Writing about the death of Father Marcou, Eugene had recalled the association at the Aix seminary founded by Eugene as a young priest:
Beginning in 1812, I had introduced to this seminary where I made my annual retreat, the zealous association which I had known in the seminary in Paris. The association was continued in the seminary in Aix. Marcou was too fervent not become a member. He performed intelligently and successfully the task which is imposed on each member of the association. He achieved greater results than all the others put together. Several seminarians told me that it was due to his resourceful charity that they did well in the seminary.
Diary of 20 August 1838, E.O. XIX
Eugene’s conviction about the Church’s need for good priests was expressed in his participation, when he was studying for the priesthood in Paris, in the highly secret Pious Association of the seminary that aimed at the promotion of the spiritual progress of its members and, through them, of the whole seminary community. This association significantly molded Eugene’s future approach and methodology in working with groups and especially in forming the Oblates. Its aim was to form a small group of people who, while working at their own transformation, would quietly have a strong transforming influence on the whole community like yeast in dough. (cf https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=117
“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.” Viktor E. Frankl
An interesting thing about yeast – it is not noticeable in the finished product – it is only if it is missing that one would think to ask if something happened to the yeast. Or like a person who organizes a great event. If all goes smoothly then organizer is rarely noticed but if anything is missing or has gone awry it then falls on the organizer, the coordinator. Teachers, leaders, shepherds, guides and friends.
“Its aim was to form a small group of people who, while working at their own transformation, would quietly have a strong transforming influence on the whole community like yeast in dough.” It is only with one that we have the other. “Be in order to do”. That phrase has become a quiet mantra within me.
Eugene began with his youth group, which in time grew to more than a hundred, and then with his society, his congregation which grew to numbers in the thousands and were all over the world. He shared his spirit and way of living, way of being with many of us throughout the world. I think of R 37a and then idly wonder how many Oblate Associates there are, quietly going about their lives and transforming themselves and others in ways to subtle to be noticed. The yeast as a model. Even today I think of my daily prayer over the years: “God make me little, ordinary; make me hidden; make me a lamp to my neighbours’ feet.” The image not so powerful as the yeast but similar. “Its aim was to form a small group of people who, while working at their own transformation, would quietly have a strong transforming influence on the whole community like yeast in dough.” That one sentence a beautiful description of what oblation looks like, indeed of Oblates.
Interesting to compare this successful approach to the very similar model adopted by Lenin and Trotsky that failed utterly.