1819 – The Marian sanctuary of Notre Dame du Laus is entrusted to the Missionaries as a place of permanent mission. During the warm months, the Missionaries welcomed pilgrims and preached the Gospel to them, while during the colder months they went to the surrounding villages to preach parish missions. This sanctuary was the first of 9 Marian shrines entrusted to the Oblates in France during Eugene’s lifetime
To this end, I invoke the intercession of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, daring to remind her in all humility, but with consolation, of the filial devotion of my whole life, and of the desire I have always had to make her known and loved, and to spread her devotion everywhere through the ministry of those whom the Church has given to me as children, who have had the same desire as myself…
Eugene de Mazenod’s will, 1 August 1854, E.O. XV n. 191
Sometimes I am struck by the sheer mystery of life in God, it takes on a new reality, so that with it and in it we become more alive and the physical is but a reflection of the spiritual. I do not always ‘understand’ it, but rather can just be and live in it. There are mixed elements of wonder and trust it. And the word gratitude comes to mind for above all of it there is basic, simple gratitude for this gift of life.
I look at Eugene’s oblation of himself to God – total and consuming while at the same time having such a beautiful devotion to Our Lady – there is not competition here, it is not one or the other, but both. I am reminded a bit of the Trinity – one God and yet three separate identities in one. I cannot explain it, I can simply ‘be’ in it. A little like life with Eugene, then and even still today. Eugene himself lives on somehow and not just in others. There is still yet to come a fullness of life that will only come with in death. Just as it is within each of us, as we daily die a little unto our selves, so we find ourselves becoming more and more alive.
“…the desire I have always had to make her known and loved, and to spread her devotion everywhere through the ministry of those whom the Church has given to me as children, who have had the same desire as myself…” My devotion has been quiet and almost hidden, this mother of mine. So I take the rest of the day to reflect on Eugene’s words for it has been in a way a little like that with me and those I love. There is at times a feeling of love, almost and dare I say it maternal love for those in my community and around me. “..through the ministry of those whom the Church has given to me as children, who have had the same desire as myself…” Wow. I thank God.