WITH SUCH GOOD INTENTIONS, THE GOOD GOD WILL NOT ABANDON US

A month later, after intense prayer and consultations, Eugene came to a peaceful conclusion to stop worrying about the nomination of Fr Guigues to be the first bishop of Bytown, and to leave it all in God’s hands. Writing to Bishop of Bourget of Montreal, who had been the episcopal and spiritual mentor of the Oblates since their arrival in Canada

You know the confidence I have in the clarity of your views and how I have always counted on your fatherly goodness for the Congregation you have called into your diocese and adopted as a child of your predilection. For my part, I certainly wish only the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. I founded our little Congregation only for this twofold end.

Bishop Bourget had been in Rome and had prayed at the tomb of St Peter about this issue:

You have considered all things before God. You have gone to seek inspiration at the same holy tomb on which I placed in 1825 the Rule of the new family which God inspired me to give to the Church. This obtained for me the miraculous protection of the Prince of the Apostles who spoke by his successor Leo in a manner as to astonish all those who were witnesses thereof.

I abandon myself therefore to you in this most delicate matter. What you shall do will be well done. With such good intentions, the good God will not abandon us.

Letter to Bishop Bourget of Montreal, 20 January 1847, EO I n 76

REFLECTION

This text shows how the words and example of Saint Francis de Sales played an important role in Eugene’s life and decision-making. St Francis wrote:

“There are many who say to the Lord, ‘I give myself wholly to You, without any reserve,’ but there are few who embrace the practice of this abandonment, which consists in receiving with a certain indifference every sort of event, as it happens in conformity with Divine Providence, as well afflictions as consolations, contempt and reproaches as honor and glory.”