I HAD LONG BEEN PRAYING TO OUR LORD THAT HE CAUSE TO SHINE A RAY OF HIS LIGHT ON HIS INTELLIGENCE SO THAT HE WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW EVIL WAS THE WAY HE WAS FOLLOWING

Posted on February 1, 2022 by franksantucci

Father Jean Baudrand was 30 years old when he was sent to Canada in 1841 as part of the first group of Oblates. He was a good preacher, but had a hyper-critical spirit.

In a September 20, 1842 entry in his Diary, Bishop de Mazenod expressed his displeasure:“Things would improve in America if Father Baudrand was not fostering this internal division. Father Baudrand is a man of no education, without tact and endowed with very little virtue. He…  uses his knowledge only to grumble, to sow discord, to complain even outside of the community, emphasizing the faults of his confreres according to what his imagination and his ill-natured heart portrays them. He is really doing the devil’s work in Canada and the damage he has done us is incalculable”

In April of 1843, Bishop de Mazenod decided to recall him to France…  In response to the insistence of Bishop Bourget, the Founder left Father Baudrand in Canada, but on August 10, 1843, he wrote the bishop: “You wanted to give Father Baudrand a respite. […] Let’s exercise a bit more patience, then, even if he does not show more sincerity in his obedience. And if he does not break himself of the mania he has of wanting to judge everything and everyone, we will have to deal with it.” Did Bishop Bourget share this letter with Father Baudrand? On May 10 1844, Father Honorat announced that Father Baudrand had made a retreat, asked pardon for his actions and promised to change. In closing, he stated: “I consider this change of heart as being one of the greatest graces that God has granted us since we are in Canada.” (https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/baudrand-jean-fleury/)

When Eugene received this news he responded:

First nothing could console me more than the holy dispositions which you assure me are to be found in Father Baudrand. I had long been praying to Our Lord that He cause to shine a ray of His light on his intelligence so that he would understand how evil was the way he was following  and that He would also touch his heart so that he would repent and repair the scandal of his obstinacy.

I do not yet have before me the proof of his amendment. It would be impossible to believe him converted as long as he does not take the initiative in my regard that his whole duty demands. I am certainly disposed to pardon him but I cannot exempt him from making a sincere act of reparation which should not have taken so long to come.

Letter to Jean Baptiste Honorat, 18 July 1844, EO I n 43

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One Response to I HAD LONG BEEN PRAYING TO OUR LORD THAT HE CAUSE TO SHINE A RAY OF HIS LIGHT ON HIS INTELLIGENCE SO THAT HE WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW EVIL WAS THE WAY HE WAS FOLLOWING

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    February 1, 2022 at 11:34

    This morning I am reminded of the story of the Prodigal Son, with Eugene portraying the father in the story. “I had long been praying to Our Lord that He cause to shine a ray of His light on… would also touch his heart so that he would repent and repair the scandal of his obstinacy.” Here I see the love of a father for his son. Baudrand had not been an exemplary model of community. I doubt though, that Eugene would have called him back to France only to have him removed from the congregation: he held Baudrand in his love and so would have looked for a place better suited to Fr. Baudrand. And I wonder that even in Eugene’s anger and disappointment if he did not also look more deeply at Baudrand to see if he somehow recognized the poor man’s pain that might explain his behaviour. Love can raise us up and forgiveness will always grant us new eyes and a better way of seeing. And here I am thinking of Eugene’s conversion experience.

    I am reminded of Jesus with his apostles and how he did not dismiss any of them. Even Judas was not shut out as Jesus sent him to do what he must, and we must not forget how he called Peter to be the rock upon which he built his church.

    I think of the times that I have ‘reacted’ against another refusing to look at where their obstinate anger might be coming from; and even as I look back at the other I remember how my own pain has risen up after long periods, pain wearing the cloak of anger and righteousness.

    The love of one who waits patiently to forgive a daughter or son, a friend or foe, a brother or sister – the focus changes with forgiveness. It is then that we become capable of seeing through the eyes of our crucified Saviour…

    Reply

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