The Missionaries suffered opposition in the good work that they were doing because of a lack of clear and inspired leadership in the diocese. Eugene indicated how different things would have been had there been a charismatic leader to defend them against those who:
neutralize all the efforts inspired by our zeal and prevent, in the name of God whom they represent, all that God demands of us and that we might have done under the protection of a Saint Charles, a Saint Francis of Sales or of many others…
Ah! if once and for all God granted us in some of the dioceses where we are a bishop such as César de Bus had the happiness to find at Aix and at Avignon, one the disciple of St. Charles, the other companion of St Philip Neri, who can say what wonders would be achieved by our little Society?
I have a feeling about this, something of an instinct within me. But it seems that the Lord contents himself with showing us the possibility while people take away from us almost any hope.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 15 August 1822, EO VI n 86
It was in this context and for this reason that Eugene was hoping for the appointment of his uncle, Fortuné, to the Diocese of Marseille
“Rough waters are truer tests of leadership. In calm water every ship has a good captain.” — Swedish proverb
This morning I began with the writing from Richard Rohr, and then this blog. It was a moment of joy to begin my day. I know what I know, no matter what anyone might say. And I think it was most certainly the same with Eugene and his Oblates, then and now, and everyone who is a part of this Mazenodian Family. We who are all called in some way.
I think in some ways it is the same today. All of us want more, we search and we hope and we pray. We want the leadership, for support, for guidance (can I use the word temporal here to indicate more than just the spiritual guidance which comes directly from God, Our Lady, etc). I find myself often, not always, often wanting confirmation or perhaps reafirmation of what I am trying to do, how I am trying to live, my passion and vision of living out the mission given to me by Eugene. I find myself struggling, with myself – who I am and I often think this is where perseverence comes in, and with others. Those rough waters force us to decide – do we follow our hearts, God who is at the core of our being, or do we back away. It is too late for me to back away – I can only go forward, sometimes slowly and sometimes running. Once we experience that love and sense of our inner most being it is already to late to turn away. We can only persevere – as did Jesus, to death – those little deaths of ourselves.
Today I shall pray for all of us, our struggles with our various levels of leadership, that I will persevere – in peace and in love – not in anger or hostility of any kind. Let that be my lived prayer today. I am sure that at the ‘end of the day’ God will give me all that I truly want and need.
“the more thing change the more the stay the same.”
So this is the reason for the religious in the church.
We are called to be faithful to our CC;RR, the General Chapters and our
lived tradition. As we do this, that is the de Mazenodian family, the light
of the spirit will shine forth and all will know of their dignity and together
we will share in the presence of the Divine.