A non-ecclesiastic Catholic institution for the education of youth, founded, 1817, at Lavalla, France, by the Venerable Benedict Marcellin Champagnat, a seminarian associated with the Marist Fathers (Society of Mary). The constitution drawn up by the founder, was approved by the Holy See, 1863, and again in 1903,1922. In 24 provinces and 3 districts of world-wide distribution there are 8562 members and novices, and 575 schools. The superior-general resides at Saint Genis Laval, Rhone, France.