REMEMBER THAT WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU MUST ALWAYS BE WHAT YOU ARE.

Posted on August 11, 2023 by franksantucci

Father Aubert and Taché were the pioneer Oblates in this part of Canada, some 2000 miles away from the nearest Oblate community, with letters taking over two months to reach their destination. For this reason the small community of two Oblates needed to ensure that they remained united by living according to the spirit and practices of the Oblate Rule.

As of now, you only form quite a small community. No matter. Conform yourselves to the Rule as much as you possibly can. Although you are only two, nothing prevents you from doing several things in common: your morning and evening meditations, your office, your examen. You will thereby accomplish a duty and those who live in the house of the Bishop will be edified. Remember that wherever you are, you must always be what you are.

Letter to Fr Pierre Aubert in St Boniface Canada, 21 February 1846, EO I n 61

REFLECTION

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are supposed to be and embracing who we are.”

The choice of and commitment to our specific way of life invites each member of the Mazenodian Family to “always be what we are” in whatever circumstances we find ourselves each day – and to set aside time each day to reflect on our vocation.

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One Response to REMEMBER THAT WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU MUST ALWAYS BE WHAT YOU ARE.

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    August 11, 2023 at 13:13

    “Remember that wherever you are, you must always be what you are.” This speaks so loudly to me this morning. It seems like it is the small things in life that can quickly de-rail me and I find myself allowing anxiety’s fears to take over rather than trusting that God will take care of me.

    Bene Brown’s quote echo’s Eugene and Franks words remind me that I must let go of who I think I am, who I believe I am called to be and simply embrace who I am with gratitude – it is here that I find a sense of belonging – to myself, to my Mazenodian Oblate Family and our most specific way of being, to the Church and to God. It seems that these are not separate ways of belonging, but rather a constant flow from within each and the other.

    Eugene speaks… is another way that we are offered to reflect on our vocation, to reflect who we are, to let go and embrace who God has created us to be – the good along with the difficult.

    Reply

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