I CAN ONLY OFFER TO GOD MY BOREDOM…

From the moment that Eugene had consigned the Oblate Rule to the cardinals for their examination and judgment, his days in Rome were filled with running around from one office to another during the day, and meeting people at gatherings in the evenings. Some examples from among numerous texts:

I still have many errands to run; it is true that one often has time to rest in waiting rooms or salons for I must say I am never left long in an antechamber. That would be nothing if one were to finish by obtaining what one is so justified in requesting; but I am afraid my time and trouble will be wasted.

Letter to Henri Tempier, 1 January 1826, EO VII n 215

 It kept on raining today; but this time it did not stop me from going out to tend to my business matters. That is why I went to see, one after another, the commisary Colonna, Cardinal Pedicini, Archbishop Caprano of Icone at the Propaganda, Cardinal De Gregorio, Bishop d’Argenteau, Cardinal Pacca and lastly, as every day, Monsignor d’Isoard, Dean of the Rota.

Roman Diary, 12 January 1826, EO XVII

 Most evenings he was invited to receptions and dinners at the homes of cardinals, the French Ambassador and other personalities in the city. He did not enjoy these at all, but they were important moments to build relationships within the Church for the benefit of the Oblate Congregation and its mission, and for the Diocese of Marseille.

Were I at Rome only to while some time pleasantly away in amusing myself and receiving very flattering testimonies of esteem and consideration from most distinguished personages, I certainly would have reason to be very satisfied for I am abashed by all they do for me and the opinion of me they have kindly conceived, no doubt because of my label [ed. as Vicar General of Matseille]. Since the beginning of January, I have not dined three times at the house, I do not know when all these goings on will finish but I am engaged again until Thursday and on that day, it will be with the Cardinal of whom I have spoken to you. I do not know in whose company I shall find myself at his house. We’ll see. But that is not why I am here and I am utterly wearied by the delay which our affair is suffering.

 Letter to Henri Tempier, 13 January 1826, EO VII n 218

 Judge for yourself how resigned I need to be to bear with patience the sight of myself here going from one engagement to another, from dinner with his Eminence to that of His Excellency, from Cardinals to Ambassadors, from Monseigneurs to Ministers, from Prelates to Dukes, while my whole, dear family is in the field, at grips with hell, giving themselves over to strenuous toil, to all manner of hardships and pains. I can only offer to God my boredom ….

Letter to Marius Suzanne, 25 January 1826, EO VII n 220

 

“If the barrenness of busyness takes over, the fire of prayer goes out”     G. Carey

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1 Response to I CAN ONLY OFFER TO GOD MY BOREDOM…

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    After reading this mornings reflection and pondering on what prayer looks like in my every day life I realised that my ‘prayer’ life was still changing and evolving. I thought of a woman at my church, “C”, who was very active in a few ministries and in particular the choir. C, a very intelligent woman worked at her job, travelled, seemed always to be incredibly busy, loved people and especially she loved God – indeed her being seemed to be steeped in the love of God. Sometimes I would go to church early to set up and prepare for Mass and I would see her off to the side quietly praying before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. Then she would get up and go to practice with the choir for 3/4 of an hour before Mass. It seemed to be a part of her regular practice and I would always note it. C became even more involved than before, giving of herself as Chair of our Parish Council. I notice that she also finds time now between Choir practice but before Mass begins to come out among the people in the pews to greet and speak with them in an involved way. She seems to be bringing that quiet time with God with her as she comes out into the pews to meet with us – it is not a part of her job but rather who she is.

    Before Christmas Frank offered us the opportunity to “go deeper” by using the writings of Eugene, which for a variety of reasons I decided to try. Some of the days were ‘boring’ on the face of it, as Eugene went from church to church and spent his time visiting Cardinals and Archpriests, coming up with ideas to shorten lengthy processes within the Church. He was making the best of it in a way as he continued to love his ‘sons’, his family back in France and to meet with them and God daily in his Mass and what he was doing. He stuck with it, which in turn somehow gave me the courage to stick with my daily reflections and see what would come up in my own self. I could let the boredom of it to push me into giving up on a ‘nice’ structured reflection or I could allow God to draw me in even deeper and discover what changes could be brought about in myself and my daily life. That’s a little of what I see happening with Eugene, certainly in happening with “C” and also a little in my own ordinary days. They are pretty ordinary, but not barren, they are a little quieter.

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