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
Sons and daughters of Mary Immaculate…I sit here reading and rereading this, taking moments to simply allow the images and memories to pass before me. Witnessing the love of Eugene who says it all with a tender eloquence. I find there are tears welling up within me, as they do when we witness the love and marriage of a couple, there is a sharing, a connection to it all; the tears are but a release of emotion that runs too deep to express.
Tonight as we celebrate our filial devotion to Our Lady we will witness the commitments of 6 brothers and sisters becoming Oblate Associates of Lacombe Province and so my prayer of being today will be for them, in thanksgiving of and celebrating with. I sit, in the union of our shared hearts, allowing Eugene’s tender witness to run through and connect. I sit in oraison and share this most Happy Feast Day of our beloved mother, Mary Immaculate. May today be for each of you a wondrous living prayer of being.
Blessings to all in celebration… especially recent as well as upcoming new associates.
Happy Feast Day to All. Blessings
Belated is our message now, but no less grateful for the Commitment we made on this feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, December 8, 2014 as Oblate Associates. It was a true day of grace and deep joy. May we respond as generously to the needs of those marginalized as does God and Mary to our poverty. Belated Happy Feast Day to all.