Easter Sunday 1839, within the context of a personal attack on him, we continue to read Eugene’s reflection on the love of Jesus Christ as the origin of his vocation, and the inspiration for all his actions. He recalls God’s loving role in his priestly ordination on 21 December 1811 and his first Mass on Christmas day.
My first steps in the career that the good God had inspired me to embrace from an early age, were directed by this predominant feeling in my heart. I refused the venerable bishop, who had consecrated me a priest, to stay on with him as his vicar general and as his friend; these are the words that he used when he made the proposal.
The holy day of Christmas 1811, a memorable day for me, because it is the day given me to offer for the first time the Holy Sacrifice of our altars, I refused to give in to such a touching sign of his goodness so as not to be turned away from the vocation that called me to devote myself to the service and to the happiness of my neighbor whom I loved with the love of Jesus Christ for all people.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 31 March 1839, EO XX
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing.
2 Timothy 4: 6-8
This morning I am reminded of a presentation in our most recent class of Eugene 101; we were learning and reflecting on Eugene’s struggles and trials from 1826 to 1836 and were offered the idea of how gold is heated in the furnace so that all of the impurities can be burned off. “Through that tremendous heat there is a purification process that brings about something beautiful.” There was on the screen the image of molten gold being poured into a mold which would give it shape as it solidified. And within the flow of that gold being poured was a slight image of the Oblate cross and behind that the image of an icon of St. Eugene.
And today we have Eugene continuing to look back on his journey as a priest called by God. He has come through years of great suffering and perseverance, as a priest, as a Founder, as a Superior General. He looks back through eyes that see through the darkness, finding a deeper light.
Some of the words that come to mind are from our newest course: mission, consecration, discipleship, sacrifice and oblation. Those expressions find life in the image of gold being purified in the heat of the furnace.
“…the vocation that called me to devote myself to the service and to the happiness of my neighbor whom I loved with the love of Jesus Christ all people.” And the words of Timothy – his image is there within the purified gold.
I begin to see my own life in that light. I am in a place of great and wondrous healing; and as I look back on the healing and most especially my own response to the vocation given me I seem to have stepped into that image, I am there with “them also that love his [the Lord] his appearing”.