THE CONCLUSIONS OF MISSIONS ARE MOST WONDERFUL DAYS FOR A BISHOP!

Posted on October 19, 2022 by franksantucci

“And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15.

Bishop Eugene had also instituted the practice of regular preached parish missions in the parishes of his diocese. He always aimed to be present at the concluding ceremonies to celebrate the various sacraments. Here he describes one of these in his diary.

March 22: [Conclusion of the mission at St-Antoine.] The conclusions of missions are most wonderful days for a bishop! May I not at all be known as ever inclined to refuse being present at them.

To see a parish reconciled with God, to receive from the hands of its pastor the body of Jesus Christ, to address some edifying words to this part of my flock, to fulfil in this way the great duty of preaching imposed on bishops, to give Confirmation to men who would not receive it without this, it’s a consolation which recompenses for every fatigue. I would believe myself to be committing a mortal sin if, being able to so easily give the Holy Spirit and to make perfect Christians, I refrained for frivolous reasons from bowing to the desires of the souls who have been entrusted to me.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 22 March 1846, EO XXI

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One Response to THE CONCLUSIONS OF MISSIONS ARE MOST WONDERFUL DAYS FOR A BISHOP!

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    October 19, 2022 at 12:06

    Last night before going to bed I read Fr. Ron Rolheiser’s In Exile column titled “Celebrating 50 Years of Ordination” in which he gave thanks to God for calling him to be a religious ordained priest. “…reflecting on 50 years of priesthood, many thoughts and feelings come to mind; life, after all, has its seasons. However, the feeling that overrides all others is that of gratitude, thank you, thank you, and thank you!”

    I had the sense that he was filled with joy, not a giddy emotion, but the deep and steady joy that comes from serving God as he had.

    This morning I am finding that same deep sense of joy in being who God has called in Eugene, Bishop Eugene de Mazenod, Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Oblate/Mazenodian Family. This was what he was born for. His words, like Ron’s are filled with an immense sense of gratitude and joy, which remind of Eugene’s words as he was dying, telling those around him to remember that he died happy…

    And this is the punch line for every single one of us: “And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15) God’s promise to his chosen people then and now. The Good News then and now.

    To reflect on how we are called to be shepherds ‘according to the heart of God’, who will feed those we are sent to serve with knowledge and understanding. Not just the apostles, and not just the ordained priests, but all of us in the beautiful family who are called and sent in the various seasons of our lives: sent to teach and share, always daring to go ever deeper and living out our oblation in how we serve God, the Church, our family(s) and recognizing the poverty within ourselves and our brothers and sisters in life.

    Let us echo Ron’s words, no matter the season of life we are in: “thank you, thank you and thank you!”

    Reply

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