WE MUST ALWAYS BE SENSITIVE TO THE MENTALITY OF THE PEOPLE (Rule 8 a)

Posted on October 8, 2025 by franksantucci

We must always be sensitive to the mentality of the people, drawing on the riches of their culture and religious traditions

Rule 8a

Eugene, as Oblate and bishop, was aware of and appreciated the importance of the local customs (even though he did not always agree with some of them). He allowed the people to mix popular customs and folklore with their expression of faith as long as it brought them closer to God. Recounting a procession through the streets of the city with a statue of Mary he described the atmosphere of a joyous celebration with military music, fireworks, the houses adorned with festive decorations, and crowds in festive dresses lined the streets. He concluded:

That is how things are done in Marseilles. Not everything is devotion, but a religious ceremony is always an interesting spectacle for this people.

Diary, 26 March 1838, EO XIX

The Corpus Christi procession included an ox, ridden by a boy representing John the Baptist. The day before the ox was brought to him for a blessing. In his diary he wrote,

Visit of the ox for the Corpus Christi procession. It was intended to bring the animal up to the great hall. The people had invaded the bishop’s residence. I was obliged to do the honors for such a beautiful visit. Everybody showed great interest.

Diary, 11 June 1838, EO XIX

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One Response to WE MUST ALWAYS BE SENSITIVE TO THE MENTALITY OF THE PEOPLE (Rule 8 a)

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    October 8, 2025 at 15:05

    We can only imagine how Eugene’s senses reacted to a bull being brought into the great hall of his residence so as to be blessed for the Feast of the Body of Christ procession which would take place the next day. Yet he did the honors that would mean so much to the people’s celebration on the Feast Day.

    Recently I have found myself arrested by pictures from Kenya showing some of the MAMI members who are there from Canada and I recognize two of them from my own local area. It is their faces that I look at as they are learning and taking part in some of the local customs and ways of doing things. Their joy in each other is palpable a gift for those of us back here to be touched by. There is one of a friend of mine joining the women wearing straw skirts and it looks like she is enjoying herself as she learns new steps in a dance that is a part of life there.

    A group made up of Oblates and Oblate Associates came together yesterday with the aid of Zoom and the Animation Material we as we shared our individual thoughts and reflections on Constitution 4. This was not a practice to control or limit our individual experiences, but rather a way of sharing who we are as members of the Oblate Charismatic Family

    Once again I find myself looking at how our lives are enhanced and made fuller as we stand together with those we are sent to… The image arises within me of Christ being in the centre with a flaming heart and surrounded by his disciples and followers and there are lines of flames shared with and among each of them and even further to all of us and beyond…

    It is both humbling and joyous that if we bite into each element of the Oblate Rule of Life, taste and savour it and then chewing it well we swallow it and allow it to become a part of ourselves. The Body and the Blood of Jesus our crucified and risen Saviour. Walking in the Footsteps of St. Eugene becomes as much of a lived reality as we are called to, and yearn for more. We come together for this…

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