THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD BY THE QUALITY OF HIS LIFE

Until now Eugene’s retreats were centred on himself and his own search for human and spiritual growth – all this for the benefit of his ministry to the most abandoned. Now, after six months of the existence of the Missionaries under his leadership, a new element emerged: he was accountable to his community for his conduct and example.

He understood that he had to be living according to the standards that he proposed to others. He had to lead by the quality of his life. If he was zealous, then the community would be zealous, whereas if he was lukewarm then he could expect the same from the others. He understood that where the superior is, there will be those entrusted to his care.

Up to now I could see myself as a private person, bound to yearn for his own salvation and do anything possible to reach it. That’s fine, but…
Now I have to make a very serious reflection, for my position has changed. Previously, if I were lazy and lukewarm, certainly it was the worse for me, but it was easy to remedy it, and the consequences were not serious for others. Today, if I am not fervent and holy, the works the Lord has confided to me will feel the effect, good will weaken, and I will be responsible for all the consequences of this disorder.
A powerful means to move me to renew myself in the spirit of my vocation and take efficacious measures to become holy.

Retreat Notes, July-August 1816, O.W. XV n 139

 

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1 Response to THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD BY THE QUALITY OF HIS LIFE

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:

    I am reminded of how Jesus died, not simply for God’s chosen people, that is the Jewish people, but also for the entire world as he sent/sends us out to all nations.

    A I sit and reflect with Eugene this morning I am reminded of his 1837 retreat notes in preparing to become the Bishop of Marseilles. “I must achieve my salvation through them…” A little further on: “I took up the missionary career, and nothing on earth could have persuaded me to become a parish priest. In consenting to be a bishop, I was consistent as I only wanted to be one in partibus, which offered me the double advantage of having no responsibility…” and “finally to procure for them all the means in my power to assure their salvation and lead them thus from the terrestrial fold, where God places them under my crook, to heaven where we must be reunited in God’s bosom.” Just as Eugene consented to the way he would lead his small society of priests as mentioned today, he also consented to God that he would lead all people he was sent to.

    “Evangelizare Pauperibus Misit Me: Pauperes Evangelizantur” Salvation does not come to us by receiving it and keeping it locked in our hearts for ourselves alone. Any ‘holiness’ that we might have comes from us sharing – with our lives – all that we receive from God.

    “We must lead all people to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and , finally, we must help them to become saints.” (The Preface from the 1825 Manuscript)

    This is how Eugene shares with us so that we too might ‘renew ourselves in the spirit of our vocation and take efficacious [effective, fruitful] measures to become holy.’

    This is how he inspires us to lead by the quality of our lives – sharing all with all.
    Eugene’s life – a continuous unfolding of love and enlarging the space of our hearts…

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