Who We Are
CANONIZED MARIST SAINTS
Saint Peter Chanel, Marist Priest and Martyr
St. Peter Chanel is the first martyr of the Society of Mary and of Oceania. He was ordained a priest in 1827 and served as a parish priest for three years. He was quickly recognized for his sincerity and holiness. He joined the Society of Mary in 1831. In 1833 he accompanied Fr. Colin to Rome, seeking approval of the plan for the Society of Mary. He worked with the first group of Marist missionaries in Oceania. The missionary work caused fear and jealousy in the king and led the king to give orders to murder the missionaries. This resulted in St. Peter Chanel being clubbed to death by a group of men on April 28, 1841. He was canonized on June 12, 1954 by Pope Pius XII. His feast day is April 28th.
Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Founder of the Society of the Blessed Sacrament
St. Peter Julian Eymard is best known among the Society of Mary as the director of the Third Order of Mary and for his service as the provincial of the Society of Mary in Lyons, France. He served first as a diocesan priest, then as a Marist priest, and then as the founder of two congregations devoted to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for priests and the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament for nuns. He died on August 1, 1868 and was canonized on December 9, 1962. His feast day is August 1st.
Saint Marcellin Champagnat, Marist Priest and Founder of the Marist Brothers
St. Marcellin Champagnat, while in the seminary in France, met other seminarians who were inspired to establish a religious order dedicated to the work of Mary. They envisioned a congregation consisting of priests, nuns, and laity. It was St. Marcellin who insisted that the order must include brothers, thus leading to the addition of the teaching branch of the Society of Mary. He was ordained a priest in 1816 and soon after founded the Little Brothers of Mary. He committed his life as a Marist to educating the youth, especially those neglected. He died on June 6, 1840 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on April 18, 1999. His feast day is June 6th.
Saint John-Marie Vianney, Diocesan Priest and Member of the Third Order of Mary
St. John-Marie Vianney was not only the Cure of Ars but was also a professed a member of the Third Order of Mary. He was ordained a priest in 1815 and served as a parish priest in Ars in 1818. The village of Ars was near where the Society of Mary was established. St. John-Marie Vianney advised several men to become Marist priest, several women to become Marist sisters, and he directed many lay people to the Third Order of Mary. He died on August 4, 1859. St. John-Marie Vianney was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and named the patron saint of parish priests in 1929. His feast day is August 4th.
Father Jean-Claude Colin, Founder of the Marist Fathers and Brothers
http://www.jeanclaudecolin.org/
Fr. Jean-Claude Colin, SM was the founder of the Marist Fathers of the Society of Mary. He was ordained a priest in 1816 and believed that the Blessed Mother wanted a group of men and women to do her work in the world. Through this inspiration and determination, he, along with twelve men, established a religious order that would have priests, brothers, sisters, and laity. Fr. Colin founded the Marist Fathers and Brothers which was approved in 1836 by the Holy See. Through his leadership, Marist missionaries spread Christ’s message through Mary’s spirit. The cause for canonization of the Venerable Jean-Claude Colin, S.M., has been introduced.