IT IS A SMALL FORCE WHICH MAY BE ABLE TO SERVE THE CHURCH AND THE CONGREGATION

Posted on March 15, 2022 by franksantucci

From the beginning Eugene referred to the scholastics, preparing themselves for priesthood, as “the Oblates” – he recognized in them their desire to give all to God. They had studied in various places, but now Eugene brought them back to Marseilles to study at the Major Seminary

The twenty Oblates who are coming to study at the Major Seminary were presented to me today. It was wonderful to see. Ah! If they are such as they should be, what hope for the congregation! In addition to these twenty here present, we are still counting four of them in Lumières, two of them at l’Osier and two of them in Canada, a total of twenty-eight. It’s a small force which may be able, in its time, to serve the Church and the congregation well.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 17 October 1844, EO XXI

Today, Eugene’s appreciative words would continue to apply to the new members of the various branches of the Mazenodian Family: “What hope for the Church!”

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One Response to IT IS A SMALL FORCE WHICH MAY BE ABLE TO SERVE THE CHURCH AND THE CONGREGATION

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    March 15, 2022 at 10:34

    “…he recognized in them their desire to give all to God.” Eugene did not always follow the trends that were laid out before him. I think of how called some of those very early scholastics of his society to take part in the vote as to whether they would become a religious congregation, taking vows just as he and Henri Tempier had done with each other. Those first scholastics who were prepared then and there to make a gift of themselves to God, to the Church, to their society.

    I think of the small St. Sauveur Cathedral in Aix – where Eugene took down the small wall that divided the church keeping the ‘riffraff’ separated from those proper members of French society. If my memory serves me there was a very small sign on the wall and a line of separation which indicated the place where Eugene himself took down that divider so as to make more room for those who were not considered to be members of proper society; thus allowing them to enter in and sit where they could hear the words of Eugene as he preached.

    Last but not least I think of how Fr. Leo Deschâtelets, former Superior General spoke of opening some doors to the laity in the Church before Vatican II began.Is this not how Vatican II opened the doors of the Church to the laity and ecumenism?

    I think of the Oblate Studies Program which is offered to both scholastics in religious life but also to committed Oblate Associates who want to go deeper and make their own Oblation to God, the Church and members of our Mazenodian Family. I can only imagine the joy and delight of Eugene as he sheds his light on all of his sons and daughters in their various states of life.

    He has recognised in us, our desire to give all to God.

    Reply

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