WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE SUFFICIENTLY TO THANK GOD’S GOODNESS FOR HAVING GIVEN THEM TO US, FOR GOD ALONE INDISPUTABLY IS THEIR AUTHOR

On 17 February 1826, the Oblate Constitutions and Rules, had been approved by the Pope – the Church had recognized the hand of God in Eugene’s actions of bringing the Oblates to birth – and the Rule was the expression of God’s handiwork.

I said to myself while meditating on our Rules that we will never be able sufficiently to thank God’s goodness for having given them to us, for God alone indisputably is their author. The person who consigned them to writing does not recognize anything in them as coming from himself; so it is in full liberty that he passes judgment on them, as of a work which is outside of himself. But how can I even speak of judgment where the Church has spoken in the person of its head!
“We hereby with a ready and willing mind, establish it, and wish it to be known by the name of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, conceived without sin….We, with the plenitude of Our Apostolic Authority, approve and confirm its Constitutions…”
That is how Pope Leo XII put it, in the Apostolic Letters of institution. Judgment is thus rendered by infallible authority

Retreat notes, October 1831, EO XV n. 163

See https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=1260  Today we continue seeing Our Constitutions as belonging to the Church and not to us – we cannot make any changes unless the Church authorizes them.

An invitation to reflect on God’s presence in the Mazenodian vocation of each of us.

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1 Response to WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE SUFFICIENTLY TO THANK GOD’S GOODNESS FOR HAVING GIVEN THEM TO US, FOR GOD ALONE INDISPUTABLY IS THEIR AUTHOR

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    Again this morning some of the words leap off of the screen, each finding space with the others to be heard and taken into my thoughts. “God alone indisputably is their author”, “…Rule was the expression of God’s handiwork”, and “…God’s presence int he Mazenodian vocation of each of us”.

    Last week I began a second course in Oblate Studies called “Founders, Charisms, and their expressions in Constitutions and Rules”. I spent time during the week struggling to let go of my secret fortifications, barriers and walls that I had built up over my lifetime so that I could learn, take in and give place within me the reality that “Charisms” are the word of God, gifts of the Holy Spirit – quite specific gifts given to us – not for our own enhancement but rather for the service of the Church, of others. Deep, wrapped in the mystery of God.

    The course is about the religious, consecrated way of life and I struggled with that – having to let go of more barriers and fortified misconceptions within me – I am learning I told myself, not about me but rather about others, religious life, my beloved Oblates and the gift that they are to the Church, to the world – I am learning about my beloved Church and the mystery that she is. All of this given by God.

    The gift of all of this is that the more I learn, the more that I take in so as to have it become a part of myself, about God and the mystery of God, about the Church and the gift that she is to all of us, about the Oblates and the Mazenodian Family and the gift that we are to each other and with each other – the more I learn about who I am.

    I think of the ‘Mazenodian charism’ given to Eugene by the Holy Spirit and shared with us. And it brings me right back to God, God’s presence in my life, in every aspect of my life. God the author of my life. I suppose this all could have come about differently. But it has come about with the Author of Life giving me a wild and magnificent Mazenodian vocation. And as I study and learn, reflect and live I am so grateful that God chose for me to become a part of this ‘Mazenodian’ way of life, so grateful to receive such a magnificent and perfect gift. And for the ongoing gift of showing me the Church’s place in all of this and my place in her.

    Today, as I did yesterday, I go out to learn, to be ‘stretched’, to reflect and to give thanks.

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