons of our schedule day in and day out without rest. Think of yourself for a moment: "Am I processing any of this?" Without the moments in our day to stop and reflect, we can lose sight of the importance of our call, our work, and our lives.

The chessboard in the kneeler is a perfect example of time for oneself. What is your time for yourself?

What do you know about your work? About your ministry? About yourself? With all these considered, what does that mean in relation to others? Taking time to simply BE can help different people in different ways. Whether that time is of prayer, quiet, walking, running, singing, writing, or any other action... let that time BE.