Letters of Father Chaminade
This searchable online collection is a compilation of letters either penned directly by Chaminade or dictated by him to a personal secretary and signed by the Marianist Founder. Focused primarily on administrative duties, the pressing matters of the day, and spiritual direction, "Letters of Father Chaminade" also provides a rare look at Chaminade, the man, not by way of autobiographical self-disclosure but by the practical and psychological temperament of his decision-making in light of the significant demands placed upon him.
This online version of Letters of Father Chaminade contains the material in the paperback volumes produced by the Marianist Resources Commission beginning in the 1970s and ending with Volume 9, "New Acquisitions," published by the North American Center for Marianist Studies in 2004.
[Note: Due to the size of the electronic files, the online versions of Volumes 4 and 7 have been divided into two parts: A and B.]
Contents
Volume 1, Introduction: Click here for the PDF
Volume 1, Part 1: Click here for the PDF
- Before the Revolution (1761 to 1789)
- During the Revolution (1790 to 1798)
- Spiritual Direction of Marie-Thérèse de Lamourous (1796 to 1800)
- Administration of the Diocese of Bazas (1800 to 1802)
- The Sodalities of the Immaculate Conception (1803 to 1814)
- Foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary (1814 to 1818)
- The Beginnings of the Society of Mary (1818 to 1820)
Volume 1, Part 2: Click here for the PDF
- The First Developments of the Two Institutes (1820 to 1822)
- The Foundation of Saint-Remy (1822 to 1824)
- First Works of Saint-Remy (1824 to 1825)
Volume 2, Part 1: Click here for the PDF
- Legal Recognition of the Society of Mary (March 1825 to January 1826)
- New Growths of the Institute (February 1826 to October 1829)
Volume 2, Part 2: Click here for the PDF
- Great Projects in the Last Days of the Restoration Government (October 1829 to July 1830)
- After the July Revolution (July 1830 to March 1831)
Volume 3, Part 1: Click here for the PDF
- Father Chaminade at Agen. Conflict at Saint-Remy Between Father Lalanne and Brother Clouzet (March 1831 to December 1833)
- The Conflict at Agen and the Continuation of Difficulties at Saint-Remy
- After the Withdrawal of Auguste Brougnon-Perrière. Reorganization of the Sainte-Marie Boarding School and the Financial Liquidation
Volume 3, Part 2: Click here for the PDF
- New Life Given to the Society of Mary. Reorganization of the General Administration. Consequences of the Financial Liquidation. Visit in the North to Saint-Remy (November 1833 to April 1835)
- What Followed the Visit in the North: Saint-Remy, Ebersmunster, Saint-Hippolyte, and Courtefontaine. Reorganization of the Novitiates. The Layrac Matter. Return to the Midi. Foundation of the Third Order of the Daughters of Mary (April 1835 to September 1836)
Volume 4
Click here for the PDF of online Volume 4 A
- Father Chaminade Returns to Bordeaux. Difficulties with Bro. David Monier about Papers of the Society of Mary. Result of the Layrac Matter. Difficulties at Saint-Claude and Marast.Differences (September 1836 to April 1837)
- The Project of Sion-Vaudémont. New Conflict with Father Lalanne. Distress of the Novitiate of Courtefontaine. Organization of the Community of Working Brothers at Saint-Remy. Difficulties of Marast. Closing of the Schools of Agen. Establishment of Clairac, Saint-Dié, Besançon (April 1837 to May 1838)
Click here for the PDF of online Volume 4 B
- The Sending the Constitutions to Rome. Preparation for the Foundation of Fribourg. Formation of the Community of Working Brothers at Saint-Remy (June 1838 to April 1839)
Volume 5: Click here for the PDF
- The Decree of Praise of the Society, Letters to the Preachers of Retreats (May 1839-October 1839)
- Developments in the Life of the Society, Foundation in Fribourg, Beginning of the Lawsuit of M. Auguste (October 1839-December 1840)
- Resignation of Father Chaminade, Last Years of His Active Life (January 1841-February 1844)
Volume 6: Click here for the PDF
- The Beginnings of the Conflict (May 1844 to June 1844)
- The First Skirmishes of the Struggle (June 1844 to October 1844)
- In Expectation of the Judgment from Rome (November 1844 to July 1845)
- The Roman Decree and the General Chapter of Saint-Remy (July 1845 to October 1845)
- From the General Chapter to the Second Reply from Rome (October 1845 to December 1845)
Volume 7
Click here for the PDF of online Volume 7 A
- After the Second Reply from Rome. Secretariat of Bonnefoi (January 2, 1846 to July 12, 1847)
- Important Memoirs. Writings to the Society of Mary. Last Efforts (July 1847 to August 1849)
Click here for the PDF of online Volume 7 B
- Breach and Arbitration. Withdrawal. Testament. Separation (June 1848 to August 1849)
- Last Memoirs and Letters
Volume 8, Part 1: Click here for the PDF
- Letters and Passages Omitted in Volume 1
- Letters and Passages Omitted in Volume 2
- Letters and Passages Omitted in Volume 3
Volume 8, Part 2: Click here for the PDF
- Letters and Passages Omitted in Volume 4
- Letters and Passages Omitted in Volume 5
- New Acquisitions
- The French Hierarchy in the Times of Chaminade
Volume 9: Click here for the PDF
- New Acquisitions
Concordance English-French and Print Attribution: Click here for the PDF
- Overview of Letters of Father Chaminade, Electronic Version
- Letters of Father Chaminade, Print Version Attribution
- Concordance of Numbering of English and French Letters, Chronological Table of Letters of Father Chaminade