As the cholera epidemic was lessening, so did the awareness of the misery it had caused.
But misery is being felt on all sides, and we do not dare to hope that the collections taken up so ostentatiously in the previous cholera epidemic will relieve it very much.
Eugene then spoke of the money that had been collected in the previous epidemic of 1835, and how those funds had been misused and never reached the intended victims.
Meanwhile, the poor are relying on the bishop’s house, and soon we will be reduced to selling our silverware to help them, since we have not received a cent from all those philanthropic collections whose proceeds are disappearing into a fund where I think they put them. There is a universal complaint in the city, regarding the misappropriation; and yet, many a man who would not give a hundred sous to his pastor, glories in seeing his name pompously inscribed on a published list for a hundred francs and sometimes less. [ed: 5 sous made 1 franc]
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 7 September 1837, EO XVIII
It seems that some types of behavior do not change whether they take place in France in the 1800’s or in Canada in the 2000s. With the spread of the Coronavirus COVID19, reason seems to be giving way to fear, panic, greed and the making of money out of others’ fear. The halt of being able to gather together for recreation, social events and especially as faith community and prayer seems to feed an ever-growing disconnect between people. This in turn makes way for the ‘what-ifs’ to overtake our sensibilities.
I find myself these days asking what would St. Eugene advise, what would he do? He does not always respond directly but there is a great measure of peace in knowing that I am not alone in all of this. I think of what he experienced during those years of exile, of isolation and during the epidemics he faced in his lifetime.
There is no one relying on me for anything still I wish to be a support or able to walk with others and no longer know what that might look like. That whole business of “being” in order to do – I suspect it will play a big part of who I am in the coming days and weeks.
For this morning I must go out and find someone to help me install Skype on my computer in order to be able to communicate with my therapist today. I must allow myself to rely on the help of others in this and even as that thought occurs to me I am reminded of Eugene and how he founded a community, a congregation, a family. I don’t need to found anything but have to smile at how he sheds his light on me.
Look at what God gives to us.