During his lifetime, St Eugene was portrayed as having a zealous missionary heart as large as the world.
I am not a prophet, yet I have always been a man of desires and some of them have been heard and fulfilled. May those I address to God for you, my dear children, draw upon you every heavenly blessing and fill your souls with graces and consolations.
Now the Oblates, on their way to Canada, were putting this dream into practice. Eugene’s fatherly heart responded with affection.
You are the object of my most tender solicitude, you are constantly in my mind; my heart could not love you more considering the fidelity of your response to your vocation and especially the zeal with which you have undertaken the beautiful mission which has been awarded to you, for you know that others among your brothers wished to be a part of it. So be it, you represent them all and the Congregation will felicitate herself for having confided this work to you.
Adieu, my dear children,
I wish you once more a good voyage and bestow on you my paternal benediction permanently as I pour out my heart to you.
Letter to the first Oblates leaving for Canada, 9 October 1841, EO I n 9
What a benediction Eugene’s expression of love is for his sons, and today, his daughters. This is how God speaks to his people: through Moses and Abraham, Isaiah, Ruth, Mary, Francis, Clare, Eugene, Kay, Frank, Chiara, Gail and Arnie… Imagine the book if it were to name all of those we love and those who love us – down from the beginning of time.
This morning my reflection is on Eugene’s blessings born out of love; the same love bestowed upon him by the Trinity. I glimpse how he sent out men just as he was sent by God. The beginning of the Mazenodian Tradition, the Mazenodian Family, the Mazenodian spirit. I think of Blessed Joseph Gerard and the litany of all who have gone before us and somehow live within us today.
“We must lead [all persons] to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.” Humans as God created us to be no matter our state of life, our culture, our race or religion… I think of St. Paul describing us as parts of the body and how we depend on the integration of each part – not just one but all to be the humans we were created to be.
Yesterday four of us got together to celebrate the 88th birthday of a dear friend and my own (71st). She was the oldest of us and I am the youngest. We honoured each other, all four of us; and our love for the other was like a benediction as we parted. We are sisters related not by blood by the love in our hearts for each other.
When I first entered this holy place this morning, I found myself focusing on the blessing that Eugene bestowed upon the men leaving for the new world. Then I focused on my own dreams and desires and my blessing yesterday with each of my friends and theirs on me. And it was repeated later during a zoom session with my sister and brother-in-law. Indeed, it was repeated with all those who sent birthday wishes and love. And now upon all of you who gather in this place, in the heart of our crucified Saviour, and not just us but all those we will meet today. And like those early Oblates coming to Canada, we will find our way in the walking in the footsteps of St. Eugene de Mazenod…