NOTA BENE: A HOSPITAL FOR SINNERS

The Rule was written in 1818 as an attempt to review the experiences that the Missionaries had lived for nearly three years and to draw out basic principles for the future. The Nota Bene continues Eugene’s description of the post-revolution Church of France and forms the point of focus for their lived experience.

How vast the field that lies before them! How worthy an undertaking!
The people are wallowing in crass ignorance of all that pertains to their salvation.
The consequence of this ignorance has been a weakening, if not a total obliteration of the faith and the corruption of morals.

The response of the Missionaries was to teach people their dignity as members of the Body of Christ, the Church – each member of which Jesus had shed his blood for:

It is therefore urgent to bring back the multitude of those sheep who have strayed from the fold,

How to do this?

To preach and instruct people and invite them into relationship with Jesus the Savior. This was the aim of every sermon and missionary activity. This was the vocation of the Missionary:

to teach these degenerate Christians who Jesus Christ is,

The purpose of the hours and hours spent in the sacrament of confession during each parish mission, and in the permanent mission in Aix, are also reflected here:

to snatch them from the slavery of the demon
and to show them the way to heaven,
to extend the Savior’s empire, to destroy the reign of hell, to prevent millions of mortal sins,
to hold virtues in honor and to see to it that they are practiced in all their varied forms…

1818 Rule, Part One, Chapter One, §3. Nota Bene. Missions, 78 (1951) p. 16

In the writing of the Rule the Missionaries read and interpreted what they were already doing and set out the basic principles for the spirit of their future actions. Today we continue to be guided by this spirit:

We will spare no effort to awaken or to reawaken the faith in the people to whom we are sent, and we will help them to discover “who Christ is”. Our mission puts us on constant call to respond to the most urgent needs of the Church through various forms of witness and ministry, but especially through proclaiming the Word of God which finds its fulfilment in the celebration of the sacraments and in service to others.

CC&RR, Constitution 7

 

“A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.”      Abigail Van Buren

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4 Responses to NOTA BENE: A HOSPITAL FOR SINNERS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    “The response of the Missionaries was to teach people their dignity as members of the Body of Christ, the Church – each member of which Jesus had shed his blood for” that alone gives me much to think about and I find myself rereading it a couple of times just to make sure I haven’t missed anything.

    Words like ‘demon’, ‘mortal sin’ and even ‘heaven and hell’ – you don’t hear them being used a lot anymore. They certainly are not fashionable. I keep reminding myself that this is from almost 200 years ago, because Eugene’s spirit is always so alive to me and seems very much a part of the here and now. I find myself more able to respond to the words from the Constitution; “We will spare no effort to awaken or to reawaken the faith in the people to whom we are sent, and we will help them to discover “who Christ is”. Our mission puts us on constant call to respond to the most urgent needs of the Church through various forms of witness and ministry, but especially through proclaiming the Word of God which finds its fulfilment in the celebration of the sacraments and in service to others.” How I will be able to live this out today is another matter for today is a day at the office with limited interaction and tonight a meeting with very good people. I am willing but don’t hold out much hope for anything other than the regular ordinary of the day.

    And perhaps the aim of the reading today is just to allow me to pause and think about it – bring it to my awareness and to remind me to allow God to worry about how he will work through me.

    • John Mouck says:

      My thoughts exactly, Eleanor.
      As an AIT (associate in training), I wonder “Where’s the action?” I look for guidance, ideas, examples of people “saving” souls. If anything is going on in my little circle, people certainly do not talk about it. I go to meetings with people I consider already “holy” and we talk about Eugene’s writings and discuss his meaning and purpose, and we pray. That’s it.
      What is an Oblate Associate?
      What do they do?
      How does one become one?
      Do you know that in Lacombe, at least, there are no defined conditions of fulfilment, no actual path to that goal?
      At what point do I get to say, “Yes, I am an Oblate Associate?”

      So, I just keep praying and doing whatever tiny little thing I can do at every opportunity with those I encounter.

  2. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    Thanks John for all that you questioned and shared. We need to talk more about this – that is what my “job” is all about – bringing the Oblate Associates from each of the Districts together, under a Lacombe identity. I will be doing a workshop for Ontario District towards the end of May (keep the evening of 24th and if possible the day of the 25th open) and you will be hearing more about it soon. There is a process being put in place. In the meantime lets talk. Ask Jack for my email and drop me a line and lets talk some more about where we are going and what all is involved.

  3. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    I might have wished that the language had softened in the last year. All kidding aside though, some of Eugene’s language still bothers me and I guess that is okay. But the message behind the words strikes home and seems to be more true than ever.

    This seems to be a part of the heart of the Oblate/Mazenodian way of life. For the Oblates of course, but also for Oblate Associates. “The response of the Missionaries was to teach people their dignity as members of the Body of Christ, the Church – each member of which Jesus had shed his blood for….” I find that I still thrill to that: to teach people their dignity as members of the Body of Christ, the Church…. Something so basic, fundamental – how might I do that as a lay person? There are so many ways of “teaching” – perhaps in what I share with others, perhaps in how I live and the example (conscious and unconscious) I set? “To preach and instruct people and invite them into relationship with Jesus the Savior. This was the aim of every sermon and missionary activity. This was the vocation of the Missionary….” Today is the Feast of St. Joseph. We don’t know a lot about Joseph – except in his own way he gave his all to God. He said “yes”, amidst the struggle of being betrothed to a woman who became pregnant by God. Talk about faith! St. Joseph, hidden, ordinary, husband of Mary and father to Jesus. Surely as saint for the everyday person. His life seemed to be a way of preaching, of teaching.

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