Marist Laity

About the Marist Laity

There are various Marist Laity groups around Ireland, the West, Dublin and the North East. There are also individual Lay Marists who are not members of any group. The Marist Laity Resource Group is the leadership group for Marist Laity in Ireland. Contact email address is reenamcdermott@eircom.net There is a representative of the Marist Fathers and Sisters on this group.

There is also a European Marist Laity committee which brings together representatives from the lay groups of France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, England, Netherlands and Norway. Fr Jan Hulshof sm of the Netherlands is the Provincial delegate for Marist Laity in Europe. Worldwide Marist Laity groups have developed in all provinces of the Marist Fathers and other branches of the Marist Family.

The Marist Laity are at the very heart of the Society. Its members are heirs to the full Colinian inheritance that vision for the Society of Mary of Fr Colin. It could even be said that where a vigorous Marist lay movement does not exist alongside the other two branches the Society does not fully exist. It is like a defective tree with one of the fruit-bearing branches missing. Colin looked mainly to Marist laity to spread the spirit of Mary throughout the world. The Marist Laity (Maristica 4) Frank McKay Page 76.

Since this world is the arena for Mary’s work, it is natural that a vast family is necessary, each individual Lay Marist and groups of Lay Marists working in their own environment and according to their own vocation. Each group therefore, can have certain guidelines for practices to be adopted by the members. Jean-Claude Colin recognised the great variety of groups possible here ranging from those with a minimum of rules to be followed, to those, which demand more of their members. The essence of the matter has nothing to do with groups, rules or practices but rather that Marists live in the spirit of Mary with a missionary heart.

As being a Marist is rather more a way of life; there is no emphasis on any particular religious practices apart from the religious practices of an ordinary Christian life. Marists focus on the person of Mary rather than on particular practices. Each group and individual however, can decide what particular prayers and practices they wish to follow while being mindful that they be in keeping with the spirit of Mary.

Called to be evangelisers they keep a special place in their prayers for all those in great need, invoking Mary’s intercession. One traditional form of this is simply on rising and retiring to pray the prayer ‘We fly to your protection’ and three Hail Mary’s. It is important that Marist devotion be simple and unaffected and not draw attention to itself. It is principally expressed in living her spirit rather than in talking about her or in great public manifestations. Marists as such do not propagate any special devotions to Mary.

Each group of Marist Laity can work out its own organisation once it is in keeping with the basic principles explained above. Some groups may be very loosely organised, others more tightly organised and more demanding.

The leadership in each group should come ideally from the members themselves and not from the priests, brothers and sisters of the Society of Mary. It is essential that groups work in harmony with the local pastors in the parish and not become in any way divisive or elite.

It is to be encouraged that individual Marist Laity and groups develop links, both formal and informal, with other branches of the Marist family.

The Marist laity is a manifestation of the intrinsic dynamism of the Society and co-extensive with it.
The Marist laity is to be seen primarily as evangelising. The scope of the Marist laity is as wide as the world, so a truly evangelising movement must be ecumenical.

Marist Laity is to be seen as an initiative of the whole Marist family.

General Characteristics of Marist Groups

A Variety of Expressions

Since the entire world is the arena for Mary’s work, it is natural that a vast family is necessary, with each individual and group working in their own environment and according to their own vocation. Each group can have certain guidelines for practices to be adopted by the members. A great variety is possible:ranging from those with a minimum of rules to be followed, to those which demand more. One form is not better than another. The essence is not to be found in groups, rules or practices, but rather in that Marists are committed to live in the spirit of Mary with a missionary heart.

Devotion and Practices

• Devotion to Mary: Marists have devotion to Mary. This expresses itself in living her spirit rather than in great public manifestations. Their devotion to Mary is personal and shapes their way of life, but it is not part of their vocation to propagate any special devotions to Mary.
• Religious Practices: Being a Marist is more a way of life, and their is no emphasis on any particular religious practices apart from the religious practices of a committed Christian life. The person of Mary is important rather than particular practices. Each group and individual however, can decide what particular prayers and practices they wish to follow while being mindful that they be in keeping with the spirit of Mary. Called to be evangelisers they pray for all those in great need, invoking Mary’ intercession. It is important that Marist devotion be simple and unaffected and not draw attention to itself. (One traditional form of this is simply on rising and retiring to pray the prayer ‘We fly to your protection’ and three hail Mary’s).

Structures and Rules

• Each group can work out its own organisation in keeping with the basic principles explained above. Some groups may be very loosely organised, others more tightly so and more demanding.
• The leadership should come from the members themselves in so far as possible and not from the members of the religious congregations. It is essential that groups work in harmony with the local pastors in the parish and are not in any way divisive or elitist.
• Individuals and groups are encouraged to develop links, both formal and informal, with other branches of the Marist family.

The Papal Brief of April 29, 1836