Eugene de Mazenod’s appointment of Father Joseph Vincens as novice master had caused the young man to be afraid of not being capable of coping with the responsibility. Eugene’s advice to him can be applied by us in so many difficult situations that we face. He wrote:
to tell you that in the new job entrusted to you, you must place all your confidence in God and to convince you that with his help you will succeed as well as or even better than anyone else.
Oraison will be your rich mine and the daily examens will serve you as beacon, mirror, compass and as spur too, if necessary.
Proceed. therefore, with confidence and like Saint Ignatius tell yourself: Vincens alone can do nothing. Vincens and God can do everything.
Letter to Joseph Vincens, 17 July 1841, EO IX n 734
Oraison was the daily prayer in which the missionaries prayed in communion with one another. It was like a goldmine providing spiritual riches to all. It is the prayer that the US Mazenodian Family is encouraging each month for its members (see: https://sites.google.com/view/mazenodianfamily/monthly-oraison )
The examen is the beautiful prayer made known by St Ignatius (see https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen )
When we find a rich mine we do not walk away from it; rather we shine a light on it so as to see clearly and decide best to bring its treasure into the light. There will be work involved and we need to be reminded what and why we are doing what we do. Oraison: I would liken it to standing, working and passing life in the shadows and then being drawn out into the light, the warmth and life of the sunshine.
As I continue to read Eugene’s words I realise I am skipping over words, ignoring some and looking only at those that I can accept. I am embarrassed to admit to this yet it is what I do; probably more often than not.
Examen. If I do practice this exercise it is usually in a rushed manner. I stop once again as I realise I want a “feel good” exercise and know embarrassment again raises its head. “…the daily examens will serve you as beacon, mirror, compass and as spur too, if necessary.” I choose the word compass – something that will lead me in the right direction. Oh – I sort of want something or someone to do it for me. I start again. What or who is my beacon, whose light am I standing in? A mirror? I want to shy away from that one and so ask myself what I am afraid of seeing? Perhaps I need to look in the mirror – through the eyes of my beloved Master. And a spur – not just something one uses on a horse, but something that we all have need of. Another light comes on as I think of the communities to which I belong: family, parish, Church, Mazenodian Family… Community – the word leaps out from the shadows of my mind.
Eugene, father, friend, teacher, companion. You, your spirit, your words – shining a light on us.