The full impact and importance of the foundation we are celebrating can only be appreciated if we look at the bigger picture. Eugene was convinced that the 6 men coming together in the foundation room were doing so in response to a call from God. But, how sure of this was he?
Exactly 10 years later, Eugene was in Rome seeking the Church’s recognition that the foundation event of 25 January was indeed the will of God. With the papal approbation, the Oblate charism was recognized as having its inspiration in the Holy Spirit:
Rejoice with me and congratulate yourselves, my beloved, for it has pleased the Lord to grant us great favors;
Our Holy Father the Pope, Leo XII, gloriously reigning from the chair of St. Peter, has sanctioned with his apostolic approbation, on March 21 of this current year, our Institute, our Constitutions and our Rules.
See then our little flock, to whom the Father of the family has kindly wished to open wide the field of the holy Church, given a place in the hierarchic order, associated with the venerable Congregations which have spread throughout the Church so many great benefits and enlightened the entire world with so bright a light;
see her, right from her birth, enriched with the same privileges of those illustrious Societies, in the footsteps of which, with all her strength and all her means, she will certainly strive to walk steadily forward.
Letter to all the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, 1826, EO VII n.232
Papal approbation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, ten years after our foundation
I am struck this morning with the immensity of what happened in 1826, in the light of the humble beginnings of this family that were given birth only 10 years earlier.
“Before one can offer people a particular way of evangelical life, it is necessary that there be signs from God, discernment and the Church’s official confirmation… She vouches to the faithful for the Gospel authenticity of the life project we offer them.” Jetté reminds us that we are at the service of the Church and not the other way around. This is not something born of a whim, but from the breath of the Spirit.
I think of the opening words of Eugene’s letter “Rejoice with me and congratulate yourselves, my beloved, for it has pleased the Lord to grant us great favors.” – this not something born of Eugene but rather it comes from the Lord.
Over and over my eyes keep returning to the word Eugene uses to address his companions: “Beloved.” A word that is kept for the one who is loved deeply. It is the word used by God the Father as He spoke of Jesus. It is the word used in scriptures – an expression of God and which Paul used in his letters. And here we have Eugene using the word to describe his new congregation. A word that is not used glibly but with great intention and intimacy.
Once again I seem to have been distracted from the focus that Frank sets before us. This morning I have been lost in my own hunger to hear that word spoken to me: “beloved.” Perhaps I will heart it as I pass over from this life into the next. Still I celebrate with this beloved family that I am a part of as I look around see those who I called “my beloved”.