WE FEEL AS IF WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER ALTHOUGH NOT ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER

Eugene, as the father of a missionary family, was constantly aware of the situation of the missionaries and wanted to be united with them. He was frustrated by the time of several months that it took for a letter to reach its destination and received each communication from the missionaries with joy:

You cannot imagine, my dear man, the pleasure that I experience on receiving your letters. I was overcome with joy on receiving that which you wrote from Saint Boniface on the date of June 20th. How many times I have re-read it and read it to others to whom it could be communicated! All you say interests me. I am insatiable for details of everything you do and of all that concerns yourself. So my very dear son, spare me nothing, be not afraid of giving minute details for all that comes from you is of great weight and is inestimable to me.

Then he reveals the beautiful way in which he united himself with each member of his missionary family each day.

I must say that it happens sometimes when I find myself in the presence of Jesus Christ that I experience a kind of illusion. It seems to me that you are adoring Him and praying at the same time as I and with Him being as present to you as to me, we feel as if we were very close to one another although not able to see each other. There is something very true in this idea. I revert to it constantly and cannot describe the good and the consolation I derive from this. Try to do the same and you will experience it as I do.

Letter to Fr Pierre Aubert in St. Boniface, Canada, 3 February 1847, EO I n 81

REFLECTION

This practise has come to be referred to as “oraison” and it is a precious part of our spirituality and family communion. Try to take some time each day to experience communion with loved ones who are not with you – and with all those who share the same ideals as you in the Mazenodian family.