These beautiful words sum up all that Eugene would be for the next 24 years as Bishop of Marseilles:
Here I am in fact pastor and chief pastor of a diocese which, whatever one says of it, is not inhabited by saints.
It was given me, I would not have chosen it. However, I must attach myself to this people as a father to his children.
My existence, my life, all my being must be consecrated to it, I must have no thought but for its good, no fears other than I have not done enough for its welfare and sanctification, no other concern than that which must include all its spiritual interests and even in a certain way its temporal welfare.
I must in a word consume myself for it, be ready to sacrifice my leisure, my desire, rest, life itself for it.
Retreat preparatory to taking possession of the episcopal see of Marseilles, May 1837, EO XV n 185
This is a magnificent expression of the full meaning of oblation. Begun at the foot of the cross one Good Friday, and lived and deepened for thirty years throughout an eventful and rich missionary life.
“My existence, my life, all my being must be consecrated to it, I must have no thought but for its good, no fears other than I have not done enough for its welfare and sanctification, no other concern than that which must include all its spiritual interests and even in a certain way its temporal welfare.”
This is how Jesus modelled his life, how those he chose as his disciples modelled their lives; and this is who Eugene modelled his own life on – not partially but wholly – in every way that he could. I keep thinking of Eugene speaking to us in The Preface: “We must lead men [and women] to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.”
This does not happen by us stepping aside and telling others that they must do this – no we must live this ourselves – become models of what this might look like – no matter our state of life. This is how in all of our humanness we will give glory to God.
It sounds so extreme, so all-consuming; it sounds so zealous and pious. Surely we are not called to that! Yet I believe that we are.
Frank’s eloquence in calling this a “magnificent expression of the full mean of oblation” – this is who we are called to be, no matter our state of life. This is what we will look like as live as we allow Eugene to shed his light on us, which we in turn will shed on those around us.
This is how I wish to greet the dawn of this day, renewing my oblation in my being and doing.