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Recent Posts
- FOR THE REST, I DO MY BEST TO LEAVE IT TO GOD
- GOD ALONE KNOWS HOW TO REWARD WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR HIM. SO, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING TO PLEASE HIM
- IT IS A CONSOLATION FOR ME TO BREATHE THE SAME AIR, TO OFFER THE HOLY SACRIFICE ON THE SAME ALTARS, TO BE ABLE TO PRAY AT HIS TOMB
- THERE IS NOT A CORNER OF ROME WHICH IS NOT A MONUMENT OF FAITH OR PIETY
- THE ROMAN MARTYRS ARE STILL THE OBJECT OF VENERATION OF PEOPLES
Recent Comments
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on FAITH-FOCUSED INVESTMENT GROUPS: A PRESENCE WHERE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF THE POOR ARE BEING MADE (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on VIVAT: A PRESENCE WHERE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF THE POOR ARE BEING MADE (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on WE SHOW A VERY HUMAN FACE OF JESUS TO THE WORLD, ONE FULL OF COMPASSION AND SOLIDARITY (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on JUSTICE, PEACE AND THE INTEGRITY OF CREATION AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF EVANGELIZATION (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on WALKING THE LINE BETWEEN PROPHETIC VISION AND SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE (CONSTITUTION 9)
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“A father’s communication with his many children… that is one of the most agreeable occupations of my life” 1857
I find myself reflecting on how much we (and most certainly myself) rely on community in order to be healthy, both physically, emotionally and spiritually. When I look at the challenges presented to the early missionaries here in this part of the world, I am amazed at what they had to let go of simply to go out and spread the Good News along with trying to live apostolic community life.
The Oblate Rule of life is about community living – that is what we are called to and what is woven into every aspect of our lives – every bit as important as the missionary zeal that we share with each other as we are sent out… No matter our role in life, our culture or ‘milieu’ we our called to be together. The word ‘community’ is mentioned 137 times in the Rule of life and variations of that word another 47 times. It begins in the Preface mentioning how Jesus called the apostles together.
I think of the many ways that we have found to call community together during the lockdown periods of COVID – we used technologies to help us. Children drew pictures that were pasted on their windows facing the world outside their homes – ways of coming together and community. I think of the practice of Oraison that Eugene instituted as part of community life – enabling us to “meet in prayer” no matter the physical distances between us.
My Oblate family, my Mazenodian family – perhaps one of the deepest communities that I am a part of, like the Family of God, foundational in my life… This family, community who comes here to this place of being each morning, finding nourishment for and with each other – sharing ourselves, being part of an intentional community, standing in the light of St. Eugene and the others as together we share and go deeper with each other. It is like a springboard for the rest of our day.
I am so grateful to God for creating the ‘communion of saints’, for calling me to be a part of something that is so much greater than just myself. Community, communion is what gives me life.