DO I HAVE A DISTINCTIVE MAZENODIAN CHARACTERISTIC?

The novitiate year is the most important moment to concentrate on the formation of the specifically Oblate character of our life, charism and spirituality. This is done through the lived example of the Oblates, the courses taught and the accompaniment in developing a particularly Mazenodian spirituality.

What Eugene writes applies specifically to the Oblate brothers and priests, however, the spirit behind what he communicates is applicable to every member of the Mazenodian Family. It is a call to each of us to review the quality of our own devotional life.

Father Guigues, on his way to Canada, had written some observations to the Founder about some of those who had completed the novitiate. Eugene took action by writing to the Novice Master, Father Vincens, with some words of advice.

I must tell you for your guidance that Father Guigues, in the letter that he wrote me from Le Havre, feels obliged to remind me of certain things. He says that it would be very beneficial to instil in our Oblates the idea that they must never neglect, by their own fault, spiritual exercises, rosary, particular examen, mental prayer, all fiddle-faddle! from which I conclude that his companions did none of these things.

If things like this are not much appreciated before being a priest, it is to be feared that they will be neglected even more afterward.

I might add that the community will always lack the distinctive characteristic which marks the difference between religious communities and those which are simply ecclesiastical societies.

When novices are learning what should be done, and the Oblates (ed. scholastics) too, they are not edified by this take-it-or-leave-it approach in regard to activities that are prescribed.

Letter to Father Vincens, at N.-D. L’Osier, 23 July 1844, EO X n 849

As a person connected with the spirituality and charism of St Eugene de Mazenod, what “characteristic” of this spirituality do I hold in my relationship with God, my lifestyle and my dealings with others?

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One Response to DO I HAVE A DISTINCTIVE MAZENODIAN CHARACTERISTIC?

Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

February 23, 2022 at 12:18

Seeing what Fr. Guigues wanted all of the novices to practice and live as he left to visit Canada I am reminded of Albert Lacombe who our Province is named after, and his early companions. I think of how he embraced and adopted the charism that had been shared with him and how he lived in the light of the Constitutions and Rules (the living expression of our shared charism) which he had deliberately sought to make a part of his life.

Lacombe and those early Oblates did not always have “physical community” around them because of the great distances between missions and his Oblate brothers. I am particularly reminded of how Lacombe and Fr. Remas met and how they were able to share formation with each other: Fr. Remas as the novice master and Lacombe as the lived missionary, journeying and forming each other.

With the pandemic, we found ourselves having to adjust to new challenges in almost every aspect of our lives. Of necessity we found ourselves going deeper with our spirituality, finding new ways to express this way of being and then sharing that. not dissimilar from those early Oblates we found new ways to live out the charism in our daily lives and to share our spirits. Letting go of ‘the way it was’, letting go of some community practices in order to find new ways of meeting, sharing and living as community was the only way we could maintain and allow our oblation to not just survive but thrive.

New ways of leadership and inviting people to join us, and taking part in first formation and continuing formation. The option of simply ‘waiting it all out until the pandemic was over’ was not an option at all. I am reminded of Peter’s response when Jesus asked his apostles if they wanted to leave with the others who turned away from Jesus’s teaching: “… where would we go?”

It has been about the heart with which I live. What does my oblation, the gift of myself to God look like? Again I turn towards the Constitutions and Rules, standing in their light and allowing them to become a living part of who I am I continue to renew myself in their light and state without measure or embellishment the characteristics, the Mazenodian characteristics that I espouse.

DO I HAVE A DISTINCTIVE MAZENODIAN CHARACTERISTIC?

What Eugene writes applies specifically to the Oblate brothers and priests, however, the spirit behind what he communicates is applicable to every member of the Mazenodian Family. It is a call to each of us to review the quality of our own devotional life.

Father Guigues, on his way to Canada, had written some observations to the Founder about some of those who had completed the novitiate. Eugene took action by writing to the Novice Master, Father Vincens, with some words of advice.

If things like this are not much appreciated before being a priest, it is to be feared that they will be neglected even more afterward.

I might add that the community will always lack the distinctive characteristic which marks the difference between religious communities and those which are simply ecclesiastical societies.

When novices are learning what should be done, and the Oblates (ed. scholastics) too, they are not edified by this take-it-or-leave-it approach in regard to activities that are prescribed.

Letter to Father Vincens, at N.-D. L’Osier, 23 July 1844, EO X n 849

As a person connected with the spirituality and charism of St Eugene de Mazenod, what “characteristic” of this spirituality do I hold in my relationship with God, my lifestyle and my dealings with others?

One Response to DO I HAVE A DISTINCTIVE MAZENODIAN CHARACTERISTIC?

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