“What a joy to remember that Mary is our Mother! Since she loves us and knows our weakness, what have we to fear?” (Saint Therese of Lisieux)
On February 17, 1826, the Missionary Oblates were given approbation by the Church authorities. Responding to the euphoria of the Oblates at this important recognition, Eugene reflected on our family name.
May we understand well what we are! I hope that the Lord will give us this grace, with the assistance and by the protection of our holy Mother, the Immaculate Mary, for whom we must have a great devotion in our Congregation. Does it not seem to you that it is a sign of predestination to bear the name of Oblates of Mary, that is, consecrated to God under the patronage of Mary, a name the Congregation bears as a family name held in common with the most holy and immaculate Mother of God?
It is enough to make others jealous; but it is the Church who has given us this beautiful name,
“Consecrated to God under the patronage of Mary”
In fact, it was Eugene himself who had changed the name from “Missionaries of Provence” to “Oblates of Mary Immaculate” and then asked the Pope to approve the change. (cf. https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=2298). It is in this sense that the Church “gave” us the name. The Church ratified the inspiration that Eugene had received regarding our name and the identity it gives us. In this sense, our name and our identity belong to the Church, and therefore:
we receive it with respect, love and gratitude, proud of our dignity and of the rights that it gives us to the protection of her who is All Powerful in God’s presence.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 20 March 1826, EO VII n 231
Today these sentiments continue as our Rule of Life shows:
“Mary Immaculate is patroness of our Congregation. Open to the Spirit, she consecrated herself totally as lowly handmaid to the person and work of the Savior. She received Christ in order to share him with all the world, whose hope he is. In her, we recognize the model of the Church’s faith and of our own.” CC&RR Constitution 10
This morning I find myself looking at Mary’s place in my life and asking myself if she is simply like a well-done window-dressing or is there more to her?
We are talking about the woman who gave birth to Jesus, our crucified Saviour; a very real human woman. More than mere window-dressing she is like a backdrop that provides context to our life, our beliefs, our ways of being.
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart…” (Jeremiah 1:5) And instead of adding a few “yes buts” I sit with that as it pertains to me, to us, to the world…, and just as this is an integral part of the spiritual plane it is that which gives context to our physical world.
The words “alter Christus” keep finding their way to the front of my mind. Is that possible? And if so then how?
“She [Mary] received Christ in order to share him with all the world, whose hope he is.” It has to be about more than just one good human man born into this world. It has to be about more than gender or rallying calls.
“In her, we recognize the model of the Church’s faith and of our own.” (C 10) The foundations of our lives, of our way of doing things, of our very being…
Before coming to this place this morning I looked out my window, which looks out over a small grotto to our Lady of Lourdes. I saw a man dressed in a suit and hat on his way to work, walking into the grotto and as he approached the front which held a small altar watched over by a statue of Mary, he slowed and took off his hat as he walked the last few feet towards her. After a few moments he walked out, putting on his hat and heading towards the main street. His actions spoke louder than any words I could write or speak.
Reading your piece give me more joy. The joy I feel if thinking of our Mother. The joy I feel when I look at the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The joy of being part of a beautiful family that brought me closer to Jesus. The Oblate family. The Charism of St Eugene brought the true meaning of love to life. It brought me more curiosity to know Jesus more to love more and to rely on the help of our mother every moment of my life. I want to share more of her ,I want to be closer to her and Is want to feel Jesus presence more. Thank you Eleanor