order was spreading to the South Pacific. The nascent order called themselves Les Petits Frères de Marie or Little Brothers of Mary. The Marist Brothers Institute was formally approved in 1863 by Pope Pius IX, and were given the name . Members of the order are identified by the initials "FMS". Veneration Marcellin Champagnat was declared Venerable in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV, beatified by Pope Pius XII on 29 May 1955, and canonised by Pope John Paul II on 18 April 1999. His feast day is observed in the Catholic Church on 6 June. Legacy At his death, there were 280 Marist Brothers in the south of France. The number grew to 1500 Brothers in 1856. Today, there are about 5000 Marist Brothers and tens of thousands of Laypeople who undertake the work of spreading Marist education in 74 countries around the world. Champagnat never wrote an extended exposition of his educational philosophy, but he believed that to teach children one must love them; secular subjects should be well taught as a means of children to the schools, and they would learn the basic elements of their faith as well. Influenced by the French school of spirituality, Champagnat saw God at the centre of life and the Virgin Mary as a sure means of attracting people to God. See also Peter Chanel Peter Julian Eymard John Vianney Notes References Further reading Marcellin Champagnat. A man for our times. Br. Giorgio Diamant and Mario Meuti, Elio Dotti. GRAFISTAR - Giugliano (Napoli). Br. Jose M. Ferre, fms. Letters to a young friend by Marcellin Champagnat.Marist Brothers of Schools. Marist Publications. McMahon, FMS, Brother Frederick. Strong Mind, Gentle Heart. (Drummoyne, NSW: Marist Brothers, 1988). Farell FMS, Brother Stephen. Achievement from the Depths. (Drummoyne, NSW: Marist Brothers, 1984). External links Institute of the Marist Brothers of the Schools (F.M.S.- Fratres Maristae a Scholis) Description of Champagnat's life (German) "Marcellin Joseph Benoît Champagnat (1789-1840)", Vatican News Service Little Brothers of Mary 1789 births 1840 deaths Founders of Catholic religious communities French Roman Catholic saints Marist Brothers Notre Dame Educational Association Beatifications by Pope Pius XII