About Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, S.M.:
The Carthusian Cemetery and grave of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, S.M.Bordeaux is also famous as the burial site of (Blessed) Father William Joseph Chaminade, founder of the Society of Mary (the Marianists).
Father Chaminade endured the horrors of the French revolution, serving his flock in disguise before fleeing to Zaragosa, Spain. He drew inspiration from the shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar and began to formulate his plans to rebuild the Church in France through the founding of his order. Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, with the guidance of Father Chaminade, established the Daughters of Mary Immaculate in 1816.
He later returned to France and had to fight against not only the government but members of the Church hierarchy. Through all of this he succeeded and he is now on the path to Sainthood, having been Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000. His order has spread throughout the world and many high schools bear his name. Click here for an interesting video on youtube.
His body lies here in the Carthusian cemetery in Bordeaux. A majestic monument crowned by a statue of the Immaculate Conception marks his grave.
