The monasteries had been pioneers of education in Europe, this it was this concern for the youth that also motivated Eugene in his youth ministry.
Article 3. Once again, that is why the members of this Society engage as well in instructing youth about their religious duties in order to turn them away from vice and dissipation and to render them fit to fulfill fittingly the obligations that religion and society can legitimately expect of them in the various social positions they are destined to fill
1818 Rule, Part One, Chapter One. The ends of the Institute, §2. Missions, 78 (1951) p.13-14
With the fall of Napoleon, the monastic orders began to be restored, and the concern of Eugene was no longer necessary, except to learn from their example in their journey towards the ideal of the fullness of life in God.
I think of Eugene’s education during his exile which was mostly informal until he entered the Sulpician Seminary. The formula that he used with his Youth group was based on both – his experiences of being in exile and his return to France and then later his experiences of being a seminarian at St. Sulpice.
I recognize again how Eugene’s life was from then on a “response to” his experiences (different from living ‘in reaction to’ experiences that are not always good or life-giving).
For a moment I think of the scriptures that Jesus grew up with and of how we think of them now for there is the Old and New Testaments within which we have a ‘rule of life’. I have not thought of it in this light before. And I am reminded of the 12 Steps and Traditions of AA which were the framework of my life of sobriety. I am brought forward to the now and the Rule of Life that I use in my own life. The concerns arising from the first half of my life are no longer my current reality except that I learn from them as I too journey towards “the fullness of life in God”.
Today’s OMI Constitutions and Rules which were at first meant only for the members of the missionary congregation are now shared with other members of the Mazenodian Family. I am filled with wonder and gratitude as I begin my day, ready to walk through my day in the footsteps of St. Eugene and of his many sons and daughters.
Concern for Youth caught my attention, as one involved in secondary school education, almost my entire working life. Reflecting back on many years at age 77, I know that much was discombobulated from the time of my theological education at St Paul U 1963-1967, alongside, Vatican II, and when I began to teach in 1968, I almost did not recognize the type of student who were in our Catholic high schools. They are and were good people, but I sense that the beginning of alienation from the church began at this time, and for that I played a part unwittingly in trying to be too relevant etc. I will never advise going back to pre-Vat 2. In a sense we are in a new Babylonian exile at present, not knowing when, where and how a form of restoration will occur. Help us St Eugene with your cry for youth!
PS….leading Scripture programs now for 12 years, I see that the generations, now in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s are hungry for the primary source of all, Sacred Scripture. They feel they were robbed in their catechesis, but now take incredible delight in being before the Word of Gd!