IT WAS FROM THE FOOT OF THE ALTAR THAT THEY WERE GOING OUT FOR FRESH CONQUESTS

Anniversary of the approval of the institute by the Holy See… The second renewal prescribed by the Chapter was carried out immediately afterwards, in my presence, by all the priests and oblates [ed. Eugene always referred ot the scholastics as “oblates”]. The novices were present at the ceremony…. Once one has made one’s renewal kneeling down before the exposed Blessed Sacrament with candle in hand, one remains standing in a circle around the altar.

Since our approbation by the Pope, on February 17 1826, it has always been customary for Oblates to renew their vows on that day

The ceremony this morning was not only imposing, as it always is, but moving, I would add again “as it always is”. This was the mutually shared feeling when we met together in the community room.

It was to Jesus the Savior that the Missionaries, his co-operators, came to offer thanksgiving for the success of their missions and to ask for blessings on the ones they were about to undertake.

What was special and I could not help remarking on it in the few words I usually deliver on days like this, was that it was from the foot of the altar that they were going out for fresh conquests, those same men who had come to lay there their acts of thanksgiving for the wonderful successes of the missions they had just accomplished. What blessings in fact had they gathered in the missions, which have just finished in Fontvieille and Entraigues! The Lord will accompany his envoys to Maussane and Mane, and he will bless their labours as he has always blessed all those we have undertaken in his name.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 17 February 1837, EO XVIII

We too are invited each day to bring our daily successes to the Savior and to renew our trust in his presence to accompany us in our difficult moments.

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1 Response to IT WAS FROM THE FOOT OF THE ALTAR THAT THEY WERE GOING OUT FOR FRESH CONQUESTS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    This morning I am unable to separate the Cross from the Altar – the whole idea of sacrifice that is given and made in love. With and from here our oblations are made and renewed.

    This is how we come together as community within our parishes especially on Sundays. This is our “mutually shared feeling when we meet together in our community room”, in our churches and chapels, our hospital beds and wherever we might be. This is how and where we are lifted up and renewed. This is why together we give thanks for what we have received even as we are given new life in the Eucharist;
    and then allow ourselves to be sent out again, into the world to share that with our families, colleagues, fellow students and with those we meet in any variety of ways.

    This is much more than planning to ‘do’; rather it is a way of being. I think of how this coming Sunday we will meet again within our parish communities, families coming together to celebrate and give thanks and to be sent out once again; how this is and will be our ‘daily bread’. And I think of the extra portion that we will share as we take part in our monthly, communal ‘Oraison’. It is here too that in the presence of our Beloved, we will offer our daily successes to our crucified Saviour, trusting and believing that he will be with us as we are sent out.

    Our Oraison where we will meet each other in prayer, past and present all meeting together in the heart of our Saviour.

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