February 17 is always a special day for the Mazenodian family because we recall the Church’s recognition that our charism, spirituality and mission comes from God. It is a day when the Family gathers to give thanks and to renew its missionary commitment. In 1839, thirteen years later, Eugene notes in his journal how it was celebrated.
February 17: Mass in the interior chapel of the Calvaire, on the occasion of the anniversary of the approbation of the Congregation. The ceremony was extremely moving as usual.
The Fathers from the seminary had come; present also were some of the missionaries who had given various missions very recently and who came to deposit at the feet of our Savior the successes of their victories over Hell that they admitted owing only to the favor of their good Master; a day marked by thoughts of gratitude and of love which must have filled everyone.
We also recalled the blessings of our vocation and the remarkable favors especially received during the course of the year, among which we count the miraculous healing of our dear Father Albini, and the very holy death of our equally beloved Brother Morandini, the death of a predestined, The lay brother Jean-Marie made his five-year profession.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 17 February 1839, EO XX
Today the tradition endures as we continue to celebrate God’s goodness to us as a charism family every 17 February since 1826.
” I give thanks to myGod always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of[ Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift.” (1 Corinthians 1: 4- 7)
I am struck by Eugene’s comment how the missionaries “deposited at the feet of our Saviour the successes of their victories over Hell that they admitted owning only to the favour of their good Master…” Not my style of language but still his words go deep and touch my soul. His words show me what humility is and how that is what sparks the gratitude – and joy. So immense that it can only originate with the Spirit of God. I look up as if in doing that I will be given words that will help me express how I am being filled.
My eyes catch sight of St. Paul’s words and again I find myself filling and wanting to cry. There are no words I simply sit in gratitude as my heart sees the images of all those God has planted in my life. Love threatens to overwhelm me but I remain as I am. They all become the offering that I lay at the feet of my Beloved. Giving back to him which he has first given to me.
Only in God is any of this possible, only in the heart of my Beloved can this find reality. There are no words to adequately express myself.
I think of the celebrations that we will enter into on February 17th. That seems so far away from now and I don’t want to wait. Today I will know the joy of taking the Eucharist to friends who are not well enough to go out and join us at Mass, and tonight there will be the joy of meeting (via ZOOM) with my brothers and sisters, sharing with each other our experiences of God in our shared charism. My heart fills with anticipation for both of these events and threatens to erupt throughout my whole being. This will be my way of celebrating them.
I sit in this moment of fullness, this instance of deepening gratitude for all that I am given, and for the sheer joy of being able to share it.
On my own none of this is possible, but with God…