PAPAL APPROBATION: RECOGNIZING OUR SUPERIOR GENERAL AS OUR SPECIAL STRENGTH AND SUPPORT

POPE LEO XII
FOR FUTURE REMEMBRANCE OF THE MATTER 
Finally, since the exercise of supreme authority in this Congregation serves as its special strength and support and since also from its very beginning, and in conformity with its Rules, this same Charles Joseph Eugene de Mazenod has been entrusted with, it, We, in view of his personal merits, by the bestowal of Our own approval, maintain him as its Superior General. 
These things We decree and sanction, and it is Our will that this Letter be now and in the future firm, valid, and efficacious, and that it possess and obtain its plenary and entire effects, and be of the fullest benefit in everything and in every place, both now and in the future, to all those to whom it is addressed.
…Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, under the Fisherman’s Ring, on the twenty first day of March, 1826, in the third year of Our Pontificate.
Pope Leo XII

Apostolic Letter of Approbation, 21 March 1826, Missions O.M.I., n° 280 (1952), pp. 118, 138.

 Today the successor of Saint Eugene continues this ministry:

The Superior General is the Congregation’s living bond of unity. The example of his life, his apostolic zeal and the affection he holds for all Oblates stir the faith and charity of communities to ever greater efforts in response to the Church’s needs.
As the successor of St. Eugene de Mazenod, the Superior General will continually keep alive the missionary zeal at the heart of our charism, helping to break new ground at the service of evangelization.

CC&RR, Constitution 133

 

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”   John Quincy Adams

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1 Response to PAPAL APPROBATION: RECOGNIZING OUR SUPERIOR GENERAL AS OUR SPECIAL STRENGTH AND SUPPORT

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    There comes a time in our lives when we have begun to set aside in our lives the great need to be right, to be better than, to be first, etc. There comes a time to ‘let go of ourselves ‘ and to trust. There is a grace in all of this.

    I found myself a little surprised this morning as I reflected and thought about Jesus and the first apostles and the trust and faith that they needed to follow Jesus and be with him – up to his crucifixion and then after his resurrection and his ascension into heaven. Love, trust, obedience. It was the same with Eugene and those who joined. I don’t imagine that he was the easiest person to follow and be with all the time, and yet there was a very real grace to be received there.

    The Superior General – in love – embraces us and supports us, helps to inspire, lead, nourish and as our gospels speak of shepherd us. I have a sense of the great burden this must at times be like. I guess I have to choose how I look at it. Please God let it be with love and trust and gratitude.

    The images I have this morning are of the towel and the basin, and of the Shepherd and his flock. It is not a power or control thing at all, but of nurturing and strength. I pause this morning to look at how I not only accept and follow where the Superior General is leading us, but also our Superiors, and our brothers and sisters.

    How open am I? How do I trust? And how do I inspire and lead? How am I a shephered at the same time as being shepherded?

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