CC&RR, Constitution 6 In February 1814, the Pope was released from his imprisonment. Napoleon had expressly forbidden that the Pope pass through the city of Aix because he did not wish him to receive any popular acclamation. Nevertheless the people of Aix flocked to see him to express their solidarity with his suffering and their joy at his release. It was a dangerous gesture, in time of persecution, and hence Eugene gave himself a different identity in the letter and passed himself off as a woman. The narrative is quite long, but expresses the excitement of the first time that Eugene had any contact with the Pope:
Letter to Madame Ginod, 10 February 1814 (Paris, Arch, de la Sainte-Enfance). Forbin-Janson papers. This Mme. Ginod was evidently a fictitious addressee, used as a cover up for his friend, Forbin-Janson. Eugene’s “joy, love, and respect” for the welfare of the Pope was a sentiment that he communicated to his Oblate family, and wanted us to share. “Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.” Pope Francis
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I remember when the Pope came to Ottawa in 1984. I attended the large outdoor Mass that he presided at in an open ‘green’ area of the city near to where I lived. The day was dark and it had rained before Mass so many of us put down green garbage bags to sit on throughout the Mass. I do not have a lot of memories of that. What I do remember quite clearly though was what happened after Mass. A friend and I stayed behind to wait for the Pope to pass by in his car as he was leaving. We were rewarded well when later his car indeed approached and slowed. There were no crowds but only a few journalists and a few people like me and my friend to wave goodbye. On the edge of a small roadway – close enough to touch his car and see him quite clearly. I remember he was smiling and that he blessed us. And then he and his entourage were gone. To this day I do not know why I stayed behind to wait and wave him off – but I was rewarded greatly.
I did not feel giddy, although I was happy that we had not waited in vain. But there was something else. I think that day I was blessed with a great well of peace which took root deep within me. I was grateful for the chance to be so close to this man that I recognized as being very holy and who was most obviously (at least to me) very much a gift from God. His blessing meant a lot to me even if at the time I did not stop to think or reflect on it. I was happy that I had listened to the urgings of the Spirit.
Sadly my account is lacking in the obvious enthusiasm that Eugene seemed to experience. I had gone to see the Pope really at the urgings of my friend, one of those ‘only-once-in-your-lifetime’ events; I was quiet throughout so as to mask my lack of enthusiasm and yet still I was grateful that I had been there. Oddly it was not my friend but I who reached out to touch the side of the Pope’s car as he passed by.
“Our love for the Church inspires us to fulfil our mission in communion with the pastors whom the Lord has given to his people; we accept loyally, with an enlightened faith, the guidance and teachings of the successors of Peter and the Apostles.” I repeat with a small secret joy this part of Constitution 6 – not having to skip over certain words simply to repeat them in their entirety. I am filled with gratitude to God for such a gift this is to me this morning. What a wonderful way to start my day and my week.