It is the father and founder of the Oblate Congregation who rejoices. It was while Eugene was enthusiastically telling the Pope about the generous missionary zeal and extraordinary pastoral accomplishments of the Oblates that the Pope had recognized this work as coming from God – as a gift, a charism, for the Church.
Have you understood, dear friend, and may all of our dear Brothers grasp, the worth of this word uttered by the mouth of the Head of the Church of Jesus Christ!
… It is something extraordinary and we can only be dumbfounded before God at this protection so little deserved, considering my part in it, that all of you, my dear children, who serve the good God with such a generous heart, have brought about for my consolation and the happiness of the whole Society.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 22 December 1825, EO VI n 213
“Whatever comes from God is impossible for a person to turn back” Herodotus
This is a bit of a mixed bag for me today. Unable at first to reflect at all. I kept rereading the title of Frank’s offering “…you my dear children, who serve the good God with such a generous heart…” feeling touched as I read it. Eugene making sure that ‘his sons’ know and realise that it is because of their good work, because of how they live and allow God to work through them that the Pope who speaks for the Church, acknowledges their goodness and their oblation and says “yes” – “let’s make sure this happens by …..” Rather than sitting back and patting himself on the back he is saying to them – look what you have done, look at how God has taken your oblation and turned it into grace and salvation, Look at how God has made you indeed his ‘cooperators’ and it is that which has touched the Holy Father. It is that which makes Eugene so very proud and which fills his heart.
Certainly written to his sons, those members of his society and yet this morning feeling it touch my heart. On a morning when I seem to need encouragement, or maybe support, I find these words to be like a gift from God. On a morning when I feel curiously empty with nothing to give and where there seem to be more doubts than strong truths it is almost like a small hug received and hearing a “you are where you belong, where I have planted you, keep going”. There is guilt of my neediness.
Before me – on the wall before me is a small prayer which I printed and pinned up so that it would be there when I need it. “O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in your servant, in the spirit of your holiness, in the fullness of your power, in the perfection of your ways, in the truth of your virtues, in the communion of your mysteries. Overcome every hostile power in your Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen” I have often wondered at the meaning of that last line “overcome every hostile power in your Spirit” but feel that it might have been written for just this moment.