1826, February 17 – Ecclesiastical approbation by the Pope of the Congregation and its Rules, under the title of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The charism of Eugene was recognized as having its inspiration in the Holy Spirit
Rejoice with me and congratulate yourselves, my beloved, for it has pleased the Lord to grant us great favours; Our Holy Father the Pope, Leo XII, gloriously reigning from the chair of St. Peter, has sanctioned with his apostolic approbation, on March 21 of this current year, our Institute, our Constitutions and our Rules.
See then our little flock, to whom the Father of the family has kindly wished to open wide the field of the holy Church, given a place in the hierarchic order, associated with the venerable Congregations which have spread throughout the Church so many great benefits and enlightened the entire world with so bright a light; see her, right from her birth, enriched with the same privileges of those illustrious Societies, in the footsteps of which, with all her strength and all her means, she will certainly strive to walk steadily forward.
Letter to all the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, 1826, E.O. VII n.232
Eugene’s words: “…rejoice with me and congratulate yourselves, my beloved…” Not just his show, but theirs. “My beloved” – the words so often reserved for God and which he uses to describe his new family – then and now.
In his joy he situates them right in the middle with all of the other congregations; “enlightened the entire world with so bright a light…” Affirmation of their belonging – in the Church, the family of God. I search to find words to describe where Eugene is leading us today; the eyes of my heart settling for the ancient image of Mary and Joseph holding out their son Jesus who has been born in the most humble of circumstances, holding him out to be seen by all who have sought and found him.
“in the footsteps of which, with all her strength and all her means, she will certainly strive to walk forward.” The image morphs into that of Jesus and his apostles both before and after his resurrection. Receiving the Holy Spirit they are sent out… Eugene who always modelled himself and his family on that of Jesus and the apostles.
This morning I awoke to find a letter in my mailbox from our Provincial sharing the news of how his house lives during these challenging times; sharing their daily lives with us. I was instantly reminded of St. Eugene and the many letters he wrote to his sons no matter if they were in the lands of Canada or in the ancient hills of what we now call Lesotho.
I picture that paining of a staircase leading upwards and it is filled with men and women as they follow Eugene who leads the way. It began with the model of Jesus and the disciples; it continues today with our Provincial and each one of as we too “…strive to walk steadily forward“.