LIVING SIGNS OF GOD’S MERCIFUL LOVE

As Superior General of the Missionary Oblates, Eugene aimed to be in constant contact with the activities of the Oblates in France and in the missions outside. In France the main focus continued to be on the preaching parish missions. At the conclusion of a successful mission in St Maximin, where the relics of Mary Magdalene were believed to be, Eugene wrote:

The Saint-Maximin mission has had truly great results… I had brought the Bishop [ed. of Fréjus] with me to witness the delightful spectacle that is the closing of a mission; he was truly astonished, it was something entirely new to him. Everything went as I had wished it for the honor of the Congregation.

Eugene added:

unfortunately the quality of the priests who remain there will prevent them from doing anything to sustain the marvellous work that grace accomplished.

Letter to Fr Hippolyte Courtès in Aix en Provence, 11 January 1847, EO X n 920

The mission approach of the Oblates was to spend some weeks in a parish to undertake a thorough renewal. The ongoing success however, depended on the local clergy to continue the renewal. It was the poor quality of some of the clergy that led Eugene to undertake the running of seminaries as one of the facets of our charism. (Just for the story: 12 years later St Maximin was entrusted to the Dominicans who brought new life to the center)

“The People of God need to be guided by pastors whose lives are spent in service to the Gospel. I ask parish communities, associations and the many prayer groups present in the Church, not to yield to discouragement but to continue praying that the Lord will send workers to his harvest. May he give us priests enamoured of the Gospel, close to all their brothers and sisters, living signs of God’s merciful love.”

Pope Francis (w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en.html)

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1 Response to LIVING SIGNS OF GOD’S MERCIFUL LOVE

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:

    “By growing in unity of heart and mind, we bear witness before the world that Jesus lives in our midst and unites us in order to send us out to proclaim God’s reign.” (C37)

    And while Eugene certainly saw how some of the priests of his time had not been given the necessary formation he found a way to provide that for priests in the future. I imagine that he rejoiced when some 12 years later the Dominicans were invited to bring new life to the St. Maximin Mission.

    Pope Francis encourages us – to pray for more priests… and perhaps we can also pray and discern about how we are called to assist in the harvest, not to take over, but to work with…

    I think of how Eugene began by going out to those who were not touched by the structures of the Church. “Lay people recognize that they are called to share in the charism according to their state of life, and to live it in ways that vary according to milieu and cultures. They share in the charism in a spirit of communion and reciprocity amongst themselves and with the Oblates.” (R 37a)

    We, the laity, are not asked to ‘take over’ or ‘replace’ the priests. Rather we can walk with and find ways to serve God and each other, becoming “living signs of God’s merciful love”.

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