In the letter that Eugene had written to the Archpriest (but never delivered) he set out very clearly why the Papal approbation of the Oblate Congregation was essential for their future survival.
Now we find ourselves in a very critical situation. We have come to find strength and stability from the Holy See with a trust comparable to that of a child who speaks to a father whom he loves. If the Holy See does not give us its approval, we will have come, on the contrary, to receive the death-blow; because, at the point at which we are at now, not to approve us means to dissolve us. I have already taken the liberty to point his out to His Holiness when I explained to him the reasons for my request; I beg you to express it to him once again with your customary wisdom.
The Bishops know that I have come to Rome to have the Society approved; such is their greatest desire. If it is not approved, they will suspect some secret motive which will make them wary. We take it for granted that this thought will not occur to them because of the esteem they certainly have for us; yet, we can fear that in an emergency when they deem they need priests for certain ministries incompatible with our duties and contrary to our Institute, they will remember that it is not approved and recall their subjects without ceremony; with that, our Society will be destroyed.
On the other hand, the members of the Society themselves, all of whom expect this approbation, will, if it is refused, lose the esteem they have nurtured for it up until now and will no longer set value on their Rules. They will be tempted to consider their commitments as irrevocable no longer, and the administration of the Society as no longer stable. At the slightest dissatisfaction, at the least temptation, they will let themselves prefer the comforts, conveniences and prompt promotion of ordinary priests rather than the salutary constraint of a life according to a Rule. From then on, all is over: we have ceased to exist.
Letter to the Archpriest Adinolfi, Under-secretary for the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, 23 December 1826, EO XIII n. 49.
Eugene understood well the politics of his time and he knew very well what would happen if his missionaries were not ‘protected’ with the full approbation of the Church, making them a congregation . One of the main reasons that they had taken the measures of writing a formal constitution and request to be incorporated as a congregation was not so much just to be able to found a congregation, but it was to protect them from the bishops and clergy, from the hierarchy within the Church and allow them to live as they felt called by God to live. Eugene was not being dramatic, simply truthful and to him this was a ‘life and death’ issue for himself and even more for his missionsaries.
“We really like you and think you are doing a wonderful job, keep up the good work, but we are not accepting any new members or ideas or ways of serving right now.” This could be received as a rejection, a nice and gentle one, but a rejection nevertheless. What would be the consequences of that? That of course is over simplifying it, but what are we saying and more importantly what is being heard? What are we saying by our words, by our actions, by what we do and do not do? What are we saying by our very silence? And perhaps more importantly what is heard and understood by our words and our actions, by our silences and non-actions?
Eugene understood why he was doing and living the way he was, but it seems this undelivered letter allowed him to voice his fears, to voice the whys and where-for’s. In the end he chose the road of trust, trusting in God, trusting in God to work through the Pope and the other hierarchy of the Church. I am grateful to Frank for including this letter. It is so good to see that Eugene (and so probably others) struggled and did not have “perfect” trust. It is good to have to look at myself and see where I am on both sides of being this way. How do I receive and hear what is being said or not said? How with what I say or do not say – how do I respond or am just reacting and building walls? How am I open, am I open to the new and to change? How do I support it and move forward or how do I hold others back? This must be my ongoing reflection throughout the day.