IN SPITE OF THIS, THE GOOD GOD HAS BLESSED THEIR MINISTRY

Posted on August 16, 2021 by franksantucci

The first six Oblate missionaries sent to Canada had arrived evidently unprepared for ministry in a new continent and culture. Their experience had been of the church in France and they had worked under the constant guidance of Eugene. Now it had all changed for them: a new country, a totally different cultural environment, and correspondence with Eugene that took months for delivery. It is clear that six far-from-perfect men would make mistakes. We have seen some of this in previous entries.

Eugene wrote in his Diary:

Letter from the bishop of Montréal. I read it with emotion, admiration and gratitude. I am not able to transcribe it because it is not less than eight pages; but it is precious as a document and it gives an exact knowledge of the state of the community in Canada.

He knows all its troubles and he judges them with an entirely paternal moderation. It results no less from his observations that our Fathers have conducted themselves with a rare imprudence from the beginning. They have shown themselves in all their imperfection, not only in the eyes of the bishop, who was inclined to excusing them, but also in the eyes of the clergy and even of the laity.

Eugene could not hide his distress:

It’s pitiful! Dashing in this way every hope, abusing my trust, not attaching any importance to my directions for overcoming themselves, for mutually supporting one another, for standing by those from the outside; instead of this, deceiving themselves and denigrating themselves not at all from the point of view of virtue, but on their character, their knowledge, etc.

He, however, was not blind to the good work that they were achieving.

In spite of this, the good God has blessed their ministry “for the glory of his name” [Ed. Psalm 78:9] and by a continuation of the protection which he deigns to grant to our Congregation.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 20 March 1843, EO XXI

Yet another example in the history of our Mazenodian Family where God uses weak instruments to produce a Gospel harvest for others.

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One Response to IN SPITE OF THIS, THE GOOD GOD HAS BLESSED THEIR MINISTRY

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    August 16, 2021 at 11:36

    I am reminded of the consternation of the Jewish authorities with all of their laws and how they must have viewed Jesus and his apostles; watching the seeming disregard for the law, unable (and often unwilling) to see the goodness of the new covenant of love that Jesus was introducing.

    I often see the same thing happening in today’s church, where new ways of expressing our love and reverence may not always be seen by all others as appropriate or good. And yet God is using us as his instruments of love. It happened following Vatican II as many tried new ways of praying and expressing their love for God in a Church that was spreading her new wings to fly. And it continues today, with not everyone agreeing or being happy with how others practice their faith and love.

    Last night I joined with more than two hundred others on a Zoom prayer service of mostly women from North America and even further to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary’s “bodily appearance on earth as a faithful disciple, assumed into heaven in both body and soul… celebrating and claiming the sanctity of the bodies of black and brown women…” I am unsure how it would be viewed by all, but God was with us last night as we came together in prayer and honouring Mary and each other. And I am so grateful for that opportunity to be join them last night.

    “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for God has looked with mercy on my/our lowliness. And surely from now on all generations will call me holy; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is God’s name.”

    As an Oblate Associate and member of this beautiful Mazenodian Family I am keenly aware that for many of us it is a new adventure, a new way of spreading our wings, and how like the early Oblates who came to this country we are learning…

    Reply

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