THEY FILLED ME SO MUCH THAT I TOLD MYSELF THAT I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE TO DO NOTHING ELSE ON EARTH BUT SING THE PRAISES OF THE LORD IN THE HOUSE OF GOD

Posted on October 28, 2021 by franksantucci

Christmas in the Cathedral of Marseilles filled Bishop Eugene with awe and gratitude at God’s closeness to him. He confided in his personal journal.

Christmas eve occurring on a Sunday, I officiated pontifically at first Vespers. Several hours later, I returned to the church for evening office. Oh! truly wonderful and holy night. With what joy a person spends it amidst this huge company of faithful in singing psalms and in conversing about the grand mystery whose commemoration is being celebrated. What an excellent preparation at this so properly solemn Mass during which we are given to adore on the altar the same Savior who was born at this very hour in the stable of Bethlehem.

Eugene remembered as well that it was the anniversary of his First Mass thirty-two years earlier.

For me it was another very precious anniversary, the one wherein I had the fortune of celebrating Mass for the first time. All these thoughts were present to me without being confused, on the contrary; they filled me so much that I told myself that I would consider myself fortunate to do nothing else on earth but sing the praises of the Lord in the house of God, to unceasingly repeat what we are doing during this night; that it would be good finally to die during this exercise so consoling for the soul and so in keeping with our end. I came to take several hours of rest, preoccupied with these thoughts, and since my awakening, so to speak, I have been called to again solemnize the grand feast which was continuing.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 25 December 1843, EO XXI

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1 Response to THEY FILLED ME SO MUCH THAT I TOLD MYSELF THAT I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE TO DO NOTHING ELSE ON EARTH BUT SING THE PRAISES OF THE LORD IN THE HOUSE OF GOD

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    October 28, 2021 at 11:56

    With Covid some of our practices during our liturgies have been changed or dropped. And although we have been able to return to our churches in smaller numbers we are still unable to get too close to our brothers and sisters who gather with us. While the rest of the world seems to have found ways to reopen, we are as yet unable to sing our joy aloud. Choirs sing from the choir lofts, but the assembly cannot join in with them. “With what joy a person spends it amidst this huge company of faithful in singing psalms and in conversing about the grand mystery whose commemoration is being celebrated.” I yearn for the fullness of expressing joy.

    As I have sat here this morning the words of the “Deer’s Cry” have quietly escaped my lips to join with others who greet the new day and give thanks. And I think of my dear friend Germaine, who while on this earth loved music – it filled her and freed her, yet she was unable to sing. Yet she was filled with joy and her very being seemed to silently “sing the praises of the Lord in the house of God”. And her joy was contagious, seeming to help free our own souls so that we sang with even greater joy, just because we were able to.

    As I have sat here this morning with Eugene de Mazenod and all who come to sit and join in this shared reflection and prayer I have bemoaned our limitations. But a small memory of my dear friend has helped bring me back to give thanks, to give thanks and to sing silent praise to God. I join Eugene in recalling a special memory and that small act sets me right with the world.

    Today let my day be filled with the music of creation, a joyous celebration of praise.

    I arise today through the strength of heaven
    Light of sun, radiance of moon
    Splendor of fire, speed of lightning
    Swiftness of wind, depth of the sea
    Stability of earth, firmness of rock
    I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me… (from The Deer’s Cry)

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