Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade was born the second-youngest of fifteen children to Blaise Chaminade and Catherine Bethon, a deeply devout family in which three of his brothers also became priests. He preferred his Confirmation name, Joseph, to his baptismal name. At age ten he entered the College of Mussidan, where one of his brothers was already teaching. Ordained a priest, he lived through the turmoil of the French Revolution, during which he risked his life to minister secretly to the faithful. He founded the Society of Mary (Marianists), a religious congregation dedicated to education and the spread of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He also established Sodalities of Our Lady to nurture lay spirituality. His vision for forming communities of faith through education continues to bear fruit through Marianist schools and universities worldwide.