The Oblate General Chapter was cut short:
During this interval, cholera, which was winding its way around the city for some time, broke out with much greater intensity. I hurriedly sent home all of our fathers, keeping here only those of the two houses which must brave the danger since they are at their posts.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, undated entry August 1837, EO XVIII
Eugene had written to Fr Tempier, who had been alarmed by the arrival of the first signs of the illness in Marseilles
Your cholera and your epidemic do not frighten me at all. I have always regretted that I did not die in 1814, when I had contacted typhoid in the prisons. I would ask for nothing better than to succumb to another attack especially if it is while fulfilling a duty of charity or of justice.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 26 July 1837, EO IX n 632
Despite his private spiritual desire for martyrdom, Eugene was realistic about his responsibilities to the people of Marseilles:
On the feast of the Assumption, I officiated pontifically at the cathedral both in the morning and in the evening. I took part in the general procession and gave Benediction in the evening. On Sunday in the octave, I went to say Holy Mass at Notre-Dame de la Garde to place myself, all of our men, and the whole diocese, under the protection of the Blessed Virgin.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, undated entry August 1837, EO XVIII
One of our biggest concerns today is the ever-rising number of people around the world who are sick with the Coronavirus COVID-19. We find ourselves feeling alarm and fear; borders, travel and trade slow down or even shuts down. TV and internet reports call for us to remain calm while other reports advise us to stock up on all sorts of products.
I think of all the people who do not have the means to stock up on anything or to store what they might buy; their daily battle being simply to survive. I can only imagine their fears and worries.
And Eugene’s “private spiritual desire for martyrdom”; how many of us secretly wish to die for God, or in doing God’s work. We do not speak those thoughts out loud. We do not want to die, but there is the reality of love so deep within us that we say “do with me what you will Lord” as we continue on in our daily lives.
Today is a reminder to remain open rather than hiding or running away in fear. As with everyone else there are jobs to be held, people and friends to be cared-for. At Church how we treat and serve each other – there might be changes that are necessary but we will continue to serve each other responsibly. God will lead us, if we allow God to. “Would a mother forsake her child…”
It is not a matter of “if all else fails then turn to the Lord”. Rather we continue to place ourselves under the protection of Mary Immaculate, our Mother of Tenderness and Mercy. Eugene himself who so many years before put himself under obedience to Henri Tempier (that being a mutual thing) and of his heroics throughout his life in having to pull back many times on how he would respond to the epidemics and care of his people.
Here we are Lord – we come to do your will.