Praying the Memorare saved his life

On a cold February day of 1823, the founder of the Marist Brothers, Saint Marcellin Champagnat, decided to go visit a sick brother in Bourg-Argental (central France) with another friar, Brother Stanislas. The two men walked the 25-kilometer journey, leaving early in the morning and arriving there around noon.

Father Marcellin wanted to return that same evening, despite the late hour and the bad weather. They made a difficult trek after dark of several hours through a storm. Soon Brother Stanislas became so tired that Fr Marcellin had to help him. After a while, the cold and exhaustion forced them both to stop.

Marcellin fell to his knees. From his lips came this prayer: "Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided..." They resumed their walk with great effort, holding on to each other. At the same moment, a farmer called Joseph Donnet was going around his house with a lantern in his hand filling the animals’ troughs. Although the light of the lantern was faint, the two travelers saw it, called out and were saved!

They went inside the warm, welcoming farmhouse, so exhausted that a young woman had to help them take off their shoes. They were given a hot meal, but Brother Stanislas was in a state of shock and almost delirious. However, Fr Champagnat was in good spirits, and during the evening prayer with the family he sang a hymn of thanksgiving. They were given the only bed in the house, while the Donnet family spent the night in the barn.

Early the next morning, Fr Champagnat and Br Stanislas went on their way.

Translated and adapted from: Saint Marcellin Champagnat