1819 – The Marian sanctuary of Notre Dame du Laus is entrusted to the Missionaries as a place of permanent mission. During the warm months, the Missionaries welcomed pilgrims and preached the Gospel to them, while during the colder months they went to the surrounding villages to preach parish missions. This sanctuary was the first of 9 Marian shrines entrusted to the Oblates in France during Eugene’s lifetime
To this end, I invoke the intercession of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, daring to remind her in all humility, but with consolation, of the filial devotion of my whole life, and of the desire I have always had to make her known and loved, and to spread her devotion everywhere through the ministry of those whom the Church has given to me as children, who have had the same desire as myself…
Eugene de Mazenod’s will, 1854
It took Eugene only seventy-eight words to sum up his way of being throughout his life, with his congregation, his many sons and daughters and his beloved poor ; all whom he served and shared his experience of God. Mary, our Mother of God and first model of oblation with her fiat.
I find myself sing for a moment in silence the Salve Regina:
O, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
Poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs,
Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
Thine eyes of mercy toward us;
And after this our exile,
Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.
Singing it in Latin we might forget or not even know the words in English and yet we sing them aloud with joy and tender devotion.
A short vignette. More than twenty years ago (before meeting St. Eugene) I took a break from ‘church’ – I did not attend Mass unless it was for a funeral. I remained involved with my parish in many ways, but not through the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The time came when I needed – wanted to return to that which I missed so greatly; I returned on Christmas Eve at Midnight Mass. I remember thinking that I would enter with Mary and she would be there to guide me; I recognized the hardships she had endured but how love was what she was all about. I speak often with her, as I say my rosary – her prayer the Hail Mary becoming like a mantra to me, a part of my breathing in and breathing out. There I find the strength and courage to pass through my fears and challenges, to persevere and to grow under her care and tutelage. My love of God has not lessened but rather is enhanced as I take advantage of every gift given to me by God.
“And after this show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.” This is what Eugene shares with all of us.
Thank you, Eleanor, for this beautifully powerful experience. Just as Mary led you back, so do you lead so many others back. Thank you!