THE EXTERIOR CULT OFFERED TO STATUES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN FAR EXCELS IN POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WHICH IS GIVEN TO OUR LORD IN THE DIVINE EUCHARIST

I went to visit the Aygalades church. Proal [ed. the pastor] was in heaven to be able to show me the magnificence of the throne of the Blessed Virgin for the month of May. There is as well the Blessed Virgin’s statue placed on the altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved; never was an altar decorated in this manner for the solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Candles and flowers begin on the sanctuary floor and rise to the inordinate height at which the statue is placed.
This kind of decoration has caught on throughout the diocese. I do not think it can be tolerated. It will be one of the first things I will reform. My perception is that little by little the exterior cult offered to statues of the Blessed Virgin far excels in pomp and circumstance that which is given to Our Lord in the divine Eucharist. This is true for processions and for feasts.
It is a long time now that I have been scandalized by this impropriety which is pushed to excess by the mania that prevails in this region always to want to outdo one’s neighbour. They basically love to make a show. That is alright but they must not stray from the fundamental spirit of our holy faith.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 18 May 1837, EO XVIII

Eugene’s devotion never stopped at Mary – she was the one who accompanied him in his discipleship of Jesus Christ. It is always about God first.

This entry was posted in WRITINGS. Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to THE EXTERIOR CULT OFFERED TO STATUES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN FAR EXCELS IN POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WHICH IS GIVEN TO OUR LORD IN THE DIVINE EUCHARIST

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen”

    It is Mary who accompanies us as Frank has said; from her, with her we find a way of ‘being’ on our journey, just as we do with the Saints, with St. Eugene and with each other.

    I think of how Eugene de Mazenod sought out other like-minded priests to join with him in his work, in his service, in his way of giving his all to God. He continues to invite all of us who are called by God to a particular way of living – Eugene shares with us his experience of God and invites us to join him; all so that other might come to know God. His whole life was about sharing his experience of God. “She received Christ in order to share him with all the world, whose hope he is. In her we recognize the model of the Church’s faith and of our own.” (C10)

    “I love you, I have called you by name and you are mine…” This is the truth for all of us. God – our beginning and end. This is how we live, how we are led and what we share along the way.

    I am thankful to know and love Mary, our Mother of God; I am so grateful that I continue to get to know better St. Eugene de Mazenod and all the members of his family. I am grateful to be able to share joyfully in this particular way of living and being which is my journey in life.

Leave a Reply to Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate Cancel reply

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