Approbation of Fr. Colin’s Constitution’s of 1873

Today we remember the 150th anniversary of the Approbation of Fr. Jean-Claude Colin’s Constitutions of 1873.

Fr. Colin was the founder of the Society of Mary – priests and brothers. Born at the close of the 18th century in revolution-torn France, Fr. Colin was convinced that the Blessed Virgin wanted a group of men and women to do her work in the world at a time of turmoil and challenge. In 1836, Fr. Colin obtained from Pope Gregory XVI canonical approbation of the Society of Mary with simple vows, and in the same year Fr. Colin was chosen superior general. Two years before his death he had the joy of seeing the Constitutions of the Society of Mary approved by the Holy See on February 28, 1873. With this inspiration he forged the way for a new family of consecrated religious and laity in the Church – the Marist family.