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- IT IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE START OF THE CONGREGATION THAT I HAVE HEARD SUCH AN EVIL-SOUNDING WORD
- BECOME ONE WITH YOUR SUPERIOR, SO THAT YOU AND HE ARE OF ONE HEART, ONE MIND, ONE WILL
- MY HEART OF A FATHER WAS FULL OF LOVE FOR YOU WHO ARE DOUBLY MY SON
- WE MUST DISCOVER ALL THESE ADVANTAGES IN THE BLESSED CONGREGATION THAT HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO US
- YOU MUST BE A FATHER TO YOUR NOVICES, YOU MUST BE CLOSE TO THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM
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- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on BECOME ONE WITH YOUR SUPERIOR, SO THAT YOU AND HE ARE OF ONE HEART, ONE MIND, ONE WILL
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on MY HEART OF A FATHER WAS FULL OF LOVE FOR YOU WHO ARE DOUBLY MY SON
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on WE MUST DISCOVER ALL THESE ADVANTAGES IN THE BLESSED CONGREGATION THAT HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO US
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on YOU MUST BE A FATHER TO YOUR NOVICES, YOU MUST BE CLOSE TO THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER WHO BELIEVES IN YOU
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“A father’s communication with his many children… that is one of the most agreeable occupations of my life” 1857
This morning I ask myself what is there really to reflect upon here? What first comes to my mind are the words from the Preface: “We must lead men [and women] to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.” A very holistic image appears.
I think of Henri Tempier who in his initial response to Eugene’s invitation said how much he wanted to join Eugene and his men, and if he was not great enough as a preacher he would offer himself to teach catechetics or however he was needed. Tempier who was assigned so many administrative jobs as well as being a formator – all of them really at a permanent base from which others were sent out from.
Eugene himself experienced within himself that which he asked of his sons and daughters. He who was priest, Founder, Superior General, bishop and a senator of France: obedient to where the Spirit called him to be, but which was not always his first choice.
I look this morning at how I myself am called to serve in a base, along side of my brothers and sisters; serving them who are not poor by any stretch of the imagination, but… who knows their secret yearnings… be they people in my parish, members of my Mazenodian Family, other Oblate Associates…
My sharings each day with all of you, I am sharing myself with those of you who have been sent one way or another. This is way of walking with you, especially those of you who are sent directly to the poorest and most abandoned within us and further. My life is small and humble and the only ones I will ever touch and be able to share with are the members of this family and my parish family. I think for a moment of some of the indigenous elders that I have met and how they carry Creator God within themselves; how they too are small, ordinary and who are a light to the feet of all of us.
I am called and sent… we are all called and sent.