What did the newly-formed group of Missionaries do on 25 January 1816? A few weeks’ before, Eugene had written to Henri Tempier about his program for this day:
At this meeting we will draw up the Rule which we will have to follow.
We will confer on the manner in which we will carry out our good work.
We will help each other mutually with advice and with all that the good God will inspire in each of us for our common sanctification.
We will then issue our first declaration for the edification of the Church and of the people. This will be a decisive step.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 13 December 1815, O.W. VI n.7
After nearly 3 years of working with his youth congregation members, Eugene knew how essential it was to have a Rule to keep the group together and moving in the same direction. For him a Rule was much more than a book of regulations to ensure the efficient functioning of a group: a Rule was the putting into words of the ideal that inspired the group, the vision which was to guide their daily actions, and the means to achieve their ideals.
Later, Eugene was to charge Henri Tempier with the drawing up of a more definitive Rule:
… Busy yourself with our Statutes. … Spend two hours every day at this occupation. … Read again St. Philip of Neri and the Petition that we have presented to the Vicars General…
Letter to Henri Tempier, 15 December 1816, O.W. VI n.16
And so starts community living. What Eugene has given to us held true back when he founded the Oblates and of course still holds true for all of us today. Wisdom and grace handed down from God through Eugene and each other, then and now. Working together, with each other – that is how each of us, individually will come home to God. It is all through community that we will attain the sainthood that we strive for. How could we ever say anything but “yes” to his call?