St Francis of Assisi had instructed his friars to preach with words only when necessary. In other words, it was the exemplary quality of their lives that was meant to make the biggest impact on people. This too was the principle of Eugene: let your actions speak louder than your words.
Anyway you realize that the reputation and the fame of the Congregation are in your hands. The more you are holy, exemplary, regular, the more that good will flourish.
You are expected to make it grow in vast regions for Montreal is perhaps only the gateway leading the family to the conquest of souls in several countries.
When you have reached the scene, you will sound out the terrain. The first thing is to get properly settled where we are called. If God blesses us, then we will see…
May the aroma of your virtues attract Canadian clergy to you, whether from Montreal or Quebec, no matter, or rather, may Quebec also furnish her contingent and thus attract you into this diocese. But I anticipate the future by that thought.
Letter to the first Oblates leaving for Canada, 9 October 1841, EO I n 9
“The more you are holy, exemplary, regular, the more that good will flourish.” Once we recognize God’s love in our lives, we may find that we are quite unable to do anything else except share that which has been shared with us. At the end of the day, it is about God.
I am reminded of how Eugene himself “went out” to give missions. He and his companions did not sit back and wait until for the poor to come to them but rather went out to where the others lived and shared their message.
During the pandemic, our concert halls have been closed and our orchestras have not been able to have live performances. Still, they found new ways to share their music and their talents using technology; free of charge and available to all. Our church choirs also found ways with the help of technology of bringing each voice together from their homes to share the joy of their music with all of us. We were able to see and hear them in new ways.
Just over a week ago many of us here in Canada were able to come together through the use of technology and witness new members of the Mazenodian Family from the other end of the country making their First Commitment and receiving their crosses as they became Oblate Associates. Not only a gift for us Associates but also for invited guests who were/are themselves taking part in the formation process with a view to themselves one day making their own commitments.
Not about numbers, but rather an ongoing outpouring of love and life. I too am a member of those who can look back to those first Oblates who came here from France and who shared their way of life and became models, just as Eugene had. I am a member of the beautiful Mazenodian Family, sharing my life and hopefully shedding light on others through my lived expression of that discipleship.
If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31)