Today's Marists V.6 Issue 1 FALL 2020

Jean-Claude Colin and Caretaking
by Tom Ellerman, SM
The present pandemic has rightly brought
attention to caretakers all over the
world. Many have been called upon to be
caretakers for the first time in their lives.
Caretakers are those who give priority
to the well-being of others. They put into
practice in many concrete ways their
“most ardent charity to those with whom
they come into contact.” Caretaking can
take many forms and is vital to the life
of human community. Though there
were times in his life when our founder,
Father Jean-Claude Colin, felt alone and
abandoned, he continued to care for
others. Perhaps more difficult for him was
to accept care for himself. For him, as for
some, being loved was more painful than
loving.
In this article, we examine “caretaking”
of the sick and of the superior general.
Caretaking is most important in the
formation of novices and in the education
of young people in our Marist schools, but
we will leave those two topics for another
time.
The care of the sick and dying is treated
in numbers 230-243 of the Constitutions
of 1872. The infirm are to be the objects
of special care. Here we are talking
about more than medical care, “… all the
services of a most sincere charity are to
be performed for them with kindness,
and nothing is to be omitted which may
comfort them, and lift their spirits, taking
care above all that they are never given
the impression that they are tiresome
or a burden.” (# 239) The superior has
paternal obligations toward the sick
Marist, especially when the illness is lifethreatening.
In life, we encounter many people who
are sick or suffering in some way. Of
course, we would never want to add to
their suffering, whatever its source. We
can be a caretaker by treating them with
kindness, comforting them, and lifting
their spirits. We should never give any
suffering person the impression that they
are a burden to us, even though at times,
suffering does not bring out the best in
people.
Usually we do not think of those in
authority over us as needing care, but
in numbers 337-344 Father Founder
addresses the Society’s care for the
superior general. The principles
enunciated in these paragraphs can
be applied to others who are also in a
position of authority. The Society of
Mary should “show the greatest care for
its superior as a father, and effectively
see to it in the Lord that he be sustained
and helped with his burden.” (# 337)
The Society’s care for the superior is not
simply concerned with his office but also
with the person. We should pray for those
who have authority over us. If we are in
a position to do so, we should try to keep
the superior in good health, make sure his
needs are met and try to keep him from
being overly burdened with duties.
With regard to the superior carrying
out his office, the Society of Mary must
concern itself with supplying all the help
that he needs to ably carry out his duties
for the benefit of all.
What does Father Colin teach us in all
this? Simply put, we all need care in some
form or other, and we should all strive to
be caregivers to others. This should come
as no surprise, since we worship a God
who not only loves us but wants to be
loved by us. Could we possibly be God’s
caregivers?
Cause for Canonization of Venerable Fr. Jean-Claude Colin, SM
Founder of the Marist Fathers and Brothers
by Tom Ellerman, SM
Father Colin was no stranger to crises of all kinds: wars, revolutions, climate
changes, disputes within the Church, economic changes, political disturbances;
yet through it all, he turned to Mary in prayer and to the Church of Rome for
guidance. He remained at peace in the stormy sea of his life and times. He
believed in the Savior, who told him not to fear.
Please report any favors granted through the intercession of Jean-Claude Colin to:
Marist Center | 815 Varnum Street, N.E. | Washington, DC 20017-2298 | USA
For more information about the Cause for Canonization visit:
www.jeanclaudecolin.org.
26 Today’s Marists Magazine