Records Relating to Rev. Félix Viannes, Superio... | Saint Michael's College Archives & Special Collections

The Society educated Fr. Félix Viannes before he entered the novitiate in Pontigny. After ordination, he served on the faculty of his alma mater College De l’Immaculee Conception and as director of the Apostolic School at Mont-Saint-Michel. He was the delegate to the General Chapter in 1913, 1920 and 1924. The 1924 Chapter elected Viannes Superior General after Fr. Louis Cheray declined to serve. Viannes reluctantly agreed to serve and thus oversaw the dissolution of the Society. Viannes term of office can be characterized as tumultuous. Viannes worked closely with Apostolic Visitor Dom Etcheverry to dissolve the Society. Viannes agreed to the sale of property and oversaw the implementation of amalgamation with the Assumptionists. The Assumptionists received Society property in England and France, and Edmundites joined the Assumptionists on a one-year trial basis. Most Edmundites decided to become Assumptionists or to become diocesan priests. The American communities strongly opposed the dissolution, and Viannes supported their initiative to reverse the Chapter’s decision. Viannes was instrumental in the success of this action, working closely with Rome to ensure the continuation of the Society through the American Province. In 1926, the remnants of the Society purchased a residence in Pontigny, an occurrence Viannes took as a sign of rebirth for the Society. Viannes died in Pontigny in 1928. The Viannes files are mostly correspondence, much of it related to the amalgamation of the Society and finances. The correspondence series is arranged chronologically. The correspondence is primarily in French, although an English calendar is available.