Book by late priest highlights Marist origins

Many moments in Marist history are connected with the city of Lyons, France: Founder Jean-Claude Colin was confirmed in the Cathedral of St John in 1803. In 1815, the first Marist aspirants met together in the seminary of St Irenee and in the following year, in the chapel on the hill of Fourviere, the 12 original aspirants made their promise to begin the Society of Mary.

Acknowledging that summer vacation season this year is waning, there nonetheless can be no dispute that another one will materialize next year. And just in case France might be on the docket for a 2016 vacation, a book by Fr. Craig Larkin, s.m., a Marist priest and author who died in June at the age of 71, gives a comprehensive account of precisely where in this European country holds significant meaning for the Marists and the origins of the Society of Mary—and could also serve as your French vacation travel guide.

Writer and historian Fr. Craig Larkin, s.m., died peacefully in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 27 at the age of 71.

Called Pilgrimage: A guide-book to places of Marist origins, it’s a “pilgrim’s guidebook” to places of origin of the Society of Mary, and in particular to the places in France associated with Marist founder Jean-Claude Colin. Larkin says he journeyed to the locations where Colin “grew interiorly, to understand the influences that shaped his life, to find a way of entering into his mind and heart, and to make his attitudes our own.”

NOTE: Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy’s academic-program management and Catholic sponsorship is by the Marist Fathers.

Larkin, who was a native of New Zealand, visited Fourvière, Cerdon and the Bugey region of France, all three of which symbolize significant stages in the formation of Colin as a founder, a spiritual leader, and an administrator of an international congregation. Other places on his journey include Le Barbery and St Bonnet-le-Troncy, Colin’s place of birth and upbringing; Belley, where he developed the Society’s ministry of education to young people and where he was elected superior general; Lyons, from where he governed the Society as superior general; and La Neylière, where he lived for 21 years after his retirement as superior general.

In addition to “Pilgrimage,” Larkin wrote a number of other books on subjects related to Marist spirituality and history, iconography and spirituality in general.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.