We do not have a sure text saying explicitly that Fr Colin really awaited M. Vianney’s arrival at La Neyliere on the evening of 5 September 1853. But the texts we have do show that we can safely place together the attempt at flight of 4-5 September 1853, and the testimony of Fr Jobert. The first biographer to have put these tow facts together is M. Joseph Vianey, in the 6th edition of his life of Blessed Cure d’Ars.
If really M. Vianey regretted that he had not been able to become a Marist and desired now (at the age of 67) to retire in a house of the Society, it is certain that he could find no better occasion to realize his dream than by attempting, after Bsp Devie’s death, to come to La Neyliere, whose doors were actually open at that time to the priests who wished to live a life of prayer. It would seem that we can hold as practically certain that it was to La Neyliere that the Cure d’Ars intended to come when he left his presbytery during the night of 4-5 September 1853.
The Cure d’Ars and Marist Vocations
J-M Vianney showed his esteem for the SM by sending to its various branches numerous penitents who had come to consult him on the subject of their vocation. However, the Marists were by no means the only ones to benefit from these counsels. He directed souls with great certainty to many and very different congregations.
Marist Fathers: Fr Claude-Marie Mayet – 1832 Fr Jean-Francois Viennot – 1842 Fr Aristide Gautheron – 1856 Fr Pierre Haquin professed – 1864 Fr Philibert Ragey entered – 1876
Coadjutor Brothers:
“Several of our coadjutor Brothers have received light on their vocation to the SM from the holy Cure,” says Fr Grenot in a manuscript note. Unfortunately, he gives us one name only, Br Stanislas Viricel, professed in 1865, and he adds no other details: (Coste, p.405).
Marist Brothers of the Schools: Br Pascal – 1841 Br Marie-Andre -1859 Br Joseph-Noel – his religious vocation was foretold to his mother
Marist Sisters: Mother Saint Anselme – 1842 Sr Saint-Hilarion – 1845 Mother Saint-Alphonse – 1847 Mother St. Paul – 1847 Mother Saint-Jean – 1848 Mother St-Francois d’Assise – 1853 Sr Saint Bernardin – 1853 Sr Saint-Elzear – 1855 Sr Saint-Cyrille – 1855 Mother Saint Pascal – 1859
Third Order of Mary: M. Bossan – the famous architect of Fourviere
The Cure d’Ars and the Third Order of Mary
We must go back to the 1843 to find the first indication of M. Vianney’s interest in the Third Order of Mary. At that time, the Third Order was reduced to only one fraternity, that of Christian virgins, with fewer than thirty registered members. And yet the Cure d’Ars sent some of those who had consulted him it to this organization, which was hardly alive.
“In December 1843, Fr Colin said to us: ‘Everyone is after me, both in Lyons and Saint-Etienne, to establish the Third Order of Mary. Certain devoted women went to see the parish priest of Ars and asked him to which Third Order they should belong, that of St Francis or that of Mary. He told them: that of Mary, and he added that they should pray and wait. And now I am being pressed. But time has not yet come: I need a man for that work; and I have not yet found him” (Mayet 1, 193 margin).
In March, 1944, Fr Mayet takes up the same idea in a note on the Cure d’Ars:
“When several persons had spoken to him about Third Orders, he advised them to choose that of the Society of Mary, even before it was established, and this was the cause of the insistent requests made to Reverend Father Superior General to establish it as soon as possible” (Mayet 4, 363).
So, not only did the Cure d’Ars direct several souls to the Third Order of Mary, but that he was in large measure responsible for the decision taken by Fr Colin in 1845 to put one of his religious in charge of organizing the Third Order – Fr. Eymard, under whose guidance the organization took on new life and opened out to people of all kinds. At that point it became possible for M. Vianney to give his name to the Third Order which he had recommended to others” (Coste, p.409).
“Third Order of Mary of the Society of Mary. The Congregation of the Third Order of Mary, established in Lyons with the approbation of His Eminence Cardinald de Bonald, 5 January 1847.
The Congregation of the Third Order of Christian Virgins had begun in Lyons in 1836. The Congregation of the Third Order of Men was begun with the approbation of His Eminence on 5th January, and organized on 5th March 1847. Captain Marceau made his profession on 8 September 1849; he took the name of Brother Marie-Augustin, and Monsieur Vianney, the parish priest of Ars was received in the Third Order by Father Emmard on 8th December 1846”