Sometimes there is the temptation to regard the Oblate CCRR as an unimportant dull book of legal prescriptions. How wrong we are if we fall into this trap. The Oblate delegates at the Inter-Chapter affirmed this on the fourth day of their gathering: “It was emphasized that they are not only a set of legal norms, but a living source of inspiration that propels us in mission.”
When Eugene and the founding community wrote the Rule in 1818, they attempted to put into words what the Holy Spirit had guided them to live. Through their lived experience they continued to revise what they had written and presented this text to the Pope and Cardinals for their approbation. What happened on February 17, 1826, was that the Church recognized that this Rule was inspired by God and that the Missionary Oblate Family had come into existence as part of God’s plan
Eugene now considered the Rule no longer as the work of a human author, but as the work of God who had made this work his own by inspiring the Pope to give them their character of their divine authority. Addressing the Oblates after the event Eugene referred to his role:
“He assured us, that for him, he saw nothing of the man, and that he was so persuaded that they had been inspired by Heaven, that it was impossible for him to recognise himself except as the instrument of Divine Providence.”
PIELORZ, J., Les Chapitres généraux I, p. 57-58.
May the conclusion of the inter-Chapter be that of each of us as we reflect on our Book of Life:
“The morning renewed our commitment to the charism and reminded us again that the Constitutions and Rules continue to be a path of hope and communion for the entire Oblate family.”
“…a living source of inspiration that propels us in mission”
A powerful image for the members of the Oblate Charismatic Family who are themselves inspired by God! It is God, and yes the Church who sends us out. We are sent out with everything that we will need as we live.
Each morning as I come here I look at the image that is offered, but today I am captured by it’s depth and beauty. The artist(s) who was inspired to offer it has captured the spirit of the 37th General Chapter and more as the Oblate Cross is set up at the centre of the focus, with all of us receiving new life as we are transformed by it (the Cross) so as to walk together on our pilgrimage bringing our newly transformed selves together along with the path we are sent to step onto. It is no longer one dimensional, just as the Oblate Book of Life is more than one dimension, for the Spirit of God has inspired and become infused within all that is set before us. It is to the Spirit of God that we respond…
I realise that I have been sitting with my focus moving from the Oblate Book of life to the enlivened image which depicts the Inter-Chapter as if it was an icon – not in the literal sense, but in an experiential sense.
It too becomes a part of the path of hope and communion for every member of the Oblate Family…