THIS SHIP NEEDS A GOOD COOL-HEADED PILOT

The situation in Limoges was tricky. As Eugene tried to find the right Oblates to respond to these challenges he was faced by the reality of human weakness.

If the Bishop had been less urgent, less threatening, let us say, in his demands, I would not have abandoned adopting the project that you proposed as feasible to me, that is, to give this mission to the care of Father Viala. The Father does indeed lack some things to do the task well; but since we can get used to him, and he does succeed rather well, it could have been achieved by persuading him that he must be more faithful to the Rules which govern the family and that he himself is to observe well that which he is obliged to have others observe.

Our Constitutions and Rules are intended to guide us in living our mission in accordance with the God-given spirit given to our Founder. Genuine fidelity to them covers our human weaknesses and foibles and ensures that we be God’s instruments to the people entrusted to our care. This was also to apply to Fr. Burfin with his impetuous personality

But everything was settled, and unless Father Burfin was to be left where he was, it was no longer possible to come back on what had been said. He did not prove very courageous in the proposal he made to you, together with Father Nicolas, to leave the situation and go back. That is a bad beginning. How is he going to pilot this ship which needs a good cool-headed pilot, who does not at the first commotion take an extreme position that compromises the very existence of a newly established foundation, that has been so well directed up to now. Of course, we have no choice.

Letter to Fr Hippolyte Courtès, 5 May 1848, EO X n 975

REFLECTION

 “Successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty rather than the difficulty in every opportunity.” (Reed Markham)