Eugene wrote in his Diary:
Answers from our various houses on the question I submitted to them. We should record all of them as they are so edifying…
It will be a beautiful page in our history. The spirit of this little known Congregation and the dedication of its members will be visible. I defy the most regular Orders that enjoy the highest esteem in the Church to provide a better example.
Eugene continues, “let them read the letters of” and he lists the names of 13 Oblates:
and they will see that the spirit of God animates these souls, that they understand the duties of their holy state, that zeal for the salvation of others, devotion to the Church and love for the Congregation are the common prerogative of our dear family.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 24 July 1841, EO XX
A few days later he enthusiastically exclaimed:
They will honor our small and humble Congregation, which unfurls its standard for the first time outside the confines of its birthplace, and they will bring down God’s blessing by their holiness and the efforts of their zeal not only upon the work they undertake but on the whole Congregation in the name of which they will fight.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 6 August 1841, EO XX
That small step was to be a giant leap for the Mazenodian Family! I hope Neil Armstrong doesn’t mind my paraphrasing his words, but this acceptance led to a major paradigm shift for us and for hundreds of thousands of people enriched by the Mazenodian missionaries.
Rightly or wrongly there has always been a particular point of pride within my heart that God chose us here in Canada to be among the first to receive the congregation. But this morning it is joy and gratitude that fills my heart when I look at how God has called me to be a part of this family.
It is not that our Mazenodian Family is better or newer, larger or smaller; it is that our Mazenodian Family is who God has chosen for each of us to be a part of. Nor is it that the Oblates were the only ones around, but they most certainly were the ones that caused my heart to leap within my body, their spirit seemingly grabbing hold of my imagination and heart so that I sought them out and pursued them, looking for a way to be a part of them. It was not chance that led me to them any more than it was chance that the Bishop of Montreal sought out Bishop Eugene de Mazenod, Founder of a small but mighty congregation of missionaries.
A small story of belonging. More than 30 years ago I was staying as a guest at Madonna House up in the valley. I loved the Madonna House family, their spirituality and how they loved each other. In particular I loved the small silver crosses that were particular to their order. One day I found one of those crosses alongside of the road. I wanted dearly to put it on, but I found myself looking and silently thinking that this was not my cross. So I went to the office and saying that I found it I turned it over to them. It was not for me. Later on I made a Cursillos weekend and at the end of it I was given a small wooden cross to wear – but still there was no sense of it being the cross that I was waiting for.
I remember so clearly the day that I made my Commitment to the Oblates, the Church, God, and all of my brothers and sisters in the Mazenodian Family. My heart leaps as I remember receiving my small Oblate cross; the cross that I waited my whole life to receive. We were all in the chapel, and I wanted to run up to Jesus in the tabernacle and hold out my cross for him to see. The joy! This was what my heart had been waiting for.
“…and they will see that the spirit of God animates these souls, that they understand the duties of their holy state, that zeal for the salvation of others, devotion to the Church and love for the Congregation are the common prerogative of our dear family.” I read this, hoping and praying that this is still true of all of us who are a part of this family. And I think with joy of the upcoming 25th Anniversary of the canonization of Eugene de Mazenod and I find myself wanting to be a part of the celebrations, thanking God for having St. Eugene de Mazenod, Founder and father of our family.
I will seek them out.