THIS MORNING, I WENT TO SAY MY LAST ADIEUX TO MY OLD FRIEND CHARLES

Posted on January 31, 2022 by franksantucci

Before our Christmas break. we had seen how Eugene’s lifelong friend, Charles Forbin de Janson, had died.

Eugene had presided at his funeral and wrote in his diary:

This morning, I went to say my last adieux to my old friend Charles, bishop of Nancy…

I offered the Holy Sacrifice in the presence of the coffin which enclosed his body. The Marquis de Janson and his son, alerted about my arrival, came to join with me in this last religious duty which I came to render to their brother and uncle. Fr. Magnam, who was accompanying me celebrated the Holy Mysteries after me. When his Mass was said, I put on the cape and we changed the concluding funeral prayer. After which I withdrew to no longer see again this friend, this school fellow, this confrere, this colleague, except at last in blessed eternity where I hope his prayers will contribute to making me arrive.

Eugene then reflects on the meaning of the heavy crosses in his life:

Before parting, Mr. de Janson implored me to accept the reliquary cross which his brother wore, I accepted it as a souvenir and as a relic, because I did not lack crosses, those of a bishop as others. I already had five of the first. It would not be so easy for me to count the others, they are as numerous as heavy, but the all-good God indeed knows how to lighten their burden. There are only those of the heart whose wounds always remain bloody. They who make me bear them are very cruel.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 16 July 1844, EO XXI

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One Response to THIS MORNING, I WENT TO SAY MY LAST ADIEUX TO MY OLD FRIEND CHARLES

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    January 31, 2022 at 11:57

    There is something very sad about Eugene’s final blessing and goodbye to his old friend Forbin de Janson, who had not wanted to see, to recognize what was happening to his body and preferred to believe what the doctor was telling him.

    What a painful cross that had been for Eugene to carry within himself when he went to tell his dear friend the truth about his state of health. There is in the words of Eugene a genuine sadness that runs deep within him and that he must carry. A bloody cross indeed.

    My thoughts so keep returning to the “reliquary cross” which was given to Eugene.

    When I googled the word reliquary this morning I found that it referred to a sacred vessel, a sacred bundle, which then reminded me of the medicine bundles that some of my indigenous friends and elders wear and carry with them. I am reminded of Lacombe’s words to his friend as he was about to be presented to the Emperor of Austria saying that all the adornment that was needed was his cross which he always wore.

    “Ha!” I thought – we are not so different whether we are religious or lay, bishop or servant, settler or indigenous. I could grow weary with all the labels, but as people we are not so different, and so with Eugene I say a small prayer for his friend and for him. I imagine there was a great celebration when they met up in heaven, with no more heavy crosses to carry.

    Reply

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