… and we prayed the divine Master that, if it were his holy will to bless our undertaking, to lead our present companions and those who would be associated with us in the future, to appreciate the full value of this oblation of one’s entire self to God, when one wanted to serve him unreservedly and to consecrate one’s life to the spread of his holy Gospel and the conversion of souls. Our wishes were granted.
Rambert I, p. 187
“Our wishes were granted.“ We will see how, two years later in 1818, all the members of the group of Missionaries would form themselves into a religious congregation and make a public act of oblation through the profession of the evangelical counsels.
“Our wishes were granted.“ Since then over 14 000 Oblates have made their oblation for life in the Congregation. Thousands of laity have made some form of commitment to living oblation in their own situations in their families, work and in sharing the Oblate ministry. Forty four religious congregations or secular institutes of consecrated life have come into existence around the inspiration of Eugene’s charism. Oblation certainly is the heart and the bond of the Mazenodian family.