Eugene was in Paris precisely because some of the priests of Aix were attacking the Missionaries of Provence and he needed support to counteract this and to ensure the survival of his missionary community that was doing so much good in Provence among the youth, the inhabitants of the poor villages, and those who came to the Church of the Mission to find meaning in their lives. Ironically, by reaching out to the people abandoned by the structures of the church in Aix, Eugene and the Missionaries were helping the whole church of Aix and the pastors who were not in a position of reaching all of their flock.
Certain priests did not see the situation in this light and felt threatened in their authority, hence they turned against the Missionaries in a malicious and deceitful way, and influenced the opinions of some of the “upper-class” of the city. Eugene is angry because they fail to see the wonderful fruits being produced, and become like canker, a plant infection that destroys the good leaves.
Deceitful or malicious priests are the great wound of the Church. Let us do all that we can to lessen this consuming canker by distancing ourselves by our attitude and our behaviour; we must not be afraid to be singled out for this.
Were we to behave like them, they would be our friends. On those terms, I prefer to have them as adversaries and slanderers.
Eugene encourages his Missionaries to remain firm in the storm:
Saints have had to put up with this before our time. Let us imitate them and rejoice to be treated like them.
Venerable Paul, of whom I spoke a little while ago, wrote one day to one of his friends, at a time when he was much opposed: “Oh God! how the demons rage and what a tumult is raised by evil tongues! I do not know which side to turn and God knows in what a state I am… Patience, we must pray hard because storms arise on all sides and contrary winds blow from all quarters. May God be blessed!”
… So speak the saints, so they behave. On they went and prayed, letting others say what they would. Let us do the same!
Letter to Henri Tempier, 12 August 1817, O.W. VI n. 20
When I read this, and the Missionaries thrust to the most abandoned, I think of the Pew report and the citing of the former Catholics who have left the canonical church. A message?
There are some mornings when I see the title and want to give it a miss. So much easier to move on to the next one which might aid and abet me in feeling good about myself.
I think for a moment of the storm which seems to be brewing within the Church, not just with bishops and priests but within all of her children; not just over ‘there’ (some other place, some other people) but in one way or another right here and especially within my own heart.
How do I ‘remain firm in the storm’? It will not be by listening only to myself, or praying to myself, but rather and hopefully by looking at myself and all others through the eyes of the crucified Saviour. By standing at the foot of the cross with the Marys and the many other saints along side of them. By praying to God and with others who have gone before me just as Eugene was doing with Venerable Paul.
Love demands nothing less than that: God’s love for me and every other person that I meet on the journey. Not in a way that judges and condemns, or that is an empty and false piety. It takes truth, humility and daring courage.
That is just what one of the secrets that is hidden within the gift of oblation and which the Constitutions and Rules give living expression to…