ST EUGENE: PILGRIM OF HOPE IN GENEROUS SELF-GIVING (OBLATION)

Posted on May 14, 2023 by franksantucci

(Eugene’s sixth “road sign” for the pilgrim)

Looking at the Cross on Good Friday, Eugene was overwhelmed the love of God who gave everything for him. The response of this young man was oblation: giving everything to God in response.

What more glorious occupation than to act in everything and for everything only for God, to love him above all else, to love him all the more as one who has loved him too late. Ah! this is to begin already here below the blessed life of heaven. That is the true way to glorify him as he wants.

Eugene’s Retreat Journal, December 1814, EO XV n.130

Oblation became the central characteristic of his life as a person, as priest, as founder, as Superior General and as Bishop. It is this spirit that members of the Mazenodian Family are called to absorb and assimilate.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has left to us the task of continuing the great work of the redemption of mankind.
It is towards this unique end that all our efforts must tend;
as long as we will not have spent our whole life and given all our blood to achieve this, we having nothing to say;
especially when as yet we have given only a few drops of sweat and a few spells of fatigue.

Eugene’s letter to Henri Tempier, 22 August 1817, O.W. VI n. 21;

THE WORD OF GOD

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

Isaiah 6:8

For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:37-38

PRAYER

God our Father,
by the grace of the Holy Spirit,
you called St. Eugene de Mazenod
to gather a missionary family
to announce the Gospel
especially among the poor and most abandoned.

May we live by the spirit of his oblation
to act in everything and for everything only for you to love you above all else

Through St Eugene’s intercession may we receive
the particular graces we ask for as pilgrims of hope.

This entry was posted in WRITINGS. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to ST EUGENE: PILGRIM OF HOPE IN GENEROUS SELF-GIVING (OBLATION)

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    May 14, 2023 at 13:02

    Oblation – a word that encompasses the fullness of God’s love. An offering not to appease or to merit; not to raise one’s self up or make one appear to be better or holier than any other…

    This pilgrimage of life which began with my baptism and then kick-started when I heard God say my name… and “I love you. I have called you by name and you are mine.” God picking me up and carrying me out of the darkness… transformation… wondrous light and love…

    I somehow knew that if I gave all of myself, all of my love to God and loved through him – then I would be able to love everyone else. I had absolutely no idea of how possible this might be or what it would look like. (sort of like Mary in a way). It was Jesus who introduced me to his mother…

    Later I was introduced to Eugene and his congregation, to his family… invited to walk with and to share in his wondrous gift of the Spirit… In my heart love is married to gratitude and they become one with the other…

    I did not know what I was looking for until I saw this signpost and now I carry its image within and upon me in the form of our little Oblate Cross. It points me and others towards our next steps…

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *