WRESTLE WITH IT AS I MIGHT I COULD NOT FIND A WAY OUT OF THE DILEMMA. I THOUGHT OF IT CONSTANTLY BEFORE GOD
The news of the possible appointment of Bruno Guigues as the first Bishop of Bytown (today the city of Ottawa) caused a quandary for Eugene.
At first this news plunged me into great perplexity. If I saw on the one hand the advantage of the Church in Canada, I could not on the other overlook the grave disadvantages that could thereby result for our Congregation and evidently this second consideration should prevail over the first because our first duty is to maintain our Congregation in a state of capability for the accomplishment of the mission the Church has given to her and it would be easy to find amongst the clergy in Canada another person to fulfil worthily the episcopal functions at Bytown and it was impossible for me to replace you in America.
Wrestle with it as I might I could not find a way out of the dilemma. I thought of it constantly before God…
I am always happy that I had chosen you to represent me in the midst of this portion of the family and in a country where our first Fathers had perhaps caused some of the prejudices which had arisen on all sides. I have often blessed God for the change which was brought about by your facilitation.
Letter to Fr. Bruno Guigues in Canada, December 1846, EO I n 71
When Bishop Bourget arrived to speak with Eugene, he gave the assurance that as Bishop, Fr Guigues would still be able to continue his responsibilities as the one responsible for the expanding North American Oblate missions. Eugene thus gave his consent, as Superior General, for the good of the Church and the advantage of the Congregation.
REFLECTION
Corrie ten Boom’s words come to mind: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
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God will plant us, each of us, exactly where God wishes us to spread our roots and grow. Fr. Bruno Guigues had done very well as the local Superior, but Eugene himself knew well the load, the extra burden that was carried in becoming a bishop. I think of his notes from his retreat that he made before being installed as the Bishop of Marseilles as he articulates his immense love of God ,as well as his struggle be all that he was called to be before God. Ruled by love, he lived his Oblation in every part of his life.
I first met Fr. Tony, an Oblate, at a time in his life when he was struggling: he was one of our missionaries up north, and there was something about him that touched me deeply. A couple years later I met him again and when he smiled, his eyes danced. Joy was a part of him. Not long after that he became a bishop and some years later I met up with him at our Provincial Convocation: I shared that I did not know how to address him. He invited me to continue to call him Tony and at some point he told all of us that he was first of all and always an Oblate and it was from that way of being he served as a bishop.
Like Eugene and Bishop Guigues, it was not so much about him being a bishop, but how he was a true Oblate. It was in that way that Eugene lived and served as Founder, Superior General of the congregation and Bishop of Marseilles. He wanted nothing less for Fr. Bruno Guigues OMI.
This speaks to me as an Oblate Associate of OMI Lacombe Province. I serve, in small ways my Mazenodian Oblate Family and it is in that light and as an Oblate Associate that I serve in the life of my parish, which is an Oblate parish.
I serve God, the Church, the Mazenodian Oblate Family, those in my parish and beyond. And while there are struggles in all of that I am still able to recognize and take part in the many graces of the moment which to carry me.
As Corrie ten Boom said I try: “Never to be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Special blessings on this day Frank – I am – we are so grateful in how you guide us: Priest, teacher, shepherd, planter of seeds and friend…