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In this episode, Patti and Sr. Gabby discuss one of the few writings we have by Marie Therese: an act of self-offering she wrote to God in 1797, signed in her own blood. This document details how Marie Therese offered herself as a "victim in expiation of the crimes of the Revolution." We talk about what this self-offering meant, what the crimes of the Revolution were, and how, despite Marie Therese's courage and (seeming) fearlessness, she actually struggled a great deal with anxiety and self-doubt. 

In this episode, Patti Gehred and Sr. Gabby Bibeau discuss the most famous and most important letter in Marianist history: Father Chaminade's Letter to the Retreat Masters of 1839. In this letter, Chaminade lays out exactly what it means to be Marianist, especially the importance of Mary and her power to defeat evil, as well as our call to be missionaries. You don't want to miss this one! 

In an episode that is a bit of a departure from the usual format, Patti and Sr. Gabby discuss one of Blessed Adele's letters, which was written to a Marianist sister who was the director of one of the community's houses in 1825. This letter is a great window into the final years of Adele's life and the strength of her leadership. Patti and Sr. Gabby discuss the challenges the Marianist Sisters faced at this time, the tensions that existed between the Sisters and Father Chaminade, and the humor that is part of daily life in community. It's an interesting conversation that is sure to be informative whether you know a little or a lot about Adele!

In this episode, Lay Marianists Matt Meyers and Linda Zappacosta share the story of how they helped start the Marianist Sisters Vocation Fund, which is a group of Marianist brothers, sisters, and laity who raise funds to offset the college debt of women entering the Marianist Sisters. They share about how they came to know that student debt was an obstacle to women discerning with the Sisters, how they were able to put their heads together to find a solution to the problem, and they also reflect on the beauty of the three branches working together for the future of the entire Marianist Family.

On September 3rd, 2000, Father Chaminade was Beatified along with five other holy people during a Mass in St. Peter's Square. Pope St. John Paul II was the presider, and he noted that Blessed Chaminade was an "apostle of the laity." In this podcast, we interviewed six different people who were at the Beatification and the events surrounding it. Each of them provides their own perspective on that experience, as well as the legacy of Chaminade officially being named "Blessed."

Lay Marianists Carol Ramey and Ann Hirt originally met as undergraduate students at the University of Dayton in the 1960s, where they both became involved in the UD Sodality. After graduating, both of them joined the Marianist Visitation State Community, where they have been members for over 50 years. In this podcast, they reflect on how their friendship, their Marianist commitment, and relationship with Mary has sustained them for the past 50 years. Carol Ramey was also the previous director of NACMS, where she served the Marianist Family for many years before her retirement in 2016.

Father William Joseph Chaminade was beatified in September 2000. Brother Tom Redmond, SM, highlights two early Marianist discoveries—one, the rediscovering of Chaminade’s greatness; the other, the discovering of his physical remains—that helped initiate the 91-year journey that culminated in our Blessed Founder’s recognition by the Vatican.

A look at the miraculous healing of Elena Graciela Otero, through the intercession of Father Chaminade.

A look at the three-day beatification celebration in Rome for Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, held in September 2000.

Relive the beatification of our Blessed Founder with the words of Pope John Paul II and the Superior General of the Society of Mary, extolling the virtue of William Joseph Chaminade and reminding us of his call to missionary service as disciples of Jesus, with an emphasis on Mary.