Eugene was in a reminiscing mood on the day of this diary entry. For some reason he decided to make a list of all his anniversaries. As we read it, perhaps it could inspire each of us to do the same – and to celebrate with a prayer of gratitude for each of our milestones.
Memorable days for me, whose anniversary I need to celebrate:
August 1, 1782, my birth;
August 2, 1782, my baptism.
I made my First Communion on Holy Thursday and I was confirmed by Cardinal Costa, Archbishop of Turin on the feast day of the Holy Trinity, but I am not sure whether this was in the year 1792 or even in 1793.
In the first supposition, Holy Thursday would correspond to April 5 and the Holy Trinity to June 3; in the second, this would be March 28 and May 26.
On November 4, 1808, I took the soutane,
on December 27, 1808, I was tonsured by Bishop Andre, former bishop of Quimper.
On May 27, 1809, I received minor orders from His Excellency Cardinal Fesch;
on December 23, 1809, I was made sub-deacon by Bishop André, former bishop of Quimper;
on June 16, 1810, I was made deacon by Cardinal Fesch;
on December 21, 1811, I was made priest in Amiens by Bishop Demandoix of Amiens. Cardinal Mattei, who should have ordained me, was in exile, and I not having wanted to receive the priesthood from the hands of Cardinal Maury, at the time administrator of the diocese of Paris. [ed. Jean Siffrein Maury (1746-1817), appointed by Pius VI bishop of Montefiascone and cardinal in 1799. Appointed archbishop of Paris by Napoléon in 1810; Pope Pius VII, in exile in France, refused to confirm the nomination.]
On November 1, 1818, I made my oblation in the congregation,
and, on October 14, 1832, I received episcopal consecration from the hands of His Eminence Cardinal Odescalchi and from the archbishops of Chalcédoine and of Ravenna, thereafter Cardinals Frezza and Falconieri.
I was transferred to the see of Marseille on October 2, 1837.
He concludes with a certain subtle sense of humor:
Yet to be known is the day of my death, the anniversary of which others will have to celebrate and for which I invoke in advance the mercy of God.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 14 March 1842, EO XXI
Let us also celebrate our milestones.
I wonder what St. Paul’s list would have looked like if he had been asked to make such a list when he was an old man; was his life divided into two halves: before Christ and then through, with and in Christ? The first half being a series of hazy memories while the second being vivid and sharp in his memory, never to be forgotten or glossed over. His milestones may well have begun with that first meeting on the road to Damascus.
How can I celebrate the milestones of my life which were not conferred upon me or even noticed by any in the world? But my memories do not deceive me, and they are as vivid and sharp as they day they were realized. Of course, I celebrate my birthday, and while I give thanks for my baptism, I do not celebrate by a calendar date; perhaps and hopefully in how I live and grow as a child of God. That sounds so pious and yet it is true.
My first AA meeting. Even greater, when I first heard Jesus say my name and how the universe itself seemed to be a part of a magnificent transformation… Even as I remember and somehow try to share the magnitude of the quake which shook the universe that day brings tears of joy and gratitude to my eyes. Meeting and being touched and seared by Jesus on the cross as if it took place only a couple of hours ago. Wonder, awe and joy coming together when I received the Eucharist on my return to the Church. Meeting the Oblates and being given direction and guidance; making my first Commitment as an Oblate Associate and receiving my cherished little Oblate cross. Oh, the wonder and joy of that day and he many times I still relive it.
The accident which was relatively small compared to that of others, but the trauma it triggered within me which has led me to discover my depths and receive healing in more ways that I will ever be able to measure. God in the center of all life.
My milestones are the people I have met and love. The births of new life and the deaths and crossing-overs. Humans, Christians and saints. These are a few of the undocumented milestones of my life.