I WILL HAVE THE CONSOLATION OF LEAVING BEHIND ME A PHALANX OF GOOD MISSIONARIES

When Eugene died there were 414 Oblates (6 Bishops, 267 priests, 88 brothers) spread around the world. In 1854 he had written about this:

“I will have the consolation of leaving behind me a phalanx of good missionaries who spend their lives in extending the kingdom of Jesus Christ and weaving a crown for themselves to wear in glory. You would not believe the joy that this thought gives me.
I feel that I will continue to live through you, that I will continue to gain merit by your works. Death, which is approaching, will be sweet for me”

(E. de Mazenod to the Oblates of St. Boniface, 26 May 1854 in O.W. II n. 193)

Eugene continues to live through each one of us in our mission!

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1 Response to I WILL HAVE THE CONSOLATION OF LEAVING BEHIND ME A PHALANX OF GOOD MISSIONARIES

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    Last Tuesday Fr. Joseph J. Devlin OMI died, and yesterday Fr. J. Lorne MacDonald, OMI died. Two of those “good missionaries who spend their lives in extending the kingdom of Jesus Christ and weaving a crown for themselves to wear in glory.” Eugene was there to greet them I am sure. Knowing them both only a little, I nevertheless have come to realise all that they gave of themselves, gave of their very lives for God and were indeed filled with the Spirit of Eugene.

    “I will have the consolation of leaving behind me a phalanx of good missionaries who spend their lives in extending the kingdom of Jesus Christ and weaving a crown for themselves to wear in glory. You would not believe the joy that this thought gives me. I feel that I will continue to live through you, that I will continue to gain merit by your works. Death, which is approaching, will be sweet for me.” The love of Eugene for his children, never more evident than in these words.

    There is a small echo of sadness as I sit here and contemplate Eugene’s words. I shall never be a mother, even as he was a father. I shall not pass on to others my genes, my heart which loves so greatly, my spirit which God has made so passionate even as he has gentled it like a soft wind. I will not leave behind me a great army of any sort, nothing except for maybe some remembered touches. When my body dies it will cease to take a space, a place in this world and all will be as if I had never been. Like a very small speck in time. It is sobering and humbling and I find myself turning even deeper into the embrace of God. I think of the words of Psalm 139 which were read at another’s funeral the other day. Here I find the consolation that my spirit seeks. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in m mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I thank you my most precious and wondrous God. As I begin this day, I find myself echoing Eugene’s very words “…you would not believe the joy that this thought gives me.”

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