Everyone's heard of Notre Dame, famed football powerhouse and leading Catholic university in the United States, but not many, I would say, know of Blessed Basil Moreau, founder of the Holy Cross Fathers, Brothers and Sisters. Born ten years after St. Marcellin in southern France, his life and vision bore a strong resemblance to his. Both were dealing with the ignorance of the faith as a result of the havoc wrought by the French Revolution. Both saw education as the primary factor in the rebuilding of the Church, both emphasized family spirit and had the goal of making God known and loved. Located in Saint-Croix, near Le Mans, Fr. Moreau's congregation took it's name from the town, Holy Cross, and focused its' spirituality on the Cross, taking as a motto: "Hail holy cross, our only hope."
Fr. Edward Sorin was commissioned by Fr. Moreau to lead a small band of priests and brothers to northern Indiana in 1842 to start a school which evolved into the University of Notre Dame du Lac, the Notre Dame famous for its fighting Irish, among other achievements. The spirit of unity among the members of the Congregation of Holy Cross spills over to the alumni of its educational institutions, resembling the family spirit that exists in the Marist world. Let us give thanks to God for yet another religious congregation that seeks to carry out the mission of Jesus with simplicity and determination.
Bro. Rene
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