YOU RECOGNIZED YOUR WRONGS AND YOU ASKED FORGIVENESS FOR THEM

28 year-old Father Molinari was working in Corsica and his lifestyle left much to be desired. Eugene had put his trust in him and had been disappointed.

My dear Father Molinari, I never expected that you would cause me such bitter grief. I had made myself accountable for you at the Council of the Congregation and its most senior members who, with more than enough reason, wanted you to go through a longer probation. I did this because I relied on your promises and on the assurance that you gave me with the strongest emphasis that never would you cause me to repent the confidence that I was showing you.

Nevertheless, what has happened? For lack of religious spirit. humility, deference toward your superiors, for lack of piety, you have cheated my expectations by not fulfilling any of your duties. From the outset, you have adopted the style of some of those bad Italian religious who are the scandal of the Church who think of nothing but their belly and live without Rule or the spirit of their holy state in life. And so, to my great astonishment, no one has been able to do anything with you anywhere.

His local superior had written of him, “he was smoking, drinking, sometimes venturing certain rather radical statements and sleeping late in the mornings, somewhat of a rebel in regards to regular observance…” Eugene, while recognizing his faults, also did see the good in him.

You recognized your wrongs and you asked forgiveness for them. That is good. Certainly there is no one more disposed in your favor than I, but be fair and judge yourself; declare judgment if it is possible to maintain yourself in that attitude that is beyond all our religious practices, the spirit of our Rules, our usages, our principles, our way of thinking. When you joined us you were told that you would have to fit yourself into our mould; in becoming one of us, you could not be otherwise than we are; that is unquestionable. See what embarrassment you are causing me! and it is through your own grievous fault. It was up to you to do otherwise, and I would have rejoiced over your success, while now I must shudder over the totality of your conduct.

Letter to Fr. Jean Baptiste Molinari in Corsica, 10 February 1848, EO X n 965

REFLECTION

Eugene was prepared to go to great lengths to see the good in his Oblates and to forgive their failings if they acknowledged that they had been wrong and made efforts to change. This attitude is clear in his paternal yet firm letter to this young Oblate.

“Experience results in the most enduring lesson. When one commits a mistake and if he is wise enough to learn his wrong done, goes for corrective measure. All this process from mistake to correction culminates in experience. ” (Anil Sinha)