In sending the first Missionaries to Notre Dame du Laus, Eugene wanted to make sure that there be no confusion as to the identity of this group. It was important that the diocesan authorities of Digne understood clearly that they were not receiving a group of men who were diocesan priests, but a group of religious with a definite spirit and outlook. Eugene thus sent this description to the Vicar General to ensure the necessary clarity on the vocation of the Missionary:
We need men who are detached, zealous for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, in a word, intent on following and practising the evangelical counsels. Without this, little or no good can be expected of them.
They were not going to Laus just to ensure the day-to-day running of a church, but they went to make of this a center of permanent mission. The pilgrims who came would undergo a concentrated experience of what usually happened on the longer parish missions. Whatever were the goals of the parish missions the same had to be applied in Laus on an ongoing basis.
In the winter months, when there were no pilgrims, the Missionaries would go out to preach intense parish missions in the surrounding villages. They were never to forget that their identity was MISSIONARY:
The missions are the apostolic work par excellence.
Letter to M. Arbaud, Vicar General of Digne, January 1819, O.W. XIII n.22
Today we must never forget this important principle: the ministry of the Mazenodian family is not one of maintenance, but of being missionary. While being at the service all, our major focus is not towards the “already-saved”, but of reaching out to those who have not been touched by the Kingdom of God. They were, and will always be, the “most abandoned” for Eugene.
A church of dialogue in the contemporary world… a church, taking on the mission of Jesus, which is in the world not to judge humanity, but to love it and to save it. Cardinal Claudio Hummes
Both yesterday and todays readings speak to me of letting go – a vital part of that “all for God”. Perhaps it is because of what is happening in and around me but I seem to be experiencing that call to let go of many things on various levels – particular those things which are comfortable and easy to hold on to and get distracted with. A few of the lines even seem to “shout out” to me and I reflect that even though I am not home and my access to the internet is not always available the message keeps coming in a myriad of ways with the people around me. Right now I am a wee bit grateful that is time to run for breakfast and a meeting. How awesome is our God who finds ways to continue to speak and be heard no matter how we/I might try to run.
This sense of being sent as missionary and a part of religious family is the key to the de Mazenodian ministry of today. And they were sent not as one lone soldier but as a community/de Mazenodian Family. And with community (broad understanding of community, comes community life and mutual responsibilities which support each other along the way. There would be no Oblate ministry with-out the mission with in the community and from there we go forth.
In looking at N.D. de Laus, we see not only God’s ministry at shrines taking place, but also our many retreat centres. Let’s continue to look at these early writings to see if there are not truths that can be studied and readdressed and embodied for the 21 Century.