CHAMINADE, GUILLAUME-JOSEPH. — Founder of the Society of Mary (Marianists) and of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, born at Périgueux on 8 April 1761, died at Bordeaux on 22 January 1850. After graduating in Paris, he taught at the college-seminary of Mussidan. When the Revolution broke out, he went to Bordeaux, where he devoted himself to the ministry. In 1797 he was forced to go into exile, and took refuge in Spain, where, near Our Lady of the Pillar, he received the “interior words” that determined his mission.
Returning to France at the end of 1800, he founded the Work of Mercy of Bordeaux (1801), the Institute of the Daughters of Mary at Agen with the cooperation of Adèle de Trenquelléon (1816), and in 1817 the “Society of Mary of Bordeaux,” a true religious society with vows, composed of priests and laymen, whose principal purpose was the education of youth; it was commended by decree in 1839, confirmed in 1865, and approved in 1891. It currently numbers more than 2,200 religious, distributed among more than 160 houses. The cause of beatification was introduced on 8 May 1918.
Except for the Mamale del servo di Maria, C. published nothing; he left numerous letters, published in 5 vols. (Nivelles [1930]), manuscripts, and notes for conferences to his fellow disciples, later published in various extracts for the use of the Congregation. In them, adhering to sound traditional doctrine on spirituality, he displays great wisdom and discretion. He recommends the spirit of faith, filial devotion to Our Lady, of whom every Marianist must feel himself to be a “minister and soldier,” indefatigable zeal, and the duty of each person to regard himself as a missionary.