HE LAUNCHED OUT ON THE MISSIONS WHERE HIS LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR HIS NEIGHBOR CAUSED HIM TO WORK WONDERS

On the anniversary of Father Marcou’s death, Eugene’s reminiscences led him to recall his priestly ministry

He had scarcely been raised to the priesthood when he launched out on the missions where his love for God and for his neighbour caused him to work wonders. Alas! It must be said that it also caused him to do imprudent things. He soon wore himself out by forcing himself to undertake tasks in the diocese of Nimes where my supervision could not moderate his zeal. In fact that zeal was encouraged rather than moderated by the example of the Superior I had assigned to him, and whose wisdom nevertheless equals his piety and his talents. But the sight the deplorable condition of these poor Catholics in the midst of the seductions of Protestantism, and the blessings which the Lord was pleased to pour on their ministry, caused them to overstep the bounds of moderation. The task was too great and Fr. Marcou’s health suffered as a result. Besides, the lack of attention on the part of the nursing staff in Nimes seminary where he went for treatment, was his undoing. They poisoned his system by giving him milk to drink. This accident of fate worsened his illness and made it incurable.

Diary of 20 August 1838, E.O. XIX

 The Oblate Historical Dictionary gives further details:

Father Courtès wrote a brief obituary for Father Marcou. After giving a few details about the life and the illness of Father Marcou, he concluded with these words: “He was a man of ordinary talents, but full of humility and dedication. He was capable of rendering the most valuable assistance. In a spirit of regularity and obedience that was wholly edifying, he carried out the duties we were then obliged to fulfill at the general hospital at Aix. He took part in several parish missions… Father Marcou’s education was inadequate, but he had the eloquence of the heart. His desire to be useful to the Church and to us drove him to exhaust himself during a retreat that he was giving in Nîmes and the spitting of blood that began at that time, aggravated by a stomach ailment, brought on by a kind of accidental poisoning by people who served him a milk potion in a bowl containing verdigris [a green or greenish blue poisonous pigment resulting from the action of acetic acid on copper] led him to the grave…”

Yvon Beaudoin, “Marcou, Jacques Joseph” in the Historical Dictionary I, http://www.omiworld.org/dictionary.asp?v=5&vol=1&let=M&ID=806

 

“Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine.”   Hosea Ballou

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1 Response to HE LAUNCHED OUT ON THE MISSIONS WHERE HIS LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR HIS NEIGHBOR CAUSED HIM TO WORK WONDERS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    This morning – after feeling like we had exhausted Jacques Marcou and so re-reading, looking for something new I came across “In a spirit of regularity and obedience that was wholly edifying, he carried out the duties we were then obliged to fulfill at the general hospital at Aix.” It was not so much what Yves Beaudoin was saying here as about practices of the time and what was a normal part of their missionary duties of that time, but rather about be open to the Spirit of God to speak to us in any manner of things, including texts that we might have read many times. I have read Beaudoin’s piece on Jacques Marcou a few times now but not ‘noticed’ this sentence before.

    I can remember one of our older Oblates sharing with us on the occassion of our February 17th prayer service that he started to read, to reread the Constitutions and Rules from the beginning many many years ago and that he had gotten no further ahead than the Preface. At the time hearing him I was a little awed that anyone could find daily nourishment and material for reflection and living in reading the same thing over and over. And although awed it was not something that I considered doing, but I was at least able to recognize the grace of who he was and how he lived.

    There is a small message here for me this morning. I need to remain open to what God puts before me, how the Spirit of God comes to me. Each morning on wakening I say the ‘Our Father’ – “give us this day our daily bread…” This is part of the daily nourishment that I need and that will contribute to the kind of life I lead. This is why I come here. Thank you most loving God for this day and for all of the ways you will speak with me today. I eagerly await, actually I look forward to our conversations over the course of this day.

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