OBLATION: WE GIVE OURSELVES TO HIM WITHOUT RESERVE AND WITHOUT CONDITIONS

Posted on October 6, 2021 by franksantucci

Eugene continues to reflect on the meaning of the oblation of Brother Charles Baret, who has just professed his perpetual vows.

Accustom yourself, my dear son, to have confidence in the Lord, without reservation whatsoever. We must become entirely generous toward our Father who is so good and, at the same time, both so great and so powerful. There must be no reservations in the gift of ourselves to him. He knows your needs, he knows the lawful desires of your heart: that’s all that is needed. Rightfully he wants us to consider ourselves so honored, so happy to be admitted into the intimacy of his privileged disciples, that in exchange and in gratitude we give ourselves to him without reserve and without conditions… You consecrated yourself to God, to his Church, to the Congregation.

Goodbye, my dear son. In giving you my blessing for the first time, I embrace you with all my heart.

Letter to Brother Charles Baret, at Notre Dame de L’Osier, 18 August 1843

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1 Response to OBLATION: WE GIVE OURSELVES TO HIM WITHOUT RESERVE AND WITHOUT CONDITIONS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    October 6, 2021 at 11:43

    I have always felt it so endearing that Eugene in writing to his sons, no matter the content of the letter, always ends by “embracing you with all my heart”. This is what great and immense love looks like.

    Where does such great love come from? How does it begin? From God, with God – it all begins there. In recognizing and acknowledging such immense love we are filled with joy and gratitude – the fruits of such immeasurable and deepening love. Without reserve or conditions as Eugene writes to Bro. Baret.

    This is not some empty and meaningless piety, but rather our lived expression of the love poured out upon us. And it is not just for a privileged few, but for all. Sometimes we try to put conditions on this love; conditions of worthiness and of who is saved and who is not really saved.

    Dare we take what Eugene is offering to every one of us who makes up this Mazenodian Family and beyond? When we say yes then we too consecrate ourselves to God, to God’s Church, to this congregation, to each other…

    In this way we become a holy family, not “the” Holy Family, but a holy family. Today, let us like Eugene, embrace each other with all of our hearts.

    Reply

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