Create, Learn, Engage, Administer and Review
When we think about Marcellin Champagnat we can think of him in the context of the French culture of his day. Then we must necessarily relocate ourselves back into our own time - the here and now - to gain benefit from our reflection on Marcellin in his time. I would like to suggest five activities that apply to our lives as Marists on mission which incorporate the spirit of Marcellin conveyed to us from his time. The acronym is CLEAR.
1. Create Today's world impels us to discover new paradigms, to establish improved organisational structures, to build, to change. Marcellin showed us the way with his creative energy - we only have to look at his founding of the Marist Institute or the building of the Hermitage. To create is an important Marist action.
2. Learn Today we find many people who continue to learn. There are those, too, who do not make this a priority. This can have devastating effects. When the Spirit enlivens us, that Spirit helps us apply our learning to our current context. This is the same Spirit as in Marcellin's time, but the world is very different. Learning enables rich growth.
3. Engage God calls us every moment, inviting us to pray, to listen and to engage about all that is going on in our lives. We, in turn, are called to engage with each other humbly yet passionately. Marcellin's passion was contagious. His strong personality compelled him to engage fully with his Brothers and those with whom he laboured (C71).
4. Administer In today's world we seem to be administering more and more, organising tasks, communicating or managing projects. Marcellin's leadership included an ability to administer with care, despite the poor communication systems of the early nineteenth century. His fast growing organisation bore the fruits of this thorough administration.
5. Review Spiritual writers encourage us to examine our day. Marcellin practised this faithfully and recommends the practice to us. The daily review of our life can urge us on to deepen our commitment to God and each other and, as a result, to live our lives more fully.
Perhaps these CLEAR objectives, even structuring them into our day, can enhance our Marist living. Happy Champagnat Day!
John McMahon
