THE BLOOD OF OUR REDEEMER FLOWS THOUGH ALL OUR VEINS
As he writes to his diocese about the Irish Catholics suffering from famine, we find echoes of Bishop Eugene’s conversion experience at the foot of the Cross and his realization that he had been redeemed by the blood of the Savior.
Let it not be said they belong to an empire other than ours. That would be completely unworthy of Christian charity for we are all, as long as men dwell on earth, children of our Father in heaven and neighbours to each other; and moreover, the Irish belong like us to the great Catholic family.
Not only is the blood of the same human family common to us but the blood of our Redeemer in which we share as recipients of the same grace and the same sacraments.
This profound conviction that the blood of the Redeemer is common to all formed the foundation of Eugene’s understanding of the Church primarily as the Body of Christ:
Let us teach those who are ignorant thereof that in all the regions of the universe, the Catholic Church forms an indivisible body of which Jesus Christ is the head and we are the members.
… Yes, my dear brethren, in the presence of the innumerable sufferings of the Irish, we do not have to ask them to what country they belong; any narrow thought of nationality must be stifled to allow the great and generous spirit of Catholic charity to prevail; the enormity of the excess of the evil is a claim on all nations. It also seems to us that the whole of Christianity should hasten to imitate the example that has already been given to it by the Pope and send effective aid to Ireland for it is a question, after all, of a numerous people dying in the grip of the frightful horrors of famine; it is the blood of a multitude of brothers and sisters which cries to us all
Bishop Eugene’s Circular Letter to the people of Marseilles, 24 February 1847, EO III Circular n 2
REFLECTION
From the time of his life-changing experience of Jesus as his Savior, Eugene regarded each Christian as having been redeemed by Jesus Christ and thus having the same blood of the Savior flowing through their veins.
“Through the eyes of our crucified Saviour we see the world which he redeemed with his blood, desiring that those in whom he continues to suffer will know also the power of his resurrection” (OMI Constitution 4)
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What a beautiful and powerful reflection this morning as we are invited to realise the immense gift of life that we have received; becoming more deeply aware of every other human being. Not by any great effort of our own, but as Eugene said: “the blood of our Redeemer flows through all our veins”.
I think of how Jesus would say “your sins are forgiven, now go and sin no more”.
I think of one of my sponsor’s in AA who told me that I would never be able to drink comfortably again. It is no different when we give our lives to God – we are never able to turn our backs on God again in the same manner as we did before.
My life changed totally as I met Jesus and heard him call me. My sins are more often sins of the heart, of not always loving each person that I meet, when I decide to see through my own eyes rather than through the eyes of our crucified Saviour…
“…desiring that those in whom he continues to suffer will know also the power of his resurrection.” How blessed are we who are called to this Mazenodian Family, to walk with our Founder, father and friend and with our brothers and sisters – together as “Pilgrims in hope of communion”.
Indeed, Eleanor. I never grow tired of hearing those words above. And when Father Frank says them in a teaching, they imprint again in my heart and soul Eugene’s acceptance and, thus, his conversion and development of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for all of us. Thank you again, Lord and Savior and St. Eugene. And Father Frank.
Yes Susan – we are so greatly blessed to be sons and daughters of St. Eugene. And I find the Reflection part an invitation to go deeper within my self. People ask me how I know so much about our Founder and a lot of it is due to coming here each morning, being nourished and then sharing ourselves with all we meet during the day. Blessings Susan…