The letter from the Diocese of Digne offering the care of Notre Dame du Laus to the Missionaries stated that two priests would be needed. In the summer they would devote their whole time to the many pilgrims who came every day, and during the winter, they would evangelize the neighboring villages.
Based on the Mémoires of Marius Suzanne, Rey describes the discernment around the requests:“The Founder evaluated them. To avoid uncertainty, he decided to consult the companions that God has given him. He gathered around him the six priests that make up the small Society. He read them the letter from M. Arbaud, reading slowly and stopping at the most significant passages he urged them to give their opinion.
He was careful to point out that acceptance of this foundation would lead to huge consequences. Among others, that of the transformation of the Society, which would cease to be diocesan, and which could continue to exist only if all members committed themselves to it by religious vows.
This proposal did not alarm anyone, says Father Suzanne, and all gave their assent with enthusiasm to the foundation of the House of Our Lady of Laus.” (Rey I, p. 228.)
Eugene was thus able to write to the Diocesan authorities of Digne:
… if you think that the plan you have thought of might gain some glory for God and contribute to the salvation of souls, I am totally disposed…
Letter to M. Arbaud, 23 August 1818, EO XIII, n 16
Eugene did not go ahead by evaluating the request and then making a decision on his own but rather consulted his companions – patiently, prayerfully, urging them to respond with their opinions and to ensure they understood more fully he pointed out the changes would come about with this request and the change from being a ‘diocesan’ community to being a community of men who committed themselves. I find myself grateful for the image this is painting on my heart.
A couple of images born out of Marius Suzanne’s description of the whole process – a very ‘real’ image of the founding community – not just Eugene striding ahead with a few men following behind him – but rather a group of them moving together – shared purpose – a discernible unity of mind and spirit. I think of an old hymn – ‘We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord… And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.’ The communities would be smaller each of them but united in spirit, in love – easily recognizable as being of the same community.
The other image – that of a General Chapter – an Oblate General Chapter – from start with the discernment to finish with going out to live the realities and spirit led movement of the Chapter – always a ‘community’ led by the Spirit. I look at the discernment process that Fr. Suzanne describe in his memoirs and the image is of a first Chapter – one that will set the tone for General Chapters which will come less than 10 years later. A missionary discernment indeed.
There is within me this morning a small sparkle of excitement, a small smile coming out from deep within me – the joy of recognition. There is a sense of ‘owning’ something rather than just seeing it from afar. It is as if my heart is preparing to take an active role in the coming celebrations in November – fully engaged. There is something deeply personal here to be found in the communal.