Charism of the Founder

2. Led by the Spirit, Marcellin was seized by the love that Jesus and Mary had for him and for others. His experience of this, as well as his openness to events and to people, is the wellspring of his spirituality and of his apostolic zeal. It made him sensitive to the needs of his times, especially to the ignorance concerning religion among young people and the poor circumstances in which they were placed.

His faith and eagerness to do God's will led him to realise that his mission was to "make Jesus Christ known and loved."¹ He often said: "Every time I see a child, I long to teach him his catechism, to make him realise how much Jesus Christ has loved him."² It was this attitude that led him to found our Institute for the Christian education of the young, especially those most in need³.