AS THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE BODY OF A SAINT DISPLAYED FOR THE VENERATION OF THE FAITHFUL

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A person who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” (Mark Twain)

Eugene describes the death of the 33 year-old Father Antoine-Marie Gibelli, who had spent over eight years as a gifted mission preacher in Corsica.

I saw him again the same evening and I found him in the most holy frame of mind. The illness worsened all the time. One should have been able to record the edifying words he spoke during the last days of his illness. He made me cry every time that I visited him. This was because of the love for God, because of the thankfulness for having called him to the congregation which he had wished to serve well, but for which, he said, he had done nothing…

After his death, Eugene reflected:

There are souls, and his was certainly in their number, who crossed over purgatory to fly directly to heaven into the bosom of God whom they have always loved and served with a faithfulness under every trial.

I wanted to officiate pontifically at his funeral, and during the office this same thought prevailed. I offered the Holy Sacrifice for him, but I did not cease to commend myself to him as though I had seen on the catafalque the body of a saint displayed for the veneration of the faithful.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 18 November 1846, EO XXI

How many people have we known whom we can call saints in our eyes?

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One Response to AS THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE BODY OF A SAINT DISPLAYED FOR THE VENERATION OF THE FAITHFUL

Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:

November 9, 2022 at 12:48

This morning I sit here pondering, smiling, reflecting and recognizing the immense love of Eugene for his many sons and daughters then and now. He speaks of Fr. Gibelli from that stance of love: “This was because of the love for God […] who crossed over purgatory to fly directly to heaven into the bosom of God whom they have always loved and served…” This for me is an image of immense joy in God and God’s joy in them. We never see that so clearly unless we ourselves know some measure of that love. Eugene’s words to Fr. Semeria convey that message: “What sweet peace! What confidence! He left for a Heaven whose doors were wide open.”

I am reminded of Fr. Mario Borzaga OMI who was also full of joy in the Lord and who shared/shares that with his entire being. My thoughts remind me of how I thought of saints when I was little girl, wishing that I could become a saint; one who God loved/loves greatly and who themselves love God greatly with their entire being. St. Eugene and his sons introduced me to the idea of saints also being fully human and yet still having been created out of immense love.

It is with a heart full of love that I think of many who I can and do call saints. They were/are not perfect and yet my heart sings when I think of them. It is not a matter of worthiness or of having “earned” such a title and way of being. It is about God’s promise.

The saints in my eyes? Those we have known who have loved greatly, dared and given their all while remaining incredibly and utterly human at the same time. It is all based on love; a love that colours everything. Dare I hope to enter their numbers? Of course.

“Eleanor, I love you. I have called you by name and you are mine.” A promise.

AS THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE BODY OF A SAINT DISPLAYED FOR THE VENERATION OF THE FAITHFUL

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A person who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” (Mark Twain)

Eugene describes the death of the 33 year-old Father Antoine-Marie Gibelli, who had spent over eight years as a gifted mission preacher in Corsica.

After his death, Eugene reflected:

There are souls, and his was certainly in their number, who crossed over purgatory to fly directly to heaven into the bosom of God whom they have always loved and served with a faithfulness under every trial.

I wanted to officiate pontifically at his funeral, and during the office this same thought prevailed. I offered the Holy Sacrifice for him, but I did not cease to commend myself to him as though I had seen on the catafalque the body of a saint displayed for the veneration of the faithful.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 18 November 1846, EO XXI

How many people have we known whom we can call saints in our eyes?

One Response to AS THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE BODY OF A SAINT DISPLAYED FOR THE VENERATION OF THE FAITHFUL

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