The request for authorization sent to the Capitular Vicars General of Aix is dated January 25th 1816. It was signed by five Missionaries of Provence: de Mazenod, Tempier, Icard, Mie and Deblieu. That day de Mazenod, Tempier, and perhaps Icard, took definitive possession of the rooms purchased in the ancient Carmel of Aix.
Ever since then January 25 has become the day when Oblates celebrate the birth of their Congregation. We should call this day more properly: The beginning of community life.
The Foundation Room as it is today
Concerning that January 25 we have a writing that is especially dear to all Oblates, the letter that St. Eugene wrote on January 24, 1831, to the novice master, Fr. Mille:
“Tomorrow, I celebrate the anniversary of the day, sixteen years ago, I left my mother’s house to go and set up house at the Mission. Father Tempier had taken possession of it some days before. Our lodging had none of the splendour of the mansion at Billens, and whatever deprivations you may be subject to, ours were greater still.
The corridor as it has been reconstructed today
My camp bed was placed in the small passageway which leads to the library: it was then a large room used as a bedroom for Father Tempier and for one other whose name we no longer mention amongst us. It was also our community room.
One lamp was all our lighting and, when it was time for bed, it was placed in the doorway to give light to all three of us. The table that adorned our refectory was one plank laid alongside another, on top of two old barrels.
We have never enjoyed the blessing of such poverty since the time we took the vow. Without question, it was a foreshadowing of the state of perfection that we now live so imperfectly…. I assure you we lost none of our merriment; on the contrary, as this new way of life was in quite striking contrast with that we had just left, we often found ourselves having a hearty laugh over it. I owed this tribute to the memory of our first day of common life. How happy I would be to live it now with you!” (To Father Mille, January 24, 1831, Oblate Writings, 8, p. 11)
With gratitude to the OMIWORLD site
I smile as I read this. Our experiences of community change us. I think back to the 2011 of the OMI Lacombe Convocation – we arrived at a hotel that was still under renovations and so the organizing committee had to make quick changes over and over again. There was one who pushed aside the curtains in his room only to discover that the pane of glass was missing. Our main meeting room was a bar (which was shut down for out stay) and yet we laugh together now as we share stories of that Provincial community gathering.
I imagine that all of us around the world can remember such incidents in our heart and which we now laugh about.
Community life changes all of us – for the better. It is a particular gift from God…
Community life can truly be a blessing, a touch of God’s grace, and for those that have or experiencing this, I extend greetings and “felicitations”. For those that have in that last year perhaps felt pushed out from you considered to be “your community” also , my condolences.