IT IS REALLY OVERWHELMING

Posted on November 7, 2024 by franksantucci

This Diary entry gives us a clear idea of the work capacity of Eugene. Superior General of Oblates in 4 continents, Bishop of the second-largest diocese of France, dealings with the Vatican offices, as well as his involvement in the political issues concerning the Pope who was an exile in Gaeta outside of Rome. He could no longer summarize all his letters in his diary.

I shall no longer quote my correspondence. It has increased too much and is really overwhelming. How is it possible, on my own, to keep up with all our houses in France, those in England and the missions in Canada, in the rest of America and in Algeria and Ceylon? So much for our own!And then there are the bishops, Rome, Gaeta and now Naples, and the affairs of my diocese!

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 21 October 1849, EO XXII.

REFLECTION

“Many of us feel stress and get overwhelmed not because we’re taking on too much, but because we’re taking on too little of what really strengthens us.” (M. Buckingham)

The secret of Eugene’s coping with overwhelming responsibilities was his existential and life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.

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1 Response to IT IS REALLY OVERWHELMING

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate says:
    November 7, 2024 at 12:46

    I always think of Eugene’s Diary as being his conversations with Jesus, the Christ rather than something for us to read and reflect on 200 years later. Perhaps these were a way of concretizing his experience of God which was the most foundational part of himself. His oblation was first of all to God, and through God to all others.

    We cannot forget how Eugene tried to do so much on his own that he almost died along with those he was caring for. Unable to do everything himself, he followed the Spirit’s promptings and founded a community of like-minded priests and invited them to join in his God-given mission.

    Fast-forward to 2024 and dare to look at our own lives and the lives of all those who we love. If we love God, only because we have to in order to get to heaven we are missing the mark.

    I am reminded of the practice at Madonna House of writing “I am third” on the top of the door frames. It was a reminder that God is first, you are second and I am third. It reminds me of where my experience of love begins and continues to flow…

    Reply

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