Father Charles Albini had died in Corsica two years earlier. Eugene was convinced of his holiness – which had been shown in his way of life, his preaching and pastoral care of the most abandoned and of the seminarians. During his lifetime some miracles were attributed to him.
Eugene speaks of this as he writes to Fr Semeria, the superior of the Oblates in Corsica.
I request you to collect everything that relates to the blessed life of our Father Albini. When you meet people who have experienced the effects of his charity or who attribute the healing of their troubles to his intercession, draw up a written statement on all these; I intend to introduce his cause, were it only to have him declared venerable.
I think it will be easy to achieve this; at least that is the opinion of the advocate who is promoting Father de la Salle’s cause.
Speak often of this saintly missionary. Arouse the confidence of people who have experienced the effects of his zeal; in a word, let us do everything to have him honoured as much as he himself wanted to be humble.
Letter to Fr. Etienne Semeria, 10 November 1841, EO IX n 748
The cause was indeed introduced, and he was declared “Venerable” in 1968 after his life and writings were studied and the devotion of the people was noted.
I think that my definition of saints has been those who are holy; those who have been loved by God and who in return loved God and all others.
As a little girl I wanted to be a saint – because if people were saints it meant that God loved them very much and they in turn were able to love God. There was no mention of miracles – just that they were very holy.
I think for a moment of Eugene’s words in the Preface “…we must help them to become saints.” Following our becoming human and then Christian, there comes holiness – sainthood. I think of the many holy people in my life – perhaps the only miracle that they ever have performed was to reach out to others – the poor. Every one of them shared their goodness, shared that which was most precious to them – God’s love.
I think of the many I have met through the Oblate Studies Program; I have learned not just Oblates but the others down through the course of time who God chose to lead people – much in the same way as he called Moses. And there are the Oblates and members of the Mazenodian Family who have all followed Eugene and led people to act like humans, and then like Christians and helped them to become saints. I don’t know all of their names but still I pray to them all to help me and intercede for me.
Fr. Albini – not one that I ever met, yet he too is included when I pray to all the Oblates and members of the Mazenodian Family who have died. My prayer celebrates them and their lives and then I ask them for help, ask them to pray for me in the manner of someone charging another to do something quite specific. These to me are the saints; these are some who gave their lives to God and loved so many. These are the communion of saints.