Father Dominic Albini was one of the pillars of the young Oblate congregation on whom Eugene relied. He was terminally ill in Corsica and had a few months to live.
Letter from Fr. Mille. This excellent priest writes in a most touching way about the sad news I had given him about the illness of our good Fr. Albini. In our common sorrow it is good to see the feelings for one another which animate the members of our Congregation. All that would be needed to compose the most beautiful funeral sermon would be to go through the letters of our Fathers and see what they know and put into words about the virtues which they admire.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 24 November 1838, EO XIX
Eugene stressed that the Oblates were a family – indeed he wanted us to be the most united family in the world. Today this applies to the larger Mazenodian Family gathered around Eugene’s charism throughout the world.
His invitation is to learn from one another about the people we love and admire. We do it in obituaries at funerals, so why wait till loved ones are dead to do this? In these difficult days let us help one another to recognize the gift of special people.
At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” (Matthew 11:25)
Here we have St. Eugene, our Founder, father, friend, model… I think of when he was canonized how his charism, his heart, was shared with all of us, brothers and sisters. I think of how Eugene loved and loves his sons and daughters and more; we are all invited to share our experience of God with each other and what it looks like in each other.
Oddly enough I think of the Oblate Motto, of the Mazenodian Family motto: “He has sent me to bring the Good News to the poor […]. The Good News is proclaimed to the poor” (Luke 4:18; Matthew 11:5).” It is not just for the poor “out there” but it is for each of us. It is a part of our own personal salvation, a part of the salvation of each and every one who is a part of our Mazenodian family. I agree with St. Eugene for we need to celebrate each other, not waiting until they are dead. The depth and joy of that kind of sharing.
I think of Part One – the Mazenodian Charism expressed in our Rule of Life: Our call, to live Christ Jesus in apostolic community. To live Christ Jesus crucified among the most abandoned, in the Church; Proclaiming the word with daring, humility and trust, as prophets of the new world with Mary Immaculate. The rest is how we may do that as each of us is called in life. We are not boasting or celebrating one as better than others; we are celebrating the goodness and how our charism is expressed in the living of others.
I find myself singing: “We are family; I got all my [brothers] and sisters with me. We are family, get up everybody and sing…”