WHERE WOULD WE BE IF WE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO BE DISHEARTENED BY THE DIFFICULTIES THAT OUR MINISTRY BRINGS US?

“If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.” (Lance Armstrong)

As Superior General, Eugene’s responsibility was to accompany his missionaries in their ‘being” and their “doing.” He cared deeply for his missionary sons and for their well-being, encouraging them, and also correcting when necessary. He understood the debilitating effect of anxiety and worry in the missionaries.

Where would we be, my dear Father Bellon, if we allowed ourselves to be disheartened by the difficulties that our ministry brings us? This weakness is only too natural and certainly does not come from God; if we probe deeper into this feeling, we may perhaps discover something even more imperfect. And so I do not approve your worrying about it as you do. Why are you surprised to find the miseries of humanity in people? You must conquer evil with good, pray very much, always distrust yourself, but hope in God, who, precisely on this occasion, has shown you a great proof of his protection. But far from being discouraged, you ought to be full of gratitude to God, that he has enlightened us in time and put us on the track of a devilish scheme which I could luckily prevent. …

We have no idea what this “devilish scheme” was, but it threatened the well-being of Father Bellon, hence the strong words to encourage him to put things into a wider perspective.

We repair the evil, thank God for having discovered it, and continue to work with fresh zeal for the sanctification of souls, precisely because they are being attacked more violently by the enemy of every good. If we acted otherwise, we would be, I say, not only foolish but quite culpable as well.

Letter to Father Charles Bellon at N.D. de Lumières, 21 September 1845, EO X n 881

“Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken”. (Psalm 55:22)

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1 Response to WHERE WOULD WE BE IF WE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO BE DISHEARTENED BY THE DIFFICULTIES THAT OUR MINISTRY BRINGS US?

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:

    I idly wonder why Frank started this morning’s post with that particular quote from Lance Armstrong, who was unarguably one of the greatest bikers from the US who competed in the Tours de France. Sadly he was not always true to himself, but that does not negate the good that he did, the inspiration he provided to many young men and women… He made some mistakes but then don’t we all?

    It seems that Eugene is reminding Fr. Bellon to remain true to himself, to who God has called him to be and not give in to the fears and ways that he was being attacked. Eugene is reminding him to pray, to look at himself through the eyes of the crucified Saviour, discerning and give thanks to God for everything – not just the ‘smooth sailing’ portions of his life.

    I am reminded of what Eugene himself endured in founding the Oblates, bringing and keeping them all together, even when it seemed that the Church herself had abandoned him. He continued on and turned to his Saviour asking for strength.

    There are times when I wonder if I am where God wants me to be, or is it just where I want me to be? Doubts, seeming failures, moments of distress: I pray – I talk with the Beloved about my concerns and ask for strength. It gets easier sometimes only because it becomes second nature to us to talk and walk with God. And I listen to the counsel of others who walk with me. Discernment…

    What if Fr. Chicho had said no? What if his vicar’s had doubted their ability to serve as they were being asked to serve?

    What if you and I are afraid to allow God to stretch us just a little bit further, if we listen to the temptation that we are not good enough, or strong enough or even not loved enough…
    God will work through each of us, if we allow Him…

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