We have seen the optimistic and lofty ideals and the dreams of Eugene and the missionaries regarding the first group of Oblates sent to Canada. Now, one year later, the cracks began to appear. It is normal in any human enterprise to encounter misunderstanding, to fail, to blame others, and to experience discouragement. Eugene, however, did not take kindly to this behaviour and his passionate nature shows in his reaction.
One of the missionaries in Canada, the 28-year-old Lucien Lagier, had been negatively influenced by another member of the team and had written a fault-finding letter to some people in Europe which had come to Eugene’s attention.
I have read a letter from this little Lagier which should be handed to the flames by the executioner, so unworthy is it even of a man who has retained only the initial notions of his duties. I have bowed to the law of necessity in sending so far, to fulfil so fine a mission, men so imperfect who have deceived my hopes and who have worked to destroy what God had founded. I am sick with disappointment.
Letter to Fr. Francois Bermond, 8 September 1842, EO I n 12
Eugene continued to boil as he poured his feelings into his private diary:
Things would not go less well in America if Fr. Baudrand had not sown this internal division which inspired in poor Lucien Lagier this foolish letter…
Here is the letter which this young brother has the insolence to write to me. It is good to safeguard such documents for the judgment that must be passed on false men whom hell has introduced among us…what insolence, to dare say this in front of his superior, to a bishop, to teach him his duty which, according to him, he has failed to observe, whereas no one has ever read in the rule such a command contrary to good sense and to the basic rudiments of regular administration.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 20 September 1842, EO XXI
I look at how difficult our lives can be now – not so different than it was almost 180 years ago. I think of the words from the Preface that I have been reflecting on during this past ‘Eugene speaks pause’ and I seem to have a keeners sense of what Eugene was saying when he wrote in the Preface: “We must lead men to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.”
I cannot but thank God for the community that I have been set down in the middle of; it is my brothers and sisters whose love reminds me that it is not just others who need to be led, but also ourselves, myself.
This is something we do for those we love; it is never just about “them” … I cannot but think of the times I have looked at others (just as Fr. Lagier may have been doing) and in my own woundedness have thought and spoken out against them; particularly in times of difficulty and great challenges, such as the world has been experiencing recently.
Although there is anger and upset at first, this with love, prayer and forgiveness can begin to change and be transformed. It is with continued healing and forgiveness that I seem to see the other and recognize myself in them; and am filled with immense compassion and a deeper love that forgives all and carries us/me.
There are for each of us these days “men [and women] so imperfect who have deceived our hopes – for ourselves and for them. I am reminded of Wrembek’s “Hope for Judas” and the image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd carrying Judas on his shoulders. “God’s boundless mercy for us all”.