Our love for the Church inspires us … In our hope for the coming of God’s reign, we are united with all those who, without acknowledging Christ as Lord, nevertheless love what he loves.
(Constitution 6)
Despite his theological inflexibility regarding Roman Catholic teaching, Bishop Eugene was usually understanding and tolerant in his dealings with people:
The Church is full of charity for all people, regardless of their beliefs. She loves all those whom God has created in his image and called to the knowledge of the truth. She does them all the good she can, both in the temporal and spiritual order, even at the cost of the greatest sacrifices on her part.
Bishop Eugene’s letter to the Society for the Colonization of North Africa, February 4, 1839 (Vie Oblate Life 58, 1998, p. 523
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Surrender is what I hear as I listen to the words of Constitution 6 describing a specific way of being which “sets us apart”. Ongoing and evolving surrender – of everything and all to God. Our way of living out our oblation to God, the Church, the Spirit-given charism which we proclaim without any kind of excuses or blame. There are no “yes buts…” We remember always how Jesus responded to God leading up to his death on the cross.
I remind myself that Eugene gave all of himself no matter what was said about him: throughout his life and death, his breathing in and out was way of being. He offered himself as a gift to God He desired unity within and outside of the Church.
Constitution 6 is not intended for us to look at and give ourselves a pat on the back (yes – mea culpa), but rather brings us together enabling us to share our God-given gifts with the other. It reminds us how we all work together in unity as we become gifts to each other..
I think of the drawing of all of us walking together with courage, trust and hope. Not a dreamy, fairytale kind of love – but a real soulful way as pilgrims in hope of communion…