Mary’s encounter with the plan of God’s love for her had changed her life – just as Eugene’s encounter with God’s love had done. The Gospel of Luke narrates the response of Mary to the actions and words of her son: “His mother treasured all these things in her heart” Luke 2:51.
Similarly Eugene treasured the “virtues and examples of Jesus Christ” and pondered them in his heart and in this way his “inner vision” would be a source of meaning and of transformation for himself and for others.
During the day we will also make … a visit … to the Blessed Virgin, to whom we will all have a special devotion and great affection.
1818 Rule, Part Two, Chapter One. §5 On prayer and exercises of piety
Today, Mary continues to be this missionary model :
We shall always look on her as our mother. In the joys and sorrows of our missionary life, we feel close to her who is the Mother of Mercy.
CC&RR, Constitution 10
Caryll Houselander captured this spirit when she referred to Mary as the “Reed of God” through which the music of the Incarnation took flesh. She wrote:
“It is the emptiness like the hollow in the reed…which can only have one destiny; to receive the piper’s breath and to utter the song that is in his heart.”
“It is the emptiness like the hollow in the reed…which can only have one destiny; to receive the piper’s breath and to utter the song that is in his heart.” What an incredibly powerful and poignant image. It gives voice to Mary’s fiat, as well as our own.
Mary who is for me “maman” has always been an example, a source of inspiration, a great source of strength, a teacher of fidelity and trust. As I write this I find a whole myriad of images coming to mind. Who better to be the ‘patroness’ of the Oblates?
Mary’s fiat, Eugene’s oblation and emptying of himself keeps pulling me back to Richard Rohr’s writing for today when he speaks of ‘subraction’ – letting go and emptying so that we can become filled. Caryll Houselander talks about uttering the song that is in the pipers heart and Richard talks about becoming the “One we gaze upon”. I am left breathless and awed and my being sings.