200 YEARS AGO:  THE CONSTITUTIONS AND RULES SET OUT A PRIVILEGED MEANS FOR EACH OBLATE TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS CHRIST.

Throughout the Rule Eugene aimed at communicating that which imbued him to act and the attitude that was particular to this group of missionaries. By means of the Rule as a guide and instrument of formation he aimed at communicating the spirit that was to imbue their life and ministry.

Today, Constitution 163 invites the members of the Mazenodian family to continue being inspired by Eugene’s spirit as enshrined in the Constitutions and Rules:

The Constitutions and Rules set out a privileged means for each Oblate to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. They are inspired by the charism lived by the Founder and his first companions; also, they have received the approval of the Church. Thus, they allow each Oblate to evaluate the quality of his response to his vocation and to become a saint.
This entry was posted in WRITINGS. Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to 200 YEARS AGO:  THE CONSTITUTIONS AND RULES SET OUT A PRIVILEGED MEANS FOR EACH OBLATE TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS CHRIST.

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    I began with googling a few words – like ‘enshrine’ and ‘privilege’ for they seemed old, outdated and had connotations that I was not comfortable with. I struggled a little as I reflected but that gave way because I want to espouse these same Constitutions and Rules with other members of the Mazenodian Family; wants to put on these expressions of Eugene’s spirit in such a way as to permeate my life, my way of living.

    I think of a diagram that we are journeying with on our course. I am reminded of ‘Eugene de Mazenod… Communicates his Spirit’ – the beginning of my formation and how at first I struggled with any mention of ‘constitutions and rules’ as I would take a paragraph or a section each day and pray with it, reflect on it. Humble beginnings. I called it a grace and it was/is. And now those same Constitutions and Rules – at the centre of that diagram – with Eugene and his spirit, with the Cross, with our crucified Saviour and all else emanating out from that.

    My struggle with the wording is gone, dissipated into the grace that we share with each other and with all those we meet. These precious Constitutions and Rules which call and renew and remind us of our ongoing response to our vocations. I think back to the first time I heard the words “we must lead men to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.” I came alive hearing those words for they were a part of the secret desires that lay deep within my heart. I did not know back then where those words were printed – what they were a part of.

    I look at the words that have risen from deep within me – every bit as particular as ‘enshrined’ and ‘privileged’. I recently shared with a friend that I want to “put on Christ” and looking at that this morning I see how my response to my vocation as a member of the Mazenodian Family, as an Oblate Associate leads me to this. The unwarranted grace that is the heart’s framework in the Constitutions and Rules.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *