Lubowicki writes: “At seventeen, Eugene arrived at Palermo where he stayed for four years. That is where he acquired his convictions concerning the Immaculate Conception and the Christocentric aspect of Marian devotion. While he was at the seminary and the question of the Immaculate Conception would arise, he would remember Palermo. In the margin of his notebook with regard to this dogma, on the page containing the testimony of tradition as given by his professor, the seminarian added:
The Archbishops of Palermo and all the officials of this great city renew every year the oath to shed the last drop of their blood to uphold this truth.
Traité des péchés, p. 3., Ms.: Oblate General Archives, DM-III 4.
His other memory deals with the feast known as “The Triumph of the Redemption”. In his Diary of Emigration, two pages are filled with the description of the procession in which among the New Testament personages Mary is ever present beside Christ or associated with him. It seems that Eugene was accustomed to seeing her in the perspective of salvation.”
Casimir Lubowicki, “Mary” in the Dictionary of Oblate Values, http://www.omiworld.org/dictionary.asp?v=9&ID=1056&let=M&pag=4
“We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor his Mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek – Jesus, her Son.” Saint Louis Marie de Montfort
It is all such a mystery in some ways. Although not overt my devotion and relationship with Mary upon reflection seems always to have been connected with the very heart of Jesus.
Yesterday in a small church in eastern New York we all joined together and consecrated ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (in response to the request from Pope Francis). As we did this together I thought about this place and how we have been spending our time reflecting not just on Eugene’s devotion to Mary Immaculate but also our own love and reliance of Mary in our lives. That we would happen on a church that would call me back to this place which I found I was missing after only a couple of days was I am sure simply another gift from God.
“Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us to accomplish your designs for peace upon the world. O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, teach us how to allow the Heart of Jesus to rule and triumph in us and around us, as it has ruled and triumphed in you.” As I joined with the rest of the church in this simple consecration I thought too of the Act of Consecration that a few of us Oblate Associates made with Oblates of Mary Immaculate at last February’s Oblate Community Days in BC. This coming together in community in the act of prayer, through Our Lady, through the very heart of Jesus… I thought of oraison and felt connected in a way to all of you. Small quiet hidden joy, just with that small thought.
The colours of fall were nice, the trip a pleasant break and change of schedule. But I found myself missing my routine of spending time in this place each morning and then returning for a few minutes later in the day. Today is our Thanksgiving, and it is such a small thing but I give thanks to be back home, to be under the guidance of Mary, our mother who brings each of us home to Jesus. I give thanks and I think of Mary’s song: “my soul proclaims the glory of the Lord, and my spirit exalts in God my Savior…..”