In writing the Rule in 1818 Eugene wanted to put down in writing the spirit of how the Missionaries had experienced themselves for three years. His aim was that others would be transformed by the same spirit through following this Rule of Life as Missionaries. The foreword contains some of the important the elements of our vocation, and could be described as an eight-point identikit, still very valid for us today.
1/ If the priests to whom the Lord has granted the desire
One becomes a Missionary (or joins the Mazenodian family) as a response to a desire placed in us by God. God’s initiative is the absolute pre-requisite to our vocation.
2/ to come together in community
Our very first response to God’s call is to become part of a community. Eugene thus stresses that we are not individual workers or “lone rangers.”
3/ to work more effectively for the salvation of souls
Together, as a united body, we are able to pool our talents and efforts and be more far-reaching and effective in inviting others to the Kingdom of God.
4/ and for their own sanctification
The Missionary is a co-operator of the Savior and this necessitates our working for our own salvation, first of all, so that we can invite others to share our own experience of the Kingdom.
5/ wish to achieve some good in the Church,
The vocation of the Missionary is always in the context of the Church. We act in the name of the Church and as part of the Church’s mission.
6/ they should first of all be deeply convinced themselves of the aims of the Institute which they have become a part of,
The member has to be constantly aware of the purpose and spirit of the Missionaries and be convinced of the goals of the Congregation. It is not a place for each one “to do his own thing,” no matter how excellent this may be.
7/ they should be deeply convinced of … the greatness of the ministry to which they are called
The Missionary needs to understand fully the importance of what we are called to do and our dignity as a co-operator of Jesus Christ.
8/ they should be deeply convinced of … the enormous fruits of salvation which their work can produce if they acquit themselves of their duties in a worthy manner.
The Missionary needs to be fully aware of the richness of what we are offering through ours preaching and actions, and how these can change the lives of others.
The full text:
Foreword
If the priests to whom the Lord has granted the desire to come together in community to work more effectively for the salvation of souls and for their own sanctification wish to achieve some good in the Church, they should first of all be deeply convinced themselves of the aims of the Institute which they have become a part of, the greatness of the ministry to which they are called and the enormous fruits of salvation which their work can produce if they perform their duties in a worthy manner.
Missions, 78 (1951) p.11
I am filled with a type of wonder – at how all of this comes together – and how God speaks to us.
Yesterday morning, in the darkness just before dawn, my bus went past a recently renovated building downtown. One side of the Arts Centre which is this immense and long window was filled with ongoing fireworks and colours and it lit up the entire street. As my bus sat before a red light I was entranced and could only thank God for the beauty of it, the wonder it evoked from deep within me, for the artist who had designed and carried out these beautiful images that were being shared with all of us.
I feel a little of that wonder and awe again this morning as I sit here and read this. I am reminded of the Rule of Life which came into being 200 years ago – the wording not always what we would use today and yet the relevance, the beauty and the sheer grace that carries and holds it within our hearts.
So here we have it, spoken and described, what God gave and shared with Eugene and that founding community which continues today, that we are all invited to take part in and for a moment I stop and think about our liturgies in the Church which too were and given to us 2000 years ago. Each of the eight elements of this foreword brings it all together into one bold statement of hope and truth. That God should call me – call us to be a part of this and fill us with the desire to be a missionaries of His choosing, to invite us in and then send us out… The wonder of God…
I want to take this with me as I go out today, to print it and to read it over and over until it becomes a part of me. I do not know why God calls us, chooses us as he does – I know only with as soul-deep certainty that God has, and that I – we have been planted where we are – fruit from the seeds and that we will become those seeds for others.
This all is of God and I find my heart quietly singing the Magnificat within me – wonder and gratitude that expresses itself in stunning and quiet joy.