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A Marist Way of Living The Marist Founder John-Claude Colin was born at the time of the French Revolution - a time of turmoil and a split between the Church and French Society. The Revolution also divided the Church, some priests being faithful to Rome, while others pledged allegiance to the constitution. Jean-Claude's parents supported those loyal to Rome; his father openly supporting the parish priest. Consequently an order of arrest was issued against his father, Jacques, who had to hide for a year in fear of his life. His house was boarded up and all his goods were sold. With all this suffering Jean-Claude's mother, Marie died aged 37. Jacques died only three weeks later. Jean-Claude was looked after by Marie Echallier, a person for whom religion and guilt tended to go hand in hand. Jean-Claude developed scruples. Strongly influenced by these events, Jean-Claude Colin realised that the people had great needs. He believed that the best way to help them was to be a source of compassion, a gentle presence, hidden in the world but not hidden from the world, just as Mary had been for the early church. Although he was a reluctant leader Jean-Claude Colin was called to develop the vision of the Society of Mary.
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