Within days of arriving at the seminary to begin his studies for the priesthood, Eugene wrote to his grandmother:
Up to now I can only speak of the life we are leading during the retreat, which is now unfortunately coming to an end. We are finishing tomorrow with a feast which fills the seminary with its fragrance and is proper to it. It is the feast of the Interior Life of the Holy Virgin, that is to say of all the virtues and the greatest marvels of the Almighty. What a lovely feast! And how fully I am going to celebrate with the most holy Virgin all the great things God did in her!
Oh, what an advocate at God’s side! Let us be dedicated to her; she is the glory of women. We profess that we wish to approach her Son only through her, and we look to receive everything from her holy intercession.
Letter to his grandmother, 18 October 1810, EO XIV n 29
His devotion to Mary was never divorced from Jesus. She was the marvelous instrument who testified to the wonders God worked in her and in humankind through the incarnation. With her example and intercession, she constantly focused him on Jesus.
“Woman, behold your son.”(John 19,25-27) “The words uttered by Jesus signify that the motherhood of her who bore Christ finds a ‘new’ continuation in the Church and through the Church, symbolized and represented by John. ” Pope John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, 24
“It is the feast of the Interior Life of the Holy Virgin…” I had to look this up, I had never heard of it. It is now called the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was the prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary that I prayed last Sunday at church. There is a tiny spark of joy that I want to share with St. Eugene as I tell him look at what we share and even in this one tiny small and insignificant thing that we share I see yet again the hand of God at work.
“…how fully I am going to celebrate with the most holy Virgin all the great things God did in her!” As I read and reread Eugene’s words I hear in him his own words for the beginning of the Magnificat and I find myself softly thinking of this wonderful prayer that I love so much. Then Frank seems to join Eugene as he writes: “She was the marvelous instrument who testified to the wonders God worked in her and in humankind through the incarnation. With her example and intercession, she constantly focused him on Jesus.” My heart now joins the song “…for the mighty Lord has done great things for me and holy is his name.”
It is perhaps a little fanciful but I can’t help imagining the sound if all who come here today allow their hearts to join in proclaiming the greatness of our God. A great chorus being sung by many throughout the day. Again the word oraison comes to mind and how we join in together, connecting in prayer. What might that sound like? I think of the symphony that Eugene conducted and listen to the underlying notes that are played over and over. What it might look like, and I think of the many tartans that different families have, and how this is a particular colour woven into the fabric of Oblate life. What does this look like in my life?
Thank Fr. Frank S, for such a wonderful way to keep me awake on our founder’s thoughts.
I joined the crew while at our demazenod experience once I learnt about Eugene Speaks to us. I rasily use some of the thoughts now in my homilies and I now have embarked on recruiting people to register soon when they enter our pre novitiate. That way am using it as a formation tool… Fr. Kennedy Sampa OMI. Zambia OMI Delegation.