HELPING PEOPLE TO DISCOVER “WHO CHRIST IS” (C 7)

Posted on August 14, 2025 by franksantucci

We will spare no effort to awaken or to reawaken the faith in the people to whom we are sent, and we will help them to discover “who Christ is”

CC&RR, Constitution 7

Here we find our Oblate ministry spelt out in a nutshell. Too often Eugene is presented solely as a do-gooder with a special love for helping the poor. He certainly was this, but his focus of “doing good” and “serving the poor” was very specific and clear: it was to reawaken their faith and to accompany them in their journey of discovery as to “who Christ is” for them.

Eugene was not primarily a philanthropist, or social worker, or NGO or popular influencer – to use contemporary expressions. His love for the poor was focused on their faith and on their relationship with Jesus the Savior. This is why he founded the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and gave us this focus as the fundamental reason for our vocation.

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One Response to HELPING PEOPLE TO DISCOVER “WHO CHRIST IS” (C 7)

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    August 14, 2025 at 14:54

    As I begin to write I find myself singing “Pilgrims of Hope 2025”. And as I read the words of Frank’s reflection the word “holy” becomes the backdrop of my time here with all of you. The word holy originates from the German word “Heilig” and eventually the Old English word “halig” – meaning whole…; which is now to speak of the religious and other “consecrated” persons who are saintly, godly and pious.

    I cannot help but think of how we are called and then sent. The words from The Preface of the Oblate Constitutions and Rules: “We must lead men to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.”

    In the first publication of Eugene 101, Module 13, we catch a glimpse of how much Eugene suffered at the hands of the government of that time, over and over and how painful it was for Eugene to “dare” to continue on and to share “who Christ is”, was and is for us in the world. This was another expression of Oblation and hour vocation. I look at how each of us dares as did Eugene; the Charism given to him by the Holy Spirit is shared with us. We share the charism, no matter our role in the Church. At some point we all have to pray and discern how God continues to call and invite us. The response that we offer is then perfected in how we work together in reciprocity as mentioned Rule 37A.

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