ONLY GOD WORKS SUCH MARVELS.

Posted on November 8, 2021 by franksantucci

Bishop de Mazenod’s care for the poor of his diocese knew no limits and he relentlessly established groups to respond to the many spiritual and material needs of every category of people. Here is one example from his Diary.

It’s a year yesterday, day for day, that I had established the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul in the service of the poor of our parishes. Who would have told me that, one year later, on the very day, they would be installed to render the “service de la Misericorde” [of Mercy] after the great anger of the administrators and the opposition of all these gentlemen?

Yvon Beaudoin explains the background to Eugene’s happiness: “In 1758, seven charitable men of Marseille formed a brotherhood to give a regular association to the distribution of alms. This brotherhood was established first in the church des Accoules (Le Calvaire), under the title of N.-D. de la Miséricorde [Our Lady of Mercy]. This work received numerous donations, acquired several establishments and distributed many alms…  In 1843, some administrators wanted to appeal to some recognised religious. One among them, Pélissier, opposed it. An accord was, nevertheless, concluded on September 13, 1843 with the Filles de la Charité [Daughters of Charity] who set themselves up in two houses on the street Fonderie-Vieille.”

The Lord, who is the master of hearts, has turned theirs in such a way that they could become the most powerful promoters of a good to which no one could have dared lay claim. The Sisters were adopted by the administration and soon much good will be done by them, and the enormous abuses which existed will be destroyed. Only God works such marvels.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 21 January 1844, EO XXI

The “enormous abuses” refers to the way in which help for the poor provided by the government sometimes never reached the poor but ended up in the wrong pockets. Now that the Sisters were to be in charge of all the almsgiving, the poor would be assured of receiving help.

This entry was posted in WRITINGS. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to ONLY GOD WORKS SUCH MARVELS.

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    November 8, 2021 at 11:43

    It seems that no matter the time in history, certain people can be called on to live truth and set aside some ‘human’ weaknesses and sins. There will always be those who give into temptation or who believe and act that they are above the laws and norms of others.

    And we see that in today’s world where there are norms and abuses that seem to not only be acceptable, but which thrive. There is often a sense of entitlement and privilege that we take part in without recognising how this can lessen and even harm others. How often do we hear the cry “it is my right…” or “that is the way things are done these days”?

    I am reminded of how both John and Matthew’s Gospels tell of Jesus clearing the temple because of the practices which had developed over time were no longer serving people but only a way to make money. The emphasis being on the prescribed way to offer sacrifice and prayer rather than on the prayer itself. In the days following my having been hit by a car as I crossed the street I learned that laws had been enacted to side with the insurance companies so that they did not have to be responsible for the personal costs of the victims for the first 30 days. The entire system was not ‘bad’, but abuses had set in which no longer served the victims.
    We see this over and over today in the modern world; indeed it seems to be commonplace and acceptable.

    Eugene had made it a way of living to follow and respond to the promptings of the Spirit as well as his heart (which was formed and nourished by the same Spirit). He sought out those who loved greatly and then when necessary brought them together to perform a specific task, just as he had done when he brought together others like himself to begin a community, a congregation, to serve specific needs.

    At the end of the day, it is really God working the marvels; we as disciples find ways to serve in enacting those marvels.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *