WE HAVE GREAT INTERESTS AT STAKE

Posted on March 4, 2024 by franksantucci

You will not be surprised if I do not make a visit to England as I had planned; but I could not refrain from sending Father Aubert. We have great interests at stake. There is question of accepting a beautiful property for a novitiate, and regulating many other things. He will go to that country at the end of next month, and remain only long enough to establish our houses.

Letter to Fr Ambroise Vincens, 26 April, 1848, EO X n 974

Father Daly, with no consultation, had bought an expensive property in England. He had hoped to collect the money from benefactors and to establish a novitiate to serve the growing number of vocations. This project ended in disaster because to pay the inflated price demanded by the unscrupulous vendor, Fr. Daly was forced to offer the title deeds of Penzance as collateral. After prolonged litigation the decision was given against Fr. Daly and the property of Penzance mission was seized. The Oblates were forced to give up that mission. (See https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/anglo-irish-province-1841-1945/)

REFLECTION

“An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… the truly wise person is colorblind.” (Albert Schweitzer)

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One Response to WE HAVE GREAT INTERESTS AT STAKE

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    March 4, 2024 at 12:31

    While I am not approving of what Fr. Daly did, I do understand how it happened. How often do we see this in life where one or another of us thinks that our way of being, speaking and presenting ourselves is better than another? We become blinded and distracted by the image of ourselves and our own self-generated greatness. It is then that our church , community or individuals must reflect before leaping into something that is not ours to present as we wish. It may result in silently showing God what must be done, rather that renewing our vows/commitments and surrendering; surrendering ourselves totally to God…

    I find myself asking what did Jesus do? What did Mary, our Mother do or say? What do the OMI Constitutions and Rules say? If we allow the Holy Spirit’s whispers to become embedded within ourselves then we will truly say that our hearts and beings are colourblind…

    Reply

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