THE WOES THEY HAVE BUT WOULD NOT HAVE IF THEY TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A RELIGIOUS SHOULD BE
The Oblates in Canada did not have an easy time. Externally, they met with opposition from the local clergy who felt threatened by this group of zealous French missionaries who were having much success in their missions and attracting people. Among themselves, however, the younger missionaries had not received a full formation in community living and the challenges of religious life. Eugene unburdened his heartache (with a large dose of emotional exaggeration because things were not quite as bad as he described) to Fr. Honorat. Eugene was only familiar with the French model of evangelization and initially did not understand that the needs and methods of Canada were different.
You well need that I be able to extend my visitation as far as Canada. It is there and not in France that they have lost the very notion of the religious spirit.
It has reached the stage where I can no longer recognize my work. It was never my idea to make a gift to the Church of a society of insubordinate priests, without deference or respect for their superiors, detractors of each other, grumblers, void of the spirit of obedience, each reserving the right to judge according to his prejudices, his tastes or his repugnances, sparing no one, not only amongst themselves but even before strangers whom they carelessly take into their confidence about the woes they have but would not have if they tried to understand what a religious should be…
The wound must be quite deep and the illness quite chronic if all the recruits I send and who leave full of goodwill soon become as imperfect as the others. I am sickened to the depths of my soul. I hope nevertheless that by the mercy of God the means He inspires me to take will remedy the evil I deplore. I am going to send a Visitor extraordinary with full powers. I am nonetheless, my very dear, believe me, yours very affectionately…
Letter to Fr Jean Baptiste Honorat in Saguenay, Canada, 12 July 1849, EO I n 121
REFLECTION
“Like all best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.” (Queen Elizabeth II)
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I think of so many of the early priests that came to Canada and the USA. They had to find their own ways to survive the seasons and while I am not sure about the USA, in Canada and the far north many were not sent out two-by-two: they were on their own with nobody to remind them about community living.
It is too easy for all of us in the Oblate/Mazenodian Family to forget the beautiful Rule of Life – it is quite possible for the lay members of this family to use as a compass or a specific way of living. It is more than just a life based upon a couple of personalities: it is a living expression of the Charism that the Spirit gave to Eugene and share with all of his sons and daughters.
And then there is always ongoing formation that speak to our respective roles in this family. It is so more than just looking back at how Eugene did it: it is how it looks and remains relevant for all of us today. This morning I opened my copy of the Oblate Rule of Life to page 107: “Local communities are the living cells of the Congregation. They are the primary units of our missionary presence where life and mission find their support and expression. […] It is of the nature of a local community to be a prophetic sign that offers grounds for hope to the world in its search for integrity and harmony.” C 91)
Not just for the religious priests and brothers, but for all of us who are called and invited to share in Eugene’s charism as sons and daughters…