On February 12, 1840, the 91-year-old retired Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod became seriously ill. His nephew Eugene did not leave his bedside until his death on 22 February.
He later wrote that he mourned
the untimely death of my dear uncle. All has been written and printed about this blessed death, I do not have the courage to add anything, but the loss of this holy man has deeply affected my heart. One cannot replace such friends!
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, April 1840, EO XX
Eugene was deeply affected because he had had a deep friendship with his father’s brother. He was associated with his uncle during his childhood in Aix. Then they were together during part of the years of exile in Venice, Naples and Palermo. After Eugene’s return to France, Fortuné and Eugene lived under the same roof from 1817 to 1841 and worked together. It is thus easy to understand his grief
My thoughts go to the tomb where I just placed the precious remains of my venerable uncle. Yet a few years and I will go down into the same crypt to be placed beside him and our ashes will await there together for the great day of the glorious resurrection, as it is written on the stone which will cover both of us: Hic jacent, etc., expectantes beatam spem et adventum gloriae Magni Dei [ed. “Here lie, etc…. who await the blessed hope and the coming of the glory of our Great God.” -Titus 2:13]
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, April 1840, EO XX
For further details on Fortuné, see the article in the Historical Dictionary https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/mazenod-bishop-fortune-de/
How interesting and edifying it is to have read the story of Bishop Fortuné’s life – until now I have met him only in the light of Eugene but today the picture is fuller with the missing shades and colours which life uses to paint each one of us.
A small “aha” moment – we must then all have our own light that then later joins with the lights of others. It is together then that our lights become as one when we work and be together. There are small flashes of wonder and awe as I look more closely at Fortuné’s and Eugene’s life. Where did Eugene’s begin and Fortuné’s leave off? Both impossible and unnecessary to worry or spend time debating. Each nourished and accompanied the other.
Both men grew up and aged together in so many ways and each accomplished with the other that which would have been impossible to do and be on their own.
And as I write my mind flits back and forth from the article on Holiness that I have been trying to synthesize for a few days; and while I am unsure that I fully understand the process of synthesizing I do most definitely recognize the elements and facets of ‘holiness’ in both Fortuné and Eugene’s life. That light emanating from each of them has joined the light that emanates from the members of the Mazenodian Family since its inception.
I used to wonder what it meant when my friend would tell me that we are on ‘holy ground’. Another flash of brilliance as I begin to recognize that I now myself am standing there with that friend and so many more.
All this from within the heart of Jesus!