FMS Premier freres INGL:Layout 1
9-10-2009
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15:38
Our first Brothers
Pagina 196
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“Césaire Fayol, shared all the feelings of his colleague. After a long preparation which served as their novitiate, they went to the annual retreat, at the end of which the venerated Father had them clothed in the religious habit under the names of Brother Cassien for Louis Chomat and Brother Arsène for Césaire Fayol. When school went back, two young brothers were sent to assist them and Brother Cassien, appointed Director of the little community, continued to direct the school as in the past” (BQF, p.158). The next section of Brother Jean-Baptiste’s text may be surprising given what we know of the esteem in which the inhabitants of Sorbiers held Louis Chomat: did they not oppose his departure for Valbenoîte? Yet, we can read, “Only a single voice was raised in the Parish of Sorbiers to condemn the action which he took.” Let’s note in passing that Brother Jean-Baptiste forgets that Césaire Fayol took the same action. The authorities withdrew the protection and the subsidies which they had until then granted, and wanted nothing more to do with the school. The arguments reached such intensity that Father Champagnat was obliged to close the establishment and withdraw the brothers.” We know that this removal of brothers occurred in 1837. The Mayor having strongly protested against the closure of the school, Brother Cassien answered him at length and his letter sheds light on the situation. “Your Honour the Mayor, in the letter which you did the honour of sending me on 18 November, you appear completely surprised by my intention to leave the commune of Sorbiers …Truly, Your Honour the Mayor, your surprise astonishes me. One would imagine that you were totally unaware of the difficulties of our position in
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196
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