LET US TRY THEREFORE TO CONFORM IN ALL I DO TO THIS DIVINE MODEL

Eugene continues to meditate on Jesus as model

All metaphor aside, I have been a sinner, a great sinner, and I am a priest. With the exception of having defiled my body with women, a wretchedness from which the goodness of God has preserved me as by a miracle, I have followed every maxim of a corrupted world. The evil has been done, good alas still remains to be done. What I have done up to now is not worth mentioning. People are deceived, I am falling far short of my obligations. I must pay double and when I compare my way of acting with that of my model, my God! how far I am still from it! Pride, anger, seeking of self, etc. How indeed can I say: it is not I that live, but Christ who lives in me [Gal. 2:20]. There are no half-measures, if I want to be like Jesus Christ in glory, I must first resemble him in his humiliations and sufferings, like Jesus crucified; let us try therefore to conform in all I do to this divine model so as to be able to address to the faithful these words of St. Paul: imitate me as I imitate Christ [I Cor. 4:16]. If these words cannot be applied to me, I must renounce reigning with Jesus Christ in his glory.

Retreat Journal, December 1814, O.W. XV n.130

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2 Responses to LET US TRY THEREFORE TO CONFORM IN ALL I DO TO THIS DIVINE MODEL

  1. LJC et MI
    Like father, like son. Who of us does not feel uncomfortable when he see the vulnerable and naked Eugene before us. His head down, his body battered by guilt and shame like the prodigal he spoke of earlier. Do I/we have the courage to stand this vulnerable, surrounded by my brothers, not as spectacle of punishment but as a sign of solidarity and mutual support. For we all have sinned, “I have followed every maxim of a corrupted world.”
    And yet, how else to do we learn as men. Rarely through sermons, lectures or even books – false piety/religiosity and a purity that runs from intimacy and relationships seems to only feed the ego. We learn like Eugene did, through our mistakes, misguided love and our desire for prestige (clericalism), power (control/power) and possessions (things/gadgets etc). I pray that I can be as honest and vulnerable as my father Eugene was as he lived out his one desire; “if I want to be like Jesus Christ in glory, I must first resemble him in his humiliations and sufferings, like Jesus crucified.”

  2. Dear Frank, please use this reflection if you can that refers to the Chapter and our call to ongoing conversion. Thanks, Jack,OMI

    LJC et MI
    “Centered on the person of Jesus Christ, we commit ourselves to a profound personal and communal conversion for the sake of our Oblate Mission.” These words which we have prayed in preparation for the chapter are reflected in todays DeMazenod Reflection.
    Like father, like son. Who of us does not feel uncomfortable when he see the vulnerable and naked Eugene before us. His head down, his body battered by guilt and shame like the prodigal he spoke of earlier. Do I/we have the courage to stand this vulnerable, surrounded by my brothers, not as spectacle of punishment but as a sign of solidarity and mutual support. For we all have sinned, “I have followed every maxim of a corrupted world.”
    And yet, how else to do we learn as men. Rarely through sermons, lectures or even books – false piety/religiosity and a purity that runs from intimacy and relationships seems to only feed the ego. We learn like Eugene did, through our mistakes, misguided love and our desire for prestige (clericalism), power (control/power) and possessions (things/gadgets etc). I pray that I can be as honest and vulnerable as my father Eugene was as he lived out his one desire; “if I want to be like Jesus Christ in glory, I must first resemble him in his humiliations and sufferings, like Jesus crucified.” “Centered on the person of Jesus Christ, we commit ourselves to a profound personal and communal conversion for the sake of our Oblate Mission.”

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