WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD: WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU TO BE THE LORD

Eugene’s announcement of the Pope’s approbation begins with the words of praise of the Church’s Te Deum hymn:

“We praise you, O God: we acknowledge you to be the Lord. All the earth worships you, the Father everlasting. Day by day we bless you; and we praise your Name for ever, yes, for ever and ever.” (Te Deum)

My dear friend, my dear brothers, on February 17, 1826, yesterday evening, the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XII confirmed the decision of the congregation of Cardinals and specifically approved the Institute, the Rules and Constitutions of the Missionary Oblates of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, and accompanied this solemn act of his pontifical power, with most admiring words for those who happily form this Society from which the head of the Church indeed expects the greatest good.

Letter to Fr Tempier, 18 February 1826, EO VII n. 226

Today as we celebrate the 200^th anniversary of this very day, we are invited to praise and thank God for all the blessings that our Oblate Charismatic Family has received for two centuries, and  to thank God for an awe-inspiring missionary contribution to the Church in 67 countries. Indeed, “We praise you, O God: we acknowledge you to be the Lord!”