ENTRUSTING THE OBLATE RULE TO SAINT PETER AND HIS SUCCESSOR

The next morning, the 14th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, Eugene celebrated Mass at the tomb of Saint Peter. The previous day he had been with Pope Leo, the successor of Peter to ask his approbation of the Oblate Congregation and Rule. Today he brought that Rule and placed it on the tomb of Peter, before entrusting it to Pope Leo’s officials for their study and decision

I had brought with me our precious volume and I laid it on the place of the tomb of Saint Peter while my saintly companion offered the Mass, as I implored the head of the apostles and Saint Paul and the other holy Popes who are buried in the same place, to accept and bless them.

Letter to Henri Tempier, 22 December 1825, EO VI n 213

 “Our love for the Church inspires us to fulfil our mission in communion with the pastors whom the Lord has given to his people; we accept loyally, with an enlightened faith, the guidance and teachings of the successors of Peter and the Apostles.”

CC&RR, Constitution 6

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1 Response to ENTRUSTING THE OBLATE RULE TO SAINT PETER AND HIS SUCCESSOR

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    The image painted by Eugene is incredibly endearing, The “precious volume” that he speaks of is nothing less than the heart of who he and the Oblates are, how they live and love. I love how he has placed it on St. Peter’s tomb during Mass, he is handing it over to not just the current Pope and church officials but to St. Peter and all those who have succeeded him and to all those who will come in the future. There is incredible humility and trust in Eugene’s actions. In those days they did not have any carbon copies or backup copies. The list of “what ifs” could have been a long one and for sure Eugene was not the one in control here. And so his act of faith and trust in God, in St. Peter and his successors is such a powerful one.

    The word “oblation” comes to mind. I see Eugene’s actions being a part of his oblation, tied in with incredible love, for God and for his holy Church. For some reason one of the responses from the Liturgy of the Eucharist comes to mind “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy church.” It sat there on Peter’s tomb during the Mass.

    What does my trust in God and this Church that I profess to love look like? What does my oblation look like? Do I live this out fully or am I just saying the words? Do I trust simply in God, in the idea of one being divorced and separate from mankind? Do I trust in those whom God has entrusted to guide and lead, shepherd and be shepherded. Do I trust God to speak to me, not just in my heart but through the mouths of others and not just limited to the others that I know, am friendly with? The risks are huge and the possibility of betrayal and/or rejection can loom greatly and overwhelmingly. It’s sort of a “nothing or everything” type of thing. How do I give my my everything, my all to God?

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