William Joseph Chaminade

Guillaume- Joseph Chaminade ( born April 8, 1761 Périgueux, † January 22, 1850 in Bordeaux) is the founder of the Society of Mary ( Marianists ). His feast day is celebrated every January 22.

Life

William Joseph Chaminade was born in 1761 in Périgueux ( in southern France ), ordained a priest in 1785 and continued the focus of his work in youth ministry, in enabling poor young people an education.

During the French Revolution, he was forced, due to its activity from Bordeaux to Zaragoza to flee to Spain. In 1800 he returned to Bordeaux. He gathered young people around him, who together formed a community of lay people in the name of the Virgin Mary ( Congregation ). From this congregation grew the religious communities of the Marianist Sisters (1816 ) and the " Marianists " (1817 ).

William Joseph Chaminade was beatified on 3 September 2000 in Rome by Pope John Paul II. A descendant is the French composer and pianist Cecile Chaminade.